Will it fit

[Audie]

Hi i have a tas 280 fhc chassis pretty bad will the 350i chassis fit i know the engine mounts will not be the same but will my shell fit?

[york33]

WELCOME

Is it really beyond repair? You can do wonders with a cheapish MIG welder?

[SEvans]

Audie said:

Hi i have a tas 280 fhc chassis pretty bad will the 350i chassis fit i know the engine mounts will not be the same but will my shell fit?

Not sure this is an easy one to answer as I suspect the 350 chassis changed over it's life. I believe the early ones were trailing arm and the later ones A Frame, so if you want to use your existing rear suspension a later one is no use. There may also be a difference in the front suspension...early tasmins had the compliance arm going backwards, later cars had it going forwards. Again if you are using the suspension off the donor car then it may not be a problem. I think they also altered the chassis to get the v8 to fit. In itself I guess this isn't a problem but I'm not sure if this required the body mounts to be moved.

I suspect you may be looking at more work and money to modify the 350 chassis than repairing the old one. Cheers Steve

[Audie]

Hi guy's thanks for all your help and info, rang shaun who's got a 350i chassis for sale in the classifieds we both agree with your comment's that it's more trouble than it is worth, anyway thanks again will take the shell off and see what the score is.

[grahamw48]

Hmmm....just having a mental battle here...good sense over mid-life madness.

[Pilo-Wedgebits]

?????

Hows things Graham?

Shaun

[grahamw48]

Hi Shaun...still owe you a couple of drinks.....next Wedgefest eh ?

I've been agonising over buying your chassis and building it up into a dragracer.
There. It's out.

Trouble is I've got a spare car occupying the garage at the moment, so would need to move that on first anyway.

I can't see your chassis hanging around too long though.
Hang in there. Someone will be along.

Personally I think it would need only minor stuff, if anything, to be able to put a 280 on it by the way.

[Pilo-Wedgebits]

I'll be there as long as it doesnt clash again and we can have a beer or three.

Audie's car is the early 2+2 and is trailing arm whereas mine is A frame so we guess it wouldnt be too easy

[grahamw48]

Are you keeping the A-frames attached to the chassis ?

If so, I'd still have thought there might only be differences in chassis/body mounting points.

The widened engine bay rails should just need longer mounts for the 280 engine...easily sorted, and more space around it can only be an improvement.
2 + 2 might have had differences at the back though, what with the different fuel tank arrangement, but still can't see them altering the chassis for such a limited run.

Of course I'd prefer to see a Ford 302 or bigger in it.

[Audie]

Just an update been seen and bought the whole kit and caboodle as as advertised in the classifieds, now have to collect and try and squeeze into garage.more soon.

[grahamw48]

Best of luck and keep us updated.

I'd loved to have bought that if the garage had been empty.