NEW TVR 350i OWNER - NEEDS HELP!
Discussion
Hi folks,
Thought I'd politely introduce myself; my name is James and a few weeks ago, I bought a cyan blue 1983 tvr 350i. The car is absolutely stunning, however it's been in storage for around 12 years, and as you can imagine, it needs work! I've got the car now running on all cylinders,( it sounds like hell lives inside that tailpipe), but before it gets an MOT, It needs:
-all new front bushes(like all of them need replacing, apart from maybe the upper mount, everything else with rubber is dead). Pictures of this to follow. Does anyone know/ can link me to exactly what bits I need...I'm not too good when it comes to suspension knowledge!
-new brakes(I bought Granada mk2 2.8i calipers, discs and pads...apparently this is an upgrade, will it work?)
-new tyres(any recommended? it's got the original lattices)
-windscreen(quoted 300+vat for screen +mobile fitting, is this reasonable?)
-radiator(the rad in the car doesn't leak, but half the fins have fallen out. I was going to get it re-finned, or is there a simple replacement one? (Not bothered about the otter switch).
Theres probably more, but it's quite late. I'm based in filby, in Norfolk. So if anyone is nearby, drop me a message on here...you're more than welcome to take a look!
Thanks all!
James
Thought I'd politely introduce myself; my name is James and a few weeks ago, I bought a cyan blue 1983 tvr 350i. The car is absolutely stunning, however it's been in storage for around 12 years, and as you can imagine, it needs work! I've got the car now running on all cylinders,( it sounds like hell lives inside that tailpipe), but before it gets an MOT, It needs:
-all new front bushes(like all of them need replacing, apart from maybe the upper mount, everything else with rubber is dead). Pictures of this to follow. Does anyone know/ can link me to exactly what bits I need...I'm not too good when it comes to suspension knowledge!
-new brakes(I bought Granada mk2 2.8i calipers, discs and pads...apparently this is an upgrade, will it work?)
-new tyres(any recommended? it's got the original lattices)
-windscreen(quoted 300+vat for screen +mobile fitting, is this reasonable?)
-radiator(the rad in the car doesn't leak, but half the fins have fallen out. I was going to get it re-finned, or is there a simple replacement one? (Not bothered about the otter switch).
Theres probably more, but it's quite late. I'm based in filby, in Norfolk. So if anyone is nearby, drop me a message on here...you're more than welcome to take a look!
Thanks all!
James
Edited by Filby classics on Monday 1st June 23:45
Edited by Filby classics on Monday 1st June 23:49
Hi mate...And welcome to the mad world of Wedges...Firstly a car that has been sat for 12 years can have a few gremlins lurking...Has the car run in that time or is this the first time its been started?...Ideally the fuel tanks should be checked to make sure they haven't gone rusty..Did you replace the fuel with fresh?...I should imagine if the bushes have perished then most of the rest would of too...Like fuel hoses..Which are good to change anyway and especially that the fuel contains more ethanol now...Water hoses tend to be a bit more hardy but worth checking the condition of.
The front suspension is predominantly Ford Cortina mk4-5..Most of the bushes are available..However there are a few options when it comes to material...It would be best to try to source original type rubber as some poly bushes squeak or don't have enough give..However i bought poly bushes for mine and all seems good..So ARB..Control link bushes..Drop-link bushes are Cortina mk4-5..Tyres are a personal choice...I use the Dunlop fast response and have found them to be a good all year/Weather tyre..Gives a nice screech when you floor it but not too soft to make you think..."f
k...Better not do that too much"..Never had any issues in the wet..The road noise is a tad loud but not noticeable in a Wedge unless you coast it..Did that a few times thinking i could hear a rumble from a wheel bearing...
Im not sure on the calipers but the hubs are Granada mk2.
The price of the windscreen sounds about right...Just makes sure they have done them before and can get the trim.
I see its an early 350i...Nice..Looks in really good condition..I guess you will have trailing arm suspension on the rear so the mounts will probably need doing..I went the Superflex route with my 280i as the standard type failed twice on mine..They are more expensive but felt much better.
I know its a bit of a trek but you are welcome to this years Wedgefest at Ettington chase..Stratford upon avon on the 4th July 2015....Cheers...Ziga
The front suspension is predominantly Ford Cortina mk4-5..Most of the bushes are available..However there are a few options when it comes to material...It would be best to try to source original type rubber as some poly bushes squeak or don't have enough give..However i bought poly bushes for mine and all seems good..So ARB..Control link bushes..Drop-link bushes are Cortina mk4-5..Tyres are a personal choice...I use the Dunlop fast response and have found them to be a good all year/Weather tyre..Gives a nice screech when you floor it but not too soft to make you think..."f
k...Better not do that too much"..Never had any issues in the wet..The road noise is a tad loud but not noticeable in a Wedge unless you coast it..Did that a few times thinking i could hear a rumble from a wheel bearing...Im not sure on the calipers but the hubs are Granada mk2.
