4.2 Bodyoff Rebuild
Discussion
Thanks for comments all.
I eventually got the dash off, I has to prise the upper and lower apart as it seems it had been bosticked together courtesy of the previous owner who used it for everything.
It took 7 hours to lift off, up and down a few times disconnecting more as it became accessible, I had my brother to help which was good. I'm hoping to do a bit more tomorrow. I'm quite set on making a chassis jig as i'd like to replace mine I think.
Things that clearly need replacing or upgrading, fuel lines, oil pipes, bushes, wishbones, uprights, and that is just to start I think. I'm going to make a new handbrake for certain, existing is crap and unsightly. Also going to rebuild engine and I have some ideas for raising power which hopefully i'll be able to do without an enormous amount of work but we will have to see on that with time.
I eventually got the dash off, I has to prise the upper and lower apart as it seems it had been bosticked together courtesy of the previous owner who used it for everything.
It took 7 hours to lift off, up and down a few times disconnecting more as it became accessible, I had my brother to help which was good. I'm hoping to do a bit more tomorrow. I'm quite set on making a chassis jig as i'd like to replace mine I think.
Things that clearly need replacing or upgrading, fuel lines, oil pipes, bushes, wishbones, uprights, and that is just to start I think. I'm going to make a new handbrake for certain, existing is crap and unsightly. Also going to rebuild engine and I have some ideas for raising power which hopefully i'll be able to do without an enormous amount of work but we will have to see on that with time.
She has sat for 18 months outside unfortunately, the engine was using more oil than fuel which I have not yet diagnosed. I have a clear vision for what i'm going to do but i'm not sure on how much I want to spend really.
I am going to make a chassis jig as one of the first things, I am then going to make up a new chassis, I am sure many people would repair this one, it probably looks a bit worse than it is.
I will also make the suspension components, most likely machine out of billet aluminium.
One thing I will likely have to pay for is the trimming of the interior, all new.
For the engine I have an idea, but we will see how it goes. I'd like to push the power up but i'll need a billet crank, however the cost I think is quite steep, I haven't really got a budget for everything so I'll take a look when I've got the chassis rolling.
I am going to make a chassis jig as one of the first things, I am then going to make up a new chassis, I am sure many people would repair this one, it probably looks a bit worse than it is.
I will also make the suspension components, most likely machine out of billet aluminium.
One thing I will likely have to pay for is the trimming of the interior, all new.
For the engine I have an idea, but we will see how it goes. I'd like to push the power up but i'll need a billet crank, however the cost I think is quite steep, I haven't really got a budget for everything so I'll take a look when I've got the chassis rolling.
scerbera said:
I eventually got the dash off, I has to prise the upper and lower apart as it seems it had been bosticked together courtesy of the previous owner who used it for everything.
Having watched all your posts about this car with a lot of interest, it seems you are continuing to post unfounded and untruthful accusations. Let me put you straight on these. I bought this car from a dealer in Doncaster who had it on a lift before he took it in part exchange and both he and his partner checked the chassis. I also checked it carefully. It was in good condition. End of.
It did not have an MOT and I took it as a project and without any warranty. Many items either did not work - windows, mirrors etc - or were worn out - coolant hoses, thermostat, power steering rack etc. I spent a lot of money having everything repaired or replaced - from memory £3,000+ (all from the big TVR dealers) - so that the car would be a good reliable one to enjoy.
Firstly, the chassis on this car was in excellent shape prior to you buying it. On your own admission you have left it idle for some 18 months and anyone with half an ounce of commonsense would not let a TVR stand unused like this. All the pictures show is the result of this folly. This is a '97 car and many, many cars both older and younger including Griffs and Chims have had far worse chassis corrosion - take a look on the Chimaera threads at the state of outriggers on their cars. There are no obviously glaring holes in the outriggers and without having the chassis media blasted to determine just how far gone it is quite pointless.
