For the love of Tuscan (project build)

[Polly Grigora]

Updates please

[Modrich]

Hi all, sorry there's been no posts from me for a while. I am progressing slowly taking into account work and school holidays.Brakes/steering rack mod/engine bay/cooling/oil system overhall nearly complete with alloy tanks and oil cooler looking like new, re-routed lambda and 12v cabling through cabin now complete and trying to get started on the interior so I can get the dash back in and get the think started and just can't find the time and head space to make some worth while posts...

[Modrich]

Ok so, I'm back after a very long break from this thread. I have made progress, the engine bay is looking good (apart from the engine) and I am now tackling the interior so I can get the wiring and dashboard back in and maybe get the Tuscan started, but, I've noticed all my embedded pics from google drive are not showing and a quick google shows a problem with google itself with no sign of a fix apart from changing the path for all the pics...Anyone having similar issues?

[lancepar]

Photos..

Only looked at OP.

Some opened when clicked and showed images, some opened and said "owners permision required to view"

Were they in full view originally?

HTH

[BEARDYB0Y]

Great to hear that progress has restarted, I really enjoyed this thread last year. Cant wait to see the Tuscan finished and on the road once again!

Re pictures, I notice a couple of mine have broken since I posted them about a year ago. Wonder if there is some sort of time constraint. I dont have a solution though...

[Modrich]

Thanks Beardyboy. Good to see your stunning Tamora today!

It appears to be a permanent change to Google drive policy and third party cookies etc that means I will have to redo every link to my photos. I'd prefer to do this before I continue to post updates so the thread makes sense.

I can use the same picture ID from google drive but the address has to change:

Old link
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1YST...

New link
https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=1YST_4RCSPat...

above link pasted between these [pic] [/pic]

I have fixed my first two post, only 29 to go...

Interior is almost complete and I am currently re-installing the dash/dashpod and have ignition and can turn the engine over, just need to complete the fuel pump/filter relocation to the boot so I should have the engine running this week...

Edited by Modrich on Tuesday 26th March 22:56

[Modrich]

All of my embeded picture links are now fixed. Next update coming up...

[Modrich]

So before I get stuck into the details of what I've been doing to my MK1 Tuscan, here's roughly how it looks at present...

The body repairs and re-spray are complete. Engine bay complete with new starter, power cabling re-routed behind the dash, Cerakoated tanks, new silicone hoses, chassis cleaned-up, steering rack raised, oil cooler raised slightly to clear steering rack, HVAC system inc. plenum & fan cleaned, spark plug cover vapour blasted with custom re-useable silicon foam seals, cooling fan motors & shrouds etc refurbed:



Front discs and AP pads cleaned and painted, new rear discs and pads


Interior retrim with alcantara almost complete, carpet only for new floor mats...




Pedal box in, refurbed dashpod with new perspex screen re-fitted...



Fuel tank refurb, fuel pump and filter relocation 99% complete, just waiting for the final pressure gauge parts...


A couple of questions:
1) I suspect the speedo stepper motor is not playing ball as when powering up it wants to go backwards. I initially thought this was because both wires had been shorting on the steering column, but I've sorted this and problem is still there, has the stepper motor failed?

2) I've tried testing the cooling system with a vacuum but it doesn't hold. I have fitted new thermostat and seal, there were no signs of leaks in the heater matrix etc. I don't want to fill with coolant for the first start-up to find I have to drain it again. Any ideas?

Edited by Modrich on Friday 5th April 17:08

[Modrich]

Engine bay stripdown...

Fans and coolant system, oil tans, airbox etc removed




Painting the engine bay...


...and chassis


HVAC flaps removed for access to fan etc


HVAC Flaps in need of refinishing...


More engine painting...

Edited by Modrich on Monday 8th April 21:23

[Modrich]

Engine bay parts from the platers/coaters...

Some parts were 'clear' zinc passivated and the aluminium tanks/oil cooler, spark plug cover and HVAC flaps were vapour blasted and clear Cerakoted. I wanted a satin finish rather than the polished look for the tanks...






Oil tank


Oil cooler


Coolant expansion tank and fuel rail end fitting


Coolant tank and power steering fluid tank bracket and engine block to oil cooler pipe


HVAC flaps


HVAC coolant feed pipe and bracket

[porterpainter]

Looking really good. Especially the Cerakote finish.

[TUS373]

Great job and following with interest. It must be very satisfying doing this but a labour or love.

Gives me the idea to buy up Tuscans, strip them down, recondition everything and sell them as a self assembly kit. A car reborn, bestowed with more care and time than even the factory could have expended.

[Modrich]

Thanks porterpainter and TUS373.

Don't expect to make any money restoring TVRs TUS373, I now know why restomods cost so much because they take so much time. If someone asked me to do the same to their TVR I wouldn't have a clue how much to charge...

[Modrich]

Radiator and fans rebuild...

New fixings for the fan shrouds


Radiator cleaned-up (it's in great condition) and painted fan shrouds fitted


Rivnuts fitted so the fans can be easily removed


Cables to fans need a clean


...in vinegar


new waterproof connectors




Now the fan motors...


Brushes need a good clean...


Brush springs removed


Cleaning inside the brush housings


Stator nice and clean


Re-assembly...


Bearing runs nice and smooth


Brackets treated and painted with Hammerite


Waterproof connector for the fan


Stainless cap screws to make life easy for removal


Re-fitted

[Granturadriver]

Looks great!

Have you recorded the time spent so far?

[Modrich]

Hahaaa, no I haven't. It's been alot though because it's not been a case of remove, restore and re-fit like a TVR specialist would do (to keep costs realistic), I've been working out how to make improvements with every step. I have kept records of everything I've bought but haven't added them all up...yet....

[Modrich]

Steering rack spacers to reduce bump steer...

While all the tanks are removed it makes accessing the steering rack a doddle so I ordered some spacers from Motaclan. It turns out I didn't order enough so I had to make some more from aluminium flat bar as I found I could raise the steering rack by about 8mm before the power steering hose connections touched the chassis.


I ended up with enough spacers for nearly 10mm each side but 8mm was about max


Spacers fitted with new extended stainless cap bolts


Extra clearance below the track rod boots is noticable. I also have Sagaris steering arms to further reduce bump steer.


I will be addressing the corrossion to the track rods and suspension etc once the car is up and running, I want to drive the car first....

Edited by Modrich on Wednesday 10th April 09:04

[Basil Brush]

You'll end up with a lot of bump toe out using Sag arms and rack spacers together.

[Modrich]

Thanks BB, so you wreckon the 8mm spacers with be enough?

[Basil Brush]

Modrich said:

Thanks BB, so you wreckon the 8mm spacers with be enough?

I think it'll be somewhere close to as good as you can get with the early front geometry. The Sag arms drop the outer TREs too much for the non Sagaris cars based on my measurements, no matter what the people selling them say.