Body off

[Stwdv]

Hi all
I am trying to do a body off rebuild
I have been trying to jack the body from the chassis.
I believe I have undone all the necessary bolts and disconnected the fuel filler, but the body doesn't seem to lift off the chassis It raises about 20mm then just pulls the chassis with it
Would appreciate any thoughts or help
Thanks Stewart

[mep12345]

All you can do is work around the body to work out where it is catching. Mine caught on the petrol tank with the boot strut bolt. My website www.gbsportscar.com amongst other owners sites may help narrow it down

[S2Andy]

Its very important to lift the back more than the front. The body has to move backwards a bit to clear the chassis around the engine. Replacement is the same, the body has to sort of submarine in. Hope this helps. Also the boot strut as mentioned above, Doesn't take much to make it jam.

[tel595]

Have you found the 2 bolts on top of the chassis near the gear selector? Caught me out...

[Kitchski]

tel595 said:

Have you found the 2 bolts on top of the chassis near the gear selector? Caught me out...

Not all of them have this. I know S1 and 2 don't. V8S does though....ask me how I know.

[Stwdv]

Go on how do you know ?

[tel595]

Mine's an S3c and the only TVR I've stripped. Got the job of bolting it all together now - before Eurotour !!

[Brian6600]

Hi, I'm in the process of a body off restoration on an S3.I have found WIKI's at the top of the page
very useful. Especially the Useful Links,Owners Links and Blogs, and S Series Bolts list for reassembly
with torque settings.
Good luck with your project.

Brian.

[Kitchski]

Stwdv said:

Go on how do you know ?

Because originally I didn't know, and then after I tried to take a V8S body off, I knew. Just like that!

[tvrgit]

Your car is an S2 so (probably!) won't have the two bolts beside the gear lever.

Where in Scotland are you?

There are a few of us who have done this before, might be able to have a look (mine is the "how-to" blog on the tvrgit.com web site).

Meantime, try this: a lot of grit gets down between the outrigger tubes and the body sill, and acts like bleeding velcro when you try to lift the body off. Try running a wallpaper scraper or thin blade along each sill, between the tube and the body, to clear out all the crap, it might be all that's holding it.

Edited by tvrgit on Thursday 13th March 09:01

[Stwdv]

Many thanks I live just outside Nairn
I pressure washered everything before I started and specifically up those channels
The body has lifted about 20mm but then starts to lift the chassis
Not looked if it's the boot lid strut bolt so will try that
I don't think it's the 2 bolts as the body has lifted
So will just have to keep trying
Many thanks to all of you for your support
Stewart

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi
Have you removed the hand brake?

Alan

[Stwdv]

Alan, removed or disconnected ? Not yet but will

[phillpot]

Removed, from memory there is a little "arm" on the back that the cable connects to, that has to come off then the lever assembly itself un-bolts from the chassis and comes off, 2 or 3 M8 bolts?

[magpies]

The handbrake lever needs to be removed completely as it passes through the body and connects to the chassis. The hole in the body it passes through is quite large and will allow the body to lift the 2".

The rear needs to be lifted a couple of feet before lifting the front.

[tvrgit]

Again, as MEP said earlier, you should check the owners' blogs carefully. Do not miss out any steps because you think they aren't necessary. They are.

Full step-by-step guidance is given here: http://www.andrewc.org.uk/tvrgit/bodylift.html

Handbrake lever removal is step 7.

[Hedgehopper]

Brake and clutch pipes ,steering column u/j?

[Stwdv]

Many thanks to all of you after a struggle the body is now off and the outriggers need to be repaired
Again thanks for your help

[Alan Whitaker]

Thanks for the picture, shows how the hand brake fits

Alan