Chimaera Body Lift
Discussion
Hi guys,
I recently had my TVR serviced at Southways, and they noticed the fuel lines were a little perished and the chassis needs painting in a few areas. The diff is also looking like it needs a rebuild, so I’m thinking I may lift the body off over the winter and get it all up together.
I’ve had a read through here: http://autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyLiftC... and it doesn’t look too difficult, just very time consuming. Something I’ll have plenty of over the winter. I have a large workshop over at my dad’s house, big enough for 6 cars and it’s usually empty, so I have plenty of space to remove bits from the car and store them safely, whilst still having enough space to move around the car with ease. It is a shame it’s not warmer and drier though!!
I don’t plan on using the car over the winter, so I thought I may as well save some money on car tax, insurance and MOT and take it off the road over the winter and do the above work. So, are there any other how to guides I should read through? I will buy the bible to have as reference too. What other jobs should I do whilst the body is of? I am thinking:
Paint the chassis (I am thinking I will rub down the chassis and repaint it all, paint undecided just yet, maybe International Toplac?)
Paint the wishbones (they were replaced in the last couple of years so just need repainting, it has recent polybushes)
Remove diff and send away for rebuild
Replace power steering hoses
Replace fuel hoses
Replace intake hoses with ACT smoothbore
Possibly fit carbon superflare trumpets and plenum spacer
Paint rocker covers and plenum covers (I cleaned them with some chemical cleaner recently and it peeled the existing paint off!
Check the engine over for leaks etc
Recarpet interior
Anything else I should do whilst the body is off? It has recent Gaz coilovers, new brakes and polybushes, so it’s pretty up together already, I just want to make sure everything that needs doing when the body is off, is done.
Anyone with experience is doing this care to offer any advice? Is it a job for a reasonably competent DIY mechanic. As I said, I have a big workshop and lots of tools, so no problems there. I also have the time, I can have it off the road for 4 months in the winter without worry. It’s unlikely I’ll use it much between November and February.
Finally, is it feasible to lift the body and support it only slightly, without having to remove/disconnect everything? Or is that not possible?
Thanks,
Dan
I recently had my TVR serviced at Southways, and they noticed the fuel lines were a little perished and the chassis needs painting in a few areas. The diff is also looking like it needs a rebuild, so I’m thinking I may lift the body off over the winter and get it all up together.
I’ve had a read through here: http://autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyLiftC... and it doesn’t look too difficult, just very time consuming. Something I’ll have plenty of over the winter. I have a large workshop over at my dad’s house, big enough for 6 cars and it’s usually empty, so I have plenty of space to remove bits from the car and store them safely, whilst still having enough space to move around the car with ease. It is a shame it’s not warmer and drier though!!
I don’t plan on using the car over the winter, so I thought I may as well save some money on car tax, insurance and MOT and take it off the road over the winter and do the above work. So, are there any other how to guides I should read through? I will buy the bible to have as reference too. What other jobs should I do whilst the body is of? I am thinking:
Paint the chassis (I am thinking I will rub down the chassis and repaint it all, paint undecided just yet, maybe International Toplac?)
Paint the wishbones (they were replaced in the last couple of years so just need repainting, it has recent polybushes)
Remove diff and send away for rebuild
Replace power steering hoses
Replace fuel hoses
Replace intake hoses with ACT smoothbore
Possibly fit carbon superflare trumpets and plenum spacer
Paint rocker covers and plenum covers (I cleaned them with some chemical cleaner recently and it peeled the existing paint off!
Check the engine over for leaks etc
Recarpet interior
Anything else I should do whilst the body is off? It has recent Gaz coilovers, new brakes and polybushes, so it’s pretty up together already, I just want to make sure everything that needs doing when the body is off, is done.
Anyone with experience is doing this care to offer any advice? Is it a job for a reasonably competent DIY mechanic. As I said, I have a big workshop and lots of tools, so no problems there. I also have the time, I can have it off the road for 4 months in the winter without worry. It’s unlikely I’ll use it much between November and February.
Finally, is it feasible to lift the body and support it only slightly, without having to remove/disconnect everything? Or is that not possible?
Thanks,
Dan
Dan, a chap I know and a very rare poster here did his own body off job once, I think I have his comprehensive notes somewhere I'm sure he won't mind me sharing with them.
His biggest tip was, set a date you want it back on the road - and tell everyone. That way you'll stay focused on the job!
His biggest tip was, set a date you want it back on the road - and tell everyone. That way you'll stay focused on the job!
Hi Dan, there are a few threads on body lifts and I'm sure someone will be on to provide a link.
You can do a "2" inch lift which save having to remove the radiator I believe, but if you have the time and space then I would remove the body. As to what else to do, When was the clutch last done and any other engine work you may want to do like cam, exhaust manifolds etc.
I am doing a lift in the winter aswell to do my outriggers, polybush, coilovers and anything else that crops up so will have to swap notes when the time comes.
