Chop it! The chassis that is, to get timing cover off

[jonbarrett]

Seems like lots of owners are having to take their engines out to get the timing cover off due to the position of a chassis tube. I've not taken a look to see if it could be done but would it be possible to simply cut the tube out and replace it with a clamp-on design.

[itiejim]

Yep, absolutely no reason why not. Gives you the opportunity to make the bar removable in the future as well.

[Gazzab]

You will have to declare to your insurer as it is a modification (and quite a serious one). I suspect many insurers will decline the opportunity.

[vroom]

What about welding a new tube in place after cutting out the old?

Easy top and bottom access to get at it for welding.

Surely a lot more stress than lifting the lump out?

[fatjon]

That bit of chassis is largely responsible for keeping the the top suspension mounts from bending inwards when cornering. It's not just there for stopping you getting the timing cover off. There are corners to cut and corners not to cut. I would respectfully suggest that if you lack the skills to remove the engine you might be better off not attempting to repair it or bodge up the chassis. Don't want to appear harsh or rude but I would run a mile from a near 200mph super car that had had it's chassis butchered to save lifting the engine out for a repair.

[itiejim]

Point noted, however, there us no reason that TVR couldn't have positioned the brace half an inch further forward, it was just a case of p!ss poor planning which resulted in the engine having to come out for basic maintenance. There is no reason why a properly engineered alternative couldn't be executed. However, as you say, if it's a quick 'cut and shut' job by someone incapable or too lazy to do it properly then it should be avoided at all costs!

There are also two designs of cross member. The early cars have an asymetric affair with one diagonal brace. This makes it very easy to remove the cross member and either reweld or make it removable. The later cars had a symetrical one where two diagonal braces meet the cross member in the centre, this would he much harder, if not impossible, to modify satisfactorily.

[fatjon]

Yes it is a crap design. The more I look at this car the more I wonder if putting in the AJP was an afterthought. Those exhaust manifolds are way to close to a load of flammable platic and the chassis rails. Several people have demonstrated that you can extract another 50HP+ by not having them bend 90 degrees right after the port (the F3 car is one example). I just can't imagine that it's that way because someone thought long and hard about it and wanted it that way.

[jonbarrett]

I read recently that one TVR specialist is producing a jig to start remanufacturing new Cerbera chassis. I wonder if they took the opportunity to reposition this tube to allow timing cover removal. How far would it need to move. Is it mm or cms?

[Jonnie B]

fatjon said:

Yes it is a crap design. The more I look at this car the more I wonder if putting in the AJP was an afterthought. Those exhaust manifolds are way to close to a load of flammable platic and the chassis rails. Several people have demonstrated that you can extract another 50HP+ by not having them bend 90 degrees right after the port (the F3 car is one example). I just can't imagine that it's that way because someone thought long and hard about it and wanted it that way.

I think the originale engine was going to be a rover V8 as in the chim & griff.

[C3BER]

Mmmmmmm now let me think. Simple answer: labor hours at the dealers against cost of parts.

[m4tti]

Can the AJP be removed from above with a crane. I went to look at a Tuscan this week as the S6 can be removed from above. I read an article which said it can only be lowered out which would be a pain.

[itiejim]

Yes, out the top, no problem - you couldn't get it out of the bottom.

[m4tti]

Well that's what I thought. This page says different. It's so hard sorting out fact and fiction on the web.

http://www.tvr-webmart.co.uk/model_guide/tvr_model...

[JensenA]

m4tti said:

Well that's what I thought. This page says different. It's so hard sorting out fact and fiction on the web.

http://www.tvr-webmart.co.uk/model_guide/tvr_model...

The AJP can only be lifted out if the exhaust manifolds are on. If you remove the manifolds then it may be possible to drop the engine out, but I'm pretty sure it would still be too wide, and I can't think why you would want to do it that way.