Repairs progress report and a great big thank you
Discussion
First of all, many thanks to all who gave me help and support following my crash last Friday in practice. All the words of encouragment went a long way to helping me decide to pull my finger out and start to repair the car a soon as possible.
Got the car on the ramps today to assess the damage. Found that the engine mountings had slid forward in the slotted holes and the gearbox mounting had completely sheared on the welds. All this has now been repaired and the engine and gearbox are now in the correct places and straight. I can now select all the gears and there doesn't appear to be any internel damage to the box.
The near side suspension has all been removed and I should have all the new parts to fit on Wednesday with the exception of the damper which will be with me at the end of the week.
The steering rack was also mashed but I will have a new one in the morning.
A new light weight front end is in manufacture as we speak and will be ready for me to collect on Sunday.
Lots of cutting and grinding to be done tomorrow to replace the damaged bits of chassis at the front of the car which took most of the impact.
I have found a second hand radiator from a T350 (cheap, cheap, cheap) which I will mount in the nose cone when the new front end is on.
So things are progressing and at this rate it just may be ready for Silverstone.
Also a big thanks to Track V Road who are allowing me to use their workshop facilities to carry out the work.
Got the car on the ramps today to assess the damage. Found that the engine mountings had slid forward in the slotted holes and the gearbox mounting had completely sheared on the welds. All this has now been repaired and the engine and gearbox are now in the correct places and straight. I can now select all the gears and there doesn't appear to be any internel damage to the box.
The near side suspension has all been removed and I should have all the new parts to fit on Wednesday with the exception of the damper which will be with me at the end of the week.
The steering rack was also mashed but I will have a new one in the morning.
A new light weight front end is in manufacture as we speak and will be ready for me to collect on Sunday.
Lots of cutting and grinding to be done tomorrow to replace the damaged bits of chassis at the front of the car which took most of the impact.
I have found a second hand radiator from a T350 (cheap, cheap, cheap) which I will mount in the nose cone when the new front end is on.
So things are progressing and at this rate it just may be ready for Silverstone.
Also a big thanks to Track V Road who are allowing me to use their workshop facilities to carry out the work.
Edited by NTEL on Monday 21st July 20:04
Things seem to be now progressing nicely. Have been let down on a few parts but I have now sourced them.
Collecting the new front end today so I had better learn how to do a bit of fibreglassing. Will make a start in the morning on that.
Also collecting a new steering rack today.
Suspension is now rebuilt with the exception of the Nitron which I will have towards the backend of next week.
All the frontal structural work is complete and the new radiator mounted.
Collecting the new windscreen on Monday.
So, other than a few bits of hoses, electrical stuff, and other bits and pieces, we are almost there
Collecting the new front end today so I had better learn how to do a bit of fibreglassing. Will make a start in the morning on that.
Also collecting a new steering rack today.
Suspension is now rebuilt with the exception of the Nitron which I will have towards the backend of next week.
All the frontal structural work is complete and the new radiator mounted.
Collecting the new windscreen on Monday.
So, other than a few bits of hoses, electrical stuff, and other bits and pieces, we are almost there

New steering rack is on and the car is back on 4 wheels and moves. There is a piece of 30mm square box section where the shock should be but hey, its progress 
Cut off the old redundant bodywork today and offered up the new one piece front. It fits really well. I'll be experimenting with front hinges tomorrow to try to achieve a fully tilting front end. If that works then its just a case of fitting a few panel clips and then filling in the holes in the existing panels to form bulkheads.
Still lots to do but its looking good for Silverstone.

Cut off the old redundant bodywork today and offered up the new one piece front. It fits really well. I'll be experimenting with front hinges tomorrow to try to achieve a fully tilting front end. If that works then its just a case of fitting a few panel clips and then filling in the holes in the existing panels to form bulkheads.
Still lots to do but its looking good for Silverstone.
Why didn't TVR think of a hinging forward front. It would have caught on I think. Imagine how easy it would be to work on the engine, cooling, steering, front suspension and brakes. Accident damage would be so easy to repair it would almost be worth having an accicdent to come up with the idea
Edited by thegamekeeper on Sunday 27th July 22:06
thegamekeeper said:
Why didn't TVR think of a hinging forward front. It would have caught on I think. Imagine how easy it would be to work on the engine, cooling, steering, front suspension and brakes. Accident damage would be so easy to repair it would almost be worth having an accicdent to come up with the idea
To be fair, the idea came from Ian at Track v Road, me and my lad just made it happen. Edited by thegamekeeper on Sunday 27th July 22:06

kevin63 said:
Your doing a cracking job by the looks of things Dave, I sure you will do it for Silverstone, good luck.
Still lots of work to do yet matey, but next week should bottom it. Unfortunately, for my company, we have not got much work on at the minute, so it has enabled me to have my best welders / fabricators (my son and my brother)to be on the task all week. 
Edited by NTEL on Sunday 27th July 23:00
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but at least you are OK............


Bravo! well done Dave 



