Sourcing parts no longer available (or selling for silly ££)

[alex_gray255]

Hi folks

I had an interesting discussion with Keith on Sunday about what possible options for sourcing
parts on TVRs that are no longer currently available. We came up with the following options, but
I was interested in seeing if anyone had any other thoughts as well.

Options were...

• Ring round the scrappers to see if you get lucky
• Recondition the existing part (if possible)
• Hunt around to see if anyone has any spares for sale
• Hunt around to see if anyone else had managed to find a source
• Chat to a friendly manufacturing company and see if they can CAD and copy the part

The only sure fire option seemed the last, but as this is not a unique problem, I'm sure
there must be other thoughts as to possible solutions.

Comments on the back of a postcard

[m4tti]

It would be good to get some interested parties together and do something similar to MG and Jensen to preserve the brands parts support.

[Huntsman]

Get TVR recognised by BMIHT?

[sonnylad]

Years ago when i was in the MK1 Cortina owners club they sourced alot of spares from overseas or got panels and parts remanufactured. All parts sold thru the club magazine and profits put back into sourcing more parts.

Why cant our club start the same process off.

[Guillotine]

Exactly.

[alex_gray255]

I guess it would depend on ROI, plus the models covered.

The idea could always be presented to the AGM, although might be too late for this year's...

[m4tti]

I think you can basically get anything from an interceptor from these guys. It's an interesting story and the sort of thing that needs to happen to the remains of tvr.

http://www.martinrobey.com/jensen/about/

[alex_gray255]

Marcos have a similar arrangement with a single supplier/manufacturer as well. They have all the patterns, thus can make any part.

Only problem is you are dependent on that one supplier...

[miniman]

The Dolomite Club manages to manufacture various obsolete BL parts so it would be a pretty poor show if TVRCC can't do the same IMHO.

[sonnylad]

Back in 1998 you could almost weld together a new MK1 body shell, minus the roof.

[Doc Toad]

....this looks promising...

http://www.3trpd.co.uk/metal-3dprinting.htm

Getting cheaper by the month too. If your p&j is a keeper I reckon in 20 years time this form of manufacturing will be the best solution. We just need someone to build a 3d fibreglass printer now...!

[Jasper Gilder]

Think a supply of spares for 90's cars may surface soon. Can't say more just now....

[Colin RedGriff]

Doc Toad said:

....this looks promising...

http://www.3trpd.co.uk/metal-3dprinting.htm

Getting cheaper by the month too. If your p&j is a keeper I reckon in 20 years time this form of manufacturing will be the best solution. We just need someone to build a 3d fibreglass printer now...!

I agree and the ability to scan objects and produce a duplicate is the other side to the coin, then you don't need to be a CAD designer. Only restriction at the moment is the type of materials while metal is possible is the right metal? Alternatively you could make the part in plastic then use that to create a mould to make the actual item.

Intriguing possibilities with the ability to print semi conductors too.

Here's an interesting link about it's application in the area of car parts http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-...

[Argent]

3D printing will be the future no doubt, meantimes for bin parts it's always worthwhile dropping into any independent motor factor with a shopping list, I have bought quite a lot off stuff that has been sitting on the shelf for years and they are very happy to get rid of.

A.

[julianc]

Would Les not include the sourcing of spares for existing owners in his Business Plan?

[rigga]

julianc said:

Would Les not include the sourcing of spares for existing owners in his Business Plan?

Unlikely I would think, as he purchased the rights to the name only and no current business, so won't exactly have any loyalty to existing owners.

[davepen]

alex_gray255 said:

Chat to a friendly manufacturing company and see if they can CAD and copy the part

miniman said:

...so it would be a pretty poor show if TVRCC can't do the same IMHO.

Why not use the service of the TVRCC (and PH) to crowd source a group buy scheme. Identify a part that isn't available, get a few deposits and then find a stockist or manufacturer. Sort of like the shiney nuts a few years ago. The problem may be that the price becomes silly £££.

The issue with saying the TVRCC must do something is it needs someone to drive it forward. Two issues can appear to stop the club, one is liability, the other is which part do you make? (remember about 50% of members had a Chimaera.)

To some extent the best option is to get a trader to make and stock the parts, and there are various traders who have tooled up to make parts. Should the TVRCC fund a trader's NRE, if so which trader and which part? Just look at the arguments over the "approved" insurer. Also don't Multipart, TVRCARPARTS* and DG have some of the rights already? So the committee could say job done? If you have a list of deposit holders, the traders may invest too.

The other month I was at Red Triangle who are effectively Alvis Cars' service centre, for the Pre War cars they make very small batches of parts - which means the cost is high. For the vintage Alvis the Register has a spares scheme; and various member initiated "group buys" of parts (eg gear sets and go faster bits) appear in the magazine. In contrast the local (Dorset) A7 club dropped their scheme a few years ago because of the liability issue and to some extent because there are a large number of traders in new A7 bits.

So what parts do you need? ..... Leyland DAF Indicators?

PS. One issue with castings is that the mould needs to allow for shrinkage, so one can't just use an existing part as a pattern.

• Are TVRCARPARTS still going?

[glenrobbo]

davepen said:

which part do you make? (remember about 50% of members had a Chimaera.)

So what parts do you need? ..... Leyland DAF Indicators?

• Are TVRCARPARTS still going?

I think the indicator lenses have been covered - for a price.

A vital part common to the S, Chim & Griff is the now discontinued & out of stock Fiesta brake servo.
Corrosion is eating away at them ( especially on the S where it's rather exposed to the elements, and it would be nice to have a supply of new items at reasonable cost.

TVR Carparts went defunct when Dulfords closed.
The knowledgable Neil Perry has started his own business, ML Performance, supplying TVR bits.

I believe David Gerald / Classic World Racing bought up the bulk of stock from TVR Carparts.

[Challenger C4s]

""A vital part common to the S, Chim & Griff is the now discontinued & out of stock Fiesta brake servo.
Corrosion is eating away at them ( especially on the S where it's rather exposed to the elements, and it would be nice to have a supply of new items at reasonable cost.""

A friend of mine with a Chim was discussing this with me the other week because his master cylinder failed and the fluid has gone inside the servo, he has ordered a new one from Racing Green ( they are having them remade ) and he is expecting the servo to arrive early March at a sub £200 price tag. I will try and contact him this weekend and see what the progress is.

[Jasper Gilder]

Great News!!!!

You may recall that TVR had a production facility in Malaysia for a while. When it closed the parts all got left out there

Until now

Adrian at Central TVR is currently unpacking a 40ft container of Griffith and Chimaera parts - including lots of hard to get bits like alarms and diffs etc

Pictures to follow