The price of the windscreen sounds about right...Just makes sure they have done them before and can get the trim.
I see its an early 350i...Nice..Looks in really good condition..I guess you will have trailing arm suspension on the rear so the mounts will probably need doing..I went the Superflex route with my 280i as the standard type failed twice on mine..They are more expensive but felt much better.
I know its a bit of a trek but you are welcome to this years Wedgefest at Ettington chase..Stratford upon avon on the 4th July 2015....Cheers...Ziga
Edited by mrzigazaga on Tuesday 2nd June 00:04
Thanks for the response folks! Firstly I'd just like to assure you that I'm definately not a dealer or 'flogger on', at 17 I think I'm a bit young for that 😂 the thing is in amazing condition considering it's been stood up. The engine is really strong, and the interior is timewarp original (apart from some silly arse carbon fibre halfords gear knob jobby). I'll have a good poke at the fuel lines this weekend, however from what I could see, the tank looked solid and the car is now running on fresh juice anyway. I'll probably change the hoses when the radiator gets swapped out....I'm guessing we have parts numbers for these on here?
Hi James, welcome to Wedge world. I'm comparatively new to this life as well, only 18 months since I bought mine and enjoyed every moment. Just taking your questions in turn:
Suspension bushes - one of the other earlier 350i owners Bradderztvr just re-bushed his entire car. he got all bushes from Richard Thorpe (RT racing) and was very pleased with the comprehensive set that arrived.
Brakes - I've also heard that the Grandada Mk 2 2.8i calipers, discs and pads fit straight on, although I ordered a Hispec upgrade for mine yesterday.
Tyres - I had a full set of Toyo Proxes fitted to mine and they are great. Good price and grip well both in the wet and dry. Highly recommended.
Windscreen - not had mine done but I know you can buy the screen only for £195 so price with fitting seems about right.
Radiator wise I've heard from a few that a classic Range Rover unit will fit. It might be worth seeing if you can get yours rebuilt though - that way you know it will fit. There have been a number of recent threads on radiators. Just use the search function at the top of the forum but type Wedge before radiator.
As others have said it's good news that some of the older stored Wedges are seeing the light of day again. The help you will get from this forum is superb so when in doubt ASK. There will be someone on here who's had a similar problem before, and resolved it. Cheers Keith
Suspension bushes - one of the other earlier 350i owners Bradderztvr just re-bushed his entire car. he got all bushes from Richard Thorpe (RT racing) and was very pleased with the comprehensive set that arrived.
Brakes - I've also heard that the Grandada Mk 2 2.8i calipers, discs and pads fit straight on, although I ordered a Hispec upgrade for mine yesterday.
Tyres - I had a full set of Toyo Proxes fitted to mine and they are great. Good price and grip well both in the wet and dry. Highly recommended.
Windscreen - not had mine done but I know you can buy the screen only for £195 so price with fitting seems about right.
Radiator wise I've heard from a few that a classic Range Rover unit will fit. It might be worth seeing if you can get yours rebuilt though - that way you know it will fit. There have been a number of recent threads on radiators. Just use the search function at the top of the forum but type Wedge before radiator.
As others have said it's good news that some of the older stored Wedges are seeing the light of day again. The help you will get from this forum is superb so when in doubt ASK. There will be someone on here who's had a similar problem before, and resolved it. Cheers Keith
Excellent find, well done! More pics please!
All as said above really however please do check the fuel lines as its quite scary when you start digging down into them and finding how perished they can be. Its really not a hard job at all, ideally you want a ramp though. I didn't first time I changed mine though.
As a new owner, well worth coming over to the chase for BBWF
As for being 17 and having a wedge, just be very careful...! I got mine when I was 21 so you have beaten me!
Good luck and enjoy!
All as said above really however please do check the fuel lines as its quite scary when you start digging down into them and finding how perished they can be. Its really not a hard job at all, ideally you want a ramp though. I didn't first time I changed mine though.
As a new owner, well worth coming over to the chase for BBWF
As for being 17 and having a wedge, just be very careful...! I got mine when I was 21 so you have beaten me!
Good luck and enjoy!
17....
..Got to be the youngest Wedge owner to date...Now insurance...Well it could be an horrendous realisation but if you do a track driving course and get your green..I think bit of paper then that should lower the premium..However i think classic car insurance is only available if you are 21 and over.
The radiator is a Range rover classic non-A/C...Its always best to get the old one rebuilt...They are definitely fiddly and must be done with the bonnet off and the car up in the air as it has to come out from underneath.
There are a few tips & tricks to removing it and all the help you will need is right here....Don't be afraid to ask even if the question is silly...We can do silly..
We love pictures on here...And like they say a picture speaks a thousand words.
Cheers...Ziga
..Got to be the youngest Wedge owner to date...Now insurance...Well it could be an horrendous realisation but if you do a track driving course and get your green..I think bit of paper then that should lower the premium..However i think classic car insurance is only available if you are 21 and over.The radiator is a Range rover classic non-A/C...Its always best to get the old one rebuilt...They are definitely fiddly and must be done with the bonnet off and the car up in the air as it has to come out from underneath.
