Finally started! Off comes the body
Discussion
Welcome to my rebuild of my TVR Chimaera. Im Graeme in 25 had ive own my Chimaera for 3 years now. Bought for Scotland from previous factory worker. She is a 1997 4.0HC, over the last couple of years i have been building myself a garage/workshop and looking through many off the body off projects on here. Now that it is complete i have finally started the body off of my car. The aim is to take the body off, make and install new outriggers which you will see from pictures are well and truly nackerd. Chassis is to then be powder coated, and all the necessary fuel and brake lines replaced. I would really like to have a 5 stud conversion with spiders and Tuscan brakes along with new coilovers all round but this will depend on funds. Well i know how you all like pictures so im going to try and take as many as i can and keep this updated. Anyone with any advise that can help or even is your local to me In Billingham you more that welcome to come and have a look.
Here is a picture of the car before i start, this was just after Le Mans.
Before i started i wanted the car at a good working height. Machine Mart wanted £195 for a set of 4 axle stands with a height range of 500mm to 750mm. So for £40 worth of steel i made these,
Then the car was sat on them,
First the seats came out and were stored up in the roof of the garage,
Next the radiator was drained and out it came,
Then the anti rear anti roll bar was removed and the full exhaust system came out along with the two exhaust manifolds (awful job
)
Thats as far as i got yesterday, off out into the garage now to do some more. I will update tonight, for now here is a couple of pictures of the o/s outrigger.
Here is a picture of the car before i start, this was just after Le Mans.
Before i started i wanted the car at a good working height. Machine Mart wanted £195 for a set of 4 axle stands with a height range of 500mm to 750mm. So for £40 worth of steel i made these,
Then the car was sat on them,
First the seats came out and were stored up in the roof of the garage,
Next the radiator was drained and out it came,
Then the anti rear anti roll bar was removed and the full exhaust system came out along with the two exhaust manifolds (awful job
)Thats as far as i got yesterday, off out into the garage now to do some more. I will update tonight, for now here is a couple of pictures of the o/s outrigger.
Well done so far. Just the usual advice, take pics of everything...[not just to post]....but i mean everything. You will be surprised how easily you forget exactly how things went. Stupid things like the position and route in the engine bay of the P.A.S pipes. Where the various parts of the wiring loom run,position on the chassis of the petrol and brake pipes, which is the feed and return of the 2 no heater pipes at the back of the engine, position of spacers on the engine mounts, etc, etc.
I had collected jars and containers for a few months, and as each item was removed or stripped down all the bits, nuts, bolts etc went in a labeled jar.
Be sure to carefully label every single wired connection that you remove. I forget the total number but its quite a few.
And finally good luck, keep us all posted with plenty of pics as you go, and any problems just post on here. There are quite a few of us that have done what your just starting and the pleasure and feeling once its all back together is fantastic.
I had collected jars and containers for a few months, and as each item was removed or stripped down all the bits, nuts, bolts etc went in a labeled jar.
Be sure to carefully label every single wired connection that you remove. I forget the total number but its quite a few.
And finally good luck, keep us all posted with plenty of pics as you go, and any problems just post on here. There are quite a few of us that have done what your just starting and the pleasure and feeling once its all back together is fantastic.
Thank you for all you comments, It nice to come in after working on it all day and see that people are interested in the progress.
My car came from Scotland (lots of salt on the road) and when i bought it there was signs of repairs. But the repairs had been done by sleaving, i don't like the look of this and i don't thinks its a real repair. I also believe that if the visible bits are as bad as they are then the bits that can not be seen need to be looked at hence the body lift.
Today started with trying to make room in the garage, with the list off things been taking off getting bigger some things had to my moved down to the lock up. This i had to take a picture off, it made me laugh!
My mate Jim also a Chim owner came round to lend a hand today. He went about doing so by having a fag whilst i was draining the fuel tank! What a N**B
So the tank been half full i had to drain into several fuel cans before removing the tank to gain access to body bolts.
Next was the task of undoing the hand brake cable and whilst i was down there i removed the gear linkage on the gearbox (What a T**T of a job)
Then all the electrics were disconnected from the starter motor and pulled up then the earth straps then onto the engine loom. The plenum was removed first then every wire and connector was labeled and finally layed onto the windscreen. Next the 2 fuel lines and water pipes were removed and tied back. The bonnet cable and the throttle cable removed and tied back.
Before i packed in for the day i cleaned the steering UJ and soaked it in WD40 so it will be easier to remove in the morning. I think i am just about there to take the body off, UF and a few brake pipes to be removed now.
I am sure TVR had shares in cable ties!
This is how the car sits now, more work will be done tomorrow as im off so hopfully another update tomorrow night.
My car came from Scotland (lots of salt on the road) and when i bought it there was signs of repairs. But the repairs had been done by sleaving, i don't like the look of this and i don't thinks its a real repair. I also believe that if the visible bits are as bad as they are then the bits that can not be seen need to be looked at hence the body lift.
Today started with trying to make room in the garage, with the list off things been taking off getting bigger some things had to my moved down to the lock up. This i had to take a picture off, it made me laugh!
My mate Jim also a Chim owner came round to lend a hand today. He went about doing so by having a fag whilst i was draining the fuel tank! What a N**B
So the tank been half full i had to drain into several fuel cans before removing the tank to gain access to body bolts.
