Early FHC Chassis?
Early FHC Chassis?
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Discussion

Mr Tank

Original Poster:

5,799 posts

305 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
Hi

I have recently acquired the 30th Tasmin FHC S1

Looking in the bible it says see that my car would have a Low line chassis?

Does anybody know what the differances are between that and a normal chassis.

Andy

hallsie

2,185 posts

250 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
Is it anything to do with the chassis rails being able to take a V8 as well as the 280i? That meaning that the rails are a little bit wider?

Also, what confuses me is that my FHC was registered on a 'W' plate, but as its the 2+2 it has an S2 body!

When did the S1 bodys stop and the S2 bodys start??, by the looks of it there seems to be quite an overlap?!!?

Confused...

Stu

Edited by hallsie on Friday 4th February 21:15

Mr Tank

Original Poster:

5,799 posts

305 months

Friday 4th February 2011
quotequote all
concidered
hallsie said:
Is it anything to do with the chassis rails being able to take a V8 as well
Stu
Hi Stu

I don't think so, it was made in 1980 a long time before a V8 was considered.

Andy

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

312 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Hi, IIRC (this is goign back 10years or so) I wondered the same thing about my chassis...er #33...if memory serves it's something to do with where the exhaust goes, under or over the gearbox? I'll dig out what details I can this evening, got a clutch master cylinder to do battle with on the daily smoker ready for tomorrow morning.

Regards
Iain

James MK

556 posts

281 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
hallsie said:
Is it anything to do with the chassis rails being able to take a V8 as well as the 280i? That meaning that the rails are a little bit wider?

Also, what confuses me is that my FHC was registered on a 'W' plate, but as its the 2+2 it has an S2 body!

When did the S1 bodys stop and the S2 bodys start??, by the looks of it there seems to be quite an overlap?!!?

Confused...

Stu

Edited by hallsie on Friday 4th February 21:15
The +2 body was launched at the motorshow (October) 1980 to run alongside the S1 2 seater, it was then adopted for the two seater and called S2 the following spring so there were a few month's overlap. Only visible difference from outside is the position of the fuel filler.

James MK

556 posts

281 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Chassis 33 said:
Hi, IIRC (this is goign back 10years or so) I wondered the same thing about my chassis...er #33...if memory serves it's something to do with where the exhaust goes, under or over the gearbox? I'll dig out what details I can this evening, got a clutch master cylinder to do battle with on the daily smoker ready for tomorrow morning.

Regards
Iain
Could well be right. I think on very early cars the exhaust ran above the chassis rails at some point, though I've never actually looked at one like that. Mine runs under the chassis on either side leaving very little clearance. 90mm from the downpipes unladen.

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
I was told maaaany years ago that a few early cars had the exhaust main centre box mounted ABOVE the propshaft. Sounds unlikely to me, but the teller said that the excess cabin heat led to the repositioning of it. All I can say is that if it were true, the pipework must have been horrifically tortuous.

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

312 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Ian, thats pretty much the story as I recall it, must say its been a while and I can't remember which is where on mine though!

Regards
Iain

Big Daft Lad

1,387 posts

217 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
My car has the silencer above the propshaft, but my car started life as a 200 and had the V6 fitted later. I assume it either had a custom exhaust made for it or they fitted an early 280 exhaust.

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Big Daft Lad said:
My car has the silencer above the propshaft, but my car started life as a 200 and had the V6 fitted later. I assume it either had a custom exhaust made for it or they fitted an early 280 exhaust.
Bizarre. I wouldn't have thought there was room above there... maybe more so on the V6 though. To be fair it's almost as pants having it underslung, it's the lowest point on my car. Set fire to the grass in the camping area at Cadwell a few years ago hehe

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Chassis 33 said:
Ian, thats pretty much the story as I recall it, must say its been a while and I can't remember which is where on mine though!

Regards
Iain
Maybe it was you that told me wink

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

312 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
I've told many people many things, you cant prove anything y'honour judge

Regards
Iain

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Chassis 33 said:
I've told many people many things, you cant prove anything y'honour judge

Regards
Iain
Notwithstanding the heruntofore mentioned reference, can my learned friend categorically state that what he thinks I heard him say is not what he intended me to hear, and thus, quid pro quo, the intent to habeas corpus is not in fact a clear case of mens rea? In Regina vs. B'stard (QB, 45106, Spring Quarter Sessions) it was held that what the witness said is not necessarily evidence. I find in favour of the plaintiff; all costs to be paid by Mr. Chassis biggrin

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

312 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
Ya wot luv?

york33

995 posts

292 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
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Mine runs over the propshaft too, told you it gets hot inside the car Ian!

Dave

taz turbo

685 posts

280 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
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In my first wedge the exhaust also ran above the prop, HOT! I used to melt the gear stick gaiter and electric window switches regularly. I finally wrapped the box and pipes in ceramic fibre, problem solved. But the paint was already gone from the chassis!

Chris.

Mr Tank

Original Poster:

5,799 posts

305 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
James MK said:
Could well be right. I think on very early cars the exhaust ran above the chassis rails at some point, though I've never actually looked at one like that. Mine runs under the chassis on either side leaving very little clearance. 90mm from the downpipes unladen.
Hi

Looking at and quoting from the bible "The exhust systems used on the early Tasmins had a single box located under the prop shaft" (Like mine) In the mid to late 81 the box was was then located over the prop shaft. which caused a build up of heat in the cabin, causing some customer dissatisfaction! I bet!!!!

Well that my be what the low line chassis is, were the exhust ran!

Andy

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Sunday 6th February 2011
quotequote all
york33 said:
Mine runs over the propshaft too, told you it gets hot inside the car Ian!

Dave
I think we need to see it at Wedgefest Dave, to make a fair assessment... wink

york33

995 posts

292 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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Wedg1e said:
I think we need to see it at Wedgefest Dave, to make a fair assessment... wink
Ok ok, I asked for that I guess biggrin

I need to clear the decks first before the Wedge is allowed out, think it may be time to get rid of the Midget(£600), and the boat(£6000), anyone want to buy one!?

york33

995 posts

292 months

Monday 7th February 2011
quotequote all
Returning to the hot bits! I foolishly put a nice shiny alloy knob on and by the end of a long run was painful to change gear, certainly reverse was! Melted gear lever gaiter, dead window switches, etc.

I think it needs rerouting really, but it's stainless and without an entire new system, manifolds, etc, that's not going to happen, so wrapping it could well be the best option. Only trouble with that is it's going to make other parts of it even hotter, so you'd have to watch where it goes further back......