There are a few tips & tricks to removing it and all the help you will need is right here....Don't be afraid to ask even if the question is silly...We can do silly..
We love pictures on here...And like they say a picture speaks a thousand words.
Cheers...Ziga
Welcome on board James. Firstly, nice looking car and good choice of colour. Insurance will be a problem at 17. Classic car insurace starts at 25 but since the car has been standing 12 years, and judging by the amount of work needed, you'll probably be close to that age by the time it's all sorted 
Just joking.
I have a 24 year old son on my classic car insurance and after searching for ages I only found one company to cover, with conditions as long as my arm and a hefty price.
Repair wise there is nothing that can't be sorted, especially with the help of some of the knowledgeable boys on this forum and on the TVRCC site well worth joining, who are willing to advise. Parts are available even if not always genuine. Just needs to be sourced from different places. Good luck with your project. You seem like a brave boy to me having started with a V8 Wedge. My first project was a Ford Escort mk1.
All the best.
Tony. TCB.
Just joking.I have a 24 year old son on my classic car insurance and after searching for ages I only found one company to cover, with conditions as long as my arm and a hefty price.
Repair wise there is nothing that can't be sorted, especially with the help of some of the knowledgeable boys on this forum and on the TVRCC site well worth joining, who are willing to advise. Parts are available even if not always genuine. Just needs to be sourced from different places. Good luck with your project. You seem like a brave boy to me having started with a V8 Wedge. My first project was a Ford Escort mk1.
All the best.
Tony. TCB.
Hello James and welcome to the forum. That is a very nice looking 350i that you have got there. Unfortunately I cannot give you much advice mechanically, as when I owned my wedge, I got any work that needed doing on it done by a good local mechanic that I know. However as others have already said, I would definitely replace the fuel lines as one of the first jobs.
Hi James,
Welcome to Wedgeville. You will get lots of help and advice on here. As mentioned I also have an early 350 (1984)and I'd be interested to see where yours is placed on the chassis sequence, what's the number?
Suspension is a matter of choice and likewise with bushes. I've gone with poly and they do make if very taught.
The rad can be refurbished with a new core at any local rad company. Got mine re-cored and sprayed, came back as new for £150.
Good luck, it'll be a learning cure.
Cheers
Welcome to Wedgeville. You will get lots of help and advice on here. As mentioned I also have an early 350 (1984)and I'd be interested to see where yours is placed on the chassis sequence, what's the number?
Suspension is a matter of choice and likewise with bushes. I've gone with poly and they do make if very taught.
The rad can be refurbished with a new core at any local rad company. Got mine re-cored and sprayed, came back as new for £150.
Good luck, it'll be a learning cure.
Cheers
Thanks for all your help folks, nice to know there's such a good line of support for these! When it comes to driving the car; my dad will be doing the driving, however I'll be insured on a traders policy when I'm 18. I'm attaching a few pictures of what I'm talking about with regards to the front bushes:
And don't worry, I might be young but this isn't my first rodeo. I started on a mk2 escort based kit car, so I'm used to the gremlins 😂
As you can see, the they're all pretty shagged, and there aren't any left on the second pic 😂 I bought a superflex kit off the bay to replace these, but i cannot work out where they go!
And don't worry, I might be young but this isn't my first rodeo. I started on a mk2 escort based kit car, so I'm used to the gremlins 😂
As you can see, the they're all pretty shagged, and there aren't any left on the second pic 😂 I bought a superflex kit off the bay to replace these, but i cannot work out where they go!
James, if you haven't already got one then buy a copy of the Steve Heath Wedge manual. Personally I find it extremely useful and it has a wealth of information in it included many original TVR exploded views of components, suspension etc. Quite often there are second hand copies on ebay. Cheers.
Hi James...I recently bought and had these fitted...
They are from top row
2 x Anti roll bar bushes and the inserts for the leading link which uses the washers underneath..These are for your 2nd photo.
Originally there was collared washers welded onto the chassis mount but they become non existent after a while..The bushes have the collar on them..There are 2 x inner and 2 x outer.
Then the 6 blue bushes at the bottom are 4 x Drop-link and 2 x Anti roll bar link bushes.
ML performance is a good source..And where i bought mine.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
Neil is a helpful fellow...
Hope this helps...Ziga
They are from top row
2 x Anti roll bar bushes and the inserts for the leading link which uses the washers underneath..These are for your 2nd photo.
Originally there was collared washers welded onto the chassis mount but they become non existent after a while..The bushes have the collar on them..There are 2 x inner and 2 x outer.
Then the 6 blue bushes at the bottom are 4 x Drop-link and 2 x Anti roll bar link bushes.
ML performance is a good source..And where i bought mine.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
Neil is a helpful fellow...
Hope this helps...Ziga
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