Chimaera needs chassis rebuild
Discussion
Dear All
Nine years and 99000 miles of daily use have finally caught up with my beloved Chim - it's just failed its MOT on chassis rust: I had a look when it was up on a ramp and boy it's bad... The front O/S bit was welded up last MOT but now the other 3 corners have gone.
If I'm going to save my P&J from the scrapheap it needs a body-off chassis rebuild. Trawling this site and TVRCC there are a couple of specialists mentioned as doing this kind of work but not many and most of the links are oldish.
Has anyone had this job done to a Chim/Griff/Cerb in the last few years? If so - by whom, what were they like and how much did it cost? Obviously there comes a point where it's uneconomic to fix for the value of the car, but it's otherwise in splendid nick and I love it too much to be entirely rational about that!
All comments gratefully received.
Thanks.
Frazer
p.s. I'm on the South Coast but distance not important.
Nine years and 99000 miles of daily use have finally caught up with my beloved Chim - it's just failed its MOT on chassis rust: I had a look when it was up on a ramp and boy it's bad... The front O/S bit was welded up last MOT but now the other 3 corners have gone.
If I'm going to save my P&J from the scrapheap it needs a body-off chassis rebuild. Trawling this site and TVRCC there are a couple of specialists mentioned as doing this kind of work but not many and most of the links are oldish.
Has anyone had this job done to a Chim/Griff/Cerb in the last few years? If so - by whom, what were they like and how much did it cost? Obviously there comes a point where it's uneconomic to fix for the value of the car, but it's otherwise in splendid nick and I love it too much to be entirely rational about that!
All comments gratefully received.
Thanks.
Frazer
p.s. I'm on the South Coast but distance not important.
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Vandervecken said:
Dear All
Nine years and 99000 miles of daily use have finally caught up with my beloved Chim - it's just failed its MOT on chassis rust: I had a look when it was up on a ramp and boy it's bad... The front O/S bit was welded up last MOT but now the other 3 corners have gone.
If I'm going to save my P&J from the scrapheap it needs a body-off chassis rebuild. Trawling this site and TVRCC there are a couple of specialists mentioned as doing this kind of work but not many and most of the links are oldish.
Has anyone had this job done to a Chim/Griff/Cerb in the last few years? If so - by whom, what were they like and how much did it cost? Obviously there comes a point where it's uneconomic to fix for the value of the car, but it's otherwise in splendid nick and I love it too much to be entirely rational about that!
All comments gratefully received.
Thanks.
Frazer
p.s. I'm on the South Coast but distance not important.
Check the Griffith pages there are quite a few people who have done the work themselves, its relatively straight forward.The principle will be the same for the Chimaera. If you dont fancy doing the work yourself i can recommend a company in Middlesex. PM me for details if your interested.Nine years and 99000 miles of daily use have finally caught up with my beloved Chim - it's just failed its MOT on chassis rust: I had a look when it was up on a ramp and boy it's bad... The front O/S bit was welded up last MOT but now the other 3 corners have gone.
If I'm going to save my P&J from the scrapheap it needs a body-off chassis rebuild. Trawling this site and TVRCC there are a couple of specialists mentioned as doing this kind of work but not many and most of the links are oldish.
Has anyone had this job done to a Chim/Griff/Cerb in the last few years? If so - by whom, what were they like and how much did it cost? Obviously there comes a point where it's uneconomic to fix for the value of the car, but it's otherwise in splendid nick and I love it too much to be entirely rational about that!
All comments gratefully received.
Thanks.
Frazer
p.s. I'm on the South Coast but distance not important.
- ********************************************
- ********************************************
I know its a long way from the south coast but RT Racing in Sheffield also do that sort of work. I guess though that you need to let the people see the car before they can quote and can't trawl it round the country so local is best if you can find somewhere OK. Good luck with the problem.
Jim
Jim
Frazer,
I have just had mine done and spent more than the cars value. It was not until the body was removed that the extent of the damage was reviled, but hopefully yours won't be that bad. For what it cost I could have gone for a much later car, maybe a 2000 model but it would still have a 7 year old chassis so I went for a new one. If you go to the Chimaera forum and look for the thread "strange door problem" all will be explained there.
Good luck,
Steve.
