Body back on T540
Body back on T540
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Discussion

kstearn

Original Poster:

111 posts

161 months

Friday 25th October 2013
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Wahay, popped in today, took my new (new to me)straight n shiny spiders, and was greeted by this happy looking thing.



Caught me by surprise, as I just expected to see the diff in but that came back Wednesday, so the guys cracked on, body fits perfect because of the trial refit half way through the chassis repair.
Apparantly I have a hydratrak diff and its as good as new, now. The guy at Grantura on the other hand, when he got on the bench thought it should be put down, couldn't understand how there wasn't some noise and knocking and god knows what else, I just sent it because of sods law, knowing full well one week after driving away the bloody thing, diff, would probably explode or something.
So result, I think.

Last exhaust bits went today to help make the pattern for my new noisemaker, can't wait.
Just as the fuel tank was going in there was an autograph dated 30/11/98 by "the young ones"
Obviously part of the assembly team on the car, all the best to those guys, cheers beer

Whilst walking around the car the only bit looking shoddy now is the Air Con Condenser, and apparantly dissimilar metals etc, mean that to reuse, well if you can undo the hose couplings most of the threads will be shot so to prevent mucking about its better sense to get new hoses and couplings when fitting a new condenser.
That'll probably be a Pirtek job for hoses, god I love those guys, make any pressurised pipe for any gas/fluid with any fitting you want, dug me out of a deep hole at work last week in about half n hour, FABbounce

So engine next then set it up, till then some piccies












till next time
Karl

Jhonno

6,430 posts

165 months

Friday 25th October 2013
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Beautiful..

Jimbolian

246 posts

164 months

Friday 25th October 2013
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Stunning!

As i'm looking down the tricky end of a similar rusty tunnel and you have shown the very shiny light at the end... any chance of a rough idea of the cost of the chassis work?

camel_landy

5,409 posts

207 months

Friday 25th October 2013
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Cool... Mine's on the ramp & just about to come together too.

Getting a little excited. smile

M

kstearn

Original Poster:

111 posts

161 months

Saturday 26th October 2013
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Excited, that doesn't anywhere near cover it, closer we get to starting her up again, well........might not cope.

As for cost, well there is the basic, strip blast powdercoat rebuild, and I reckon that including VAT your starting at about 4k. But if the Chassis is really bad like mine was then 5 days of welding and remanufacture can be up to 2k, then there's the problem, is the engine ok, do a 12k service, do a leak test, get the diff sorted, new exhaust, rubbers, pipes, bushes, brakes, they are about 150/200 a calliper for full strip refub.

Well my bill is gonna be 8k there or there abouts since I asked to gett the air con condenser sorted yesterday.

When I had my elan +2 before the chassis went I'd done the engine and the running gear and the 4 corners, so it was just a case of swapping the bits over.

The Cerbera however not quite a basket case, needed a lot of tlc and rather than do it over a few years its all come at once.

Already planning a front end paint job, for next year , thinking new carpets and a dash retrim, it never bloody ends, but you can't take it with you, so blow it while you can, best of luck to allchat soon karl

Jimbolian

246 posts

164 months

Saturday 26th October 2013
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Around about what i was thinking, as mines had full respray this year and 12k service( previously had just about every hose replaced ) and aside from out riggers is pretty straight, should be a straight forward chassis repair/gearbox rebuild ( crunch in 2nd when you go for it )/clutch and suspension tweak.. bargain. : )

Cheers for the info, much appreciated.

cerdad

288 posts

225 months

Saturday 26th October 2013
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The young ones autographed mine in the same place 24/7/98,i wonder who they were?my chassis was built the same week 26/7/98 .

kstearn

Original Poster:

111 posts

161 months

Sunday 3rd November 2013
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Things moving at a pace now, engine is back in, new ally radiator, new aircon condenser, new blue hoses, all looks very nice, forgot camera so will get pictures next time.

Still waiting on exhaust from JP, oil tank did slip through the net though, one of the threaded outlets was goosed on disassembly, and is getting sorted next week, which is delaying the startup.

New spyders have been trial fitted and seem ok. Should all be done in 2/3 weeks,then we can plan something for next year, get to a few meets, go to Blackpool for some carpets maybe.
Till next instalment.
Cheers
Karl

Oh got my decats, first impression is they look nice, then on closer inspection where the machined flange is welded to the stainless cone it does look like the welder has struggled, not very uniform, and it does look like the flange isn't stainless, bit rusty?, So whats that all about? gonna ring up tommorow to find out,
Nick is gonna smooth down the back of the weld remove all the lumpy bits of metal, but it would be nice to find out why it all isn't beautiful and shiny? Keep you informed
K