Handbrake Question

[v8s4me]

This is how the handbrake is fitted on my Tasmin...



I thought I'd be able to re-fit it inside the chassis rails but there is a diagonal chassis piece in the way meaning that with the lever in the 'off' position the holes in the lever mounting plate do not line up with the holes in the bracket on the chassis.






Does anyone know what's going on here?

For the time being I'm going to put it all back the way it was and unless there is an alternative I'll re-model the transmission tunnel cover the deal with the problem.

[phillpot]

v8s4me said:

I thought I'd be able to re-fit it inside the chassis rails but there is a diagonal chassis piece in the way

Chop saw.

v8s4me said:

Does anyone know what's going on here?

You bought a "lemon" ...

[v8s4me]

Maybe more of a tomato?

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate...

If the handbrake was working I'm not sure i would of chopped a hole in the transmission tunnel...Like i said i could of made a "S" type gaiter to cover the side of it...Now you will need new carpet and some heavy glassing in....

[v8s4me]

It wasn't me who chopped the hole in the tub. I think that was the previous owner, although he was adamant that is how it was originally but every other Tasmin I've seen has the lever coming out of the top of the transmission tunnel. The metal plate covering the lever did look like that's what it was made for and not some bodge-up, so did TVR ever put the lever on the outside of the chassis? It shouldn't be too difficult to make a repair piece or modify the transmission tunnel to cover it all properly.

[adam quantrill]

Thinking out of the box - don't the SEAC's use an umbrella type handle by the knee?

Why not convert to that, and ditch the non-fitting one.

[v8s4me]

adam quantrill said:

.... don't the SEAC's use an umbrella type handle by the knee?

Why not convert to that, and ditch the non-fitting one.

Can't help thinking that would be a lot more difficult than making up a mounting plate to fit the lever in the correct position inside the chassis.

Has anyone got photos of a body-off restoration showing how the lever is mounted please?

[Campbell]

You dont want the SEAC type hand brake leaver they are crap.
Owning a SEAC i can say this, not the best idea to say the east.

[v8s4me]

I'm thinking a simple stand-off bracket is probably the solution.



I say "simple" but getting the two pairs of holes in the right place in relation to each other in order to get the optimum arc and not foul the chassis is going to be a right old game.

[mrzigazaga]

Sorry mate...I thought you chopped it out......As said before i have a transmission cover that in good nick if you sort the handbrake...Or i can make a gaiter to cover whats there...

[v8s4me]

Thank you

[adam quantrill]

Zig do you make your gaiters out of crocodile?

[RayTVR]

shoot me down if I'm being daft but;

when I looked at the photos I thought it was more likely that the handbrake was on the side of the tunnel - where its always been, and someone has fitted a later center cover which has the hole for a top mounted handbrake as on later cars?

[RayTVR]

knew I'd read it somewhere - From the Graham Robson book..

[v8s4me]

Thanks Ray. Difficult to tell from the photo but I looks like the vertical lever was still inside the chassis spine rather than on the side like mine. Does your book make any mention of some models being fitted with the lever in the position mine is?Thanks

[hrepo]

v8s4me said:

Thanks Ray. Difficult to tell from the photo but I looks like the vertical lever was still inside the chassis spine rather than on the side like mine. Does your book make any mention of some models being fitted with the lever in the position mine is?Thanks

From the book it's easier to see that the handbrake is indeed inside the chassis spine, not outside like yours.

No mention of other locations that I noticed.

[v8s4me]

Can anyone with a vertical lever pop out and tell me how many 'clicks' you get between full on and full on? Many thanks

[v8s4me]

It turned out to be relatively simple in the end. Just a matter of finding the right length of spacer and enlarging the slot in the top of the transmission tunnel.





Tomorrow's job will be to see how the transmission tunnel cover will fit.

[RayTVR]

v8s4me said:

Thanks Ray. Difficult to tell from the photo but I looks like the vertical lever was still inside the chassis spine rather than on the side like mine. Does your book make any mention of some models being fitted with the lever in the position mine is?Thanks

It talks about original models having a vertical handbrake mounting and then later models having a traditional horizontal handbrake.

The following image clearly shows handbrake in a vertical position but inside the chassis rail.

[v8s4me]

RayTVR said:

...The following image clearly shows handbrake in a vertical position but inside the chassis rail......

Thanks Ray. Presumably that picture shows the lever in the "off" position. That's how mine looks now.