outriggers done!!!
Discussion
This shot shows the condition of the Left Front outrigger. The interesting thing is the corner plate has been cut away from where it would normally be underneath. This means that from the outside nearly all the rusty sections would be impossible to see. You can feel round the front where the weld is and if its poor, you could feel if the metal was flaking away. You could not see or feel any of this on mine till it had been hit and then crumbled.
This next one is the reason I decided to have the work done. This is the fron right. The only thing visable at first were the small pepper holes near the weld. This lead me to look with a mirror and poke round after removing all the waxoil and paint to see if it got worse...........it did!
All the other tubes were corroded on top and to the sides, again not visable from underneath the car.
The next shot shows the right rear. This again did not appear bad, but with some force, this all opened up like a tin can, and peeled back as in the photo. Lucky for me, the right left rear is fine, and so are both the centre sections. sections.
So what we have here is a classic looks great with paint and waxoil!! But this even fooled me on someones driveway.
The thing is I've been beating myself up over this, as to why I didn't find at least a small amout of it. Offord Motors said they've all been caught out before. But, they could repair the damage without removing the body. The job is now done, all painted and waxed, and looks good.
I've picked up the car today and will continue the pictures with the newly fitted areas when I've had a good look underneath.
This next one is the reason I decided to have the work done. This is the fron right. The only thing visable at first were the small pepper holes near the weld. This lead me to look with a mirror and poke round after removing all the waxoil and paint to see if it got worse...........it did!
All the other tubes were corroded on top and to the sides, again not visable from underneath the car.
The next shot shows the right rear. This again did not appear bad, but with some force, this all opened up like a tin can, and peeled back as in the photo. Lucky for me, the right left rear is fine, and so are both the centre sections. sections.
So what we have here is a classic looks great with paint and waxoil!! But this even fooled me on someones driveway.
The thing is I've been beating myself up over this, as to why I didn't find at least a small amout of it. Offord Motors said they've all been caught out before. But, they could repair the damage without removing the body. The job is now done, all painted and waxed, and looks good.
I've picked up the car today and will continue the pictures with the newly fitted areas when I've had a good look underneath.
gadgit said:
Yes Don, but at least its done now.
Just imagine whats going on inside those Fibreglass sections, all out of view?????
I'm imagining it right now... Just imagine whats going on inside those Fibreglass sections, all out of view?????
Glad your motor is all fixed up, of course, but it reminds me that ours is a '98 car. Nine years. 53,000 miles. Not all of it on sunny summer days, either...
Expensive?
This is where we get back to 'what is the right way to go'
I'd say if a car is solid except the outriggers, repair the outriggers. don't lift the whole body off unless it really needs it. Some require this if the main chassis has really bad rot.
So, Offord and Sportmotive can repair the outrigger sections for 1/4 of the cost of a body lift cost of around £4000. So don't worry, it can be done. just keep an eye on yours and these specialists will advise you the way to go. Just be careful you don't go to a specialist who can't do the alternative, as they will tell you ' you can't do a proper job without taking the body off' ........You can provided its basically solid in all other areas.
I'd say if a car is solid except the outriggers, repair the outriggers. don't lift the whole body off unless it really needs it. Some require this if the main chassis has really bad rot.
So, Offord and Sportmotive can repair the outrigger sections for 1/4 of the cost of a body lift cost of around £4000. So don't worry, it can be done. just keep an eye on yours and these specialists will advise you the way to go. Just be careful you don't go to a specialist who can't do the alternative, as they will tell you ' you can't do a proper job without taking the body off' ........You can provided its basically solid in all other areas.
Offord TVR fitted me in quite quickly, I'll be posting picture of all the new work this evening, providing I can get the thing on the ramps! I've had to contruct a road nearly to get it up clear at the front of the car.
I've had a brief look and the welding (so far) looks very good. Nice and neat joints in the tubes that I can see. Plates welded underneath to fill the gaps! very good, and great value.
But I'll leave it all to your judgement after you see the pictures.
I've had a brief look and the welding (so far) looks very good. Nice and neat joints in the tubes that I can see. Plates welded underneath to fill the gaps! very good, and great value.
But I'll leave it all to your judgement after you see the pictures.
yes I agree, I have nearly finished painting mine. But based on those pictures I have gone back and been poking and probing the inside front corners where the holes are shown with a bent coathanger. Bought some thin artist brushes to fully paint the front corners including the bits under the body. I was going to just squirt waxoyl in there but I think not now!
