Discussion
Okay, so I bought an S1 a few months ago, it needs everything doing to it, and I mean everything, I have posted pictures before but thought I’d start a new thread to catalogue my progress. So here are a few photos of the car when bought. It looks better in the photos than actually is. Thank you to all the people who have given me advice and helped me so far, really appreciate it and has made me believe I will be able to do this.
So been doing few hours every week on it getting ready to lift the body off, every bolt underneath heavily corroded so lots of grinding and cutting done, bonnet off and all pipes and electrics, handbrake and seat belts disconnected etc.
Tonight put a temp lift on the back to see if the 30 years of corrosion’ and gunk would give easily enough, used the top seatbelt mounts to connect the slings, but will connect a beam between them and strap the rear of the car to the beam to be on the safe side (don’t want the body in two halves). Connection points seemed ok, no creaking or bending, but body and chassis were not parting company, another check over and then realised I hadn’t removed the seat belts stalks on the tunnel (numbnuts), of course they are solid and wont undo and need cutting out like everything else has done, but typical TVR there’s a bracket in the way so awkwardly hacksawing by hand.
Junior hacksaw blade not up to the job, so give up for the night, but I am slowly getting there and soon the house of horrors will be revealed.
To be continued........
So been doing few hours every week on it getting ready to lift the body off, every bolt underneath heavily corroded so lots of grinding and cutting done, bonnet off and all pipes and electrics, handbrake and seat belts disconnected etc.
Tonight put a temp lift on the back to see if the 30 years of corrosion’ and gunk would give easily enough, used the top seatbelt mounts to connect the slings, but will connect a beam between them and strap the rear of the car to the beam to be on the safe side (don’t want the body in two halves). Connection points seemed ok, no creaking or bending, but body and chassis were not parting company, another check over and then realised I hadn’t removed the seat belts stalks on the tunnel (numbnuts), of course they are solid and wont undo and need cutting out like everything else has done, but typical TVR there’s a bracket in the way so awkwardly hacksawing by hand.
Junior hacksaw blade not up to the job, so give up for the night, but I am slowly getting there and soon the house of horrors will be revealed.
To be continued........
Edited by 88S1 on Thursday 27th June 22:51
Worth mentioning, OP.
When you have removed all the body to chassis attachments, before lifting, get a thin bladed paint scraper and run it along the whole length of each side between the body inner sills and the outrigger tubes to clear away any accumulation of small stones or other debris which can prevent the separation of the tub from the chassis.
Good luck.
When you have removed all the body to chassis attachments, before lifting, get a thin bladed paint scraper and run it along the whole length of each side between the body inner sills and the outrigger tubes to clear away any accumulation of small stones or other debris which can prevent the separation of the tub from the chassis.
Good luck.
v8s4me said:
good luck with the project. I envy you having all that space to work in. Havre you tried using one of THESE?
Yes it’s in the warehouse where I work, so can work late at night after work with great light and without disturbing the neighbours. Have one of those blades at home, will be in the back of the car in the morning.
glenrobbo said:
Worth mentioning, OP.
When you have removed all the body to chassis attachments
Good luck.
Thanks, I definitely need it. What outriggers, they have decided to be ECO friendly and recycled themselves. Main chassis looks very solid, just outriggers shot and trailing arms need a bit of attention. When you have removed all the body to chassis attachments
Good luck.
Full strip down and nut and bolt rebuild.
Edited by 88S1 on Friday 28th June 00:43
Keep it up, we S1 owners are a special breed of stubborn people! Those radius arms have a known problem, the smaller diameter outer tube fills with mud and corrodes from inside. I would be very surprised if you do not find yours are weakened. Fortunately we have an expert, Adrian Venn, who has set up the jigs for restoring these and has done lots of them. Also check the flanges where the radius arm mounts to the chassis. A few people have found these seriously weakened at the welds. Chassis is however straight forward enough. The outriggers do little more than hold the body up so not a very critical dimensional issue. The original spec tube is now obsolete but a slightly heavier duty metric one is available. Same applies with the tank cradle, they do rot but are easy to make up again using a slightly higher spec metric tube.
greymrj said:
Keep it up, we S1 owners are a special breed of stubborn people! Those radius arms have a known problem.
Thanks for the info/advice, big tube on trailing arms look suspect, so they will probably need work, and have taken a lot of dimensions of the outrigger locations. Will have a very close look at everything once it’s been shot lasted. Tank cradle looks okay from what I’ve seen so far, was told by the original finder that he thought this had already been replaced, time will tell. It’s fair to say I’ve got a few hours work in front of me. And a lot of bits and bobs to acquire.
Blue 30 said:
If you're near Staffordshire (ws7) to collect. I have some surplus tubing from my resto. That includes the big tubing.
TerryB
TerryTerryB
That would be brilliant, many thanks, would love to see your restoration too. Im up and down the motorway regular(ish), will message you next time I am to see if we can meet up.
Was reading through your Resto post from the beginning on Saturday, looks amazing, hope mine looks that good when it’s done.
Lee
Edited by 88S1 on Sunday 30th June 23:18
Hi your in for a lot of fun !!! I'm doing a full body off rebuild lots of work but worth it in the end .please take lots of photos because I didn't and I wish I had especially the brake lines I I will post some pictures soon I've took a lot I'm hoping to have some wheels on the chassis by the end of the year no hurry
shaunodude1 said:
Hi your in for a lot of fun !!! I'm doing a full body off rebuild
Good luck with yours. Just got the body off, so can start the strip down. Taking photos of everything so far and also writing in a pad everything I do so I can just reverse the order with the build up, think I’ll do some sketches too just to be sure. I’ll look out for your photos. 
Good stuff Lee, now the body is out the way it's gonna be quite easy and enjoyable for a while. If I may suggest, try to get it on some reasonably high stands. Think I had mine at around 20" from the ground, much easier on the back as you are working.
Cracking progress mate, keep it up
Carl.
Cracking progress mate, keep it up
Carl.
Blue 30 said:
Tip...
Make note of the body/chassis rubber spacer pads.
That's how many and where they sit.
It'll be your starting reference point, once you're ready to refit the body.
TerryB.
All noted in my little black book and bagged and labelled per location. They are all consistent, so thats a plus, but perished so need replacing.Make note of the body/chassis rubber spacer pads.
That's how many and where they sit.
It'll be your starting reference point, once you're ready to refit the body.
TerryB.
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