body removal

[mikek]

Looking for some info on removing the body on my 280i. I really want to get in there and give the frame a good cleaning and painting. Could you gentlemen provide me with some insight with the removal process? From what I have seen looking under the car today it looks fairly straight forward, however the area around the outriggers look difficult. How do you remove the body around the outriggers, do I have to cut the body?? Please send your thoughts.
Thank you
Mike

[shpub]

If you car as pop rivetted sills, then the can be removed to clean the outriggers withouit removing the body. Piccies etc in the bible. Earlier cars have bonded in cills which are not so easy and will require cutting and glassing of the sills of body lifting.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[wedg1e]

shpub said:

If you car as pop rivetted sills, then the can be removed to clean the outriggers withouit removing the body. Piccies etc in the bible. Earlier cars have bonded in cills which are not so easy and will require cutting and glassing of the sills of body lifting. Steve www.tvrbooks.co.uk

Surely you mean the later cars Steve? I never heard of the early cars not having removable sills.

Mike: You might want to consider leaving the door reinforcing frames on the car, even if you take the doors off them to save weight.
As far as I recall, there are bolts at the bottom of the A and B pillars, at the front of the chassis, somewhere around the rear of the chassis and maybe some under the floor, either side of the chassis spine.
You'd need the wiring, fuel lines, steering, brake lines, sill covers disconnecting or removing as appropriate, as a minimum. If the rad is in the nose you'll need the coolant hoses off too.
Four big strong lads should be able to lift the shell off, it would be easier (obviously) with interior trim, seats, spare wheel, tailgate glass etc removed first...

Sooner you than me...

Ian

[grahamw48]

You've seen mine Ian.

Built 1980, chassis # 10, and removeable sills.

[mikek]

Thanks for the help, i got the sills off today. not as bad as i thought it would be. the body removal looks fairly stright forward. Why does the factory fill one of the sills with spray foam? that was the hardest part about the removal of one of the sills. The other one came off w/o a hitch in about 1/4 the time.
thanks again
mike

[wedg1e]

mikek said:

Why does the factory fill one of the sills with spray foam? mike

Hmmm... never seen that! Probably an 'aftermarket' mod...

[iainjones]

Take a look at www.geocities.com/tvr_tasmin_1980 i've only got as far as takeing the body off on the website. got tons of photos if you need any more help.

Regards
Iain

[mikeb]

Nice site, keep it coming.

MikeB

[shpub]

Some of the cars had the sills bonded but not all. I suspect in an effort to stop them rattling... Pop rivets or self tappers are good.