How far do I go?
Discussion
I originally thought I would just do a few essentials to get my recently purchased 350i through it's MOT and back on the road but the more I do, the more I want to do.
So far I have replaced all the front lights, headlamps, indicators and spots as the person i bought it off had removed them all and had the front resprayed. The old ones were so corroded i couldn't re fit them.
I have managed to find a replacement light motor from a breakers as one was completely shot. While I was at it I replaced all pod motor bolts to hex stainless.
The seats are off being re-trimmed, now I have the door cards off and I'm thinking they also need re-triming and if I'm going to do that I should get the rest of the interior done. There has obvoiusly been a water leak on the drivers side as the trim is coming away from the inside of the windscreen frame and there is rust behind it, to repair this I need to remove the windscreen which has some milking and evidence of someone trying tyo re-seal it anyway so really needs replacing.
On the plus side looking through the service history the car had a new engine fitted by TVR at 70k miles and does run very nicely. The exhaust headers do look a bit rubbish, dented and rusty so they also ned replacing
The list goes on..............
So far I have replaced all the front lights, headlamps, indicators and spots as the person i bought it off had removed them all and had the front resprayed. The old ones were so corroded i couldn't re fit them.
I have managed to find a replacement light motor from a breakers as one was completely shot. While I was at it I replaced all pod motor bolts to hex stainless.
The seats are off being re-trimmed, now I have the door cards off and I'm thinking they also need re-triming and if I'm going to do that I should get the rest of the interior done. There has obvoiusly been a water leak on the drivers side as the trim is coming away from the inside of the windscreen frame and there is rust behind it, to repair this I need to remove the windscreen which has some milking and evidence of someone trying tyo re-seal it anyway so really needs replacing.
On the plus side looking through the service history the car had a new engine fitted by TVR at 70k miles and does run very nicely. The exhaust headers do look a bit rubbish, dented and rusty so they also ned replacing
The list goes on..............
Hi Mate..There is and probably always will be a long list of "To do" and a small list of "Done"..The "Done" list gets longer and the "To do" does get smaller..For a while..My thoughts on this is that as long as the Engine, Drivetrain and chassis are in good order then by all means make a start on the interior..Hood..Wheels..Bodywork..The main thing is that you can still enjoy it even with some of the faults..But dont forget to post up loads of before and after pics on here.. 
..Good luck...Ziga
..Good luck...Ziga Sounds like ya half way there and you want to continue,personally I would carry on with the refurb but don't expect to get your money back as its a labour of love,I bought mine to keep and its a continuous hobby which I hope one day will be fully sorted and a real head turner but I'll never get my money back and put it this way 'you can't take it with you',so its there to be spent. Do the wedge up if you've got nothing else to spend on and be chuffed with your achievement and the result,loads of help and support on here if you need it.
John.
John.
Thanks guys, all good advice. I always liked the wedges so now I have one the plan is to keep it and enjoy it.
I think I'll get the work done for the MOT then at least I can drive it and then do the other stuff as and when time and money allow.
I'll post some before and after photos of the seats when they're done, I went for the cross stitch pattern in the end.
Chris
I think I'll get the work done for the MOT then at least I can drive it and then do the other stuff as and when time and money allow.
I'll post some before and after photos of the seats when they're done, I went for the cross stitch pattern in the end.
Chris
Hang on in there Chris,
I bought mine toward the end of May and was determined to do everything!
In the meantime missing out on driving and enjoying the car.
I've a whiteboard in my garage with a list as long as your arm (& then some), a budget of £12.79, a wife and kids that are demanding on my time, a job that means I have to work away quite a lot of the time and a skill level that would make even the most basically trained mechanic's apprentice feel superior (OK, so maybe I have a few basic mechanical and electrical skills) so I've decided to do what I can, when I can, where I can and just enjoy a little "tinkering" here and there, making sure it's running alright and leaving the aesthetics for later.