Next was the task of undoing the hand brake cable and whilst i was down there i removed the gear linkage on the gearbox (What a T**T of a job)
Then all the electrics were disconnected from the starter motor and pulled up then the earth straps then onto the engine loom. The plenum was removed first then every wire and connector was labeled and finally layed onto the windscreen. Next the 2 fuel lines and water pipes were removed and tied back. The bonnet cable and the throttle cable removed and tied back.
Before i packed in for the day i cleaned the steering UJ and soaked it in WD40 so it will be easier to remove in the morning. I think i am just about there to take the body off, UF and a few brake pipes to be removed now.
I am sure TVR had shares in cable ties!
This is how the car sits now, more work will be done tomorrow as im off so hopfully another update tomorrow night.
Edited by nerobo on Sunday 15th January 21:05
I take my hat off to you Graeme, a very satisfying job will all the love and care the chimaera needs. Great to see lots of pics. I am just making a transportation trolley to get my body off to the paintshop and it has problems of its own, great work again M8.
Mark
Mark
Edited by portzi on Sunday 15th January 20:29
you timed that body lift not a moment to soon IMO all the best with that rebuild 
A question to to people who have already done this themselves. How did you clean your Chassis? Did you have it sand blasted or did you do it yourself, how much did it cost? Also how have you finished yours? Has anyone had there's galvanized? If so how much did it cost and then did you paint or powder coat it after?
I'm unsure how to go about doing mine, if anyone has any picture of there's it may help me decide.
Thanks Graeme
I'm unsure how to go about doing mine, if anyone has any picture of there's it may help me decide.
Thanks Graeme
Hi Graeme
I've completed a body off on both an S and my Chimaera. When I did the S I started cleaning the chassis with an angle grinder and wire brush etc with a view to painting myself once the welding had been completed. It was taking forever so I enquired about shot blasting and powder coating which I thought would cost a fortune. It didn't. I had the chassis shot blasted, given back to me to get the welding done. Shot blasted again to remove any contaminents, zinc primed and then powder coated, cost me no more then £250. This also included all the suspension bits and pieces. When you consider how long it takes to do it yourself and the fact that you may miss something, well worth the money in my view.
I have no experience of galvanising, except that I understand you need to drill lots of holes in the chassis. Friend of mine went the galvanised route and wishes he didn't bother? I'm sure someone will be along that has used the galvanised process to comment on their experience.
Picture of freshly powder coated chassis.
Liam
I've completed a body off on both an S and my Chimaera. When I did the S I started cleaning the chassis with an angle grinder and wire brush etc with a view to painting myself once the welding had been completed. It was taking forever so I enquired about shot blasting and powder coating which I thought would cost a fortune. It didn't. I had the chassis shot blasted, given back to me to get the welding done. Shot blasted again to remove any contaminents, zinc primed and then powder coated, cost me no more then £250. This also included all the suspension bits and pieces. When you consider how long it takes to do it yourself and the fact that you may miss something, well worth the money in my view.
I have no experience of galvanising, except that I understand you need to drill lots of holes in the chassis. Friend of mine went the galvanised route and wishes he didn't bother? I'm sure someone will be along that has used the galvanised process to comment on their experience.
Picture of freshly powder coated chassis.
Liam
Edited by Mr Plow on Sunday 15th January 21:39
I cleaned all the old wax oil off the chassis myself which was a lovely job, as the powder coater wouldnt take it for blasting with it all on. He then blasted it, zinc primed it and then re powder coated. He also did all my suspension bits and pieces and my new wishbones again to keep them all the same colour. Unbelievably i only got charged £150, although after, he did say he under estimated the work and should he do it again he would be looking for £300. Still good value i would say. I did have some stupid quotes for powder coating and blasting so shop around.
As for galvanising i dont know much about this process. i`ve heard it can be a bit risky due to the heat needed and risk of metal bending etc. I have however read on here about peoeple who have done it without problems. Probably worth looking into as it probably is a lot better and longer lasting than powder coating.
Good luck with the project.
As for galvanising i dont know much about this process. i`ve heard it can be a bit risky due to the heat needed and risk of metal bending etc. I have however read on here about peoeple who have done it without problems. Probably worth looking into as it probably is a lot better and longer lasting than powder coating.
Good luck with the project.
Mines going back together at the moment..
I stripped the chassis, then degreased and power washed it myself, before taking it for shot blasting and hot zinc spraying. I was pleased and surprised that after blasting no chassis repairs were required !! The outriggers have surface marking but tube thikness was fine.
I then applied 3 coats of por15 and then another 3 coats of por top coat.
not as impressed with the top coat as the por15 as the surface felt a little powdery but with time this has hardend, but i suppose the top coat is really only there to protect the por15 from uv..
Powder coating would have been easier, and probably not much more experience but i've had bad experiences with powder coat before and its difficult to touch up.
I stripped the chassis, then degreased and power washed it myself, before taking it for shot blasting and hot zinc spraying. I was pleased and surprised that after blasting no chassis repairs were required !! The outriggers have surface marking but tube thikness was fine.
I then applied 3 coats of por15 and then another 3 coats of por top coat.
not as impressed with the top coat as the por15 as the surface felt a little powdery but with time this has hardend, but i suppose the top coat is really only there to protect the por15 from uv..
Powder coating would have been easier, and probably not much more experience but i've had bad experiences with powder coat before and its difficult to touch up.
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