New S3 owner - Hello!
Discussion
Hi,
I've just bought a TVR S3 and thought it would be nice to say hello to you all, as from reading this forum for the past few weeks it seems like you lot are a friendly, active bunch of enthusiasts!
It's been really useful reading your posts and I'm hoping the knowledge i've gained has meant i've not bought a total lemon of a car ;0)
For those that are interested it's a 1991 TVR S3 with around 67k on the clock (bought from a PistonHeads advert here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1175460.htm)
The history and documentation with the car is impressively extensive and it's clear it's had a full engine rebuild around 40k miles into its life - with a receipt showing that a 'Stage 2 Ford' engine tune and 'all moving parts' replaced being done back in ~2000 which means that the engine's only got around 20k miles on it!
I've been recommended by a friend who also owns an S3 to take it to a chap in Stamford Brook (as I live in West London) who specialises in them to have him inspect it and give me a 'wish list' of things to repair - i'm hoping there's not too much bad news waiting for me....I got the price down to what I thought was reasonable and know that the following will definitely need to be done having looked over it at the time and having since spent the past weekend looking things over:
Cut and fix of passenger side front out-rigger - due to (all too common!) corrosion...annoyed I missed this corner as all others seem fine!
Raise lowered front suspension (think it's been lowered at some point and means I can't fully open the bonnet to put supporting arm up.)
Small blow in the exhaust under the car - if anything makes it sound even louder! ;0)
Investigate a light 'knock' when you pull away in 1st or suddenly back off in 1st gear - worn bearing?
Replace the 'wood' dash and smaller instrument panel - as they are cracked and lifting away from the backboard. Looks very fiddly to remove!
Waxoyl the whole subframe
Repair a small tear in the rear screen
That all said it makes the car sound a lot worse that I think it really is. It drives really well, the engine pulls cleanly, brakes are sharp (upgraded from a Griffith) and the interior and bodywork are in really good condition for its age. Oil pressure is good, alternator seems to do the trick and coolant system keeps it at a steady 90 degrees.
I'd be interested to hear your views on what I've found wrong with it and rough estimates on costs to repair (especially the outrigger repair as i'm guessing that's the real biggie?) and also to hear if any of you will be attending the Ace Cafe TVR owner's meeting this Wednesday as I live close by and often go on my motorbike?
I look forward to hearing your comments - and be gentle with me, I don't want to be scared off TVRs too quickly!!
I've just bought a TVR S3 and thought it would be nice to say hello to you all, as from reading this forum for the past few weeks it seems like you lot are a friendly, active bunch of enthusiasts!
It's been really useful reading your posts and I'm hoping the knowledge i've gained has meant i've not bought a total lemon of a car ;0)
For those that are interested it's a 1991 TVR S3 with around 67k on the clock (bought from a PistonHeads advert here: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1175460.htm)
The history and documentation with the car is impressively extensive and it's clear it's had a full engine rebuild around 40k miles into its life - with a receipt showing that a 'Stage 2 Ford' engine tune and 'all moving parts' replaced being done back in ~2000 which means that the engine's only got around 20k miles on it!
I've been recommended by a friend who also owns an S3 to take it to a chap in Stamford Brook (as I live in West London) who specialises in them to have him inspect it and give me a 'wish list' of things to repair - i'm hoping there's not too much bad news waiting for me....I got the price down to what I thought was reasonable and know that the following will definitely need to be done having looked over it at the time and having since spent the past weekend looking things over:
Cut and fix of passenger side front out-rigger - due to (all too common!) corrosion...annoyed I missed this corner as all others seem fine!
Raise lowered front suspension (think it's been lowered at some point and means I can't fully open the bonnet to put supporting arm up.)
Small blow in the exhaust under the car - if anything makes it sound even louder! ;0)
Investigate a light 'knock' when you pull away in 1st or suddenly back off in 1st gear - worn bearing?
Replace the 'wood' dash and smaller instrument panel - as they are cracked and lifting away from the backboard. Looks very fiddly to remove!
Waxoyl the whole subframe
Repair a small tear in the rear screen
That all said it makes the car sound a lot worse that I think it really is. It drives really well, the engine pulls cleanly, brakes are sharp (upgraded from a Griffith) and the interior and bodywork are in really good condition for its age. Oil pressure is good, alternator seems to do the trick and coolant system keeps it at a steady 90 degrees.
I'd be interested to hear your views on what I've found wrong with it and rough estimates on costs to repair (especially the outrigger repair as i'm guessing that's the real biggie?) and also to hear if any of you will be attending the Ace Cafe TVR owner's meeting this Wednesday as I live close by and often go on my motorbike?
I look forward to hearing your comments - and be gentle with me, I don't want to be scared off TVRs too quickly!!
Looks like a nice car,
shame you didn't spot the rot as that would have been a major haggling point, if the owner had recently wayoiled he probably new it was there too if it was obvious.
Probably need a partial lift of the body to fix it properly
The dash issue, I'm sure there was a thread in the last week where an owner took off the veneer and found ali behind which he polished up and refitted, looked good and cost nothing, may be worth a try.
Apart from that welcome, I haven't even driven mine yet so your ahead of me!
shame you didn't spot the rot as that would have been a major haggling point, if the owner had recently wayoiled he probably new it was there too if it was obvious.
