Is a slight smell of GRP/resin usual?

[Niftynoo]

Just in the process of returning to the TVR fold (Tasmin 350 for 14 years and now changing my VX220 after 9 years)with a Tuscan. Found an early Mk1 with 4.3 TVR Power warranted rebuild, Nitrons, flipflop paint and almost as new interior. So far, so bloody good - however, after only 15 mins of 2nd test drive the cabin was smelling slightly of GRP or glue fumes which made me feel a little queesy. Didn't notice it in earlier test drive of this and another car, but drive it harder second time around. (Never had it in my old Wedge).
There was quite a cold draught coming up from under the steering column which may mean there's a hole into the engine bay??
Really love the car as the colour is the best ever seen on a Tuscan. Is it just this car or is it a common trait?
Constructive comments most welcome!

[m4tti]

The draught wasn't the steering wheel vents sending out cold air was it.

[valhalla]

The Resin smell is quite normal, as Polyester resin is still curing twenty years on. I love it,having worked in fiberglass boat building for 18 years. The reason you could not smell it in your Tasmin is because everything was stuck in with wall paper paste made out of self raising flower and water. I'm only joking,but that's not far from the truth....Hehe
Enjoy your new Tuscan.I've only just got my first one,and its fecking awsome.
Dave

Edited by valhalla on Saturday 6th April 10:43

[Niftynoo]

Unfortunately not that simple as I made sure they were closed. I did read on another post somewhere that the pipe that feeds the two vents could have come disconneted lower down(??). Unfortunately the car is 200 miles away so it's not that easy to have another look or sniff!

[Ayahuasca]

My Griff had a distinct resin smell, part of the attraction!

[wongthecorrupter]

I have had 3 tvr's and they have all smelt like hot glue

[natben]

I had a 2001 Tuscan and now a 2003 Cerbera and I have never had a smell of glue /resin in them but plenty of people do, If you can smell it then just get spinning up the rears and see if burning rubber smells any better!!

[blueg33]

Cold air used to come through the bulkhead into the drivers footwell on my Tusc (very noticeable in the winter!). I removed the carpet and too a mastic gun to the holes. Job Jobbed

My Tusc smelt slightly of resin but nothing like as bad as my 15 year old G33 and my 25 year old boat. My 25 year old Alpine doesnt smell of resin at all, but I suspect that the processe used by Alpine were much more advanced eg panels cut by water jet etc

[wongthecorrupter]

blueg33 said:

Cold air used to come through the bulkhead into the drivers footwell on my Tusc (very noticeable in the winter!). I removed the carpet and too a mastic gun to the holes. Job Jobbed

My Tusc smelt slightly of resin but nothing like as bad as my 15 year old G33 and my 25 year old boat. My 25 year old Alpine doesnt smell of resin at all, but I suspect that the processe used by Alpine were much more advanced eg panels cut by water jet etc

I need to do that, my right foot gets very cold

[Richie C]

And mine. Time to get my head in the foot well again.

[m3jappa]

Mine doesn't but I'd like it to.

[scruggs]

The smell of resin might indicate recent work on the body. Have you enquired about any recent GRP fixes? We had the seat mount in our Chim re-inforced a while back and the smell lingered for months.

[Niftynoo]

scruggs said:

The smell of resin might indicate recent work on the body. Have you enquired about any recent GRP fixes? We had the seat mount in our Chim re-inforced a while back and the smell lingered for months.

Someone else suggested that so it's a fair point, I will try and speak to the last owner to see if he has had any such repairs or indeed noticed the smell - thanks for that.

[Niftynoo]

scruggs said:

The smell of resin might indicate recent work on the body. Have you enquired about any recent GRP fixes? We had the seat mount in our Chim re-inforced a while back and the smell lingered for months.

Someone else suggested that so it's a fair point, I will try and speak to the last owner to see if he has had any such repairs or indeed noticed the smell - thanks for that.

[Robertjp]

Mine smells of leather theses days - much money spent on liquid leather air fresheners...

I love the smell of leather (...)

[blueg33]

Robertjp said:

Mine smells of leather theses days - much money spent on liquid leather air fresheners...

I love the smell of leather (...)

Here is a tip - buy a leather off cut from a market on somewhere and attach it under a seat - car will smell of new leather, when the smell fades do the same again

[nrick]

mine generally smells of hydrocarbons........

[Walford]

Cabin air quality is an issue on Tuscans, this is because of were the air enters the heater box, behind N/S indicator

i intend to mod mine, make sure the N/S bulb change access panel is sealed

[Niftynoo]

Walford said:

Cabin air quality is an issue on Tuscans, this is because of were the air enters the heater box, behind N/S indicator

i intend to mod mine, make sure the N/S bulb change access panel is sealed

Thanks Walford, I've actually decided to buy another car which doesn't seem to smell at all and has a/c. Will note your suggestion just in case there's an issue here as well though. Roll on Tuesday - D (delivery) day!