Sagaris Rebuild
Discussion
Hi folks
I am about to embark on a Sagaris rebuild, and so I wanted to see what owners initial thoughts were regarding upgrades. If you were going to build a sag from the chassis up what are the little niggles you would replace/upgrade along the way. Anything i should be mind full of?
I completely refurbed the Chimaera, and loved it. So here goes.....
I am about to embark on a Sagaris rebuild, and so I wanted to see what owners initial thoughts were regarding upgrades. If you were going to build a sag from the chassis up what are the little niggles you would replace/upgrade along the way. Anything i should be mind full of?
I completely refurbed the Chimaera, and loved it. So here goes.....
Nice project Dave will be following this with interest, a Sagaris would be top of my list to build from scratch.
I'm currently restoring a Tuscan and the way my thought processes work, I find it almost impossible to put things back together exactly as they were done in the factory without looking at ways to make improvements and simplify.
For example, I've never understood why the starter motor/alternator to battery cable runs from the rear RHS of the engine right round the front of the engine back past the exhaust manifolds to the battery which is about 3m of cable. To me the glaringly obvious route from the starter motor is straight up through the bulkhead into the cabin across behind the dash, drop down into the passenger footwell and back through to the battery saving at least a meter of cable and no close shaves with the exhausts. Similar story for the lambda cables that go from the ECU into the engine loom out into the engine bay, across the engine piggy back the coolant pipe back past the manifolds, past the battery to the exhaust when it could simply stay in the cabin and take the same route as the power cable and not go anywhere the engine bay.
Things like this will help simplify/declutter the engine bay and make some obvious improvements to cable longevity and no sign of itch inducing fibreglass wrap…
Saying that, I do find working on the Tuscan a refreshing alternative to modern mass produced cars…
I'm currently restoring a Tuscan and the way my thought processes work, I find it almost impossible to put things back together exactly as they were done in the factory without looking at ways to make improvements and simplify.
For example, I've never understood why the starter motor/alternator to battery cable runs from the rear RHS of the engine right round the front of the engine back past the exhaust manifolds to the battery which is about 3m of cable. To me the glaringly obvious route from the starter motor is straight up through the bulkhead into the cabin across behind the dash, drop down into the passenger footwell and back through to the battery saving at least a meter of cable and no close shaves with the exhausts. Similar story for the lambda cables that go from the ECU into the engine loom out into the engine bay, across the engine piggy back the coolant pipe back past the manifolds, past the battery to the exhaust when it could simply stay in the cabin and take the same route as the power cable and not go anywhere the engine bay.
Things like this will help simplify/declutter the engine bay and make some obvious improvements to cable longevity and no sign of itch inducing fibreglass wrap…
Saying that, I do find working on the Tuscan a refreshing alternative to modern mass produced cars…
Modrich said:
Nice project Dave will be following this with interest, a Sagaris would be top of my list to build from scratch.
I'm currently restoring a Tuscan and the way my thought processes work, I find it almost impossible to put things back together exactly as they were done in the factory without looking at ways to make improvements and simplify.
For example, I've never understood why the starter motor/alternator to battery cable runs from the rear RHS of the engine right round the front of the engine back past the exhaust manifolds to the battery which is about 3m of cable. To me the glaringly obvious route from the starter motor is straight up through the bulkhead into the cabin across behind the dash, drop down into the passenger footwell and back through to the battery saving at least a meter of cable and no close shaves with the exhausts. Similar story for the lambda cables that go from the ECU into the engine loom out into the engine bay, across the engine piggy back the coolant pipe back past the manifolds, past the battery to the exhaust when it could simply stay in the cabin and take the same route as the power cable and not go anywhere the engine bay.
Things like this will help simplify/declutter the engine bay and make some obvious improvements to cable longevity and no sign of itch inducing fibreglass wrap…
Saying that, I do find working on the Tuscan a refreshing alternative to modern mass produced cars…
Thanks Modrich, I have been watching your Tuscan - great work! Good point on the electrics! Im not familiar with T cars, but on my Chimaera the electrics/loom and positioning never made the most sense! I'm currently restoring a Tuscan and the way my thought processes work, I find it almost impossible to put things back together exactly as they were done in the factory without looking at ways to make improvements and simplify.
For example, I've never understood why the starter motor/alternator to battery cable runs from the rear RHS of the engine right round the front of the engine back past the exhaust manifolds to the battery which is about 3m of cable. To me the glaringly obvious route from the starter motor is straight up through the bulkhead into the cabin across behind the dash, drop down into the passenger footwell and back through to the battery saving at least a meter of cable and no close shaves with the exhausts. Similar story for the lambda cables that go from the ECU into the engine loom out into the engine bay, across the engine piggy back the coolant pipe back past the manifolds, past the battery to the exhaust when it could simply stay in the cabin and take the same route as the power cable and not go anywhere the engine bay.
Things like this will help simplify/declutter the engine bay and make some obvious improvements to cable longevity and no sign of itch inducing fibreglass wrap…
Saying that, I do find working on the Tuscan a refreshing alternative to modern mass produced cars…
non_linear said:
Biggest change from standard I would make is better protection of the chassis, but I'm guessing you have already done that. What is the finish on the chassis? Is that epoxy?
Chassis was treated to hot zinc bath before powder coating. Im in Northampton and found a great service with one of the locals! Don1 said:
The inability to get to the battery without removing a wheel... Everything else I fixed when modifying.
Jury is out on that one. Having had a Chimaera then a Sagaris, I'm undecided on whether footwell or wheelwell access is better. As I have got older and had to change batteries a few times, I actually find the wheel arch access is less of a strain on my back. Although the footwell access feels less crazy even though the battery is actually in exactly the same place really. 
You need to make sure you remove paint from any structural / precision metal mating surfaces.
i.e. the track control plate pictured in red.
The paint will relax / squash over time and release the torque applied to fasteners. It will also cause sufficient build up that some parts will not fit correctly, like the rear hub / brake arrangement.
i.e. the track control plate pictured in red.
The paint will relax / squash over time and release the torque applied to fasteners. It will also cause sufficient build up that some parts will not fit correctly, like the rear hub / brake arrangement.
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