The Full Body Off Resto Begins..

[PhilH42]

I did love the raw drive of the S but I was always wondering when driving on the limits (well my limits) at what point it would all unravel and I'd be left skidding along on a seat with just the steering wheel in my hands

[greenhulk]

PhilH42 said:

I did love the raw drive of the S but I was always wondering when driving on the limits (well my limits) at what point it would all unravel and I'd be left skidding along on a seat with just the steering wheel in my hands

very comforting to know the seats are only held in through 4 bolts in the fibreglass too..

Oh & loving the red chassis! I'll have some snaps of mine welded up an hopefully all coated next week

Im beginning to wonder how different the chimaera will drive compared to the S now

[greenhulk]

Things are coming along nicely.. Looks like Tony Stark himself has been at it with the welder

Edited by greenhulk on Friday 16th December 16:32

[davetripletvr]

greenhulk said:

Things are coming along nicely.. Looks like Tony Stark himself has been at it with the welder

Edited by greenhulk on Friday 16th December 16:32

Looking good my friend

[ClassiChimi]

Nice work
Other than riggers your chassis looks like it's in very good nic.
The winters crap but at least we get to see these fab rebuilds.

That's going to be a nice nice car, I like the colour, keep the wood dash, just my opinion of corse but your cars got that classic look to it I reckon. Lovely

[WinstonWolf]

Is it worth welding in some seat mounting straps while you're at this stage?

[greenhulk]

Cheers gents, much appreciated. It'll look abit different next week when its all coated up.

WinstonWolf said:

Is it worth welding in some seat mounting straps while you're at this stage?

Tony at Coventry car centre who's doing my rebuild mentioned something similar, said 4 bolts through fibreglass isn't exactly the safest

Did you mod your chassis? Any pics of the seatbelt mounting straps

[phillpot]

greenhulk said:

4 bolts through fibreglass isn't exactly the safest

On the other hand, I've never seen a "my seat ripped out the floor!" post?

[greenhulk]

phillpot said:

On the other hand, I've never seen a "my seat ripped out the floor!" post?

you might have jinxed it now mike, Im all for an easy modification whilst the chassis is accessible tho, bit of added safety never hurt nobody

[phillpot]

greenhulk said:

Im all for an easy modification whilst the chassis is accessible

Hope you got some measurements before the body came off

[hillclimbmanic]

phillpot said:

greenhulk said:

4 bolts through fibreglass isn't exactly the safest

On the other hand, I've never seen a "my seat ripped out the floor!" post?

I've had this conversation with others, before; it's got to rip the seatbelt mountings out first, before your seat can 'Leave the Building', so to speak.!!

[hillclimbmanic]

...anyway, here's my Griff(sorry, but there's SO much more action on your site!) before and after photos:







Chassis repaired, blasted, zinc thermal sprayed, and finally powder coated in chrome silver; new wishbones, Gaz Gold Pro's, completely polybushed; Gearbox and Diff rebuilt by John at Grantura Eng. 17" wheels, to accommodate 324mm front discs and B-I-G Brembo conversion...New EVERYTHING!!!!

Edited by hillclimbmanic on Saturday 17th December 13:08

[greenhulk]

Nice work! silver chassis looks great & its nice to see abit of detail work around the engine bay too.. Cant beat abit of engine porn

Got the gaz golds for mine too, bit limited on brake upgrade myself as im keeping the original wheels so 15" fronts, may do the 888 sierra cosworth brake upgrade tho unless the original brakes are more than adequate? (4.0 mk1 mine is)

[hillclimbmanic]

greenhulk said:

Nice work! silver chassis looks great & its nice to see abit of detail work around the engine bay too.. Cant beat abit of engine porn

Got the gaz golds for mine too, bit limited on brake upgrade myself as im keeping the original wheels so 15" fronts, may do the 888 sierra cosworth brake upgrade tho unless the original brakes are more than adequate? (4.0 mk1 mine is)

MY Griff is the one of the earliest on record, so silver chassis was correct. The registration is 8 numbers away from the primrose '91 Motor Show Griff, so registered at the same time, in Feb '92...Chassis number ends in **05

I had the OZ split rims, and I really wanted to use them, but I'm building a 4.3 Big Valve Head motor, this year, so I needed to uprate the brakes...I upgraded the rears to the 500 bigger, vented discs, and bought a pair of Alfa Brembos for the front...New pistons, seals, bleed nipples, etc...

Edited by hillclimbmanic on Saturday 17th December 13:49

[ClassicChimaera]

hillclimbmanic said:

...anyway, here's my Griff(sorry, but there's SO much more action on your site!) before and after photos:







Chassis repaired, blasted, zinc thermal sprayed, and finally powder coated in chrome silver; new wishbones, Gaz Gold Pro's, completely polybushed; Gearbox and Diff rebuilt by John at Grantura Eng. 17" wheels, to accommodate 324mm front discs and B-I-G Brembo conversion...New EVERYTHING!!!!

Edited by hillclimbmanic on Saturday 17th December 13:08

When you think you've seen em all, that is fantastic.
Is the car still in rebuild stage.
That's inspiration right there

[hillclimbmanic]

ClassicChimaera said:

When you think you've seen em all, that is fantastic.
Is the car still in rebuild stage.
That's inspiration right there

Thanks for the great feedback.!!

I'm just about to fit the body back on, just got to paint and heatshield engine bay, and protect/stonechip the underbody...After bening messed about by TWO painter friends, I decided on a vinyl wrap, in Satin Colour-Flair...Red to Gold flip.

It looks stunning from about 6 feet away, but there are a few joins that I'm not happy with...Body in container at the moment, due to workshop being busy, but will post photos later

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLt9ALJgOFD

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLtjtNPAIJB/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLtDqmhA-9N


Sorry for hi-jacking this post.!!!

Edited by hillclimbmanic on Sunday 18th December 13:41

[Hedgehopper]

You appear to have a spacer behind the top ball-joint?

Any spacers, usually an 8mm plate, should be in front to create the correct caster angle.

Superb looking chassis...shame to put the body back on!

[CHIMV8 500]

greenhulk said:

Nice work! silver chassis looks great & its nice to see abit of detail work around the engine bay too.. Cant beat abit of engine porn

Got the gaz golds for mine too, bit limited on brake upgrade myself as im keeping the original wheels so 15" fronts, may do the 888 sierra cosworth brake upgrade tho unless the original brakes are more than adequate? (4.0 mk1 mine is)

The 888/887 brake upgrade is well worth the effort for the money you spend

I have the the upgrade on mine,also did my previous Chim

Usually rare and hasrd to get hold of at a reasonable price,for piece of mind send them to someone like BIG RED for full refurb

[hillclimbmanic]

Hedgehopper said:

You appear to have a spacer behind the top ball-joint?

Any spacers, usually an 8mm plate, should be in front to create the correct caster angle.

Superb looking chassis...shame to put the body back on!

They are washers, just for assembly purposes...I have the correct spacers now, and I believe that the best position is 5mm and 3mmm for the best compromise; I have 4x4mm plates, so I'm going 4mm each side, and try that combo first!

Everybody who comes into the workshop says "...just fit the seats and a perspex screen, leave the body off..!!"

Thanks for noticing, and the helpful tips, though...it would have turned in really well, with my setup of washers, but wandered EVERYWHERE, on the straight.!!

Manic

[greenhulk]

hillclimbmanic said:

Thanks for the great feedback.!!

I'm just about to fit the body back on, just got to paint and heatshield engine bay, and protect/stonechip the underbody...After bening messed about by TWO painter friends, I decided on a vinyl wrap, in Satin Colour-Flair...Red to Gold flip.

It looks stunning from about 6 feet away, but there are a few joins that I'm not happy with...Body in container at the moment, due to workshop being busy, but will post photos later

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLt9ALJgOFD

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLtjtNPAIJB/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLtDqmhA-9N


Sorry for hi-jacking this post.!!!

Edited by hillclimbmanic on Sunday 18th December 13:41

looks bloody good that matey, so where are the joins then? I thought the vinyl wraps were done in one sheet :/