Thanks for the pics, you may of just saved my car from the same fate
Thanks for the pics, you may of just saved my car from the same fate
Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 18th November 16:46
Well hear we go then, the easy fix, and boy have they done a good job!
I've had to clean waxoil off so you can see what they did!
This first picture is the front right, and yes I've rubbed some paint off getting the wax off. cos of you lot i've got to repaint it allready!!
This next picure shows the weld joint to the good tube. Don't be confused with the old tube looking rough, its only wax plastered all over it when sprayed (misted) it does this!
Next shot is the right rear fitted in. It looks like there is a hole in the joint, but its not. It was only lumps of wax giving the impression that its not been properly welded. I cleaned it off and its fine!
Next shot is the rear again, showing the two welds to the orininal tubes, how neat is that then!!
Final shot shows the rear right, and if you look to the far right you will see the plate welded on the bottom of the tube. This is where they join it if they can't get right round the tube. You cut a piece out of the bottom, and then weld from the inside round the join. They then weld a couple of stripps inside at the top across the join as well to give extra strength and then weld the bottom plate on to fill the hole for the welder. Clever eh!
I think its a great job, it looks even getter in real life. some of the digital images make some bits look poor in the picture, but its very very good.
Forgot to mention, They waxoiled the whole car as well, and a years MOT £1400.
Beats £5000 eh, which was the first quote I had.
I've had to clean waxoil off so you can see what they did!
This first picture is the front right, and yes I've rubbed some paint off getting the wax off. cos of you lot i've got to repaint it allready!!
This next picure shows the weld joint to the good tube. Don't be confused with the old tube looking rough, its only wax plastered all over it when sprayed (misted) it does this!
Next shot is the right rear fitted in. It looks like there is a hole in the joint, but its not. It was only lumps of wax giving the impression that its not been properly welded. I cleaned it off and its fine!
Next shot is the rear again, showing the two welds to the orininal tubes, how neat is that then!!
Final shot shows the rear right, and if you look to the far right you will see the plate welded on the bottom of the tube. This is where they join it if they can't get right round the tube. You cut a piece out of the bottom, and then weld from the inside round the join. They then weld a couple of stripps inside at the top across the join as well to give extra strength and then weld the bottom plate on to fill the hole for the welder. Clever eh!
I think its a great job, it looks even getter in real life. some of the digital images make some bits look poor in the picture, but its very very good.
Forgot to mention, They waxoiled the whole car as well, and a years MOT £1400.
Beats £5000 eh, which was the first quote I had.
Edited by gadgit on Sunday 18th November 18:07
This looks like a very clever successful technique and very neatly done. At the price an excellent solution.
The only bit which worries me is that by welding in situ, heat from the welder will destroy any coating pre-applied on the outside of the tube (even thought the tube is welded from the inside) and it's impossible to be sure waxoyl or paint applied after the tube is welded in place will fully cover the top of the tube. I fear rust will start again - but until then the repair is obviously sound. I mean no criticism - hard to see a way round this.
The only bit which worries me is that by welding in situ, heat from the welder will destroy any coating pre-applied on the outside of the tube (even thought the tube is welded from the inside) and it's impossible to be sure waxoyl or paint applied after the tube is welded in place will fully cover the top of the tube. I fear rust will start again - but until then the repair is obviously sound. I mean no criticism - hard to see a way round this.
agree about the top of the tubes!!
This is my only concern. Considering using the old fashion way of just forcing old engine oil all over them every six month or so. This is what they used to do years ago, it worked then. The main chassis, as everone says seems to be in great condition where the engine oil mists onto to it. Offords have waxoiled everthing in site under the car, springs and everthing, just hope they got it over the top of the out riggers as well.
My mate reckons you could make the outriggers with stainless steele and you would not have to bother with them for decades!! Provided it was good quality and the right size tude, this would not hardly add any weight to the car.
This is my only concern. Considering using the old fashion way of just forcing old engine oil all over them every six month or so. This is what they used to do years ago, it worked then. The main chassis, as everone says seems to be in great condition where the engine oil mists onto to it. Offords have waxoiled everthing in site under the car, springs and everthing, just hope they got it over the top of the out riggers as well.
My mate reckons you could make the outriggers with stainless steele and you would not have to bother with them for decades!! Provided it was good quality and the right size tude, this would not hardly add any weight to the car.
Edited by gadgit on Monday 19th November 10:52
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