Chassis repair

[Chinski]

I'm still in shock after presenting a 98 chim for an MOT and being told that the car had failed for a corroded chassis. I'm trying to gauge on where this work could be carried out and cost?

Could anyone recommend a garage to carry out this work. I guess whilst the body is off it maybe a good time to fits some shock absorbers. Again recommendations would be gratefully received.

Is there anything else to consider replacing whilst the body is off.

Ps I'm based in Yorkshire.

[bobfather]

Assuming the issue is the outriggers and spines. Before you jump to a body off job there are body on and body lift options. Nether of these give the opportunity to work on the centre ladder frame but they are significantly less expensive

[macca]

Rt Racing (Sheffield) maybe closest to you. Alternatively, Willow sports cars in Newark who I'm thinking of going to just for a checkup and any protection that might avoid a full body off.Can't vouch for any of them but somewhere for you to start looking.

[pk500]

I lifted the body of my 98 chim and put outriggers and seat belt plates on it !

[pk500]

the steel cost about £200 ish

[Mr Supercharged]

If you aren't doing the job yourself then I think you will have to look hard to find anything better than what the Southways Automotive lot are offering! Worth visiting their website to just look at the pictures and get some ideas. But if you do take the body off you might as well go the whole hog and do everything available on their optional extras shopping list and give them some new shocks to put on as well, unless of course yours have been recently replaced?

Look here for info:
http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/SSC2/services...

[Robert Lees]

RT racing in Sheffield are highly recommended especially in regards chassis repair. Took mine for a full service last month and was very impressed. I think their prices are the same as most.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Unfortunately your car is in that period of 1998-99 when the powder coating was at its worst. I've read somewhere that TVR had just bought their own equipment to do the coating in-house, and perhaps hadn't got the technique quite right - also, this may correspond with peak production when chassis prep may have suffered.

I'd strongly recommend a proper body-off job. It gives such a good opportunity to inspect the whole chassis and decide what needs doing. Problems are not always limited to the outriggers. In my case, I then decided to spend the extra and have a full strip-down, shot blast, zinc prime and powder coat of the whole chassis. I don't regret that decision at all!

The one thing I do regret is that I only got the fuel lines and bushes replaced during the rebuild. I should have asked for every conceivable rubbery bit to be replaced, because some of them take significant work (and hence labour cost) to remove and refit when the car is in one piece - but this work is already part of the strip-down and rebuild anyway if you get it done at the same time. I've just paid £250+ for all four drive gaiters to be replaced, and kicked myself - if I'd had them done as part of the chassis work it would only have cost me for the parts. Nick at Willow did ask me, but I decided not to spend the money at that time - what a wally!

My chassis work was done at Willow Sportscars in Newark. Possibly a bit far south for you, or maybe not - but I heartily recommend Willow.

[taylormj4]

Mr Supercharged said:

If you aren't doing the job yourself then I think you will have to look hard to find anything better than what the Southways Automotive lot are offering! Worth visiting their website to just look at the pictures and get some ideas. But if you do take the body off you might as well go the whole hog and do everything available on their optional extras shopping list and give them some new shocks to put on as well, unless of course yours have been recently replaced?

Look here for info:
http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/SSC2/services...

+1. Mine is with Richard and Steve at the moment. Great guys. Very obviously car enthusiasts and very knowledgeable about what they are doing and TVRs. My impression so far as that my car will get the attention that it deserves and no corners will get cut (well unless they're rusty of course!). Richard also used to own a Chimeara himself. I'll be putting some pics up of the work when they're done. They have lots of options from a quick repair to a full body-off restoration depending on what's failed and how much you want to spend. This is the service level that all garages should be offering but quite rare in my experience.

Main thing, whoever you choose, is to get something booked as the waiting times to get your car in with any of the garages can be several weeks at least.