Chassis upright section 'creased'!

[wolosp]

Whilst touching-up the paint on the chassis on my '96 Chimaera, I noticed that there are two square-section upright tubes just in front of the front wishbones (either side of the main chassis rails) that have a significant crease in them. The off-side one looks intentional as if to give the steering column extra clearance, but the near-side one has nothing close to it. My initial thought was that the car had suffered a heavy front end collision in it's history, but the rest of the chassis it dead straight with no evidence of repair, in fact the tubes affected are absolutely straight behind the crease - suggesting that they were supported behind whilst they were bent. It would have had to have been a serious amount of force to have made these 'dents', and I cannot see how it could have been done with the engine installed, so perhaps it was done during assembly. The paint around the creases has flaked suggesting that the chassis was painted before the crease was made. If anyone has the opportunity to check their chassis I'd appreciate any confirmation that my car is not unique!

[SMB]

I'm sure it's meant to be like that, I've checked some pictures I have of chassis production in the factory and it shows creases on both sides, undoubtedly due to the need for both left and right hand drive cars.

[heliox]

..dont worry their normal...

the explanation I recieved from TVR was "they are built in crumple intrusions".

at first glance they do look rather like damage that might occur if some twat had wrapped a chain around the chassis uprights and towed the vehicle!

heliox

[wolosp]

Thanks for the replies and reassurance - strange though, that the factory never thought of 'modifying' the uprights before painting the chassis!

[SMB]

I'm sure they did crease them first, it's just that the powder coating has decided it's got better things to do that cling to the metal.

[BANDIT500]

I've got the same creases.

Always wondered what they were for. I thought i'd jacked it up wrong and dented the chassis. DOH!!!!

Cheers

Bandit

[simpo one]

'powder coating has decided it's got better things to do that cling to the metal.'

Why the deuce can't TVR think of something that actually *sticks* to the chassis? They've been making flakomatics for decades. What about galvanising? There must be an answer. Even rubbing it with cow-dung would do a better job than their powder coating (uncoating)

[Paceracing]

quote:The off-side one looks intentional as if to give the steering column extra clearance, but the near-side one has nothing close to it.

Maybe the 'kink' on the near side is for left hand drive cars' steering columns.

Jas.

[wolosp]

"What about galvanising? "

Having moved to a TVR from a Morgan, even they offer a galvanised chassis option for a few hundred quid - the wishbones could benefit from this too.

[craigalsop]

quote:
"What about galvanising? "

Having moved to a TVR from a Morgan, even they offer a galvanised chassis option for a few hundred quid - the wishbones could benefit from this too.

The way I heard it from a TVR mechanic was this: TVR once tried to galvanise a chassis, with a view to offering it as an option. The chassis warped, so they never bothered trying again, which is a shame, as I know I would have paid good money for this.....
Dunno how true this tale is, but there you have it.

cheers,
Craig