Bought a 350i fhc today

[Alan461]

Hi people,
Might be on here a bit in the near future,
there's no running gear on it after the gearbox and most of the bits for it are in a pile underneath the car which is on stands.
Last mot expired June '93 and the engine hasn't run since 2001.
So I won't be driving it 100+ miles home.
Bit of a project, need to get some wheels on to get it on a trailer.
Hope you don't mind me asking silly questions, great as it is the bible doesn't cover all of it.
Put the diff back in today (with no kit to do it) can't work out where the trailing arms bolt on,
Could someone post a diagram or picture of how it all fits together.
Here's a pic of the diff install today
Many thanks Alan

[Alan461]

That's a great start, gives me some idea so I can get it rolling.
I'll put some more pics on as soon as I can get it out of the garage.
Here's one of the chassis with no suspension before the diff went in.
Many thanks

[Alan461]

That is exactly what it is, a 3d puzzle that needs putting back together

[Alan461]

Hi Mike,
It's dark blue with dark blue interior, registered in March '86
Engine number 37A00154
There's very little paperwork with it other than its only mots showing it did the main amount of mileage in it's first three years then a further 6k over 4 certificates to a total of 25k

[Alan461]

Thanks Stu, well spotted.

I couldn't work out what those tie bars were going to connect to, it's the same on the other side.

Looked at a 280i today which has made me think the two tie bars that connect the diff carrier and trailing arm are missing, have yet to be found or are the ones mentioned above but wrongly sited.

Missing also are the UJ spiders from the half shafts, this causes concern as if I understand correctly the half shafts perform part of the geometry and without them it might not be possible to roll the car from the garage on to a trailer.

Going up there later this week and will get some better photos.

Cheers Alan

[Alan461]

earlybay said:

Sounds interesting - is it the colour of the one in this pic ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-350i-Fixedhead-Broch...

If so, it could be the one used in the photo...

The colour is cobalt blue according to the owners club with gold stripe and badges so I doubt it
but it would have been a coincidence!

[Alan461]

Spent a bit more time on the wedge project today, found some bits previously unaccounted for, confirmed some bits are missing and guess the rear suspension has been modified from standard.

Found the rear tie bars that connect the diff carrier to the hub carrier, sans bushes



Also found one of the halfshaft spiders (which enabled assembly of one leg) but need to source another to be rolling.
I can look it up but if someone could point me in the right direction :-)

The component I wasn't expecting to see was this,



Seems to be a tie bar connected to a (new?) plate welded to the chassis next to the trailing arm mount and then connected to the trailing arm half way along.
Previous discussion about weakness of the pivot pin makes me think this assembly has been added to beef it up a bit.
Has anyone on here seen this before/ would you trust it?

[Alan461]

This one shows a bit more of the trailing arm end.
Sorry about the quality,



The outriggers need finishing off, all the ones I've seen so far have a return on the top edge, does this support something, part of the cover sill maybe? Or just stiffening?



Thanks fellas, I've been struggling with some of this as I don't know what it's supposed to look like in the first place.

[Alan461]

That is exactly what it is, a 3d puzzle that needs putting back together

[Alan461]

Getting on for three years later I'm still taking stuff to bits and refurbishing.
Front suspension looked ok but upon inspection was found wanting, steering rack gaiter crumbled and fell off, anyone know what it's from or where to get one?

[Alan461]

Thanks, it's a non power rack. That was too easy, I thought TVR would have used some obscure nonsense.

[Alan461]

Great day wedging



New paint got mauled yesterday trying to wrestle the coil spring back in but this will be a trial fit as I can't get any new nuts and bolts until Tuesday so I'll tidy the paint then.
The water pump seems to be getting intimate with the new (universal) steering rack gaiter, who could blame it?
Might be prudent to get the exhaust manifolds off for bead blast, paint and new bolts/studs before the body goes back on

[Alan461]

Hadn't noticed when it was filthy but when it came out of the blast cabinet there was a hole in the lower front wishbone in close proximity to where the arb droplink would be.
I can weld it shut again or just leave it, but is this typical wear and tear? Seen this before?