More faults than the state of California...
More faults than the state of California...
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Discussion

AOK

Original Poster:

2,299 posts

187 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Two years on from starting my search, I finally find myself with the keys to a T350c. So, greetings like-minded people! wavey

I have (very knowingly I should add) bought a car which had fallen into the wrong hands and needs a lot of TLC to make good, but beneath all the faults I am sure there is a good car. Definitely more rescue dog than a Crufts puppy!

My intention is to discuss the engine with Dom at TVR Power in the new year. He's been extremely helpful and informative over the phone and I feel they are the natural choice for a rebuild... is this generally agreed? I also have a long list of 'non-engine' faults, most of which I'll attempt to solve myself prior to going to Dom. Whilst I have a budget I'd like everything to fall within, the more I can do myself (and learn about the car on the way) the less chance the engine work will become restricted by a lack of £££!

So, I suppose this is just a hello, and a 'please bear with me as I may be posting many questions (lets call them knowledge tests!?)' in the next few months. Any pointers you can offer on the way would be much appreciated beer

Ciao for now
AOK

The Surveyor

7,617 posts

258 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Sounds like a great project and well done on the T350 purchase. Come on, post up some pictures thumbup

I think you're spot on with your choice of engine builder, Dom at Power has an excellent reputation based on many years of first class service to the TVR community. The other company with a similar solid reputation for TVR engines is Str8six down south. Good luck, get it sorted, then drive the doors off it driving

Paul

s6boy

1,773 posts

246 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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wavey Warm welcome Arthur. If that is a pseudonym and the picture in your profile shows you sitting on the Landie then I'm sure any and all questions will be answered quickly! yes

Power and Str8six have an equally good name for quality of work and customer care. As you've found out they are also happy to discuss your needs, but at some stage you really should get to them with the car and go on your own instinct after talking to them, as at the end of the day you will be paying a considerable amount of money and you'll want to know that you can have a good working relationship.
Alternatively there are a number of excellent independents out there who may be able to advise the best solution if a complete rebuild is not required.

What are the other issues you have with the car, mechanical or cosmetic?

AOK

Original Poster:

2,299 posts

187 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
quotequote all
The Surveyor said:
Sounds like a great project and well done on the T350 purchase. Come on, post up some pictures thumbup
Thanks! Here's a teaser... sadly all I have and not with the car right now. I will take some more before I put it into hibernation until I can get working on her in late Jan / Feb




s6boy said:
wavey Warm welcome Arthur. If that is a pseudonym and the picture in your profile shows you sitting on the Landie then I'm sure any and all questions will be answered quickly! yes
Thanks for welcomes. Sadly I'm on the other side of the lens for that one! Something I used to do a few years ago, a few photoshoots with Tiv's as well.. you might even recognise some of them! www.kamphotography.co.uk

s6boy said:
What are the other issues you have with the car, mechanical or cosmetic?
Mostly electrical actually. I will post a list when I do a full inspection, and maybe there will be some which can be identified easily. The other area is somewhat cosmetic in that the doors are sagging, but I've already found a thread on here which discusses how to get to the bolts and adjust using shims. So I'll see how I get along... who knows, I might even get the fog lights, both windows, dipped beam, aircon, bonnet release and rear hatch button working whilst I'm at it!! See what I meant about rescue dog?! cool

stlol

287 posts

195 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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You can't go wrong with Dom,
A man of his word, and that counts for a lot in this business.

Jasper Gilder

2,166 posts

294 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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Have a word with the lads at Central TVR, they're quite close to Power and my guess is that most of the faults may have one cause..If not I bet they'll be able to sort it out - Andy there is a genius!

donski58

345 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
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A very warm welcome to the TVR family I am sure you will love your T350 when you have all the bits fixed.

Good Luck
Don

billy no brakes

2,675 posts

286 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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AOK said:
Two years on from starting my search, I finally find myself with the keys to a T350c. So, greetings like-minded people! wavey

I have (very knowingly I should add) bought a car which had fallen into the wrong hands and needs a lot of TLC to make good, but beneath all the faults I am sure there is a good car. Definitely more rescue dog than a Crufts puppy!

My intention is to discuss the engine with Dom at TVR Power in the new year. He's been extremely helpful and informative over the phone and I feel they are the natural choice for a rebuild... is this generally agreed? I also have a long list of 'non-engine' faults, most of which I'll attempt to solve myself prior to going to Dom. Whilst I have a budget I'd like everything to fall within, the more I can do myself (and learn about the car on the way) the less chance the engine work will become restricted by a lack of £££!

So, I suppose this is just a hello, and a 'please bear with me as I may be posting many questions (lets call them knowledge tests!?)' in the next few months. Any pointers you can offer on the way would be much appreciated beer

Ciao for now
AOK
I bought a couple of TVR,s that needed some work and I find very rewarding getting the work done and back to how they should be, I picked up my T350 last night from a trimmers as I had new carpets through out the seats re-trimmed and the centre consul and the gaiters could not see much as it was dark when I picked it up, his workshop was full, so I,am going to give it a once over this morning and post up some photos on here later, see my post. Good luck with the car and keep us posted on the work and once it is all done it is such a nice thing to have done and puts a smile on my face getting a car back to how they should be, then drive it as they are meant to be driven

Don1

16,326 posts

229 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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Dom has a very good reputation on here, and for good reason. Other places that deliver the goods are Str8-Six, and I've not had an issue with Racing Green (others wouldn't be so nice!). There are good independents around, covering everything from modifying the body to retrimming the interior, so don't despair.

