Another Body Off Chassis Restore
Another Body Off Chassis Restore
Author
Discussion

grahamn

Original Poster:

1,777 posts

264 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
As some of know, my car has been in for a body off chassis restore. Well I finally picked her up yesterday, and I must say it looks great. Got loads of pics but have not downloaded them yet, so I will post them up when I get them.

One thing worth noting though, I had holes in the part of the outriggers that you can see in the wheel arches, but what was more worrying was the state of the rails under the sills, they looked ok until the body was lifted.

Now the bad bit, the cost. The parts list, which included having the drivers seat re upholstered and the cost of the chassis sand blast & powder coat, diff recondition, callipers recondition, new rad and hoses, new poly bushes, drop links, braided brake hoses etc came to £5675 with £3300 labour yikes. It would have been a lot cheaper but once you start the “while we are here” the cost start mounting very quickly.

Still it's back now so when is the next trackdaybiggrin


Edited by grahamn on Thursday 2nd July 09:41

D14 AYS

3,696 posts

240 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
heheYou maniac Graham, I agree with your way of thinking mate, eliminate potential problems before they occur yes If you can afford it. See you soon thumbup

mickk

30,471 posts

272 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
Hi Graham pleased its back, can you let us know who carried out the work

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
Well done G, it's a painful experience and one I can speak from... tell you what though, once the bill is out the way it sure is nice knowing you have a very solid car under you, especially when barrelling down German autobahns at lots-o-leptons. Price is pretty much where mine came in at (which I find a relief) - nice to get a diff refurb in there in with that which I didn't have, other than that all sounds very similar.

See you out and about soon buddy thumbup

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
Oh yes trackday - doing another Brands session with some of the Thames Valley peeps if you fancy it.
Thread here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


JensenA

5,671 posts

260 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
I seriously think there is a big case to be made for cars like this to have a big premium placed on them when they come to be sold. Owners who have the balls to spend the money to bring the car back to its original condition, need to have some sort of financial incentive, not just the love of their car, which I admire greatly. A price premium would also acts an an incentive to us all.

grahamn

Original Poster:

1,777 posts

264 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
Add to that the bill for the engine rebuild and upgrade to RR, means I have already spent more in the last 18 months than I would ever get back if I sold it.

FarmyardPants

4,379 posts

248 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
thumbup Must be great to have it back, respect for lavishing so much on what must be one of the best examples around. Agree on the price premium thing. What would worry me (given your uh, enthusiasm on track) is making sure the ins co shares this view. Agreed value with inspection if necessary and always insured for TDs etc. I'm sure it's all well in hand but trackdays and careful driving aside I would hate to see you get rear ended sitting at traffic lights (and a 8k payout...).

Wonder what it's worth?

FarmyardPants

4,379 posts

248 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
touching cloth said:
Well done G, it's a painful experience and one I can speak from... tell you what though, once the bill is out the way it sure is nice knowing you have a very solid car under you, especially when barrelling down German autobahns at lots-o-leptons. Price is pretty much where mine came in at (which I find a relief) - nice to get a diff refurb in there in with that which I didn't have, other than that all sounds very similar.

See you out and about soon buddy thumbup
How's your chassis looking these days TC, must be a few years since your chassis job, just wondering if it looks the same as it did, or starting to brown in the corners or whatever..?

grahamn

Original Poster:

1,777 posts

264 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
mickk said:
Hi Graham pleased its back, can you let us know who carried out the work
It was Matt at Silverstone Performance.

esso

1,849 posts

247 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
grahamn said:
Add to that the bill for the engine rebuild and upgrade to RR, means I have already spent more in the last 18 months than I would ever get back if I sold it.
I applaud you Sir for having the balls & commitment to see this through.You must have one of the finest examples now!clap

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
FarmyardPants said:
touching cloth said:
Well done G, it's a painful experience and one I can speak from... tell you what though, once the bill is out the way it sure is nice knowing you have a very solid car under you, especially when barrelling down German autobahns at lots-o-leptons. Price is pretty much where mine came in at (which I find a relief) - nice to get a diff refurb in there in with that which I didn't have, other than that all sounds very similar.

