New member, long time lurker & just about to buy!!

[laup99]

hi Guys Hope you are all well and out enjoying the sunshine???

I have been hovering around the Forum for over 6 months now, taking in all the info and getting to know you all ( Not in a stalker way I might add!!!)

I'm just about to realise a childhood dream and buy my first TVR.....the car is a Tasmin 2.8 FHC.

I'm really after some re assurance before I part with my hard earned cash....

Good points:-

Chassis is good
Body work good
Interior good
Electrics work (lights Etc)
Temp & oil pressure spot on
Years Tax & MOT
Sounds great
& means I can come to the BBWF in a TVR!!!

Bad Points:-

Speedo does not work
Fuel gauge does not work
Not much histroy with car

In 2nd & 3rd gear very loud noise from the gear stick!!?? Clutch engages no problem & car pulls very well.

Questions being.....

Will the Speedo & fuel gauge cause much of a problem to fault find & Fix??

The noise in 2nd & 3rd gear...do they all just make this noise or could it be some thing major?? ( 4 speed box by the way!!!)

I'm going to pay just over the 2k mark...does this represent good value??

Sorry for going on....I dont expect many replys as you should all be out in your wedges on a day like this!!!

Any info would be much appreicated.

Thanks

Paul

[stainless_steve]

Hi and welcome stalker

Sounds like the gearbox is on its way out,but the rest of the car sounds great.Is it advertised on here,or are you buying it else where?.One of the guys may know the car ,or it could even be one of them selling it.

Steve

[paul gotts]

laup99 said:

hi Guys Hope you are all well and out enjoying the sunshine??? I have been hovering around the Forum for over 6 months now, taking in all the info and getting to know you all ( Not in a stalker way I might add!!!) I'm just about to realise a childhood dream and buy my first TVR.....the car is a Tasmin 2.8 FHC. I'm really after some re assurance before I part with my hard earned cash.... Good points:- Chassis is good Body work good Interior good Electrics work (lights Etc) Temp & oil pressure spot on Years Tax & MOT Sounds great & means I can come to the BBWF in a TVR!!! Bad Points:- Speedo does not work Fuel gauge does not work Not much histroy with car In 2nd & 3rd gear very loud noise from the gear stick!!?? Clutch engages no problem & car pulls very well. Questions being..... Will the Speedo & fuel gauge cause much of a problem to fault find & Fix?? The noise in 2nd & 3rd gear...do they all just make this noise or could it be some thing major?? ( 4 speed box by the way!!!) I'm going to pay just over the 2k mark...does this represent good value?? Sorry for going on....I dont expect many replys as you should all be out in your wedges on a day like this!!! Any info would be much appreicated. Thanks Paul

Hi Paul, It's quite a few years since I had a 280I. I thoroughly recommend you get a copy of the Bible, which will help with some of these points. I do remember that my 280I, although a 5 speeder, did suffer from vibration from the gearshift - I assume there is some sort of bush which wears out and allows too much slack - alternatively, when you say noise, do you mean road / engine / gearbox noise getting into the car? the rubber inner and leather / vinyl gaiters do have a tendency to split over time and allow noise in. I presume that all the gears go in and out without problems, and don't jump out on their own, indicating a box rebuild is required?

How did the car get an MOT without a speedo? it's a legal requirement - or did it only break after the test - decide for yourself how likely that is! And presumably, the milometer is not funtioning either - can the mileage be relied on? Can you check whether the speedo drive has not just become detached from one end or the other? Maybe just a new cable needed.Fuel gauge is electric - could be a loose connection anywhere between tank and gauge. TBH this is not much of a problem, as gauges on most "older" TVR's are pretty useless - people tend rely on mileage to judge fill up time, but if you're milometer is not working either, then how does the owner know when to fill up??

You say the chassis is good - outriggers can be a major rust trap, as can the front suspension top mounts, not to mention diff beams breaking, chassis cracks around the diff. and front suspension. All can be fixed, but depends how much you are able to do yourself to keep costs down. And it's easy to spend several hundred just on parts replacing dampers, bushes, wheel bearings ball joints, uj's (definitely a weak point on all of the Wedges). Sorry to sound so negative, but if this is your first Tiv, I would strongly suggest you go along to your local TVRCC meeting and see if anyone can give you more guidance. I would normally get a car professioonally checked out, but at a certain level, it doesn't always make economic sense.

Good luck.

Paul

[laup99]

Hi,

Thanks for the replys.....

The car is not advertised on here...just locally near where I live.

The gear box is fine in respect of engaging and not jumping out...the noise is nore a vibration noise at certain revs in 2nd and 3rd...when putting my hand on the gear stick it reduced the noise a little....so it sounds like you could be right with vibration from the gearshift Paul. (Good name by the way!!! )

As for the speedo....no it was not working before the MOT. So I don't know how the guy got one!!!! But the guy had all work done at his local garage and had various bits to pass MOT (about 500 quids worth) Which included some of the bits you mentioned Paul. The guy seems very genuine and not "dodgy" at all he's been very honest and upfront so I dont think he is trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

As for the milage the car is 25 years old...When I have bought MG's & Truimphs in the past I have not really taken note of the milage and just made sure the engine is running well.

Thanks for the info guys...I'm all ready a member of the TVRCC...and I'll have to get my self a bible...and as for the issues I have raised...if I do buy the car then I can then start posting things & how to's with a list of things to do.

I'm sure classic car ownership is very much like TVR ownership....a never ending list of things to do and not enough time to do them!!!!

[grahamw48]

Well, it's not mine.

I also have a 280i FHC, with the 4 speed box.

The box doesn't make any particular noises in any gear.

