Help with 1993 Griffith 500.
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking for some advice concerning my dads 1993 Griffith 500.
I am looking for a specialist garage that can do a bit of work on the car. It is in dire condition at the moment. Whilst it has only done a genuine 29,000 miles, it has barely been run and not looked after. It's been in his care, garaged for the last 16 years, and I don't think it's covered more than 5000 miles in that time. The car currently does not start and we are based near Swansea.
Ideally we would like the car to be picked up and taken away for an amount of time for some work somewhere.
The range of problems are as follows;
Radiator Fans - The fans themselves do not come on when required and this causes the car to overheat and cut out.
Radiators - Corroded and in need of replacement/refurbishment.
Dashboard - The dashboard was peeling slightly and then my father pulled it splitting it along its middle. New dash needed.
Dials - The analogue clock has broken and been pushed through the dashboard, breaking the seal. If the dials are to be reseated into a new dash, we would to upgrade the dials themselves.
Wiring - The wiring looms and battery area are a complete mess. In desperate need of sorting and tidying.
Battery - Is currently removed (probable cause for non-starting). When it was attempted to be DIY refitted, cables were snagged and pulled loose - again a mess.
Healthcheck - The car would benifit from a general healthcheck as it is treated badly mechanically-wise. The car is very rarely driven, but it is started every now again on a sunday morning and revved hard whilst cold (i know this is very bad for the car). When the car is driven, the car is never revved high (again i know this is bad for the engine as it wears the cylinder bores incorrectly).
The main reason for all of this is that my mother has gotten fed up of all the problems that the car developes, and the fact my father makes them worse. She has agreed to pay for the work so that the car can be enjoyed for what it should have always been used for - driving.
I have just realised this has sounded like a bit of an advert for a mechanic. Appologies for this, but it is the advice of TVR owners past and present that I now value more than anyone.
Thanks for looking!
Looking for some advice concerning my dads 1993 Griffith 500.
I am looking for a specialist garage that can do a bit of work on the car. It is in dire condition at the moment. Whilst it has only done a genuine 29,000 miles, it has barely been run and not looked after. It's been in his care, garaged for the last 16 years, and I don't think it's covered more than 5000 miles in that time. The car currently does not start and we are based near Swansea.
Ideally we would like the car to be picked up and taken away for an amount of time for some work somewhere.
The range of problems are as follows;
Radiator Fans - The fans themselves do not come on when required and this causes the car to overheat and cut out.
Radiators - Corroded and in need of replacement/refurbishment.
Dashboard - The dashboard was peeling slightly and then my father pulled it splitting it along its middle. New dash needed.
Dials - The analogue clock has broken and been pushed through the dashboard, breaking the seal. If the dials are to be reseated into a new dash, we would to upgrade the dials themselves.
Wiring - The wiring looms and battery area are a complete mess. In desperate need of sorting and tidying.
Battery - Is currently removed (probable cause for non-starting). When it was attempted to be DIY refitted, cables were snagged and pulled loose - again a mess.
Healthcheck - The car would benifit from a general healthcheck as it is treated badly mechanically-wise. The car is very rarely driven, but it is started every now again on a sunday morning and revved hard whilst cold (i know this is very bad for the car). When the car is driven, the car is never revved high (again i know this is bad for the engine as it wears the cylinder bores incorrectly).
The main reason for all of this is that my mother has gotten fed up of all the problems that the car developes, and the fact my father makes them worse. She has agreed to pay for the work so that the car can be enjoyed for what it should have always been used for - driving.
I have just realised this has sounded like a bit of an advert for a mechanic. Appologies for this, but it is the advice of TVR owners past and present that I now value more than anyone.
Thanks for looking!
Bit of a tricky one, you need to be a bit careful or you could find yourself faced with a very large bill.
I would suggest that you draw up a list of jobs in priority order (I would suggest the ones needed to get the car road worthy). Also be very clear with the garage what your budget is and ensure that they do not do anything without first quoting for the work and getting your consent to proceed with that.
I would find somewhere local if you can, so that you can pop along regularly to check on progress and satisfy yourself that they are doing a good job. If possible take photographs before you hand the car over and also get photos of the work as it progresses. If the garage is any good none of this should be a problem; if they object I would say you're better looking elsewhere.
I would suggest that you draw up a list of jobs in priority order (I would suggest the ones needed to get the car road worthy). Also be very clear with the garage what your budget is and ensure that they do not do anything without first quoting for the work and getting your consent to proceed with that.
I would find somewhere local if you can, so that you can pop along regularly to check on progress and satisfy yourself that they are doing a good job. If possible take photographs before you hand the car over and also get photos of the work as it progresses. If the garage is any good none of this should be a problem; if they object I would say you're better looking elsewhere.
Thanks for the reply.
I thought that this might be the case. The reason we wanted to get it all done at the same time is that it is also a present to my dad. We were going to get the car shipped and repaired without him knowing. The car would then be returned in full working order - no stress or interference.
But i guess if this isn't possible then bit by bit is the only answer. Do you have any recommendations for the South Wales area? We live quite rural and there is a real lacking in sports car specialists (that i know of).
I do know of a friends garage that is a bentley/rolls-royce specialist, but he is very expensive. I would consider it, but i'm pretty sure his experience in TVR's is limited - if this wasn't the case we would bare the expense.
I thought that this might be the case. The reason we wanted to get it all done at the same time is that it is also a present to my dad. We were going to get the car shipped and repaired without him knowing. The car would then be returned in full working order - no stress or interference.
But i guess if this isn't possible then bit by bit is the only answer. Do you have any recommendations for the South Wales area? We live quite rural and there is a real lacking in sports car specialists (that i know of).
I do know of a friends garage that is a bentley/rolls-royce specialist, but he is very expensive. I would consider it, but i'm pretty sure his experience in TVR's is limited - if this wasn't the case we would bare the expense.
New rad, flush out water system , new battery and try again. I'd replace the water pipes for stainless, replace the hoses with silicon hoses, and replacve the otter switch. The dash will wait and the wiring in the footwell is a mess on all of them. You can then start working your way through any issues.
Good luck.
FFG
Good luck.
FFG
Thanks for all your replies. I'm hoping the overheating issue is less serious, but in all honesty i'm expecting something major to crop up - it's what you get for neglecting a car like this.
pwd95 said:
Hi Tom, Ron at Fforest Garage Pontardulais will fettle that up for you. He's a TVR specialist, very reasonable and he'll pick it up & deliver it back to you if that's what you want. He's done quite a few jobs for me, owns a Cerbera himself.
01792 882323
Thanks, i'll give him a ring!01792 882323
Good luck to you and I would add that when the work's done you need to eductae you dad on how to look after his cars. As you say, starting it up occasionally and reving the nuts off it isn't good and yet when he drives it he doesn't stretch its legs. Sounds like he needs a good talking too. 
p.s. overheating will almost certainly be the otter switch.
p.s. overheating will almost certainly be the otter switch.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff