New Tuscan project owner
Discussion
Hi all
I’m over from the Chim side. After having an argument with the m25 in my Chim, I took the plunge on a project Tuscan as a long term project.
I heard about it through shmoo and did the deal today although it won’t be delivered till next week.
I didn’t think I’d be able to own my boyhood dream car for a long while but I took a chance and while it will take me a while, I will hopefully have that dream car at the end.
It’s a mk1 4.0 non S, Nuvolo Blue, late 2001, 39k miles.
Initially I had no mot and will apparently need a rack rebuild for a pass. It had a racing green top end rebuild at 20k miles. But I’m expecting to have another rebuild at some point I’m the future during the project. Firstly I want to put new shocks on, apply all bump steer fixes and have a proper geo set up.
Cosmetically it will ideally need a respray if I want It to be top notch and a retrim for the same reason. These are not top priorities though. Plus seals and all that stuff.
Also there are electrical gremlins, dash pod is intermittently working and there is a problem where the side lights stay on all the time even when switched off, and the wipers have a life of their own.
I’m sure there are bits I’ve missed, and of course I know it will throw up many more things when it comes down to it. But as I said I’m happy to just have a Tuscan even if it takes time to get it to “mint” condition over time.
I would obviously really appreciate all your collective knowledge and advice as I go, especially with regards to those electrical issues which id like to try and sort soon.
Chassis look good, a bit of surface rust but as far as I can tell using the most through testing I could do myself it seems fine.
Anything you can help me with I’d be extremely grateful, I’m just excited to have one!
Here she is, some of you might have known about this one before
I’m over from the Chim side. After having an argument with the m25 in my Chim, I took the plunge on a project Tuscan as a long term project.
I heard about it through shmoo and did the deal today although it won’t be delivered till next week.
I didn’t think I’d be able to own my boyhood dream car for a long while but I took a chance and while it will take me a while, I will hopefully have that dream car at the end.
It’s a mk1 4.0 non S, Nuvolo Blue, late 2001, 39k miles.
Initially I had no mot and will apparently need a rack rebuild for a pass. It had a racing green top end rebuild at 20k miles. But I’m expecting to have another rebuild at some point I’m the future during the project. Firstly I want to put new shocks on, apply all bump steer fixes and have a proper geo set up.
Cosmetically it will ideally need a respray if I want It to be top notch and a retrim for the same reason. These are not top priorities though. Plus seals and all that stuff.
Also there are electrical gremlins, dash pod is intermittently working and there is a problem where the side lights stay on all the time even when switched off, and the wipers have a life of their own.
I’m sure there are bits I’ve missed, and of course I know it will throw up many more things when it comes down to it. But as I said I’m happy to just have a Tuscan even if it takes time to get it to “mint” condition over time.
I would obviously really appreciate all your collective knowledge and advice as I go, especially with regards to those electrical issues which id like to try and sort soon.
Chassis look good, a bit of surface rust but as far as I can tell using the most through testing I could do myself it seems fine.
Anything you can help me with I’d be extremely grateful, I’m just excited to have one!
Here she is, some of you might have known about this one before
Welcome to the fantastic/frustrating world of Tuscan ownership. When they are behaving and on-song there really is nothing like it for under £100k in my opinion.
The electrical gremlins can be extremely annoying! But don’t forget that this is a hand built nearly 20 years old car. The pod is quite a common problem, there are however refurbishing services out there, such as Python Racing.
One word of advice, get the chassis thoroughly inspected before re-spraying or re-trimming, speaking from experience here!
The electrical gremlins can be extremely annoying! But don’t forget that this is a hand built nearly 20 years old car. The pod is quite a common problem, there are however refurbishing services out there, such as Python Racing.
One word of advice, get the chassis thoroughly inspected before re-spraying or re-trimming, speaking from experience here!
There are places that will do outrigger work, either in-situ or full body off. Obviously body off is the more expensive option but you really don’t know the extent of corrosion unless you do it. In my case I ended up having about 40% of the chassis replaced and the whole thing zinc and powder coated. It was also an opportunity to replace all the bushes, much tighter after that!
It's been a long wait! Basically the lead time on the nitrons was crazy, and then the steering rack was more worn than expected so that has taken a little longer.
It looks like I will be getting it back after the mechanical work early next week, then it will be a case of cosmetics, but they aren't all that bad so not critical. Can't wait to get it!
It looks like I will be getting it back after the mechanical work early next week, then it will be a case of cosmetics, but they aren't all that bad so not critical. Can't wait to get it!
I just reread the thread and realised I hadn't given any update on the car at all.
So it got delivered to Neil Garners who did a full inspection. The good news is that it wasn't much worse than I expected. The chassis rust is all surface and generally looks in good condition, so will be cleaned and treated to protect.
The dash pod has been sent off for refurbishing, as has the steering rack.
Rear adjusters were seized solid so new lower wishbones on the back to fix that. Old suspension was fit for the bin, so all new Nitrons all round are to be fitted.
Had a set of refurbished Spiders sent to NGs in Anthracite to replace the others with new Uniroyals on.
New brakes fitted all round.
Full geo set up and new seals around door/roof
Finished off with a full 12k service and mot.
During the inspection I found out it has been decatted, hence the noise. The rear cans have probably been sleeved but I'm not sure yet. I want to replace them as they are looking a little old now, so need to make a choice as to what to fit. Any suggestions?
So it got delivered to Neil Garners who did a full inspection. The good news is that it wasn't much worse than I expected. The chassis rust is all surface and generally looks in good condition, so will be cleaned and treated to protect.
The dash pod has been sent off for refurbishing, as has the steering rack.
Rear adjusters were seized solid so new lower wishbones on the back to fix that. Old suspension was fit for the bin, so all new Nitrons all round are to be fitted.
Had a set of refurbished Spiders sent to NGs in Anthracite to replace the others with new Uniroyals on.
New brakes fitted all round.
Full geo set up and new seals around door/roof
Finished off with a full 12k service and mot.
During the inspection I found out it has been decatted, hence the noise. The rear cans have probably been sleeved but I'm not sure yet. I want to replace them as they are looking a little old now, so need to make a choice as to what to fit. Any suggestions?
Will watch this with interest ,same as yourself but always wanted a Tamora , never thought I would own one , now I do and loving every drive despite the niggles that go with it . Don't know were you are based if you are going to get the geo sorted I would recommend Mat Smith at Downham Market , top bloke and did a top job and a good price .
Great to hear. 
I don't know how the numbers stack up but it sounds like you've got yourself a solid car there. Look forward to hearing what you think of the owner/driving experience, compared to the Chimaera.
I'm constantly tempted to 'trade up' but never quite get to it when I realise how much I've invested on future-proofing my Chimaera, which I still enjoy immensely. Good luck!
I don't know how the numbers stack up but it sounds like you've got yourself a solid car there. Look forward to hearing what you think of the owner/driving experience, compared to the Chimaera.
I'm constantly tempted to 'trade up' but never quite get to it when I realise how much I've invested on future-proofing my Chimaera, which I still enjoy immensely. Good luck!
philburch said:
Will watch this with interest ,same as yourself but always wanted a Tamora , never thought I would own one , now I do and loving every drive despite the niggles that go with it . Don't know were you are based if you are going to get the geo sorted I would recommend Mat Smith at Downham Market , top bloke and did a top job and a good price .
Im not near Mat Smith but I was thinking of taking it there. But Neil Garner will do a full geo set up as part of the nitron fitment so I will see how that feels first then maybe take it up there anyway. They are also raising the rack slightly to alleviate the bump steer a bitpb450 said:
Great to hear.
I don't know how the numbers stack up but it sounds like you've got yourself a solid car there. Look forward to hearing what you think of the owner/driving experience, compared to the Chimaera.
I'm constantly tempted to 'trade up' but never quite get to it when I realise how much I've invested on future-proofing my Chimaera, which I still enjoy immensely. Good luck!
Numbers are pretty good so far, I've spent what I was expecting so far, with all the mechanical work taken care of and the new parts fitted as above it owes me around £21k. Not bad for a well sorted car underneath. Obviously depending on what I do cosmetically it will cost more but im hopeful I can bring it in under its market value. Also I won't be rushing to do all the cosmetics like paintwork, first step will be new carpets and repair the seat bolster but apart from that it's not all that badI don't know how the numbers stack up but it sounds like you've got yourself a solid car there. Look forward to hearing what you think of the owner/driving experience, compared to the Chimaera.
I'm constantly tempted to 'trade up' but never quite get to it when I realise how much I've invested on future-proofing my Chimaera, which I still enjoy immensely. Good luck!
Small update guys
So it's been a long time coming, but Neil Garners are finally shipping the Tuscan back tomorrow. It had had a lot of work done on it, spent 6k on nothing that's visible except the refurbed wheels. However according to them, it drives like nothing else now, better than most they've had they said. Even the techs wanted to buy it!
So needless to say I'm looking forward to it. It's been way too long but delays on parts and refurbing rack and new suspension etc, all added up.
I wanted to get the interior sorted, either just the carpets or a full retrim, and then look at paint, but they said it's actually not too bad and I think I'm just going to enjoy it for a while, then see where I go from there. If nothing else, I've run out of car funds for the moment!
Will get some pics up tomorrow hopefully
So it's been a long time coming, but Neil Garners are finally shipping the Tuscan back tomorrow. It had had a lot of work done on it, spent 6k on nothing that's visible except the refurbed wheels. However according to them, it drives like nothing else now, better than most they've had they said. Even the techs wanted to buy it!
So needless to say I'm looking forward to it. It's been way too long but delays on parts and refurbing rack and new suspension etc, all added up.
I wanted to get the interior sorted, either just the carpets or a full retrim, and then look at paint, but they said it's actually not too bad and I think I'm just going to enjoy it for a while, then see where I go from there. If nothing else, I've run out of car funds for the moment!
Will get some pics up tomorrow hopefully
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