It did used to baulk going into gear sometimes though.
A new clutch sorted that out. (Engine-out job).

From my experience, items such as speedo function are seldom tested at MOT time.
They couldn't get any sensible CO2 readings on mine, so just let it go through!

The rear fog on my other car didn't work at test time,
and that was overlooked too. I also expected it to fail on a noisy front wheel bearing, but that didn't seem to bother the tester either.

I just goes to show yet again, that you can't rely on an MOT certificate as an indication of roadworthiness.

I retro-fitted a viscous cooling fan, which came from a Granada, and was evidently a fraction too big, as the edges of the blades used to catch slightly on the air cleaner housing. Made a hell of a racket at first, but has now nicely ground itself down to size
At least I know it's funtioning, as the noise is louder when the fan clutch kicks in, and hooray - the temp' drops.

Good luck with your car anyway.

How many other vehicles cause little kids to smile and stick their thumbs up as you cruise (or hurtle) past.

Edited to say:

Yes, we (my 11year old son and I) have been out for a blast today.
She suddenly cut out on a country lane near home.
I opened the bonnet and twiddled the fuses, and we were on our way again.

Well, it's a TVR isn't it



>> Edited by grahamw48 on Sunday 17th April 16:23

[19560]

laup99 said:

Will the Speedo & fuel gauge cause much of a problem to fault find & Fix?? The noise in 2nd & 3rd gear...do they all just make this noise or could it be some thing major?? ( 4 speed box by the way!!!) I'm going to pay just over the 2k mark...does this represent good value??

Speedo is likely to be the cable - relatively straightforward, fuel guage is usually either the sender or the guage. Try:- www.speedycables.co.uk/
Gera box could be front and rear main bearings but best to allow for the cost of a new box. Considering the good points and the cost sounds like a good buy.

[njhucker]

My Taimar has a 4 speed Ford Box.
The leaver buzzzes in 2nd 3rd,but apart from that works great, with 120k assume it is just wear in the top of the box.
When the speedo stopped working, it turned out to be the speedo driven gear stripped, due to seizing in the bearing. A new assembly cost about £12, and is a doddle to fit.

[pwd95]

My old 2.8I Capris used to have a ZiZ type feeling through the gear stick. No noise just that vibration all the time. I had two, both the same, 1st one after a new box under warranty(5 speed), 4 speed the same ( I had one of each, prefered the 4 speed)!!
Good luck

>> Edited by pwd95 on Sunday 17th April 23:55

>> Edited by pwd95 on Sunday 17th April 23:56

>> Edited by pwd95 on Sunday 17th April 23:58

[laup99]

Cheers for the info and replys guys....

One of the main reasons of going for a TVR is this forum.......gives me a lot of confidence that a few of you have been there before and the help you guys seem to give each other....

If I get the car then I'm sure a few of these will need to be bought at the BBWF to say thanks!!!

[gemini]

My 280 used to have abuzzy box but no problems - the speedo also failed - cheap replacement part sorted it -
welcome to TVR then?

[kevsmev]

From what I can remember, a vibration on the gearstick was a common problem with the Ford boxes of that era. Ford did a mod which added a rubber tie strap or similar. I think this is shown in the Granada haynes book somewhere.
Kev

[nads]

grahamw48 said:

I retro-fitted a viscous cooling fan, which came from a Granada, and was evidently a fraction too big, as the edges of the blades used to catch slightly on the air cleaner housing. Made a hell of a racket at first, but has now nicely ground itself down to size >> Edited by grahamw48 on Sunday 17th April 16:23

I too had a lot of noise from the fan when I bought a white FHC. It was also hitting the airbox but this was down to the fact that two engine mounts had broken! The two bolts had snapped but still stayed in situ which meant that it wasn't obvious at first. This also gave gear selection problems sometimes and so if I was you I would check the mounts (just in case). I think there are only three in total!

£2000 sounds good value but I am sure you know that there are V8 FHCs around for not much more.

Also, you may want to consider a FHC+2.
I sold my old 2-seater because I found I wasn't driving it enough as I have 2 young children. Luckily a +2 came up for sale so I didn't need to give up being TVR-mad.
The 2.8 wedges are an excellent way to get into TVRs.

[grahamw48]

Hi nads.

I actually had a new engine mount fitted by Richard Thorpe in January, along with a load of other work.

It's definately the fan size - a lot cheaper to rectify

Some time I'll be replacing the twin electric fans which I took off (one was knacked).
Just have to get round to finding a correct size replacement. They're quite small.

[laup99]

Its done!!!!!

Price is agreed.....

Deposit will be paid...

Car will be picked up next week some time....

Insurance sorted....(Very good by the way!!!)

I'm now a TVR owner!!!!

Thanks for all your help guys....Can't wait to post "Picked up my new car tonight!!" on the forum

See you all at the BBWF!!!

[stainless_steve]

laup99 said:

Its done!!!!! Price is agreed..... Deposit will be paid... Car will be picked up next week some time.... Insurance sorted....(Very good by the way!!!) I'm now a TVR owner!!!! Thanks for all your help guys....Can't wait to post "Picked up my new car tonight!!" on the forum See you all at the BBWF!!!

Nice one enjoy,by the way the will last for years

[wedg1e]

Jolly good show, that man!



Ian

[nads]

grahamw48 said:

It's definately the fan size - a lot cheaper to rectify .

Phew!

And well done ...99
A Wedge has to be the best in the grin-for-your-cash stakes.
(By the way, I picked up my 'Bible' for around £20 on Amazon a few months ago. They also turn up on PH and ebay sometimes.)
Be ready for people asking you 'what you are grinning about' for a while!

[Gerry Attrick]

Fantastic. ENJOY.