And finally welcome to the mad house.

AOK

Original Poster:

2,299 posts

187 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
Right guys, thanks for the warm reception, took her for a spin today and now slotted neatly into my garage for the winter. I now grin uncontrollably every time I open the garage door smile Regarding laying up / battery maintenance, what's the best formula?

Firstly, is it wise to keep a TVR locked or unlocked? And is it worth keeping (for example) the rear hatch off its catch so that you can get back in if for some reason the central locking / key / battery / trickle charger fail? Obviously I would turn the interior light to the off position if I was doing that.

On the topic of trickle chargers etc, the car came with Anderson leads although if possible I would prefer not to use these for charging as I only have a few inches of space on that side of the car. I suppose I could attach before rolling the car in, but meh seems overly complicated. As such, is it better to hard wire a connection point for a trickle charger for easy access, or use a cigarette lighter one? Are there pros/cons to both methods?

Under the dash the car has 2 unattached cables. One is a two pin connector behind the pedals and the other is a 3 pin connector neatly cable tied near the fuse board... Could this potentially be a trickle charger connector put in by the previous owner? Please see...



Lastly, is Accumate the best way to go? Any particular version to buy?

Thanks in advance everyone bow

Don1

16,326 posts

229 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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Personally I use Accumate on a timer into the cigarette lighter, and the car locked.

K4TRV

1,819 posts

273 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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3-pin looks like the ECU/lap top connection. There's a down-load of the software around P/Heads somewhere (look at the Wiki?) for your laptop.

I doubt the 2-pin would be for the "charger" ? Is there one fitted?? There are quite a few "unconnected plug/sockets" which adorn the Wiring Harness.

Most use the cigarette socket and any "Intelligent" charge left on permanently is the way to go - I would NOT get hung-up with Accumate? Lots of alternatives that are much cheaper and just as functional - Aldi for example have had "Intelligent" chargers on sale for around £16 or so??

HTHs

T

shep1001

4,617 posts

210 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
Thanks in advance everyone bow
[/quote]

They are not charging points. The 3 pin connector is the diagnostics connector. I have the two pin one too. Nothing has been connected to it in the last 5 years and nothing bad has happened so just ignore it.

I would charge through the cig lighter with an Accumate or CTeck charger. Brand is just personal choice I guess. Check carefully what your insurance says before you leave the car unlocked even in the garage

Shep

gacksen

680 posts

164 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
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btw. is it the grey T350 recently sold in ebay ?

AOK

Original Poster:

2,299 posts

187 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
Ok, so I'm locking her up and using a cigarette lighter style trickle charger. Sorted, thanks.

As for the cables, sounds unanimous that the 3-pin is the diagnostics port... Explains why it's so neatly tied back. I guess I'll just tuck the other one away and not worry about it

gacksen said:
btw. is it the grey T350 recently sold in ebay ?
That's the one, although I wasn't the high bidder or pay that price. Despite the trader's hazy story about it being a part exchange, I'm 99% sure he got it at auction because of the bar code sticker on the windscreen which you could just about see in the photos. That really irritates me as I've been scanning every possible channel for the last 2 years and missed it!

EvoOlli

621 posts

184 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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The two pin plug is a connector for a fault lamp.

NWTony

2,960 posts

249 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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I just connected the lead from the charger to the battery and ran the connector up into the engine bay.

RAS

347 posts

271 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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When in the garage I always leave mine in neutral with handbrake off (wheels chocked) so if battery fails and I can't open the doors I can push it out of the garage.

Targarama

14,710 posts

304 months

Monday 9th December 2013
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AOK said:
That's the one, although I wasn't the high bidder or pay that price. Despite the trader's hazy story about it being a part exchange, I'm 99% sure he got it at auction because of the bar code sticker on the windscreen which you could just about see in the photos. That really irritates me as I've been scanning every possible channel for the last 2 years and missed it!
If it is the one from The Netherlands dealer then it has been for sale for over 2 years. Break it in gently and enjoy!

AOK

Original Poster:

2,299 posts

187 months

Monday 9th December 2013
quotequote all
Targarama said:
If it is the one from The Netherlands dealer then it has been for sale for over 2 years. Break it in gently and enjoy!
That's not the one, although I can dig up all the paperwork for that one as I inquired about it last year. He tends to have cars which fall into my search remit so I also have paperwork for a few Z3M's, the pea green Saggy and some Lotus's.

Funny old set up... a lot of people on here think its a scam but it really is a genuine (albeit odd) dealer. Anyone remember the Pea Green Saggy being 37,000 euros? That was about a year ago... now at 55k, and rising!!