S2 Battery

[junglie]

Thanks to everybody so far for their guidance and advice and I have a few more questions.

I need a new battery for the S2 and I was wondering if there is anywhere on the internet to order one - all the ones I seem to find in the shops have the terminals on the wrong side of the battery so it will not sit in the battery tray with the leads connected. Also, what is the right amp rating for the car as I have heard various different ratings.

The next question is what is the best way to give the chassis a once over to protect it? I am assuming it will be stripping off rust and grime with a wire brush and then waxoyl or is there an alternate method? I want to minimise the mess as the house I live in is rented and I know the owner will not be too chuffed if I change the colour of his garage floor!

Suspension - has not been changed since 1990 so probably past its best. Where is the best place to order a replacement set of springs, dampers etc and what is a good price to pay? I am sure Mark (mep12345) will have a good answer - thanks.

I have booked the car into a classic garage near Southampton in Feb 09 to have some TLC so wanted to get all the kit I require before then.

Cheers

Dan

[Le TVR]

IIRC the battery is the same as a Porsche 944 (type 67). I can even find it in the supermarkets here.

POR15 for the chassis. And for the suspension I have fitted GAZ shocks/springs was around 600GBP at the time.

[Roy C]

The last three batteries fitted to my S2 were 069. Make sure it's not too tall, because the terminals will star-crack your bonnet. It is easier to get a battery that's the right shape if you junk the original battery clamp and use a ratchet & strap.

[Barkychoc]

junglie said:

I live in is rented and I know the owner will not be too chuffed if I change the colour of his garage floor!
Cheers

Dan

Drive car out - put polythene sheet down - drive car back in!
Some builders polythene membrane would be good for this - its really tough stuff.
The cheap polythene dust sheets aren't much better than cling film.

[TVRMadPaul]

Absolutely Shocks is the place to go. I fitted the GAZ Nickels (£499 at the time special offer i think now it's £499+VAT&delivery) to mine and they're excellent. I would however advice you to talk to them about stiffer springs for the rears. I'd still like to have it a bit firmer they maybe able to suggest something other than the standard. The GAZ nickels are fully adjustable height wise and also adjustable for the stiffness of the shocks. This is all easily adjustable when on the vehicle.
Once fitted get a geometry check this is something I've yet to do but I'm sure will make a world of difference. Don't increase the height of the car too much as it becomes very unstable as I found out. They are also dead easy to fit 8 bolts and you're done. Found the offside rear top bolt the trickiest just because of lack of room.

[junglie]

To be honest, I do not know if I need to change the shocks at all but I think that after almost 20 years it could not hurt. Had a look on the website and it is 499 inc VAT which seems reasonable based on what you have said. It should help with the grounding out issue also. I am just hoping that the chassis is not in too bad a state. Passed last MOT with flying colours (although it did statet that chassis was showing signs of rust as an advisory) so I am hoping a little scrub and paint and we will be good to go.

[TVRMadPaul]

I still ground the car but not as much has I did. The car handles much better them and once I get the geometry sorted I know it will be great.

[mep12345]

junglie said:

I am sure Mark (mep12345) will have a good answer - thanks.

Dan,

Thanks for the vote of confidence and YHM, but I do not profess to be an expert in any of this I am just learning (and often the hard way) about these cars as I slowly overhaul one that was not in a good way. Getting there now though - mechanically and structrually now sound, cosmetically improving, but whilst sound the next bit is to make the engine run better (grooming needed) and a bit of a tidy up to the engine bay to come.

Mark