You complain relentlessly about 'glue' and 'bostick' and how it was 'bosticked together courtesy of the previous owner who used it for everything'. This is a downright lie. I can categorically state that I neither removed nor even attempted to remove or repair the dash so to state I 'bosticked' it together is clearly rubbish. I did not glue or bostick the seats, squabs or backs as suggested by you. The hessian material on the parcel shelf was torn, frayed and rotted from condensation off the rear windscreen so I replaced it with the material currently fitted. The door panels were similarly treated. This you were aware of.
On one thing we may agree is why the engine apparently uses more oil than fuel. After purchase you drove the car to London without mishap or problems. You then drove to south Wales where you spent Sunday afternoon thrashing the car within an inch of its life on the back roads near your home showing off to your 'mates'. You then phoned me complaining the clutch pedal was going to the floor. From your description it appeared to me that the master cylinder had failed - fluid around the pedal - so I located a dealer with one and advised you did not bleed through the slave cylinder in case of contamination. Following yet another call it seems you did not heed this advice and subsequently the slave also failed. The majority of Cerbera owners are all too well aware of the fragility of the clutch on these cars and treat them accordingly.
I posted on PH after selling the car to you that I was very sad to see the car go. I regretted it immediately. Having owned more than 65 cars, it is very unusual for me to feel this way about a car. You never asked me to take the car back which I would have done had you returned it to me. I did not make any money when I sold it to you. I made a loss of around £2000 in the short time I owned it but it was a project to save the car from possible termination.
Finally, the car was shown at TVRCC Burghley, at the PH organised Lotherton Hall meeting, Boston Car Show, Stamford Car Show, Ossett Car Show, Wentworth Car Show, Doncaster Car Show all in the same 12 months in my ownership. Several members of this forum have seen the car and assisted me with queries about it. Do you really believe I would have shown it had it been as bad or as poor as you describe? From your posts the amount of oil you allege is being used would either leave a slick in its wake or huge clouds of smoke so as to make the car totally undriveable. Strangely, during my ownership, it did neither and had it been burning oil then I am 100% certain that my fellow Cerbera owners would have pointed it out to me. The weekend before you bought the car I drove it to Lincoln and back, a return journey of 150 miles. It used no oil. It drove faultlessly.
So, before posting accusations and comments about the 'previous owner' (check the registration document for all the previous owners - there are quite a lot) get your facts right. I have previously ignored your childish tantrums but following contact with other Cerbera owners concerned at your posts I have decided to put the record straight.
The short response to this post is utter nonsense, i'll respond to some of your points below.
N7GTX said:
Having watched all your posts about this car with a lot of interest, it seems you are continuing to post unfounded and untruthful accusations.
Let me put you straight on these. I bought this car from a dealer in Doncaster who had it on a lift before he took it in part exchange and both he and his partner checked the chassis. I also checked it carefully. It was in good condition. End of.
It did not have an MOT and I took it as a project and without any warranty. Many items either did not work - windows, mirrors etc - or were worn out - coolant hoses, thermostat, power steering rack etc. I spent a lot of money having everything repaired or replaced - from memory £3,000+ (all from the big TVR dealers) - so that the car would be a good reliable one to enjoy.
Firstly, the chassis on this car was in excellent shape prior to you buying it. On your own admission you have left it idle for some 18 months and anyone with half an ounce of commonsense would not let a TVR stand unused like this. All the pictures show is the result of this folly. This is a '97 car and many, many cars both older and younger including Griffs and Chims have had far worse chassis corrosion - take a look on the Chimaera threads at the state of outriggers on their cars. There are no obviously glaring holes in the outriggers and without having the chassis media blasted to determine just how far gone it is quite pointless.
You complain relentlessly about 'glue' and 'bostick' and how it was 'bosticked together courtesy of the previous owner who used it for everything'. This is a downright lie. I can categorically state that I neither removed nor even attempted to remove or repair the dash so to state I 'bosticked' it together is clearly rubbish. I did not glue or bostick the seats, squabs or backs as suggested by you. The hessian material on the parcel shelf was torn, frayed and rotted from condensation off the rear windscreen so I replaced it with the material currently fitted. The door panels were similarly treated. This you were aware of.
