First Chim, first post

[fieryfred]

Evening All as Jack Warner used to say. A bit of back ground info i had a 350i wedge 35 years ago followed by an S taken in part ex for an Evante. Subaru then took over. I was looking for a Challenger E type & got diverted to a Sebring. These all depend on who built it. TVR is a factory built kit car well maybe. Cost wise i could buy 3 TVRs for one Challenger or 2 for one Sebring. So without research i bought a Chim, silly me, i thought all the problems would have been solved, its a 1999 car with hidden hinges Oh. I stumbled across these pages & theres loads of info no doubt going back years. I never had a mayor problem with previous TVRs. The Chim however threw up a few un expected ones. At 5'-6" i never had a problem seeing the bonnet or using the seat belt. The Chim had me sat too low & the seat belt fouled the targa when dropped & the seat belt was easier to use with the door open. After 60 miles the taco went ape, i checked the connections & eliminated electrical interference with rubber tube. Back in the car & bought a length of 25mm square tube & 4 end caps & 50 x 6 flat bar for £5.50 from Northallerton. Back home & the seats came out, the saggy bottom was held in place by cable ties. Only done 50K but one owner must have been a fatty. Seats raised by 25mm & a nut, visabilty restored. Hack saw & file out brackets made to extend seat belt mount. Who at TVR made the seat belt rise at 15 deg & then back to its top mount rubbing the carpet. Seat belt guides fitted to the head rest, makes the seat belt easy to get to & use. If your shoulders stick above the height of the seat attach the guide to the underside of the head rest or just us tape to stop it slidding down the head rest stem. Now i can drive & see what else crops up. No doubt this is all old hat & someone will shoot me down in flames. But i could not find any off the shelf kit to solve my problems. Seat re builds can wait until winter.
Regards
Fred.

[fieryfred]

Oh i can just imagine you getting her pregnant in a Challenger, original knicker dropper. Total Headturners bought the cars from the Challenger web site before i had a chance to view & added 15K to the price. Went down to see & the only way i can describe the owner is a Spiv. I see you have to click on the first photo to see my others, i will get better given time.

[fieryfred]

Paul the lad who makes the guides is making me a set 35mm longer. So if you wait until next week i will road test both versions using the crash test dummy who can tangle & wreck anything. The length see finds impossible to mess up will get the thumbs up. These are laser cut polished stainless i am happy as is but Paul likes a challenge as does the crash test dummy.

[fieryfred]

Do you have a link to the seat belt mounts and guides? Mine too stop the rear hood folding down and the guides sound like a great idea. Might even stop me having to remind my other half not to trap the belt in the door.

I used the crash test dummy seen modelling the prefered length of seat belt guide. Photos shows the belt resting & in use.


I made the seat belt extensions show in earlier photos, but Paul at www.stainlessforclassics.co.uk will make you a set of stainless ones. I will provide him with a drawing if anyone needs them.
She was right in saying we are not all flexible primates & why is putting a seat belt on such a faff on. Now we have no hood down catching & the belts are easy to reach.
I have no connection with Paul i just bought the guides from him & he is willing to listen. His e mail is [e-mail]
Regards
Fred.

[fieryfred]

Forgot to add photo of seat belt extenders with hood down.


This also stops the belt dragging on the carpets. But the young flexible dudes will not need them & the old scroates will probably allready have them.

[fieryfred]

You can contact Paul direct via e mail or the web site his mobile No is 07779 498176. He is based in Selston Nottinghamshire.
The crash test dummy loves the mod's she said with people looking she felt like a plonker trying to fasten her seat belt. Now she is an elegant Penelope Pitstop. Well not through my glasses, but dont tell her or i will get cold shoulder & tongue.
Just mention the TVR Chim & Paul will know what you want.
Regards
Fred.

[fieryfred]

I am based near Northallerton, yeah gods own country North Yorkshire.
Dales to the Left Moors to the right here i am stuck in the middle with a view. The seat belt guides on ebay are from where i got mine, even got a photo of my Chim on the add. I am going to send Paul a sketch of the seat belt extenders so he can knock up a few if required. Its years since i have been to Snetterton think Percy Tait, crasher Croxford, Mike the Bike, Mooneyes etc. I would like to pay a visit & i dont scare easy unless the brakes fail heading toward the pit wall. Oh i can scare you dead easy, take my glasses off & floor the throttle voice guidance required.
Regards
Fred.

[fieryfred]

To keep a low profile i have painted mine black.
I have just sent Paul details of the extenders he is busy in the workshop making seat belt guides. It's the same bloke on EBay & stainlessforclassics.

[fieryfred]

I will post a reply when he has made some. Hopefully then wont cost much. But dont tell the Griff owners cos they will want colour coded or gold plated to out do us poor Chim owners.

[fieryfred]

ChilliWhizz said:

N7GTX said:

Got mine from him too. Nice bloke. My crash test dummy likes them so that's a bonus

Iain, are you able to attend the track day mentioned above? And Fred?

I would love to come & play, but i am in Sweaty Sock Land counting Midgies for the next Rectum rendum. Must take my Smidge in case Wee Willie Winkie & Marry Hen come calling in the night.