T540 VHO

[kstearn]

Following on from my 'ere we go' thread a couple of weeks ago, we finally have some progress to update with.



Car stripped in a day or two, chassis now has been shot blasted to reveal extent of corrosion, worst areas confirmed as:
NSF Turret
Outriggers
Tube and Box sections next to Exhaust Manifold

Plus one or two other tube sections, rear end is just about spot on.













Engine is good, preliminary checks inspections etc reveal only good news, which is great.

Diff has scrubbed up nice, held off on the refurb at Grantura, just for the moment whilst the chassis was being assessed, but now we know how much, the diff will be off shortly.

Drive shafts and everything else that has a rubber boot has been reconditioned and painted up Black. Looks nice.

Even the steerinig rack looks new, and already had stainless flexis on it so bonus.

Rear discs look a bit thin on the h/brake shoe area, seen a deal online 360 a pair ex vat which sounds OK. I remember a recent thread about a remanufacture, that was popular not sure if there are any left, feedback would be interesting.

Managed finally to get all the undertrays from the boys in the North East, weird how mine only had the front one????

All the callipers have gone for refurbishing, not powdercoating, save some money, decided to zinc plate the spacers and bracketry that are associated with suspension, talking of which, I don't need to replace all the wishbones, front uppers were goosed, and that was about it.

So this week is all about the chassis welding, polishing cam cover, painting plug cover, and ordering a ton of stuff from ACT, will try and get some pictures of the new steel going in.

Till next week. Happy motoring

[SimonKD]

Hi Karl

This has all the makings of a very interesting thread, both photos and reading.

Keep posting up on your progress

Kind regards

Simon

[kstearn]

Thanks Simon, writing it as more of a diary, documented evidence if you like, my memory is shocking, and thought this would be an ideal way of documenting and sharing, fortunately I dont live too far away from Newark so can pass by on my home from work.
This is my first real dive into the social media thing, can't say i'm hooked yet, all sort of passed me by over the last twenty years or so, but will keep this thread going until the ol'girl comes home.
Cheers
Karl

[Mr Cerbera]

Personally speaking, I lurve this type of thread.
It can do no wrong and only lifts the communal spirit when others realise and understand what fellow owners are going through and sharing.

The photos are FAB - can't get enough of 'em.

Karl, did you see the episode of Wheeler Dealers when they 'did' a Cerb. They had a chassis similar to yours IIRC and exchanged it for a welded-up one for not too much.
Dunno if that interests you.

Just keep the news and the photos coming and Good luck

---

ETA
Snap-On, Mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Tuesday 10th September 14:44

[kstearn]

Thanks, even though I'm not doing it myself, not that I could by the way, I still get the sadness at broken or rusty bits, more expense, and elation, something we can re-use. Got the wheeler dealers episode stuck in my sky box, even got the missus to watch some of it to show her where next years holiday money was going............not impressed!!

Thought some of the costings in the episode were off a bit, too cheap, so Nick is gonna weld in the new steel and get it as good as new, on balance reckon the welding labour might be a couple hundred extra, but in the end its another chassis saved and its my original one, so quite happy about that.

Can't wait to see it all start to go back together,I ordered the parts from ACT yesterday, silicon hoses, and couple of stainless pipes, I have held off the big bore exhaust for the moment, till I get the all clear on my calipers, diff, and shocks, nitrons don't come cheap, and with a bit of luck, won't be coming at all, I know that sounds wrong, but last I looked I didn't have a money tree in the garden, so nitrons when my protechs have died. BTY Tim at ACT top bloke, very helpful, can't recommend highly enough.
Try and get some more pictures tommorow, cheers
Karl

[bionicjim]

Mate that's a very good o/p
It's always good to know that people are doing what they can to save the cerb
Especially as brand new chassis are not available
Well done again
A chassis rebuild was something I had considered
That was till my engine let go
Keep the info and pics coming
Jim

[Paul.B]

Keep the updates coming. I am 4-6 months behind you. Mine is sat under a cover on the drive waiting for a couple of other projects. These need to be completed before this one can start.

[kstearn]

Well, popped in tonight, place full Cerbs and Chims, a superb looking orangy gold one, if the owner is on here, they had her running whilst I was there, could tell it was a speed8, mines a 6, what a noise, not running brilliantly yet but wow, really thinking about the new exhaust for mine, it definately didn't have that screaming madness about it, quite the opposite really, might sell the kidney after all.
Anyway we have new steel on the starboard side, oops past life still backflashing. Offside.



Thats the old......



These are the new!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









Very very happy with progress, back in Friday as Nick

should be just about done with the repairs,
till then
cheers
Karl

[kstearn]

More pictures of progress, the chassis is all but repaired now, will be off for its powdercoating very soon.

There was an awful lot of cutting out, so much, that the body in fact had to be temporariliy re fitted to get the reference points back. Took the opportunity then to go for the chassis upgrade and have seat mounts welded in place so my seats will be firmly secured to the chassis now and not just the body.

Won't see the chassis again before its covered in a glorious white powder. That'll be a couple of weeks, so updates will be few until we start the reassembly.

A nice navy blue cerb has just started the same process, so if the owner is reading this best of luck, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Cheers
Karl

[C3BER]

it's about time and fingers crossed it will happen sooner than later that we will be able to buy a chassis off the shelf. I know each body is slightly different but it will save loads of time.

Looking forward to seeing further progress in a few weeks time.

[kstearn]

Well, progress continues, chassis is currently being powdercoated white, which if I'm honest, means I'll never drive the car again if the roads are even dusty, let alone muddy or wet!!!!

Been looking at car lifters/tilters, just so I can get under regularly to clean n grease n polish, seen some clever things on ebay around 400 quid which in the long term sounds ok.

Whats the benefit in de catting, if there is an engineering benefit, like less heat, less exhaust stresses then I might just do it, if I can get under easy enough then I can fit and remove as MOT dictates.

I have managed to find the bag full of sand necassary and plunged for the big bore full system from ACT, I have agonisingly mulled over this for weeks, then when full of drink went for it, as well as a new alloy radiator.

Already got the blue silicone hoses, and stainless pipes, painting and polishing the plug n cam cover, so its looking like wednesday when the chassis comes back then it all goes back together, like nothing ever happened

Pictures as soon as its back if anyone has any experience on the cats or no cats issue, I would appreciate it.

Has anyone put a parrot thingy in their dash as the music player? nearly bought one but saw mixed reviews
Cheers
Karl

[Jhonno]

NO Cats = Less heat, more power

[kstearn]

Thanks jhonno,
did think that but more power, jeez, why not, makes sense to reduce heat, I'll ring Tim @ ACT tommorow
Cheers
K

[Jhonno]

More pops and bangs as well..

[kstearn]

AHA HA looking forward to that

[m60ddy]

I've got a pioneer parrot music thingy in my Disco, about £150. For me it works very well with an I phone 4. There is a stronger than strong chance one will find its way into my Cerbera this winter. As a bonus it has a USB port on the front so I can connect my I pod etc to it as well

[kstearn]

I did wonder if the -ve's I'd heard were from people that pray to the god that is all geek and IP, for me I like it simple and the parrot thingy even though it sounds daft to have your tunes delivered by a parrot, (seem to have drifted into dead parrot python sketch in my head), the unit looks like kinda coool, and bluntly efficient, cheers.

[kstearn]

Got the chassis back today, it's amazing, photos to follow on new thread, try and keep the disassembly sadness (madness) separate from the glorious new dawn rebuild.