I drove the car precisely 2 miles and the driveshaft snapped again so I machined 2 new shafts. After this the car was impossible to drive due to the oil issue. ****
I posted on PH after selling the car to you that I was very sad to see the car go. I regretted it immediately. Having owned more than 65 cars, it is very unusual for me to feel this way about a car. You never asked me to take the car back which I would have done had you returned it to me. I did not make any money when I sold it to you. I made a loss of around £2000 in the short time I owned it but it was a project to save the car from possible termination.
Finally, the car was shown at TVRCC Burghley, at the PH organised Lotherton Hall meeting, Boston Car Show, Stamford Car Show, Ossett Car Show, Wentworth Car Show, Doncaster Car Show all in the same 12 months in my ownership. Several members of this forum have seen the car and assisted me with queries about it. Do you really believe I would have shown it had it been as bad or as poor as you describe? From your posts the amount of oil you allege is being used would either leave a slick in its wake or huge clouds of smoke so as to make the car totally undriveable. Strangely, during my ownership, it did neither and had it been burning oil then I am 100% certain that my fellow Cerbera owners would have pointed it out to me. The weekend before you bought the car I drove it to Lincoln and back, a return journey of 150 miles. It used no oil. It drove faultlessly.
So, before posting accusations and comments about the 'previous owner' (check the registration document for all the previous owners - there are quite a lot) get your facts right. I have previously ignored your childish tantrums but following contact with other Cerbera owners concerned at your posts I have decided to put the record straight.
The dash on the car has been bosticked together, I haven't said it was you, but it clearly was a previous owner so put your toys back in your pram. You used it on the door seals so it must just be coincidence. The oil issue is the reason the car has been off the road, it used oil as I have described above from the first journey I did in it, and got progressively worse, I have barely done any miles in the car as I detailed above so i'm not sure why you think I am somehow to blame. What you spent on the car, how many cars you have owned or anything else is quite frankly completely irrelevant. Let me put you straight on these. I bought this car from a dealer in Doncaster who had it on a lift before he took it in part exchange and both he and his partner checked the chassis. I also checked it carefully. It was in good condition. End of.
- What does this have to do with anything?**
It did not have an MOT and I took it as a project and without any warranty. Many items either did not work - windows, mirrors etc - or were worn out - coolant hoses, thermostat, power steering rack etc. I spent a lot of money having everything repaired or replaced - from memory £3,000+ (all from the big TVR dealers) - so that the car would be a good reliable one to enjoy.
Firstly, the chassis on this car was in excellent shape prior to you buying it. On your own admission you have left it idle for some 18 months and anyone with half an ounce of commonsense would not let a TVR stand unused like this. All the pictures show is the result of this folly. This is a '97 car and many, many cars both older and younger including Griffs and Chims have had far worse chassis corrosion - take a look on the Chimaera threads at the state of outriggers on their cars. There are no obviously glaring holes in the outriggers and without having the chassis media blasted to determine just how far gone it is quite pointless.
- What has this got to do with anything. **
You complain relentlessly about 'glue' and 'bostick' and how it was 'bosticked together courtesy of the previous owner who used it for everything'. This is a downright lie. I can categorically state that I neither removed nor even attempted to remove or repair the dash so to state I 'bosticked' it together is clearly rubbish. I did not glue or bostick the seats, squabs or backs as suggested by you. The hessian material on the parcel shelf was torn, frayed and rotted from condensation off the rear windscreen so I replaced it with the material currently fitted. The door panels were similarly treated. This you were aware of.
- **You replaced the door seals did you not? You used bostik, the car leaked like a sieve.****
- ** What you have posted in the paragraph above is bizarre, firstly, since I owned the car to it being put off road I had travelled the sum total of 750 miles in it. I bought it from you, as you say did 150 miles in it. I put 1/2 liter of oil in it. Then drove it home 300 miles with my 18 month old son in it, another 1l. 3 miles later the master cylinder seals fail, I replaced the master, I don't know what your bleeding comment is referring to you have no idea what I did. A further 3 miles down the road and the slave fails. replaced. I also have no idea what your fragile comment is in reference to, are you suggesting that I pressed the clutch in the wrong way and caused the seals to break? Very bizarre comment.
