Bother: Hole in Chassis

[tvrgaas]

Not really using the S since I got the Griffith (4K miles in last 5 years). Didn't even MOT it last year with the wedding and all. Wife says we shoild reduce the number of cars - but keep the Griffith. So the S needs to go. Spent some of the weekend looking at it so that it can be MOT'd. Started okay, brake spongey. Hammerite flacking in places. So a quick scrap with screw driver. Yes a hole in the OSF transverse rail. (NSF "looks" okay).

So what are my options? Stick it in the classified and try my luck. Honestly described as a restoration project, but how much do I ask? Or do I get some one to do a body lift and do the corner - or expect to do both sides. If so who? and how much. I don't really want to do the project myself as I've had my fun over the last 17 years and really have other projects to do.

Advice welcome. (Yes I know I should do a search and look in the classifieds too!)

Permission to say

[spivvy]

when you look at restoration projects for
an S with outrigger damage they only seem to go around £1500 to £2000


it is possibly to do a partial lift and again this seems to be around the £1000 mark as a rough guide

now base it on the condition of the car
if you think the car is worth £4000 -£5000 it is worth getting the work done

just my opinion

[entwistlea]

Don;t hurt me for saying this, how bad is the hole, can it not be spot patched without a body lift, or will you need to replace the outriggers?

[Rockey]

Get it mot'd first, worth the outlay to find out exactly what needs doing and go from there

[Barkychoc]

I Looked at your profile and saw its an S1.
These do seem to go for a bargain price at the moment, don't know why maybe everyone wants the 2.9.

Personally I'd take the hit and sell as it is - once that body is lifted you can be sure that it isn't going to cost less than you thought!

As has been said though it might be worth taking it for MOT - the failure sheet would also prove that you're not hiding anything.

Just my view on it

Chris

[greymrj]

I'd agree, go for the MOT, its the kind of car which sells to an enthusiast who would prefer to know what he is buying and could well be happier to bid on known faults than on the unknown. If the MOT failure list is small then it would be worth pursuing repairs first if they can be done with the body in situ (yes, it is possible to weld in some sections in situ, but you need an experienced welder to do it!)

[Barkychoc]

I've also been told that another solution is to cut away the fibre glass floor above the problem area, repair it then re fibre glass the floor back in again. No idea how difficult this is.

Chris

[tvrgaas]

Thanks guys. I didn't think that putting in a known bad car would help, getting a failure on the new computer system for all time, but I see the logic of a known fault list. So far it just appears to be the chassis rail behind the front wheel. Although we've all seen the pictures of other cars on here. I did the trailing arms a few years ago. I need to have a chat with our local RO (.woody as was) he recently went through a similar experience with his wedge. ( I think he eventual PX it against a Griffith!)

[V8ish]

Barkychoc said:

- once that body is lifted you can be sure that it isn't going to cost less than you thought!

Agreed, mine only went in for a chassis paint and wax!!!

What you can see is only 10% of the problem