New owner... hello, and a few questions...
Discussion
Hi all !
Just bought my first TVR, a 4 litre '96 Chimaera. Not completely green to TVRs though as my Dad's had a Chimaera for a few years already. Mine seems to be mechanically A-OK but there's a few odds & ends to tidy up...
1) Rear o/s tail light is wobbly - how's it supposed to be attached ? There's a screw at the top, and currently a load of masking tape holding the rest of it !!!
2) The reflectors of both headlights look a bit manky. Would I be mad to try and change them ? What car are the units sourced from ?
3) Various bits of carpet hanging off, any particular glue recommended for fixing it back in place ?
4) There's some cheap bucket seats fitted atm, which I find very very uncomfortable. Anybody selling a pair of standard seats in tan leather ? Don't need to be amazing condition, I just want to get rid of these buckets.
5) The only strange thing about the car so far - the steering is noticably lighter when steering to the right, than to the left. Checked the tyre pressures and they're OK. Would a dodgy steering rack cause this ? Wonky alignment ???
TIA,
Steve.
Just bought my first TVR, a 4 litre '96 Chimaera. Not completely green to TVRs though as my Dad's had a Chimaera for a few years already. Mine seems to be mechanically A-OK but there's a few odds & ends to tidy up...
1) Rear o/s tail light is wobbly - how's it supposed to be attached ? There's a screw at the top, and currently a load of masking tape holding the rest of it !!!
2) The reflectors of both headlights look a bit manky. Would I be mad to try and change them ? What car are the units sourced from ?
3) Various bits of carpet hanging off, any particular glue recommended for fixing it back in place ?
4) There's some cheap bucket seats fitted atm, which I find very very uncomfortable. Anybody selling a pair of standard seats in tan leather ? Don't need to be amazing condition, I just want to get rid of these buckets.
5) The only strange thing about the car so far - the steering is noticably lighter when steering to the right, than to the left. Checked the tyre pressures and they're OK. Would a dodgy steering rack cause this ? Wonky alignment ???
TIA,
Steve.
Sundayjumper said:
Hi all !
Just bought my first TVR, a 4 litre '96 Chimaera. Not completely green to TVRs though as my Dad's had a Chimaera for a few years already. Mine seems to be mechanically A-OK but there's a few odds & ends to tidy up...
4) There's some cheap bucket seats fitted atm, which I find very very uncomfortable. Anybody selling a pair of standard seats in tan leather ? Don't need to be amazing condition, I just want to get rid of these buckets.
TIA,
Steve.
Hi Steve,
Congratulations on your purchse. Afraid I can't help on most of your queries but it may be worth giving Bell Hill a call [url]www.bellhillgarage.co.uk/[/url] as they break TVRs and so will likely have a pair of seats for you. Might be worth also looking at Cerb seats as they're a little more comfy and will fit.
They'll also likely have lights etc as well.
seasider said:
That's a very long lurk
Hmmmm, so it is
TBH, I can't remember why I registered all those years ago and then didn't post. Oh well !!
FWIW I used to hang out on some of the BMW forums (had E30 325 Sport, E36 323, E36 M3) but nowadays spend most of my time on Evo. And probably here now that I've bought a Tiv
Steve.
Cerbera seats fit happily in a Chim, so keep an eye out on Ebay....
If they're the wrong colour its not expensive to retrim them.
The carpet just needs a good contact adhesive, carpet tile glue should work fine?
Access to the headlamps (on mine) is through the front grille. Yours might be in front of the wheel, in the wheelarch, via a hatch?
As for the rear light, its from a Fiesta Mk3 IIRC.
If they're the wrong colour its not expensive to retrim them.
The carpet just needs a good contact adhesive, carpet tile glue should work fine?
Access to the headlamps (on mine) is through the front grille. Yours might be in front of the wheel, in the wheelarch, via a hatch?
As for the rear light, its from a Fiesta Mk3 IIRC.
Changing headlight reflectors is not a simple job. You will probably have to remove both the glass headlight lenses which are bonded into place using a mastic sealant compound. Then you will have the job of re-fitting which is difficult to get right first time.
I would only entertain this job after you have done the rest.
I would only entertain this job after you have done the rest.
yep, thats about it 
ok, bit more time now so...
you have to remove the plastic headlight surround. Access on the earlier cars is by removal of the grill (nasty job to get it back in). Stick something under the rubber to lever out the grill. Inside there are 2 retaining bolts for the headlight surround. Unbolt those and you may still find it hard to remove from either grime that has built up or sealant. Once thats out of the way you can remove the lens which is only fixed down using black sealant (not anything too bad such as sikoflex).
With that out of the way, you can give the surrounds a good clean, refit headlight lens using black sealnt, wait to dry, then refit the cowel and taaa daaa
Obviously no 2 TVRs are ever the same so you will find some of the above doesnt apply, and other things do. Oh, and usual caveats apply - if you maim yourself, no liability is inferred or accepted
ok, bit more time now so...
you have to remove the plastic headlight surround. Access on the earlier cars is by removal of the grill (nasty job to get it back in). Stick something under the rubber to lever out the grill. Inside there are 2 retaining bolts for the headlight surround. Unbolt those and you may still find it hard to remove from either grime that has built up or sealant. Once thats out of the way you can remove the lens which is only fixed down using black sealant (not anything too bad such as sikoflex).
With that out of the way, you can give the surrounds a good clean, refit headlight lens using black sealnt, wait to dry, then refit the cowel and taaa daaa
Obviously no 2 TVRs are ever the same so you will find some of the above doesnt apply, and other things do. Oh, and usual caveats apply - if you maim yourself, no liability is inferred or accepted
A good thing to check with your steering are the two U/J's inside the front o/s wheelarch. Thet get covered in crap and can start to seize.
A common symptom is a notchy feel to the steering and stiffness one way or the other.
The solution is to first clean the u/j's (an aerosol type light oil fired through them is a good way) and then pack them with grease, this can revive and protect them, if not its replacement time.
There is also a grease nipple under the rack itself, gun some grease up there as well
Congrats on getting your car, hope you solve the faults easily
A common symptom is a notchy feel to the steering and stiffness one way or the other.
The solution is to first clean the u/j's (an aerosol type light oil fired through them is a good way) and then pack them with grease, this can revive and protect them, if not its replacement time.
There is also a grease nipple under the rack itself, gun some grease up there as well
Congrats on getting your car, hope you solve the faults easily
mccrackenj said:
Q to Fatboychim (or anyone else):
What type of grease would you recommend for the steering u/js? What about drive shaft u/js?
Thanks
TBH i'm not that fussy about makes etc, but high temperature Lithium grease is the one thats generally recommended for U/J's. I think that also goes for CV joints as well but i stand to be corrected on that one.
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