I drove the car precisely 2 miles and the driveshaft snapped again so I machined 2 new shafts. After this the car was impossible to drive due to the oil issue. ****
I posted on PH after selling the car to you that I was very sad to see the car go. I regretted it immediately. Having owned more than 65 cars, it is very unusual for me to feel this way about a car. You never asked me to take the car back which I would have done had you returned it to me. I did not make any money when I sold it to you. I made a loss of around £2000 in the short time I owned it but it was a project to save the car from possible termination.
Finally, the car was shown at TVRCC Burghley, at the PH organised Lotherton Hall meeting, Boston Car Show, Stamford Car Show, Ossett Car Show, Wentworth Car Show, Doncaster Car Show all in the same 12 months in my ownership. Several members of this forum have seen the car and assisted me with queries about it. Do you really believe I would have shown it had it been as bad or as poor as you describe? From your posts the amount of oil you allege is being used would either leave a slick in its wake or huge clouds of smoke so as to make the car totally undriveable. Strangely, during my ownership, it did neither and had it been burning oil then I am 100% certain that my fellow Cerbera owners would have pointed it out to me. The weekend before you bought the car I drove it to Lincoln and back, a return journey of 150 miles. It used no oil. It drove faultlessly.
So, before posting accusations and comments about the 'previous owner' (check the registration document for all the previous owners - there are quite a lot) get your facts right. I have previously ignored your childish tantrums but following contact with other Cerbera owners concerned at your posts I have decided to put the record straight.
Yes the crankshafts are bloody expensive and with the other parts needed would be a large engine bill even if you done the labour yourself.
There is a 4.5 engine on eBay but what condition it's in is anyone's guess but you would get some money for your old engine even if it was broken up.
Or dare I say it use a different manufacturers engine, I would love to see someone use a BMW E39 M5 v8 as they are bombproof and push out reliable power without using the 'common' LS v8 which is what a lot of the other guys use
There is a 4.5 engine on eBay but what condition it's in is anyone's guess but you would get some money for your old engine even if it was broken up.
Or dare I say it use a different manufacturers engine, I would love to see someone use a BMW E39 M5 v8 as they are bombproof and push out reliable power without using the 'common' LS v8 which is what a lot of the other guys use
Funnily enough my last daily car was an E39 M5, I did 40k miles in it in 18 months, engine is rather big though!
What I plan to do is change ecu, have wideband feedback and very lightly turbo. To do that I figure I need upgrade on the crank and rods, I can machine new pistons myself so I'll have to see what option I have on the crank. This engine clocked 315 on the dyno when I put it on, I'd like much more than that.
What I plan to do is change ecu, have wideband feedback and very lightly turbo. To do that I figure I need upgrade on the crank and rods, I can machine new pistons myself so I'll have to see what option I have on the crank. This engine clocked 315 on the dyno when I put it on, I'd like much more than that.
Sure they made them, to make a chassis you need a jig. I have the steel lying around for want of a better word to make a chassis jig which is what I am going to do in the next few weeks. It's relatively simple just time consuming, but the chassis looks easy to make a jig for.
Tomorrow I am going to price up doing one in 4130 compared to cds, a new chassis that is.
Tomorrow I am going to price up doing one in 4130 compared to cds, a new chassis that is.
Poopdog said:
I would think that if you pulled it off making a new chassis you would be able to sell a few to put towards the build of your project.
Sure, maybe! Today the steel for chassis is ordered, I have gone for ROPT510 which is a high quality material. Hopefully start on the jig Thursday time permitting.
gruffalo said:
Why the change to the rear wishbone, what will it achieve?
Hi Gruffalo. Well I have changed the design again slightly last night after drawing till 5am which I now slightly regret! But the idea is to move the pickup point of the upper wishbone forward, by my measuring there is over 100mm to play with, this will allow me to attach the spring/damper directly to the upright at a central point just above the driveshaft, there is also a new pick up point for the shock on the chassis.
I just about got there with an upright and lower wishbone, once I modify the upper and finish modelling the upright I'll post up an assembly for scrutiny.
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