Jamie
You can do a "2" inch lift which save having to remove the radiator I believe, but if you have the time and space then I would remove the body. As to what else to do, When was the clutch last done and any other engine work you may want to do like cam, exhaust manifolds etc.
I am doing a lift in the winter aswell to do my outriggers, polybush, coilovers and anything else that crops up so will have to swap notes when the time comes.
Jamie
Sounds interesting. Where do you plan on doing the work? Shame we’re not a bit closer, could have done them together to help each other out! My outriggers were renewed a couple of years ago, but it all looks like it needs a new coat of paint and there is some rust on the main chassis rails.
Cam and clutch is a good idea. I don’t suppose the clutch will be very expensive, and should be quite easy to do with everything exposed. Last clutch I did was on my first car, a 1980 Mini many years ago! Not sure about the cam, but it’s done 60k with no record of it ever being changed, so I may look into that. It would give me a chance to change the valley gasket too, as it does use a bit of oil.
Unfortunately I don’t have a never ending load of cash, so cost is a big factor (hence doing the labour myself), but if I start procuring parts now, it will help come winter. Another reason for doing it myself, is I get bored over the winter. I feel like I need a good project to work on. I’m so busy in the summer, but don’t really do much over the winter!
Cam and clutch is a good idea. I don’t suppose the clutch will be very expensive, and should be quite easy to do with everything exposed. Last clutch I did was on my first car, a 1980 Mini many years ago! Not sure about the cam, but it’s done 60k with no record of it ever being changed, so I may look into that. It would give me a chance to change the valley gasket too, as it does use a bit of oil.
Unfortunately I don’t have a never ending load of cash, so cost is a big factor (hence doing the labour myself), but if I start procuring parts now, it will help come winter. Another reason for doing it myself, is I get bored over the winter. I feel like I need a good project to work on. I’m so busy in the summer, but don’t really do much over the winter!
Just competed mine, I used the guide you have and worked a treat.
Make notes for the earth points and take time to bag everything you take off, it pays when you are re-assembling.
I did the 2'' lift in a very small garage and it was a pain,mainly due to the shortage of space.
I had to replace my outriggers which was unfortunate but now its done im pleased I did it myself.
Started in December and just finished. Mainly my work has interfered and lost a bit of motovation when I saw the outriggers otherwise would have been done quicker.
I used a galv paint for the chassis. POR something had previously been used and peeled off very easily. Wax oil is our enemy as far as im concerned, it hides corrosion.
A lot of the chassis bolts are a bugger to remove, be caerfull they dont shear.
TOP TIP. grind off all the nuts including the captive and replace ith Nylock.
Seat belt bolts on mine where very tight.
2 bolts under the transmission tunnel are hard to find.
Ill send you a picture of location if you want
Good luck
Make notes for the earth points and take time to bag everything you take off, it pays when you are re-assembling.
I did the 2'' lift in a very small garage and it was a pain,mainly due to the shortage of space.
I had to replace my outriggers which was unfortunate but now its done im pleased I did it myself.
Started in December and just finished. Mainly my work has interfered and lost a bit of motovation when I saw the outriggers otherwise would have been done quicker.
I used a galv paint for the chassis. POR something had previously been used and peeled off very easily. Wax oil is our enemy as far as im concerned, it hides corrosion.
A lot of the chassis bolts are a bugger to remove, be caerfull they dont shear.
TOP TIP. grind off all the nuts including the captive and replace ith Nylock.
Seat belt bolts on mine where very tight.
2 bolts under the transmission tunnel are hard to find.
Ill send you a picture of location if you want
Good luck
I will be doing it all at work as we have everything I will need like lifts, mig welders, hoists etc, I've just got to speak nicely to the boss to see if I can store the body in our valeting bay whilst the Cut up, I mean repair the outriggers. I have just got to remember to photo everything as I wish I had photos of the car when I fist bought it to compare them to what it looks like now.
I have just stripped and polished the plenum which looks really nice and when the body is off I hope do the rest.
Hope to see you and Ashley soon as we may be going to the Lyndhurst BBQ in July.
I have just stripped and polished the plenum which looks really nice and when the body is off I hope do the rest.
Hope to see you and Ashley soon as we may be going to the Lyndhurst BBQ in July.
This was invaluable when I did mine.
http://autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyLiftC...
And yes - with a good workshop and a few good tools I reckon it's not beyond most people's ability.
Good luck!
Ryan
http://autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyLiftC...
And yes - with a good workshop and a few good tools I reckon it's not beyond most people's ability.
Good luck!
Ryan
debaron said:
This was invaluable when I did mine.
http://autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyLiftC...
And yes - with a good workshop and a few good tools I reckon it's not beyond most people's ability.
Good luck!
Ryan
That's what I've read already. Thanks http://autogasp.com/documents/TVRChimaeraBodyLiftC...
And yes - with a good workshop and a few good tools I reckon it's not beyond most people's ability.
Good luck!
Ryan
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