Nose Cone Supports???
Nose Cone Supports???
Author
Discussion

FrenchTVR

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

295 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Ok guys,

What is supporting the nose cone in your Wedge?

I ask as my 350 currently has two flat bars that appear to have been welded onto the front of the chassis as an after thought, see pics below. These go up and bolt through the shell cross beam in front of the radiator.
The replacement 400 chassis that I have does not have these, but does have a sleeved hole through the end transom.
I am interested to see pics and here from others how their nose cones are supported. I am hoping t oimprove on hte current set-up when I change the chassis in the winter.







Cheers,

Mick

wedg1e

27,032 posts

293 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Mick:
I was looking at SteC's D plate 280 (400-style chassis, deseamed shell) t'other day and I noticed the same thing... although on his car IIRC the struts are bolted, not welded to the chassis.
If I remember correctly, the shell normally rests on the forward-most cross-rail of the chassis, with a rubber mount at each end. It looks to me as though there's an area of GRP 'missing' from yours and SteC's cars that the earlier ones have... presumably the struts are to make up for this.

Ian

FrenchTVR

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

295 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
I thought you might be along quite soon

I seem to remeber talking to the local TVR dealer when I first started looking for a Wedge, and being told that the very early ones didn't have any kind of support for the nose area. After a while it caused the nose to drop slightly and caused cracks to appear at the upper most point of the wheel arces where it was flexing too much.

wedg1e

27,032 posts

293 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
FrenchTVR said:
I thought you might be along quite soon

I seem to remeber talking to the local TVR dealer when I first started looking for a Wedge, and being told that the very early ones didn't have any kind of support for the nose area. After a while it caused the nose to drop slightly and caused cracks to appear at the upper most point of the wheel arces where it was flexing too much.


Hmmmm... I dunno about that. As far as I can tell, my 390 is the same as my Tasmin was.
The Esprit is rather scary: there's nothing holding the front end forward of the axle line..

gf350

805 posts

294 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
wedg1e said:
Mick:
I was looking at SteC's D plate 280 (400-style chassis, deseamed shell) t'other day and I noticed the same thing... although on his car IIRC the struts are bolted, not welded to the chassis.
If I remember correctly, the shell normally rests on the forward-most cross-rail of the chassis, with a rubber mount at each end. It looks to me as though there's an area of GRP 'missing' from yours and SteC's cars that the earlier ones have... presumably the struts are to make up for this.

Ian


Mines the same, rests on front of chassis and no struts or any sign that there ever were any.
GF

wedg1e

27,032 posts

293 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
I wonder if the shell was changed to improve engine bay cooling?

FrenchTVR

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

295 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
Can anyone take a few pictures of the front area similar to the one's posted so that I can compare them please? Either post them up or email them to mick@mickbarrett.com

Cheers.

AM400

1,196 posts

291 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
I can take a few pictures of my 400 tomorrow Mick if thats any good?

Andy

FrenchTVR

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

295 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
AM400 said:
I can take a few pictures of my 400 tomorrow Mick if thats any good?

Andy


Yes please Andy

wedg1e

27,032 posts

293 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
I had a go, but with the engine, pipes and PAS etc in the way, you can't see anything from above.
I might be able to get the front end in the air and show you from underneath...

gf350

805 posts

294 months

Saturday 23rd April 2005
quotequote all
Mines in bits also, I've taken some pictures, send me a message through my profile with an e-mail address and I'll send them to you.
Cheers,
GF

wedgenut

12 posts

265 months

Sunday 24th April 2005
quotequote all
What is missing in your car is a piece of innovative technologylywood. My 280 and 350 both have a piece of plywood, next to the headlightpods. Its thick, heavy and ugly. But it works. It's the basic TVR filosophy.




The Colonel

331 posts

265 months

Sunday 24th April 2005
quotequote all
Mine(1991 450SE)has got the plywood as well, about 12mm thick from what I remember seeing the last time I was tending to rad hose. The ply has a lot of strength when taking a load end on, like the web of an I beam.

wedg1e

27,032 posts

293 months

Sunday 24th April 2005
quotequote all
Hmmm. From Mick's pictures, I'd say the plywood webs are there, but the GRP section that ties them together and forms a duct for the radiatior, isn't.

grahamw48

9,944 posts

266 months

Monday 25th April 2005
quotequote all
wedgenut said:
What is missing in your car is a piece of innovative technologylywood. My 280 and 350 both have a piece of plywood, next to the headlightpods. Its thick, heavy and ugly. But it works. It's the basic TVR filosophy.






I wonder if the later models moved on to MDF.

FrenchTVR

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

295 months

Monday 25th April 2005
quotequote all
wedg1e said:
Hmmm. From Mick's pictures, I'd say the plywood webs are there, but the GRP section that ties them together and forms a duct for the radiatior, isn't.


I think you are right there Ian. I was looking at it yesterday and the bottom section just behind the headlamps seems to be very ragged. It has had the two diagonal tubes repaired in the past and I am wondering if it was cut away to allow access.

A big thanks to Andy & Gareth for their photos. Showed me the right bits to check on mine. Guess I'll be doing a bit of fibreglassing when I fit the new chassis