See you out and about soon buddy thumbup
How's your chassis looking these days TC, must be a few years since your chassis job, just wondering if it looks the same as it did, or starting to brown in the corners or whatever..?
Not immaculate but still very solid obviously, have had a couple of bits of surface rust coming back through on trouble spots so definitely still need to keep an eye on protection.

alinton

965 posts

266 months

Thursday 2nd July 2009
quotequote all
So who did the body lift and chassis refub for you?

I'm starting to think about doing this myself, but I don't think anyone's published a steo-by-step yet I'd like to read about it before I jump in!

A.


mikeinsheffield

1,038 posts

215 months

Friday 3rd July 2009
quotequote all
grahamn said:
Still it's back now so when is the next trackdaybiggrin
There is a TVRCC organised track day at Cadwell that's only £155 - I started a thread to see who's going here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

(I'm not clever enough to do the linky "here" thing, sorry frown )

It would be great to support the TVRCC organised track day, and would be great to get a bunch of Cerb's together (what with no Growl / Roar / BBW for us....)

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Friday 3rd July 2009
quotequote all
alinton said:
So who did the body lift and chassis refub for you?

I'm starting to think about doing this myself, but I don't think anyone's published a steo-by-step yet I'd like to read about it before I jump in!

A.
If you mean me then it was done by Steve Howard of Euphoria Racing when he was in High Wycombe. Closest thing to a step by step was probably longbow's restoration thread, brummie had some stuff up to but his project went off at something of a tangent of course hehe

Lot's of dosh to be saved if you have knowledge and wherewithal to take it on - sadly I didn't and still don't so left it to the pros.

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Friday 3rd July 2009
quotequote all
mikeinsheffield said:
grahamn said:
Still it's back now so when is the next trackdaybiggrin
There is a TVRCC organised track day at Cadwell that's only £155 - I started a thread to see who's going here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

(I'm not clever enough to do the linky "here" thing, sorry frown )

It would be great to support the TVRCC organised track day, and would be great to get a bunch of Cerb's together (what with no Growl / Roar / BBW for us....)
Really want to do Cadwell some time, looks like a great place. Sadly for me this one's just to close to our Spa trip, risk of breaking the car before that is too great with only a few days to fix it.

mikeinsheffield

1,038 posts

215 months

Friday 3rd July 2009
quotequote all
touching cloth said:
mikeinsheffield said:
grahamn said:
Still it's back now so when is the next trackdaybiggrin
There is a TVRCC organised track day at Cadwell that's only £155 - I started a thread to see who's going here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

(I'm not clever enough to do the linky "here" thing, sorry frown )

It would be great to support the TVRCC organised track day, and would be great to get a bunch of Cerb's together (what with no Growl / Roar / BBW for us....)
Really want to do Cadwell some time, looks like a great place. Sadly for me this one's just to close to our Spa trip, risk of breaking the car before that is too great with only a few days to fix it.
You could always use a bit of right foot restraint wink (as if laugh )

Storer

5,024 posts

245 months

Saturday 4th July 2009
quotequote all
The value that a full chassis refurb adds to a car is relatively small over one that is OK but not pristine. The value increase is over one that fails the MOT on chassis corrosion is a great deal larger (obviously).

I would guess that the work has added £1500 - £2000 to the value of a car with current/long MOT.

It will be interesting to see what your insurance company say when you try to increase the agreed value on your policy.

I have got to do mine next winter but hope to do it myself.

jammy_basturd

29,778 posts

242 months

Saturday 4th July 2009
quotequote all
I agree in that the chassis work would command a premium, but alone it won't be a huge one. However I think it would make the car a lot more sellable.

markh1

2,846 posts

239 months

Saturday 4th July 2009
quotequote all
Before I crashed my car I had reconditioned the wishbones and the engine bay and most of the chassis. I had to argue with the insurers that it was no worth more. Finally they agreed and gave me a decent value for my cerb.

It will be difficult to value mine when it is done as it will effectively be a new car but that is cat C.