I have just had mine done and spent more than the cars value. It was not until the body was removed that the extent of the damage was reviled, but hopefully yours won't be that bad. For what it cost I could have gone for a much later car, maybe a 2000 model but it would still have a 7 year old chassis so I went for a new one. If you go to the Chimaera forum and look for the thread "strange door problem" all will be explained there.
Good luck,
Steve.
Daftlad said:
Sell it and buy another that has been well looked after. Its not worth the outlay.
Ehm, who'll buy a Chimaera that failed its MOT due to a chassis issue at anything but absolute rock bottom? The way I see it, by the time it's priced low enough to make it an interesting prospect for someone else, you could as well (or better) have it repaired yourself.900T-R said:
Daftlad said:
Sell it and buy another that has been well looked after. Its not worth the outlay.
Ehm, who'll buy a Chimaera that failed its MOT due to a chassis issue at anything but absolute rock bottom? The way I see it, by the time it's priced low enough to make it an interesting prospect for someone else, you could as well (or better) have it repaired yourself.To restore a car properly is a folly financially unless its worth big money when its restored. TVRs built after the 1960s don't come into that category.
What has it actually failed the MOT on Frazer????........outriggers I'm guessing!!
As some have said its not worth breaking the bank £4000 + on a rebuild of a older car unless you are in love with it and engaged.
Far better to fix the problem it failed with in the first place and move on, if you want to. If you are going to keep the car forever then thats fine.
Welding the corners (outriggers) works out at about £250 a corner without removing the body if the rest is ok. So you are looking at about £1200-1300 max for a good job.
Two Specialist do this to my knowledge, Offord TVR (Huntingdon) and Sportmotive TVR.
They will not do the job if the car has gone to far. All you need to do is ring up and make an appointment and they will advise you what your best solution is. As you can't do the work yourself you need to take the easy option, cos otherwise you will be broke in two years time cos this cost thing won't stop. £1000 or so at this stage, with bills to show of the work to a buyer should get you the money you spent back easy......thats what its all about.....Great drivng at a reasonable cost!!........Thas my theory!!!!!!!!!!!1
As some have said its not worth breaking the bank £4000 + on a rebuild of a older car unless you are in love with it and engaged.
Far better to fix the problem it failed with in the first place and move on, if you want to. If you are going to keep the car forever then thats fine.
Welding the corners (outriggers) works out at about £250 a corner without removing the body if the rest is ok. So you are looking at about £1200-1300 max for a good job.
Two Specialist do this to my knowledge, Offord TVR (Huntingdon) and Sportmotive TVR.
They will not do the job if the car has gone to far. All you need to do is ring up and make an appointment and they will advise you what your best solution is. As you can't do the work yourself you need to take the easy option, cos otherwise you will be broke in two years time cos this cost thing won't stop. £1000 or so at this stage, with bills to show of the work to a buyer should get you the money you spent back easy......thats what its all about.....Great drivng at a reasonable cost!!........Thas my theory!!!!!!!!!!!1
Edited by gadgit on Saturday 17th November 20:20
Daftlad said:
900T-R said:
Daftlad said:
Sell it and buy another that has been well looked after. Its not worth the outlay.
Ehm, who'll buy a Chimaera that failed its MOT due to a chassis issue at anything but absolute rock bottom? The way I see it, by the time it's priced low enough to make it an interesting prospect for someone else, you could as well (or better) have it repaired yourself.To restore a car properly is a folly financially unless its worth big money when its restored. TVRs built after the 1960s don't come into that category.
Regards,
Steve.
Daftlad said:
To restore a car properly is a folly financially unless its worth big money when its restored. TVRs built after the 1960s don't come into that category.
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if in 10-15 years time Griffiths, Chimaeras and Cerberas will be where the various Cobras are now in the classic sportscar marketplace.
TravelsVeryRapid said:
Mine has been looked after, it's been waxoiled annually but it still went rusty. If I was to get a newer one I would still have the same problem to worry about in a few years.
Exactly - I've been advocating the 'better the devil you know' approach for years. It's not like someone else's six year old car will be in pristine condition in three years' time if your nine year old one is troublesome. Or you must have a really low opinion of how you're looking after your own possessions relative to others... Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff