Another body off thread.

[dhutch]

QBee said:

I am definitely planning on some road trips as soon as we are free so to do.
Both in the TVR, and with the Mrs in the daily + caravan - but no, I am not towing 1300 kg of caravan behind a TVR.
Never mind the practicality - the MPG would be absolutely appalling!!!

I keep meaning to get a towbar fitted to the 330ci, in part as at the moment I don't have a tow car. How bad can it be, and your on holiday in the fun car!

[Classic Chim]

dhutch said:

QBee said:

I am definitely planning on some road trips as soon as we are free so to do.
Both in the TVR, and with the Mrs in the daily + caravan - but no, I am not towing 1300 kg of caravan behind a TVR.
Never mind the practicality - the MPG would be absolutely appalling!!!

I keep meaning to get a towbar fitted to the 330ci, in part as at the moment I don't have a tow car. How bad can it be, and your on holiday in the fun car!

When it’s been so long just getting to drive a Tvr, one with a flashy chassis etc seems exciting just to look at lol trip to the shops is memorable in a TVR It really doesn’t need to be a great road trip, I found mine great on long autoroutes too so more than capable. Onwards and upwards boys

[Peanut Gallery]

As lockdown eases, I hope you are back on the road soon!

[Classic Chim]

Peanut Gallery said:

As lockdown eases, I hope you are back on the road soon!

Thanks very much. I really appreciate this sort of thing and funny you say that. Not long now before I go back and actually finish the car off. I’m slowly getting various bits together so I can get on with it so hopefully a few weeks time should see some progress.

I’ll drop back on here with some detail pics as I build it up so in effect a timeline and sequence of events as it gets plugged together.
As with many people the Virus has silenced my Tvr for far to long so I’m chomping on the bit to get on.
I’m also mindful I’ll not do this again so while I have body lifted I’ll be addressing the underside of car to just finish it off as a full type resto would look. I’ll re paint underside black after tidying it up a bit so I’m bound to be precious and take my time now. A job a pro will take 3 days over I’m bound to deliberate over for hours as I want it looking top draw from any view.
I’ll be doing some cleaning of parts which I left until now so adds considerable time but it’s so about enjoying this now for me, sort of savour the moment. My mates got a Caterham with a brand new chassis, it’s never seen rain this car in 20 years of life, ( chassis got bent in a track crash ) but that car is like brand and reminded me of what you can achieve with time and a bit more effort.

[2OOM]

Classic Chim said:

Thanks very much. I really appreciate this sort of thing and funny you say that. Not long now before I go back and actually finish the car off. I’m slowly getting various bits together so I can get on with it so hopefully a few weeks time should see some progress.

I’ll drop back on here with some detail pics as I build it up so in effect a timeline and sequence of events as it gets plugged together.
As with many people the Virus has silenced my Tvr for far to long so I’m chomping on the bit to get on.
I’m also mindful I’ll not do this again so while I have body lifted I’ll be addressing the underside of car to just finish it off as a full type resto would look. I’ll re paint underside black after tidying it up a bit so I’m bound to be precious and take my time now. A job a pro will take 3 days over I’m bound to deliberate over for hours as I want it looking top draw from any view.
I’ll be doing some cleaning of parts which I left until now so adds considerable time but it’s so about enjoying this now for me, sort of savour the moment. My mates got a Caterham with a brand new chassis, it’s never seen rain this car in 20 years of life, ( chassis got bent in a track crash ) but that car is like brand and reminded me of what you can achieve with time and a bit more effort.

I think you should think about sourcing some sort of mirrored floor so you can admire your handywork when it's Parked .. And I'm looking forward to your ramblings during the rebuild ..

[Classic Chim]

2OOM said:

I think you should think about sourcing some sort of mirrored floor so you can admire your handywork when it's Parked .. And I'm looking forward to your ramblings during the rebuild ..

I might go for high powered lighting just to highlight me gold strips and st

Im even adding custom Shows dates on the Calendar for when I start trailering it around the country

[Classic Chim]

Languishing while garage is busy







Looks good though.
Part of me is ok it’s been lots of delays as the epoxy mastic paint on chassis has now hardened off really well.
I have Dinitrol 447 which is a rubberised stone chip in rattle cans I’m going to use on outriggers as an extra layer of protection. I will be lifting body back off to achieve this and a few other bits as I just chucked it together. A full nut and bolt check but I know what’s done and what’s not so it should be ok.
This product is recommended by Rustbusters the paint suppliers. I’m hoping this combination will protect the outriggers and plates for at least 10-20 years if the stuff is as good as they say!

About another month pending and I might just get a few weeks in the garage to properly build this car back up.
I’m really looking forward to it after seeing the chassis today. Like bloody new

Edited by Classic Chim on Monday 14th September 16:36

Edited by Classic Chim on Monday 14th September 16:38

[QBee]

Not too long to go now, Alun. I am looking forward to seeing it again in the flesh and on the road.

[Penelope Stopit]

Classic Chim said:

Stunning

[Classic Chim]

QBee said:

Not too long to go now, Alun. I am looking forward to seeing it again in the flesh and on the road.

Yes Anthony the idea next year we might be able to meet up would be something as I’m not aiming on driving it far this winter but just getting it road worthy and able to use it marvellous. I’ve never driven it knowing it’s like 90% bob on.

I had a real spike of confidence seeing it. She’s a cracker and those BREMBO brakes always excite me a tad.
I need two new front tyres and so on and I really want some new shocks but they are not vital so still a work in progress when she’s up and running but actually I like that too. Once you just do the lot well that’s it the fun’s up in many ways.
Interior will be my focus one day but not before everything else is sorted. Great cars to own and play with

[Zener]

Classic Chim said:

Languishing while garage is busy







Looks good though.
Part of me is ok it’s been lots of delays as the epoxy mastic paint on chassis has now hardened off really well.
I have Dinitrol 447 which is a rubberised stone chip in rattle cans I’m going to use on outriggers as an extra layer of protection. I will be lifting body back off to achieve this and a few other bits as I just chucked it together. A full nut and bolt check but I know what’s done and what’s not so it should be ok.
This product is recommended by Rustbusters the paint suppliers. I’m hoping this combination will protect the outriggers and plates for at least 10-20 years if the stuff is as good as they say!

About another month pending and I might just get a few weeks in the garage to properly build this car back up.
I’m really looking forward to it after seeing the chassis today. Like bloody new

Edited by Classic Chim on Monday 14th September 16:36

Edited by Classic Chim on Monday 14th September 16:38

Quality job Alun

[Classic Chim]

Penelope Stopit said:

Stunning

[Classic Chim]

Zener said:

Quality job Alun

The paint seems to have done the job nicely Simon. I will wait until you have inspected it before I get above myself but yes it’s sound enough.
The acid test will be say 5 years after this has been completed and plenty of miles under the belt to know just how good this paint is. Infact based on how new powder coated front wishbones peeled and rusted in about 3 years I won’t have that long to find out.
It’s the edges Powdercoat fails on usually so I’m hoping my striking all these edges ( took ages) with the paint before the two coats of sprayed on epoxy mastic should last considerably longer. Only time will tell but I’m quietly confident.

[magpies]

Classic Chim said:

The paint seems to have done the job nicely Simon. I will wait until you have inspected it before I get above myself but yes it’s sound enough.
The acid test will be say 5 years after this has been completed and plenty of miles under the belt to know just how good this paint is. Infact based on how new powder coated front wishbones peeled and rusted in about 3 years I won’t have that long to find out.
It’s the edges Powdercoat fails on usually so I’m hoping my striking all these edges ( took ages) with the paint before the two coats of sprayed on epoxy mastic should last considerably longer. Only time will tell but I’m quietly confident.

I found rounding off all of the sharp edges helped enormously with the paint application.

[Spunagain]

Hi Alun
Sorry for the daft question, but when you say striking do you mean painting extra layers on the sharp edges or filing the edges off?
Cheers!

[dhutch]

Powder coat is very well known for shying away from sharp corners, it's a well known weakness of the system.

However as said, removing or given and extra cost to edges and hard to reach areas is also good with brush application and or spray.

Daniel

[Classic Chim]

Spunagain said:

Hi Alun
Sorry for the daft question, but when you say striking do you mean painting extra layers on the sharp edges or filing the edges off?
Cheers!

I had my chassis shot blasted so all edges bare steel.
No it’s not a daft question and I’d never heard of the term striking the steel but yes in essence it’s just painting all the edges and sharpe points before spraying which I’ve done in the past. Sort of locks in those painted edges and gives a nice surface for the spray paint to adhere too.
I was looking at a large garden gate that had been powder coated. It’s very clear heat and I suppose sunlight has reduced that powder coat to a very brittle substance with rust showing through it. It’s less than 4 years old so not a slant on powdercoat as such but open to elements and extreme heat it seems to breakdown rather to fast. Looking at the science these mastic paints should be perfect for our chassis type.

[Steve_D]

Classic Chim said:

.......... I was looking at a large garden gate that had been powder coated. It’s very clear heat and I suppose sunlight has reduced that powder coat to a very brittle substance with rust showing through it. It’s less than 4 years old .........

I would not use powder coat as it seem so poor.
However, I think it must be something to do with the chemistry. Hammerite used to be good stuff but the chemicals doing all the good work have been removed due to environmental/safety concerns so is now nearly useless.

If we agree that the same is true for powder coat then we have an answer why our 20-30 year old chassis still have a very high percentage of the coating still in good order.

Steve

[sixor8]

I'd agree with that. I put new front upper and lower wishbones on my last Chimaera in October 2017. Despite the car hardly ever being used in the wet, and covering less than 2k miles, the inner seams has rust showing through the white powder coat only 18 months later. Its the metal prep as well as the coating itself of course.

Hammerite is not as good now. I had a small pot of black POR15 that I used recently on a car's underbody surface rust. Excellent stuff, sets with a sort of plastic finish. Expensive but worth it.

[Classic Chim]

Yes absolutely. I noticed the PD wishbones had degraded on edges ( mostly from spanner damage changing shocks most likely ) so lightly rubbed them down and used white Hammerite but less than a year later rust Was forming again. I did use the car though winter including salted roads but I’d have expected better than that from both the paint and the powdercoat.