Looking at a Chim tomorrow
Discussion
Check the chassis parts under the wheelarches. If they are dry and rusty (no waxoil) then check that the rails are solid. Worth checking the outriggers too. At the age of this car a replacement chassis will cost as much as you'll be pay for the car. Take lots of time and be ready to lie on your back on the floor. If you can poke through anywhere then walk away.
Ring the owner and tell them you require the car to be stone cold when you arrive. On first start of the engine listen for top end noise. There will be some but it shouldn't be too chatery and the top end noise should disappear once the engine is warm.
The list is much longer than this and hopefully others will advise you.
Ring the owner and tell them you require the car to be stone cold when you arrive. On first start of the engine listen for top end noise. There will be some but it shouldn't be too chatery and the top end noise should disappear once the engine is warm.
The list is much longer than this and hopefully others will advise you.
Unfortunately the steel chassis can suffer from rust as I found to my cost. The most susceptable areas being behind the front wheels - not that accessible to see, and in front of the rear wheels. The powder coating gets broken up by stone chips which allows water to creep under the coating and so the corrosion begins. Might be best to get someone with experience to have a look. Do a search under Chimaera and Griffith for chassis rust - lots of details. It will be fine if its been looked after.
Ok i know its not a Chim but its late on Saturday and most will be of line
Ballistic banana has a Griff guide here.The car is basically the same so it should help
www.ballisticbanana.co.uk/Buyers%20Guide.htm
I've written one for the "S" series and the chassis is similar except the chim has no trailing arms but the chassis bit has pics to note where to look.
www.tvrsseries.com/buying/buyingguide.htm
Steve Heath the author of the bible has some online bits to
www.tvrbooks.co.uk/
Hope thats of some help
Ballistic banana has a Griff guide here.The car is basically the same so it should help
www.ballisticbanana.co.uk/Buyers%20Guide.htm
I've written one for the "S" series and the chassis is similar except the chim has no trailing arms but the chassis bit has pics to note where to look.
www.tvrsseries.com/buying/buyingguide.htm
Steve Heath the author of the bible has some online bits to
www.tvrbooks.co.uk/
Hope thats of some help
Hi citychap
Having just bought a 94 Chim (see my holy mary mother of christ thread), I strongly advise you to take somebody knowledgeable with you when you view the car. I'd be happy to show mine off if you're in the area.
Ask about the car's history, why they are selling, how long they've owned a TVR, what work has been done on it, any problems etc. If they're genuine, they won't mind one bit telling you exactly everything thats been done to the car. I had the fortune of buying a car from the regional officer for the TVR car club, high praise indeed!
Have a close look at the classifieds on here. Examine the private sales closely, do a search on the forum for each person selling, that way you can see if they've posted about any problems they've had, breakdowns, crashes, etc. I think you'll find most regulars here are top blokes/blokettes, and will have taken good care of their car.
It may help to take a digital camera with you, get some photos of the outriggers, engine bay, wishbones, suspension, and post them on here. I had invaluable advice from doing just such a thing. If anything, it will help you keep track of things in your mind, should you see a few cars (which I strongly recommend).
Don't post the car in-situ though, I did that and got a telling off
Having just bought a 94 Chim (see my holy mary mother of christ thread), I strongly advise you to take somebody knowledgeable with you when you view the car. I'd be happy to show mine off if you're in the area.
Ask about the car's history, why they are selling, how long they've owned a TVR, what work has been done on it, any problems etc. If they're genuine, they won't mind one bit telling you exactly everything thats been done to the car. I had the fortune of buying a car from the regional officer for the TVR car club, high praise indeed!
Have a close look at the classifieds on here. Examine the private sales closely, do a search on the forum for each person selling, that way you can see if they've posted about any problems they've had, breakdowns, crashes, etc. I think you'll find most regulars here are top blokes/blokettes, and will have taken good care of their car.
It may help to take a digital camera with you, get some photos of the outriggers, engine bay, wishbones, suspension, and post them on here. I had invaluable advice from doing just such a thing. If anything, it will help you keep track of things in your mind, should you see a few cars (which I strongly recommend).
Don't post the car in-situ though, I did that and got a telling off
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