Back in business!
Discussion
It's been an unbearable wait but the old girl is home again!
We've got new wishbones and outriggers courtesy of Neil Garners, and refurbed Gaz Golds courtesy of Alun (ClassicChimaera).
The setup was done by NGs with a view to compromise between road and track driving, and my initial thoughts- once I get through the white noise in my head that's screaming 'YAAAASTHISISAWESOME'- are that the car has been transformed. It rides sweetly without becoming upset by bumps in the road, but seems to grip and turn in infinitely better. The new wheels are 17" Team Dynamics that Ric managed to sort me out with for a bargain price, and although I'd wanted 16" fronts due to how skittish the front end felt over bumps with my 17s beforehand the new coilovers would appear to have remedied this. Very happy with how they look on the car too
This is where the real credit has to go to the guys at NGs though, because they really went out of their way to transform this car. There's a whole variety of fixes that they carried out just as a matter of course, from sorting out the engine bay heatshield to fixing the wiring on the horn- too many to list. To the extent that Ric believes I could send this car in for its MOT tomorrow and get a positive result- anyone who saw this car beforehand would understand the magnitude of that!
The guys really took to my carb'd RV8 and reckon it's in pretty good shape, one thing I didn't expect was that they sourced a new Edelbrock air cleaner for me! Mmm chromey... But I've really got no excuse now not to crack on with re-wrapping the exhausts and painting the rocker covers.... I reckon it'll look the dogs danglies then!
The only negative was that my s
tty tired old roof finally bit me on the arse- the rear screen gave way whilst it was being folded back in the workshop. The whole roof needed doing at some point, it'll just have to be sooner rather than later now. I'd been mmming and ahhhing over a Steve Edwards hardtop ever since I got the car but it's such a big expense for something I'm not 100% on- who knows, maybe sometime in the future. But for now, the question is do I go like-for-like replacement at Central TVR or do I get the smaller rear window from Dave the Trimmer? 
Sorry people for the hastily thrown together post, but I fear I would have exploded if I'd tried to contain my excitement!
Here's hoping for the continued presence of sunshine, for Tiv owners everywhere!
We've got new wishbones and outriggers courtesy of Neil Garners, and refurbed Gaz Golds courtesy of Alun (ClassicChimaera).
The setup was done by NGs with a view to compromise between road and track driving, and my initial thoughts- once I get through the white noise in my head that's screaming 'YAAAASTHISISAWESOME'- are that the car has been transformed. It rides sweetly without becoming upset by bumps in the road, but seems to grip and turn in infinitely better. The new wheels are 17" Team Dynamics that Ric managed to sort me out with for a bargain price, and although I'd wanted 16" fronts due to how skittish the front end felt over bumps with my 17s beforehand the new coilovers would appear to have remedied this. Very happy with how they look on the car too
This is where the real credit has to go to the guys at NGs though, because they really went out of their way to transform this car. There's a whole variety of fixes that they carried out just as a matter of course, from sorting out the engine bay heatshield to fixing the wiring on the horn- too many to list. To the extent that Ric believes I could send this car in for its MOT tomorrow and get a positive result- anyone who saw this car beforehand would understand the magnitude of that!
The guys really took to my carb'd RV8 and reckon it's in pretty good shape, one thing I didn't expect was that they sourced a new Edelbrock air cleaner for me! Mmm chromey... But I've really got no excuse now not to crack on with re-wrapping the exhausts and painting the rocker covers.... I reckon it'll look the dogs danglies then!
The only negative was that my s
tty tired old roof finally bit me on the arse- the rear screen gave way whilst it was being folded back in the workshop. The whole roof needed doing at some point, it'll just have to be sooner rather than later now. I'd been mmming and ahhhing over a Steve Edwards hardtop ever since I got the car but it's such a big expense for something I'm not 100% on- who knows, maybe sometime in the future. But for now, the question is do I go like-for-like replacement at Central TVR or do I get the smaller rear window from Dave the Trimmer? Sorry people for the hastily thrown together post, but I fear I would have exploded if I'd tried to contain my excitement!
Here's hoping for the continued presence of sunshine, for Tiv owners everywhere!
Hard to see. Is your roof discouloured by much. If it's in good nick I reckon I'd go for a repair because if the car spends much time outside it will discolour again fairly quickly anyway.
If your going to keep the car under cover then it does look good with a new roof,,,, it won't go any faster though
If your going to keep the car under cover then it does look good with a new roof,,,, it won't go any faster though
CanoeSniffer said:
Shocks are the best bit Alun! 
Nah mate the roof is totalled! Seals gone, mohair peeled off, wouldn't be any point putting a new window on that pile of junk!
Car lives under a cover at home so hopefully a new roof should stay in good nick!
Good decision then. Nah mate the roof is totalled! Seals gone, mohair peeled off, wouldn't be any point putting a new window on that pile of junk!
Car lives under a cover at home so hopefully a new roof should stay in good nick!
Just be gentle on it for a bit now, let it all bed down, Sounds like you've had a really good service by the boys there and it bodes well.
As the saying goes "there's no two Tvr that are exactly the same" and more and more cars are indervidual with bespoke engine specs etc.
I think you carbed Chim is ace. Good on you.
Re -shocks, they should be good, I did 23 trackdays bedding them in for you 
Trying to remember I think I did 2 or 3 and about 4000 miles gentle road driving on them.
Anyone can tell you on track I'm very gentle on em
Gas should have done a good job on them and if your lucky updated slightly.
Do keep Vaseline/ grease or something on the rose joints cos just to atmosphere they can go tight and cause creaking clunking over bumps. If they stay sort of lubed they last a lot longer IMO
Trying to remember I think I did 2 or 3 and about 4000 miles gentle road driving on them.
Anyone can tell you on track I'm very gentle on em
Gas should have done a good job on them and if your lucky updated slightly.
Do keep Vaseline/ grease or something on the rose joints cos just to atmosphere they can go tight and cause creaking clunking over bumps. If they stay sort of lubed they last a lot longer IMO
s p a c e m a n said:
Get someone to make you a roof with a zip in rear window like the old porsche 911, that way it will sit lower when down and wont crease the screen. Could probably even have glass in it 
That's the idea of the year isn't it. Brill idea. It bugs me how my fuel economy drops 5 mpg just cos of mainly the rear bit acting as drag. s p a c e m a n said:
Would have thought that most places that supply them would be able to do it, they'll be making them themselves from a pattern anyway. Surely it just involves fitting the screen at the top and sides with a zip instead of sewing it in.
Find a Porsche hood specialist and see what he can do. I'd really like one. The problem with the Tvr hood would most likely be removing the tension as in a zipped window would cause issues with the canvas looking baggy over time.
If it could be done I reckon it would become a popular mod.
Kate's looks very nice too
Slightly digressing of topic but related. I had an S 2 and the split roof ( which could leak 
was brilliant.
On the S the air flow was better with just half, for colder mornings or days when the roof off makes you look errr cold. Taking out just the drivers half gave an open top feel without the huge wind disturbance and I often found it useful and really cool. Reminded me of being in a fighter plane with just the bit above my head open. Some days you want to be more incognito and at least half the people can't tell your in a soft top
It meant it was warmer in the cab so I could drive for hours even in very cold weather top off.
If the wind effect was similar on the Chim id have mine cut. Money pending
was brilliant. On the S the air flow was better with just half, for colder mornings or days when the roof off makes you look errr cold. Taking out just the drivers half gave an open top feel without the huge wind disturbance and I often found it useful and really cool. Reminded me of being in a fighter plane with just the bit above my head open. Some days you want to be more incognito and at least half the people can't tell your in a soft top
It meant it was warmer in the cab so I could drive for hours even in very cold weather top off.
If the wind effect was similar on the Chim id have mine cut. Money pending
Take a look at the MGF & TF soft tops as they also have the zipped rear flexi/plastic window although must admit I never unzip mine. Just fold it down carefully. The MGF's top also fold down quite flat and have a tonnaue cover to cover the soft top when it's down make the car look a lot cleaner,smoother, and neater.
KateV8 said:
We went with the slightly smaller screen option and are very happy with it. No creasing when the back is folded down, it lies flatter helping with rear visibility and doesn't look too MX5 we don't think.
If you don't mind me asking how long ago was it done and how has it done for wear, better than original?
Thanks, we like it and although you can't tell from the photo the colour is a perfect match for the carpet and very close to some of the leather (grey/red wine). It was done by a Dave the trimmer but not that one, being Northerners we use D+C Trim who were originally TVR trimmers and now occupy one of the last Bristol Ave buildings which are still standing. It was done exactly one year ago and so far is as good as new, that said we do keep it covered under a heavy duty roof cover when the car is in our garage as the garage has a transparent roof and red is said to fade more than other colours. The fabric is by Haartz who supply the burgundy material you often see on white Audi and Merc convertibles, it looks and feels really nice. If you take the right precautions then any decent quality material in any colour should last. I'll try and post a better pic.
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