I guess we bought these cars being aware of their foibles and peculiarities, otherwise we'd have bought regular "Vanilla" cars, I'm 100% certain that we'll get there in the end and after all, half of the fun in getting somewhere is the journey, or so I've been told.
I've set myself up with a photobucket account and have uploaded loads of pictures as I've done any work on the car, it gives me a record of what I've done, as well as a motivational push every so often to see where I've come from with the car, it also shows other people what's going on with your project.
I've had some really supportive comments and conversations with guys on here, thanks Zig & Trickie, and loads of bits and pieces of information that are really useful too.
If I can get my car running alright, I'll be attending the fest on the 30th in it, otherwise I'll still be going, just to see some examples of where I should be aspiring to.
From 1 new owner to another, hang on in there mate and I'm sure you'll get there eventually.
Cheers for now
Mark
I bought mine toward the end of May and was determined to do everything!
In the meantime missing out on driving and enjoying the car.
I've a whiteboard in my garage with a list as long as your arm (& then some), a budget of £12.79, a wife and kids that are demanding on my time, a job that means I have to work away quite a lot of the time and a skill level that would make even the most basically trained mechanic's apprentice feel superior (OK, so maybe I have a few basic mechanical and electrical skills) so I've decided to do what I can, when I can, where I can and just enjoy a little "tinkering" here and there, making sure it's running alright and leaving the aesthetics for later.
I guess we bought these cars being aware of their foibles and peculiarities, otherwise we'd have bought regular "Vanilla" cars, I'm 100% certain that we'll get there in the end and after all, half of the fun in getting somewhere is the journey, or so I've been told.
I've set myself up with a photobucket account and have uploaded loads of pictures as I've done any work on the car, it gives me a record of what I've done, as well as a motivational push every so often to see where I've come from with the car, it also shows other people what's going on with your project.
I've had some really supportive comments and conversations with guys on here, thanks Zig & Trickie, and loads of bits and pieces of information that are really useful too.
If I can get my car running alright, I'll be attending the fest on the 30th in it, otherwise I'll still be going, just to see some examples of where I should be aspiring to.
From 1 new owner to another, hang on in there mate and I'm sure you'll get there eventually.
Cheers for now
Mark
Hi
As Adam says you finish them and then you start again. That's the beauty of a Wedge not to hard to work on, fairly cheap parts, and lots of help from this forum.
So keep at it, you will get there. Zig is a prime example, he has and now he has a good car, not to every ones choice but to his and that's the thing about wedges and TVR no two are the same.
Great!
Come along to the fest in what every car and see wedges in all models, colours and conditions.
Best bit its Free!
Andy
As Adam says you finish them and then you start again. That's the beauty of a Wedge not to hard to work on, fairly cheap parts, and lots of help from this forum.
So keep at it, you will get there. Zig is a prime example, he has and now he has a good car, not to every ones choice but to his and that's the thing about wedges and TVR no two are the same.
Great!
Come along to the fest in what every car and see wedges in all models, colours and conditions.
Best bit its Free!
Andy
Chris,
To help spur you on a little and keep the faith;
Here's a link to a few of my pictures:
http://s1162.photobucket.com/albums/q536/MarkS1966...
Just in case you or anyone else are interested in my work in progress? It's all minor stuff, I know.
See you all on the 30th (God, weather and electrickery problems willing)
To help spur you on a little and keep the faith;
Here's a link to a few of my pictures:
http://s1162.photobucket.com/albums/q536/MarkS1966...
Just in case you or anyone else are interested in my work in progress? It's all minor stuff, I know.
See you all on the 30th (God, weather and electrickery problems willing)
I would like to come to the Wedge fest, especially for the autojumble (what day is it?) however my wife is about to have twins so I need to be at home looking after her and my 3 year old daughter at the moment. Luckily my 350 is at work so i can do stuff to it when I get spare moments.
I've also got a sofa at work for when the twins are born!
I've also got a sofa at work for when the twins are born!
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