New Seat Belt Mounts needed?

[ProjectChimaera]

Mothballed this project a while ago, almost certainly going to need a new chassis I suspect. Should be ready for body off tomorrow so I can take a better look. All unbolted just brake pipes(I hope) to remove and ready to lift.
Any recommendations for a replacement chassis if it comes to it?
How far gone do these chassis have to be before they are uneconomical to repair?
Any help most welcome, thanks.

[ClassiChimi]

If the main box centre section is good then it's mainly the outriggers and top chassis rails that run past the manifolds, they seem to be main areas of corrosion.

[ProjectChimaera]

Thanks Classic, the outriggers are virtually non existent and the OSF lower arm is rotted through. I can see a hole in the main chassis rail very close to the front wishbone mount that looks pretty awful. It's not a surprise I knew it was rough when I bought it. I think it's going to be rough when the body is up. Is the general feeling that a replacement chassis is reflected in the overall value of a renovated Chim?

[Steve_D]

I've not yet seen a chassis that cannot be repaired.

Steve

[ProjectChimaera]

Thanks Steve, will post more pics and canvass opinion when I've got the body off and poked around a bit

[caduceus]

Those brackets aren't seat belt brackets. They're there for roll cage use and are normally redundant (unless of course you want to fit a roll cage).

[N7GTX]

If you do decide on a new chassis then RT Racing in Sheffield make them. You may have seen a Cerbera being fitted with one of theirs on an old Wheeler Dealers show.

http://www.rtracing.co.uk/
http://www.rtracing.co.uk/content/tvr-chassis-rest...

[ProjectChimaera]

Cadeceus, they are the seat belt mounts, you can see the shiny bits where I had to disc cut the buggers off! I presume the other holes are the roll bar mounting points?

[caduceus]

ProjectChimaera said:

Cadeceus, they are the seat belt mounts, you can see the shiny bits where I had to disc cut the buggers off! I presume the other holes are the roll bar mounting points?

Sorry, we've got out wires crossed. The protruding 'u' shaped piece of metal/bracket is the roll cage one. The threaded boss in the chassis is the seat belt one.

[ProjectChimaera]

Hi, update on yesterday's photos with body off. I expected it to be poor and I wasn't disappointed.Can I ask how this compares with others that you have seen or have experience of repairing?
I'm thinking that it is marginal to repair at best but would value opinion of those with more experience.
Many thanks

[ProjectChimaera]

[ProjectChimaera]

[portzi]

must have lived outside all its life without any preventative maintanance to it, the front wishbone looks twisted and bent too?. Wishbones look shot, hows the main chassis boxsection looking, as the upper tubular rail can be cut out and carefully replaced.

[ProjectChimaera]

[ProjectChimaera]

Hi Portzi, yes dreadfully looked after. The lower chassis rail OSF bothers me the most. It's rotted through at both the mounting points for the lower arm. You can see the holes in the photos.

[ProjectChimaera]

[ProjectChimaera]

[ClassiChimi]

That looks bad, but then the wishbones are replaceable easily enough,

I assume this car has been stood for a very long time, so outriggers, and a fair amount of re building work on the chassis will be required,
What's the cost of a new chassis as opposed to repairing yours?

Do you have any evidence of the car running, electrics etc before the body lift?

This looks like a full chassis resto and a few component parts that will have siezed behond economical repair I'd have thought,
New brake and fuel lines as standard so even though this looks expensive bushes/bolts wishbones etc, re Furbed brakes and steering, non of that is a fortune If your careful.

Wait for people who have done this work to confirm but I think someone will whip that into shape in no time!

It's the worst I've seen but I still think it could be made stronger than it was originally,
My only consideration is if by chopping bits out you'll loose some structural strength so hopefully someone will confirm this too,
The lower rail at the wishbone pick up point doesn't exist,, jeez, if that can be repaired any of it can!

[N7GTX]

ClassiChimi said:

What's the cost of a new chassis as opposed to repairing yours?

Prices start at £3,495+vat at RT racing.

Tube available from TVR Parts at £18 per metre but will be cheaper from a steel stockist.

[ProjectChimaera]

Yep Classic, not looked after at all! I did buy it as a non runner but with a few ignition bits etc, I was able to run it up and check electrics, drivetrain etc on the ramp. Even in its sorry state the noise made me smile. Looking forward to the views on here from those that have been and done it before and then I'll dive in with the credit card and get started! Thanks for the advice.