MOT failure - Outriggers

[.Woody]

Happy New Year folks!
Only just back off my holiday yesterday, first job I had to do was to take the wedge in for a service and MOT at APM. Andy's just called me to tell me it failed its MOT mainly due to excessive corrosion on the outriggers, and its a body up job. He doesnt touch the wedge chassis anymore and only knows of RT or Peninsula who may help. Does anyone know somewhere a bit closer to Hampshire?
Not sure if the price of this job may also be worth the value of the car

Cheers
Woody

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Could you not DIY.

[GV]

Relax....

1. It's not a body off job - there's a few of us - me included that have changed their outriggers with body on.

2. The replacement tubular mild steel is relatively cheap to buy and can be cut to length along with the body mounting plates. You just need to find where to buy it. Most fabricators will have some in stock if not it can be ordered.

3. If you are able to chop off the old outriggers before cleaning up the remaining steel - the replacement parts can be welded in by a mobile welding specialist. Make sure you get a few quotes first with a gaurentee of their work once completed.

4. If you decide to go down the DIY route keep the car on level ground, chock the wheels and remember - safety is paramount.

[Gandalf]

Sorry to hear the news about yer riggers matey
(serves you right for swanning of on holiday while the rest of us are at work in my view)
Anyway for what its worth I had Dulford Autos do mine on the 400 last year (much nearer to you than me!) and can only say an absolutely superb (and strong) job was done by Richard and his band - 11/10 if you want the job doing properly I`d give Richard a ring
(But only pay him if he agrees to put on a decent display at BBWF this year) - otherwise take it absolutely anywhere.

[rev-erend]

I think the extra weight of the SEAC rear spoiler has caused the issue. Your model was not designed for it.

Remove it immediately.



Dave Batty has a local guy would does it .. that's what he told me .. about £600 per side he said (I think..).

[adam quantrill]

GV said:

Relax....

1. It's not a body off job - there's a few of us - me included that have changed their outriggers with body on.

True for a 350i, not so true for a 400SE.

On the 400SE there's a square section tube and no separate sill covers. Rev did his - you might be able to do it easier by chopping off the outrigger-chassis joining tubes about half-way along then fabricating a new outrigger with new tubes and sleeving them into the chopped-off stumps.

Rev - did you manage it without lifing the body?

[rev-erend]

Yep - did not need to lift the body off..

But you do have to make the whole E shaped pieco to fit.. no problem with a few tack welds.

[.Woody]

Thanks guys, its not a job I could do myself unfortunately, I would not have the confidence for such a big job, and to hope it would pass thru an MOT.
Have you any details of Dave Batty Rev, and where abouts is he?
Cheers
Woody

[mikeb]

You don't have to lift the body unless you are just trying to replace small areas of the outer outrigger tubes where you get into situations where you have to start chopping huge holes in the footwell GRP to gain access to the corners and end up having not enough access to complete the job. You could get away with a partial lift of course.....

If you are doing a proper job however chop the tube half way along the inboard tubes and replace the lot. Also gives you enough room to have half a chance of completing the welds at the top of the tubes.

The other reason to have the job done properly however is that Dulford have a ex-factory jig I believe.......? Other option is to sell the BBW and get a 350i and then get Wedg1e to do the job with the sills off! ;-)

MikeyB

[gsx600]

Rev

I reckon you should offer your services for £300 a side

[mikeb]

Got it.

Chop my old ones off my ex-450SE which were fabricated by Dulford using their Jig, get Rev or Wedg1e to make loads of copies (Darren won't mind I am sure) and then get Rev to go around welding them on production line stylee.

Business opportunity for '08 for sure.

Any takers? ;-)

MikeyB

[BadRedWedge]

mikeb said:

(Darren won't mind I am sure)

No problem feel free to cut up my pride and joy 450 anytime you like ... all you have to do is get past me, BadAng and a very savage cat and you can help yourself.

Any takers ??

[blaineuk]

mikeb said:

Got it.

Chop my old ones off my ex-450SE which were fabricated by Dulford using their Jig, get Rev or Wedg1e to make loads of copies (Darren won't mind I am sure) and then get Rev to go around welding them on production line stylee.

Business opportunity for '08 for sure.

Any takers? ;-)

MikeyB

the body is off my 400 waiting for out rigger repairs, if any one has the kit/knowledge to do this then you are welcome to use my car as a jig/guinnea pig

[rev-erend]

gsx600 said:

Rev

I reckon you should offer your services for £300 a side

No thanks - it's much too hard work..

[rev-erend]

.Woody said:

Thanks guys, its not a job I could do myself unfortunately, I would not have the confidence for such a big job, and to hope it would pass thru an MOT.
Have you any details of Dave Batty Rev, and where abouts is he?
Cheers
Woody

01483 811995
nr Guildford.

[rev-erend]

mikeb said:

Got it.

Chop my old ones off my ex-450SE which were fabricated by Dulford using their Jig, get Rev or Wedg1e to make loads of copies (Darren won't mind I am sure) and then get Rev to go around welding them on production line stylee.

Business opportunity for '08 for sure.

Any takers? ;-)

MikeyB

Mike

I had thought of making out rigger kits but there are just loads of small bits of this and that to be made before any welding can be done ..

All the parts would need ideally to be lazer or water cut before most of it could be welder .. just leaving the main tubes to be tacked then fully welded on..

and in short I could not be bothered to phone around loads of Eng. companies to see if it was worth doing..

Now the Griff and Chim are also falling to bits and are much easier to make.

[combine]

Not sure how you welded the E shape onto the stubs Rev , what did you do about the footwell GRP which sits right on top of said stubs I think ? Hope my outriggers will last a while but may have to do this in the future if they rot from the top !

[adam quantrill]

When welding underneath I find that a nice big sheet of aly in between dissipates heat very effectively, and there is no danger of accidentally welding the whole lot together.

If you wet it down too, the water will boil off taking any extra heat away long before the GRP gets overly hot.

[mikeb]

When I had my lot done it was really worrying how bendy, flexible, lite, flimsy and rotten my outriggers were!! They literally fell to bits.

If some of you guys knew what was under the GRP sills it would turn you're poo white!

MikeyB

[combine]

adam quantrill said:

When welding underneath I find that a nice big sheet of aly in between dissipates heat very effectively, and there is no danger of accidentally welding the whole lot together.

If you wet it down too, the water will boil off taking any extra heat away long before the GRP gets overly hot.

Have visions of a very nasty fire under the wedge which would be very difficult to put out !