400SE Chassis problems

[Lesliehedley]

Help! I’ve got a 400SE that needs some welding/fabrication doing to the front upper suspension mounts. I am based in Newcastle upon Tyne so I have tried the nearest TVR specialists but they all say the same. The body needs to come off to do the welding and they don’t want to take the body off. Obviously if the body is removed then a full chassis restoration would be logical but that’s a huge job according to them and would cost more than the car is worth. I tried Central RT and they don’t have the space and are too busy.

Can anyone suggest who might be able to do the welding without the body being removed or if there is no other way, someone that could do a full chassis restoration? I’m running out of options.

[Lesliehedley]

Thanks Adrian. The bridging bar was put in by me to strengthen it when it collapsed. It was my first piece of welding ever so I don't have much confidence in it. I'm looking for a proper fix. I've seen the Southways album. I use it a lot for reference when I'm working on my car. I've tried contacting them but don't get an answer. I'm not sure they are still in business.

[Lesliehedley]

Thanks Adrian that's great. I don't know who TVR Classics are. Do you have any contact details?

[Lesliehedley]

I've always thought this was a weak area of the chassis. I would have expected the triangular section to be at least 3mm steel but it appears to be 2mm. Perhaps I should use the parts of the triangle Duncan can provide but I might have them beefed up somehow, and add longer tangs for the spring to sit on.

[Lesliehedley]

Having just re-read Adrian's post, does that mean that pre 400 chassis' don't have the tangs to keep the springs in place? If so, what on earth keeps them in place?

[Lesliehedley]

No, I don't know Byker28i. Who are they? Can you give me any contact details please?

[Lesliehedley]

Wedge1: Thanks for the tip. I know Neil at TVRservices. Unfortunately when I contacted him his waiting list was two years and growing. Although most of the other specialists that are capable of a body off restoration seem to be very busy at the minute as well. Hence my desperation.

[Lesliehedley]

Wedge1. No, I haven't made any progress on this. No one seems to want to take the body off a 400SE it appears. They all say it is a lot of work and are too busy at the moment. I don't have the space to do it myself unfortunately.

My best bet at the moment is to address the weakest area I am aware of which is the upper spring and shock absorber mounting on the front suspension. I am hoping I can acquire two OEM mounts from Adrian@ once he has found someone who can make drawings from the originals so that more can be made in the future. Fingers crossed.

[Lesliehedley]

No luck so far. I'm hoping to talk to someone next week who might be willing to tackle my chassis. But if it goes ahead I'm having to ship my car 325 miles to the other end of the country.

[Lesliehedley]

Well, I've finally got my car booked in with Howat Engineering next March. So there are people out there willing to tackle wedge chassis if you keep looking.