Light pod screws

[hrepo]

I cannot for the life of me get the light pod screws to budge. What's the proper tool and magic procedure to get those buggers off?
And if the magic procedure fails, what's the backup one? Drilling them is a bit of a no go since the wheelarch is conveniently inconveniently in the way.

[Wedg1e]

Can you be more specific, which screws are we talking about?

[hrepo]

The 4 big ones in front of front wheelarches at engine bay front wall. Not at home, can't get a photo. Let me check if I find something from the 'net.

[hrepo]

"Each pod has its own lift motor, mounted on a steel bracket that, depending on model, year, which way the wind was blowing, is bolted to either the floor of the pod recess or the front wall of the engine bay. If the latter, you can see the screw heads when you open the bonnet."
@ http://www.wedgeneering.co.uk/TVR%20390SE%20p6.htm

[Wedg1e]

Gotcha... yes they can be a bit stubborn. I use a small ratchet drive with the largest screwdriver bit I can get into the slot.
Worst case scenario you may have to drill them out - but from in the pod recess, not the engine bay!
Incidentally I got your email re. the wire mesh, let me check postage cost and I'll get back to you (assume you're in the UK as there's nothing on your profile...?.

[hrepo]

Wedg1e said:

Gotcha... yes they can be a bit stubborn. I use a small ratchet drive with the largest screwdriver bit I can get into the slot.
Worst case scenario you may have to drill them out - but from in the pod recess, not the engine bay!
Incidentally I got your email re. the wire mesh, let me check postage cost and I'll get back to you (assume you're in the UK as there's nothing on your profile...?.

Ah. Cambs all the way, till y'lot, the 51.9% of ye, throw me out.
Re: screws - how the f can those be drilled out from pod recess? There's no space, surely?

[Wedg1e]

hrepo said:

Ah. Cambs all the way, till y'lot, the 51.9% of ye, throw me out.
Re: screws - how the f can those be drilled out from pod recess? There's no space, surely?

I didn't say it'd be easy
Small cordless, air drill or a flexi-drive, long series drill bit... and some patience.

...and maybe hands like a paedophile

[hrepo]

Wedg1e said:

(assume you're in the UK as there's nothing on your profile...?.

UK should have been there always, updated rest of it also.
Also - as I am about to take the spoiler off, the mesh is indeed quite timely. Not in a hurry, work kills me so ain't rushing on the wedge side.

[Wedg1e]

hrepo said:

UK should have been there always, updated rest of it also.
Also - as I am about to take the spoiler off, the mesh is indeed quite timely. Not in a hurry, work kills me so ain't rushing on the wedge side.

Must have missed that, sorry.
Spoiler is probably held on by an assortment of corrosion that used to be nuts & bolts; some you can get at quite easily, some you either need the pods out or are accessible through the rad grille opening.

You can tell it's quiet here as I'm posting from the office, which I rarely do. As long as the boss's daughter doesn't look over my shoulder I'll be fine

[hrepo]

Yep, my master plan was to
A) Take the bonnet off since the insulation was hanging
B) While the bonnet is off to re-gluing, there is nice access to light pods. They work, but to keep that happy state, I thought to check everything.
C) While the pods are off, it'd be a nice time to finally take the spoiler off, fix the damage, and replace everything that corrodes with stainless.

I got as far as A). I knew things were about to go downhill after the bonnet removal was so easy.

Incidentally, anyone happen to have leads for stainless bolts for the bonnet "hinges"? Preferably with drilled hole so that the locking mechanism can be implemented. I noticed one of my bolts had the hole drilled. Sadly the bolt is too rusty to really reuse.

[Wedg1e]

hrepo said:

Yep, my master plan was to
A) Take the bonnet off since the insulation was hanging
B) While the bonnet is off to re-gluing, there is nice access to light pods. They work, but to keep that happy state, I thought to check everything.
C) While the pods are off, it'd be a nice time to finally take the spoiler off, fix the damage, and replace everything that corrodes with stainless.

I got as far as A). I knew things were about to go downhill after the bonnet removal was so easy.

Incidentally, anyone happen to have leads for stainless bolts for the bonnet "hinges"? Preferably with drilled hole so that the locking mechanism can be implemented. I noticed one of my bolts had the hole drilled. Sadly the bolt is too rusty to really reuse.

Off the top of my head I can't recall whether the bonnet bolts are M8, M10 or 3/8" UNC - I suspect the latter.
Plenty of online/ Ebay sellers keep all of them in stainless and it can be drilled at home with care (cobalt drill bits help as well).
Mine keep rattling loose as they're drilled but not lockwired

My last A/B/C started with a weak handbrake and ended with a full rear-end strip and rebuild...

[hrepo]

Wedg1e said:

My last A/B/C started with a weak handbrake and ended with a full rear-end strip and rebuild...

You know, I have no handbrake and was planning on looking into that...

But perhaps it's better to bork one end at a time.