Chassis question
Discussion
Hello all, I've seen a Chim at a reasonable price from a dealer (non TVR). I've been for a test drive, etc and all seems fine. Now I've had a quick check of the chassis and the bit behind the front wheels does have some surface rust on it. I do have the opportunity to get the car up on a ramp and have a proper look around. Question is which area should I concentrate on?
Cheers
Cheers
Outriggers! That's the tubing running from that bit behind the wheels down the length of the sills. Very hard to check condition as the worst damage is usually on the top where you can't see it, but if the bottom and sides are shows any signs of tinrot then you can bet the tops will be worse.
Have a good look at the wishbones, lower particularly. These take a lot of damage from stones etc, have been known to collapse when corroded, and allegedly are difficult to source at the moment.
Check the corners of the chassis (outriggers) for blockage. Each corner has a plate welded across that the bodywork bolts to. There should be a hole right in the corner to let water out, if neglegted this can block with crud. The plate will then corrode from the top, along with the tubing it's attached to. Regular chassis maintenance includes making sure these are kept free of crud, and that the spaces alongside the outriggers (sometimes very tight) are kept free of crud.
Have a good look at the wishbones, lower particularly. These take a lot of damage from stones etc, have been known to collapse when corroded, and allegedly are difficult to source at the moment.
Check the corners of the chassis (outriggers) for blockage. Each corner has a plate welded across that the bodywork bolts to. There should be a hole right in the corner to let water out, if neglegted this can block with crud. The plate will then corrode from the top, along with the tubing it's attached to. Regular chassis maintenance includes making sure these are kept free of crud, and that the spaces alongside the outriggers (sometimes very tight) are kept free of crud.
Hi, to me the worst part is the corner section just behind the front wheels. Wet mud and leaves tend to get swoop up by the front wheels and dposited here. Once you have it on a ramp, you will know why. You need to pay more attention to the outrigger as well.
Go to the Chimaera pages and see the chassis of my friend's (Jim) car and you will know more.
Best of luck and hope you will join the fold soon.
Winston
Go to the Chimaera pages and see the chassis of my friend's (Jim) car and you will know more.
Best of luck and hope you will join the fold soon.
Winston
andy-w said:
victormeldrew said:
crud.
Is that the technical term???
Definately out-riggers...mine have perished and need replacing!
Wikipedia - "Crud, as a minced oath or in the sense of dirt, a euphemism for crap".
I don't believe it (yes, I know), I'm getting polite in my old age! Still liking your roof BTW Andy.
victormeldrew said:
Wikipedia - "Crud, as a minced oath or in the sense of dirt, a euphemism for crap".
I don't believe it (yes, I know), I'm getting polite in my old age! Still liking your roof BTW Andy.
Cant beleive crud is in wikipedia!!! OK, make sure there is no crud on the outriggers....give them a good poke with something sharp of they look suspect...i gave mine a poke around (oo-er) and ended up with a hole in the drivers side out rigger.
Thanks for the roof comment...i am going to make a fibreglass rear section for it soon with a curved rear window...just for the hell of it really...and if i get REALLY bored i am going to make a one peice hard top keeping the exact same lines as the canvas rear sections
Yes anything more than surface rust is a problem , and with so many cars for sale its worth walking away and carrying on with your search. Try if you can to get it on a ramp,also watch out for botched painted over outriggers with a surface like a mountain range. Also if the outriggers are corroded ill be sure the wishbones are as well, unless they have been replaced. First signs of car that have spent a lot of time outside is delaminating windscreens , discoloured hoods with rotten stitching , again unless replaced.
Its worth waiting for a good one and worth paying a little more sometimes, as putting things right costs and is false economy, a bit like shutting the gate when the horse has bolted.
Its worth waiting for a good one and worth paying a little more sometimes, as putting things right costs and is false economy, a bit like shutting the gate when the horse has bolted.
I fell into this same trap of not being able to see the chassis and I'm currently doing a complete body off rebuild. If I were you I would get them to jet wash right in the corner where the two tubes (outriggers) come together to join the side tubes. Do this front and back and you may be a little wiser.
Good luck
Good luck
To be totally honest, if you have already seen flaking paint and rust in exposed and readily accessible areas of the chassis the car would be on a yellow card already. How much effort would you think has been expended on the awkward bits if the easy stuff has been neglected? Don't get carried away, there are plenty of cars out there.
Very true!, it's the normal don't buy the first car you see chestnut. But you know how it is, you drive the car, hear the noise, etc. The paintwork on it is immaculate too, metallic black metal flake.
I'm still going to go up there on Saturday and get the car up on the ramp to have a proper check, but you're right there are a lot of cars out there.
Another interesting point is that my old wedge didn't have any rot on the outriggers and that was a much older car, so any rust on a newer car really isn't a good sign!
I'm still going to go up there on Saturday and get the car up on the ramp to have a proper check, but you're right there are a lot of cars out there.
Another interesting point is that my old wedge didn't have any rot on the outriggers and that was a much older car, so any rust on a newer car really isn't a good sign!
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff