Body lift, front 2 bolts on tunnel

[dwhitaker]

Hi team, I am hoping that the excellent crew here can help with with a real head scratcher.

I am doing a 2" lift to get a view of the top of the outriggers. Over 2 evenings, I have pretty much done everything necessary, with the exception of the 2 bolts under the channels each side of the air vents on top of the transmission tunnel.

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to reach them. And even if by some miracle I managed to undo them, how I could get them back in again.

Thus far I have made minimal disturbance to carpets etc. Some bits to stick back down, but not much.

I am really stumped. Advice really appreciated. One more evening, and this should be all that's left to do.

Thanks

[AREA]

Try this: Page 25/step 82 http://www.autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyL...

[Steve_D]

Each car is different with some having much more carpet up over the tunnel.
If you can't get at an edge to peel it back then you will need to find the bolt heads with your fingers then slit the carpet with a sharp knife so you can get a spanner in there. Don't worry about the slit as it is so high up on the tunnel you will never see it in normal use.
Undo the bolts but don't remove them just leave them sitting in the hole. One or sometimes both will have a cluster of earth terminals under the head so if you leave the bolts there you will not loose any of the earths.

Steve

[dwhitaker]

Thanks for that, but I have this guide already printed out, and could not make head nor tail of what they are on about. The bolt seems miles away.

[mattrosersv]

Hope this helps. I have the tunnel cover off in the car so helpfully could shine my light through the tunnel to show the actual bolt.

Photos as follows for the drivers side (of a 96 car)

You could probably get away cutting the carpet a bit less than I have. I used a 17mm ratchet spanner to undo. I just removed the bolts, it is possible to get your fingers to replace them, but requires a bigger carpet hole.


My finger tip in this photo is on the top of the bolt.


This is taken along the top of the tunnel on the right hand side with my torch shining through the carpet cut out.


I can't see how you would do it without cutting the carpet. From memory if you push your finger in the correct spot you can feel the top of the bolt. As has been mentioned, on the passenger side you have to ensure you don't lose the earth wiring.

If you are pulling it all to bits anyway it would help (to see what you are doing to remove the gearbox tunnel covers) although certainly not required.

Good luck!

Matt

Edited by mattrosersv on Monday 17th November 23:22

[dwhitaker]

Thanks for the photos, great help. So the bolts are forward of the fibreglass channels from the picture. I have some u shaped sowing needles, I think I will need them to put the carpet right.

I see you also have an interesting mix of carpet that has stayed blue and some that's gone grey in parts. Ideas on that one welcome!

Cheers
Dave

[mattrosersv]

Yeah, my carpet is a mix of blue, yellow and green. I will get round to the interior at some point. It always gets second best to some more interesting improvement!

[Steve_D]

dwhitaker said:

Thanks for the photos, great help. So the bolts are forward of the fibreglass channels from the picture. I have some u shaped sowing needles, I think I will need them to put the carpet right.......

Those pictures are rather more 'cutting' than I had in mind.
Once you have found the bolt heads with your fingers you only need to make a single slit about 30mm long in line with the bottom of the bolt head. you can then slide an open ended spanner through this slit to undo the bolt.

Steve

[dwhitaker]

I'll give it a go tomorrow eve. Thanks for all the advice.