Chassis Restore (again)
Discussion
With the Griff' devoid of the lump that propels it, I'd intended to spend some time tidying up the front end of the chassis: removing corrosion, treating and painting. Then, after a couple of hours cleaning to reveal inaccessible patches of flaking paint and surface rust I just thought: 'I can't be arsed!'. My working life has revolved around making, fixing and writing about mechanical things and today I didn't wanna be doing it. . . . so I didn't (I went home, pigged out and cracked a four pack of 'Special Brew', resolve in tatters). I think that many hours invested in 'patching-up' would be a half-hearted affair and so a waste of time. So, it'll get a decent application of 'wax-oyl' again.
So, my thoughts have turned to having someone do my body-off chassis restore over a winter period (maybe next year). Who out there has taken this route? What did you have done and how much? Better start saving I guess!
Big respect to the likes of DNB who's done the job himself.
So, my thoughts have turned to having someone do my body-off chassis restore over a winter period (maybe next year). Who out there has taken this route? What did you have done and how much? Better start saving I guess!
Big respect to the likes of DNB who's done the job himself.
on this one as well....I didn't do the whole job myself...
Things like the shot blasting were easier, cheaper and quicker to give to specialists. I had my chassis, wishbones and a pile of other non-TVR items blasted and zinc phosphate primed for around £150.
I hate to think what I've spent in terms of hours on the project. That's where at least half the cost (if not more if you plan to reuse the suspension etc) will be if you get someone else to do the work.
I'm happy to talk anyone to death about it all at the growl
Things like the shot blasting were easier, cheaper and quicker to give to specialists. I had my chassis, wishbones and a pile of other non-TVR items blasted and zinc phosphate primed for around £150.
I hate to think what I've spent in terms of hours on the project. That's where at least half the cost (if not more if you plan to reuse the suspension etc) will be if you get someone else to do the work.
I'm happy to talk anyone to death about it all at the growl
2Munkys said:
With the Griff' devoid of the lump that propels it, I'd intended to spend some time tidying up the front end of the chassis: removing corrosion, treating and painting. Then, after a couple of hours cleaning to reveal inaccessible patches of flaking paint and surface rust I just thought: 'I can't be arsed!'. My working life has revolved around making, fixing and writing about mechanical things and today I didn't wanna be doing it. . . . so I didn't (I went home, pigged out and cracked a four pack of 'Special Brew', resolve in tatters). .
V8 GRF said:
You bastid 
Got me thinking now as well...
Seasider said:
2Munkys said:
With the Griff' devoid of the lump that propels it, I'd intended to spend some time tidying up the front end of the chassis: removing corrosion, treating and painting. Then, after a couple of hours cleaning to reveal inaccessible patches of flaking paint and surface rust I just thought: 'I can't be arsed!'. My working life has revolved around making, fixing and writing about mechanical things and today I didn't wanna be doing it. . . . so I didn't (I went home, pigged out and cracked a four pack of 'Special Brew', resolve in tatters). .
V8 GRF said:
You bastid Got me thinking now as well...
I'd be interested to know how much additional work is involved in removing the body vs a 6/9" raise.
V8 GRF said:
Ta for that; just read it in its entirity. . . . . and not feeling a whole lot happier at seeing such a splendid achievement. Some work and dedication invested there. Will I find the resolve? By whatever means it's gonna need doing at some point and will gnaw away at me until such a time it is underway.Took me probably around 200 hours over 6 months, but that is with me largely doing it on my own and a lot of farting around! With all the equipment and knowledge to do it I reckon a garage would struggle to do it in much less than 100 hours of labour. So as dnb says ~£5000 doesn't seem to far away.
Also the difference between fully extracting the chassis and doing a 6-9" body lift will be negligable, because all the stuff still has to be disconnected and the chassis will have restricted access for cleaning. Whereas a full removal means it can be shotblasted.
Also the difference between fully extracting the chassis and doing a 6-9" body lift will be negligable, because all the stuff still has to be disconnected and the chassis will have restricted access for cleaning. Whereas a full removal means it can be shotblasted.
Yes. There was lots of farting around with mine too - specially when the work is done in a couple of spare hours of an evening - it takes the first half an hour to figure out where you'd got to last time...
Also, don't underestimate the "I'll just do X while it's apart..." factor if you do any work yourself. I think that alone cost me nearly £1k.
Also, don't underestimate the "I'll just do X while it's apart..." factor if you do any work yourself. I think that alone cost me nearly £1k.
V8 GRF said:
bloody hell - what a great jobMy plan was to get my local bloke (Neil Garner) to drop the chassis and I rent his scissor lift for a couple of days to do the donkey work and then get him o bolt it all back together again after POR-ing...
Curtain poles are good for hanging wishbones from and a chassis stood up on one side in the lounge restricts the view of the TV!
Living with dnb whilst he did the restoration was hell. I’m sure he thinks the same about me saying “Is it done yet – you said February and it in now March/April/May/June/July”
Living with dnb whilst he did the restoration was hell. I’m sure he thinks the same about me saying “Is it done yet – you said February and it in now March/April/May/June/July”
Ta for the feedback and link.
Looks as though it's gonna be a DIY job then; £5,000 buys lots of stuff be it for the Griff or otherwise. But just the thought of cold winters weekends in a shed with bits of Griff being racked, bagged, stowed and stacked does not appeal one little bit. Hats off to those that've been there: RESPEC
Looks as though it's gonna be a DIY job then; £5,000 buys lots of stuff be it for the Griff or otherwise. But just the thought of cold winters weekends in a shed with bits of Griff being racked, bagged, stowed and stacked does not appeal one little bit. Hats off to those that've been there: RESPEC
This job is a real labour of love!!!!
It is the unfortunate truth that all griffs will need to have a body off resto at one time in there lives no matter how they kept. There is just so much chassis that is not accessible with the body on, not just the out riggers as the rear chassis top is usually in the same condition. I have just finished my resto this year and the peace of mind it gives is priceless. Some of the posts are right in saying that costs do get out of hand such as:
Chassis and wishbone blast £150
Paints £100
Spray gun (ueseless after por15)£45
Bushes (powerflex) £245
Shocks £500
Ball joints etc £50
drop links £150
12 tonne press (i just wanted one anyway) £130
every nut and bolt in zinc plate £55
Stainless brake lines £45
loads of odds and ends £100 if not more!
Full carpet set £250
Diff bushes (power flex) £45
This is just the bare minimum and not including gaskets and fluids I also put in a Stealth cam kit £600 smooth bore induction and some other goodies so the total bill is over 3k time wise 1 day to get the body off (leave engine in and chassis complete rolling on its wheels, 6 big blokes needed) to strip the rest and remove engine 5 hours with airtools, 20 hours without!!! 100s of hours cleaning and refurbing components. I enjoyed most of the work but some cleaning was a real bore.
[pic] http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/nordicmatte...
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/nordicmatte...
But totally worth it!!! oh and you will need an understanding wife.
Mark
It is the unfortunate truth that all griffs will need to have a body off resto at one time in there lives no matter how they kept. There is just so much chassis that is not accessible with the body on, not just the out riggers as the rear chassis top is usually in the same condition. I have just finished my resto this year and the peace of mind it gives is priceless. Some of the posts are right in saying that costs do get out of hand such as:
Chassis and wishbone blast £150
Paints £100
Spray gun (ueseless after por15)£45
Bushes (powerflex) £245
Shocks £500
Ball joints etc £50
drop links £150
12 tonne press (i just wanted one anyway) £130
every nut and bolt in zinc plate £55
Stainless brake lines £45
loads of odds and ends £100 if not more!
Full carpet set £250
Diff bushes (power flex) £45
This is just the bare minimum and not including gaskets and fluids I also put in a Stealth cam kit £600 smooth bore induction and some other goodies so the total bill is over 3k time wise 1 day to get the body off (leave engine in and chassis complete rolling on its wheels, 6 big blokes needed) to strip the rest and remove engine 5 hours with airtools, 20 hours without!!! 100s of hours cleaning and refurbing components. I enjoyed most of the work but some cleaning was a real bore.
[pic] http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/nordicmatte...
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/nordicmatte...
But totally worth it!!! oh and you will need an understanding wife.
Mark
Edited by marks3drtaz on Wednesday 4th July 21:55
Edited by marks3drtaz on Wednesday 4th July 21:56
Edited by marks3drtaz on Wednesday 4th July 21:57
Edited by marks3drtaz on Wednesday 4th July 21:58
Edited by marks3drtaz on Wednesday 4th July 21:59
This job is a real labour of love!!!!
It is the unfortunate truth that all griffs will need to have a body off resto at one time in there lives no matter how they kept. There is just so much chassis that is not accessible with the body on, not just the out riggers as the rear chassis top is usually in the same condition. I have just finished my resto this year and the peace of mind it gives is priceless. Some of the posts are right in saying that costs do get out of hand such as:
Chassis and wishbone blast £150
Paints £100
Spray gun (ueseless after por15)£45
Bushes (powerflex) £245
Shocks £500
Ball joints etc £50
drop links £150
12 tonne press (i just wanted one anyway) £130
every nut and bolt in zinc plate £55
Stainless brake lines £45
loads of odds and ends £100 if not more!
Full carpet set £250
Diff bushes (power flex) £45
This is just the bare minimum and not including gaskets and fluids I also put in a Stealth cam kit £600 smooth bore induction and some other goodies so the total bill is over 3k time wise 1 day to get the body off (leave engine in and chassis complete rolling on its wheels, 6 big blokes needed) to strip the rest and remove engine 5 hours with airtools, 20 hours without!!! 100s of hours cleaning and refurbing components. I enjoyed most of the work but some cleaning was a real bore.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/nordicmatte...
But totally worth it!!! oh and you will need an understanding wife.
Mark
It is the unfortunate truth that all griffs will need to have a body off resto at one time in there lives no matter how they kept. There is just so much chassis that is not accessible with the body on, not just the out riggers as the rear chassis top is usually in the same condition. I have just finished my resto this year and the peace of mind it gives is priceless. Some of the posts are right in saying that costs do get out of hand such as:
Chassis and wishbone blast £150
Paints £100
Spray gun (ueseless after por15)£45
Bushes (powerflex) £245
Shocks £500
Ball joints etc £50
drop links £150
12 tonne press (i just wanted one anyway) £130
every nut and bolt in zinc plate £55
Stainless brake lines £45
loads of odds and ends £100 if not more!
Full carpet set £250
Diff bushes (power flex) £45
This is just the bare minimum and not including gaskets and fluids I also put in a Stealth cam kit £600 smooth bore induction and some other goodies so the total bill is over 3k time wise 1 day to get the body off (leave engine in and chassis complete rolling on its wheels, 6 big blokes needed) to strip the rest and remove engine 5 hours with airtools, 20 hours without!!! 100s of hours cleaning and refurbing components. I enjoyed most of the work but some cleaning was a real bore.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/nordicmatte...
But totally worth it!!! oh and you will need an understanding wife.
Mark
Edited by marks3drtaz on Wednesday 4th July 22:00
Bruce there are two write ups on The Griffith Pages . One Andy Quinns the one above and another David Hammertons. CLICKY HERE There are also a few Body off pics and INfo. I am awaiting some more info on a recent Body off to Add.
Happy to add more if any one would liek to send me info and pictures after all thats what the site is for.
BB
Happy to add more if any one would liek to send me info and pictures after all thats what the site is for.
BB
Edited by Ballistic Banana on Wednesday 4th July 22:16
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