About to take the plunge! (but have a couple of questions)

[zagamuffin]

Hello all,

About to buy a wedge.

Nice car but the following needs looking at/doing:

1. Manifold is blowing

2. Knocking noise from front centre of car. Could this be compliance bushes?

Cheers

[FrenchTVR]

zagamuffin said:

Hello all, About to buy a wedge. Nice car but the following needs looking at/doing: 1. Manifold is blowing

Not too bad a job, gaskets are only a £ or so each. If it's hte actual manifolds that are knackered then replacemtns are easily available from
ACT
or
RT Racing

zagamuffin said:

2. Knocking noise from front centre of car. Could this be compliance bushes?

Not very specific on exactly where in the front centre. Could well be the steering rack mountings, anti-roll bar bushes, tie-rod bushes, manifolds touching hte chassis, normally when the engine mounts are knackered.

Again, not to serious.

Do check the chassis out-riggers under the sills for rust & rot.

Welcome to the club

[pwd95]

zagamuffin said:

2. Knocking noise from front centre of car. Could this be compliance bushes?

My 350 used to "creak" at the front end over uneven surfaces at slow speeds. It was the anti roll bar bushes. A bit of wd40 problem solved.

[jmorgan]

Agree with checking for rust. Get in deep and dirty checking the chassis. Look in all the dark and damp recesses and dirt traps. Have a prod with a screwdriver, within reason of course.

Get it up on ramps and have a good old butchers at the obvious. Compliance bushes are easy to get a look at.

>> Edited by jmorgan on Monday 26th September 16:27

[Wedged1]

What are the compliance bushes and where are they as my car makes a clonking sound coming from the centre of the car.

[jmorgan]

Wedged1 said:

What are the compliance bushes and where are they as my car makes a clonking sound coming from the centre of the car.

There is a bar that goes from the lower swinging arm to the chassis. It passes through the chassis and is threaded with doughnut rubber (original?) bushes either side of the chassis and big washers and nuts holding it all together.

Put opposite lock on to clear the view, look under the car and follow the rod from the swinging arm and its where it goes through the front of the chassis.

[simon2o_oo]

Cheers guys,

Don't think I'm going to be able to get it up on a ramp though.

What can I check for play (whilst the bonnet is open, underneath, etc.) to see what the knocking might be?

Cheers!

[Number 7]

simon2o_oo said:

Cheers guys, Don't think I'm going to be able to get it up on a ramp though. What can I check for play (whilst the bonnet is open, underneath, etc.) to see what the knocking might be? Cheers!

As French TVR said earlier, one of the things it could be is the ARB mounts - it's a fairly shoddy fixing through the chassis, and not uncommon for the clamps to break or detach from the chassis. Would certainly cause a clonk, especially when cornering. Easily seen from above with the bonnet open. Easy and cheap to fix.

7.

[tallbloke]

simon2o_oo said:

Don't think I'm going to be able to get it up on a ramp though.

Take a jack and some axle stands or wood blocks so you can get underneath to check the chassis. You'll be sorry you didn't otherwise.

[wedg1e]

tallbloke said:

simon2o_oo said: Don't think I'm going to be able to get it up on a ramp though. Take a jack and some axle stands or wood blocks so you can get underneath to check the chassis. You'll be sorry you didn't otherwise.

Yah, you old misery! Just buy the bloody car and live with the consequences, works for me!

Anyone wanna buy the genuine factory prototype Aston Vantage, the one with the Lada engine...?

Or the Lotus Esprit V6 4x4 diesel, converted to LPG and one of only three cars that were cut and shut in Wigan that weekend?

[FrenchTVR]

wedg1e said:

Yah, you old misery! Just buy the bloody car and live with the consequences, works for me!

Absolutely, the only way to buy a car, view it at night, in the rain whilst wearing sunglasses(preferably rose tinted ones)

[grahamw48]

Cheap running costs too!

See if you can get him to throw in the 4 axle stands.

[tallbloke]

grahamw48 said:

Cheap running costs too!

Especially if it's undriveable for the first few years.

[zagamuffin]

Think I'll just take a screwdriver and have a poke about (easier!). I did notice last time that a lot of the chassis has the original paint on it which must be a good sign.

[jmorgan]

zagamuffin said:

Think I'll just take a screwdriver and have a poke about (easier!). I did notice last time that a lot of the chassis has the original paint on it which must be a good sign.

Depends......