Probably need a partial lift of the body to fix it properly
The dash issue, I'm sure there was a thread in the last week where an owner took off the veneer and found ali behind which he polished up and refitted, looked good and cost nothing, may be worth a try.
Apart from that welcome, I haven't even driven mine yet so your ahead of me!
Ace Cafe on Wed 19th August
"chap in Stamford Brook" - G&M Autos at Stamford Brook Arches?
N/S Outrigger - I had mine done a few years ago.
I may have a solution for your bonnet prop problem.
See you at the Ace Cafe.
"chap in Stamford Brook" - G&M Autos at Stamford Brook Arches?
N/S Outrigger - I had mine done a few years ago.
I may have a solution for your bonnet prop problem.
See you at the Ace Cafe.
Hi Anders
Welcome to the forum theres loads of help here they are qiute a useful bunch!
Dashboard bits there a number of threads about removal and renovation here but once they are off I would recommend Paul Banham at www.myrtleprod.com.
You might find the article on Switch Panel Removal here a help
Welcome to the forum theres loads of help here they are qiute a useful bunch!
Dashboard bits there a number of threads about removal and renovation here but once they are off I would recommend Paul Banham at www.myrtleprod.com.
You might find the article on Switch Panel Removal here a help
Hello Anders and welcome 
Congratulations on your buy, seems like it has a few upgrades that should be fun! I'm pretty new to TVR ownership too and I can't vouch 100% for what I say here but a reckon I might be able to help with some of your problems as I've experienced them already. (others will no doubt back me up or tell you I'm a con-artist
)
The front suspension being too low - might not be. The bonnet mounting points at the front of the car can be adjusted to raise or lower the sitting height of the bonnet. The nuts on the screws had come loose on mine and it had lowered the bonnet so I couldn't open 100% like you and it would bottom out on the floor. Put some wood beneath the air dam and jack it up very gently and you can access the screws through the wheel arches and tighten them up when you think you've found the right height. You'll be able to see the design of it all much better than my rather poor instructions.
That clunk you hear in 1st gear...sounds like the engine mounts need replacing. Either engine sagging and sump is knocking on the exhaust or, and this is more common, sump touching the anti-roll bar as the vibration rocks the engine. Have a look at them and see what you think.
Hope you enjoy your new toy after you get that chassis looked at
Congratulations on your buy, seems like it has a few upgrades that should be fun! I'm pretty new to TVR ownership too and I can't vouch 100% for what I say here but a reckon I might be able to help with some of your problems as I've experienced them already. (others will no doubt back me up or tell you I'm a con-artist
)The front suspension being too low - might not be. The bonnet mounting points at the front of the car can be adjusted to raise or lower the sitting height of the bonnet. The nuts on the screws had come loose on mine and it had lowered the bonnet so I couldn't open 100% like you and it would bottom out on the floor. Put some wood beneath the air dam and jack it up very gently and you can access the screws through the wheel arches and tighten them up when you think you've found the right height. You'll be able to see the design of it all much better than my rather poor instructions.
That clunk you hear in 1st gear...sounds like the engine mounts need replacing. Either engine sagging and sump is knocking on the exhaust or, and this is more common, sump touching the anti-roll bar as the vibration rocks the engine. Have a look at them and see what you think.
Hope you enjoy your new toy after you get that chassis looked at
Hi everyone!
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions on my queries, it's great to have had so many replies so far.
I just had a slightly worrying phone call with a TVR specialist recommended to me who has quoted the "worst case" figure for having both outriggers replaced and the whole chassis wire brushed, repainted and waxoyled. Could use a stiff drink now I think ;0)
They said it would be about 4-5 days work and i'm hoping I don't need quite the full works they said may be required....we'll see once I get the full inspection next week done at G&M Autos.
Look forward to maybe seeing a few of you at the Ace tomorrow!
I'll be the very tall one, standing by the H reg Red S3!
All the best
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions on my queries, it's great to have had so many replies so far.
I just had a slightly worrying phone call with a TVR specialist recommended to me who has quoted the "worst case" figure for having both outriggers replaced and the whole chassis wire brushed, repainted and waxoyled. Could use a stiff drink now I think ;0)
They said it would be about 4-5 days work and i'm hoping I don't need quite the full works they said may be required....we'll see once I get the full inspection next week done at G&M Autos.
Look forward to maybe seeing a few of you at the Ace tomorrow!
I'll be the very tall one, standing by the H reg Red S3!
All the best
Welcome,
Hope you have a good time at the Ace cafe.
the bonnet hitting the ground, may not be suspension related, could be as simple as, lower than standard profile tyres. 60 being standard.
the knock might be propshaft related, while your under checking the exhaust for a hole, see if you can move the shaft, if you can it suggests the UJ's need replacing, gearbox end being the likely culprit.
enjoy.
bil
Hope you have a good time at the Ace cafe.
the bonnet hitting the ground, may not be suspension related, could be as simple as, lower than standard profile tyres. 60 being standard.
the knock might be propshaft related, while your under checking the exhaust for a hole, see if you can move the shaft, if you can it suggests the UJ's need replacing, gearbox end being the likely culprit.
enjoy.
bil
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