Can a novice do a partial lift?
Can a novice do a partial lift?
Author
Discussion

Steve H

Original Poster:

1,172 posts

253 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
Hi all, I aim to have the S1 on the axle stands and ready for some work by the end of the month. I am aiming to treat outriggers and anything else that I can get to. My question is, I am a relative novice with the mechanics etc and I want to make sure that a thorough enough job is done. How easy is a partial lift carried out on a driveway? Is there a check list/instructions?

Would treatment without a body lift potentially be a waste of time and money?

Should I just get an expert to do this and therefore get the majority of work out of the way? I don't mind the time of doing it myself as I am sure I will learn a lot about the car as I go which is an added bonus.

Thanks in advance for any help/tips

gifdy

2,078 posts

270 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
I would consider myself a novice and have just done a partial lift. I can't say successfully yet because I haven't put it all back together ! It's mainly spanner work, common sense and patience.

I found some holes on my outriggers so I've gone a bit further by taking out the engine with a view to taking the body completely off. I probably didn't need to but I enjoyed it so much I just kept going !

Before the partial lift I did a fair amount of research and found several good guides. I also wrote things down as I went along which I'll type up when I get the chance. I also took lots of photos and marked/ bagged things so I know how it goes back together.

Only thing I would say would be it would be better if you had a garage rather than on a driveway but otherwise I'd say go for it !

Barkychoc

7,848 posts

233 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
Its really easy - its just confidence and common sense you need.
If you can work a spanner you can do it.
Take loads of photos and label and bag everything up in freezer bags.

Whatever your budget though you'll soon spend that and plenty more.

merky300

189 posts

226 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
The work involved in a full body off is little more than a partial lift. I started with a partial lift spent many hours cleaning the chassis then a week or so later decided to remove the body to replace the outriggers. At this point I realised how much of the surface rust on the chassis had been missed and I wished I had just taken te body off in the first place. Everything is so much more accessible and easy to work on. A day with an angle grinder fitted with twisted knot wire brushes will see the chassis back to bare metal ready for rust treatment and paint. Then when it all goes back together you will know everything is rust free and properly treated. It will save a lot of time in the end.

This way




Or this




Half the battle is just deciding to do it, once you have its a very easy job and well worth doing.

Tony

Steve H

Original Poster:

1,172 posts

253 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
WOW, guess it would be better with a garage for a total lift.

I have a few questions

Are there any guides/instructions for a partial or total lift?

Can outriggers be replaces during a partial?

How much (approx) would a partial lift cost with an expert?

I am sure I will have many more and apologise for being a nuisance but I don't want to spend time repainting etc with the body on if it could be a false economy
Cheers

Steve


mep12345

2,061 posts

230 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
My site www.gbsportscar.com has both partial and full lift guides on along with others, use the useful links above

Mark

The Lukas

2,773 posts

223 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
Did I hear you mention you don't have a garage? If you haven't, I wouldn't recommend it a body lift.

Yes you can replace outriggers with a partial body lift.

How bad is your chassis?

Steve H

Original Poster:

1,172 posts

253 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
The Lukas said:
Did I hear you mention you don't have a garage? If you haven't, I wouldn't recommend it a body lift.

Yes you can replace outriggers with a partial body lift.

How bad is your chassis?
Correct, no garage. The condition of the Chassis seems to be good, just didnt want to spend time treating the bits I can see if there is rot where I can't. I appreciate that this is probably the biggest/most expensive job and would like to do it as thoroughly as possible.

Big thanks for all of your advice guys

Steve

edit for spelling

Edited by Steve H on Tuesday 2nd February 20:21

tinks v8S

2,153 posts

237 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
when i found my chassis was rotten ,i was thinking of doing it outside as do not have the room
looked at time to do it in
i thought i will do what i do and do a bit extra to pay them who know better than me and will do it lot faster
took mine to sscctvr

was happy with the work and time limit and price

Steve H

Original Poster:

1,172 posts

253 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
May I ask the price and what they actually did?

tinks v8S

2,153 posts

237 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
mine was a v8s they said they take the engine out

body full off blasted all the rust off
new out riggers full prime /repaint £1800+ vat 6 weeks back

see photos tinks v8s put on by barkychoc

best money i spent had to work over time but what i was good at

The Lukas

2,773 posts

223 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
Steve H said:
The Lukas said:
Did I hear you mention you don't have a garage? If you haven't, I wouldn't recommend it a body lift.

Yes you can replace outriggers with a partial body lift.

How bad is your chassis?
Correct, no garage. The condition of the Chassis seems to be good, just didnt want to spend time treating the bits I can see if there is rot where I can't. I appreciate that this is probably the biggest/most expensive job and would like to do it as thoroughly as possible.

Big thanks for all of your advice guys

Steve

edit for spelling

Edited by Steve H on Tuesday 2nd February 20:21
Does it merely need protecting then? Do you know the history of the chassis? has it required any work before? If the chassis seems good (and feels solid in all places), then I'd get her waxoiled and use her (stay away from salt is my advice though). If you have doubts, there are specialists and maybe people here who can check it out for you and give a second opinion. smile

TVR653X

1,042 posts

204 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
quotequote all
I too would like to take my body off, mainly so I can properly clean my outriggers. Just what DO I need to disconnect? Is it hundreds of bolts, or a few dozen? Also, I have no garage, but I may be able to blag some help from my old college and use their workshops, but I'd need to be in an out within a week I'd expect.

Steve H

Original Poster:

1,172 posts

253 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
quotequote all
The Lukas said:
Steve H said:
The Lukas said:
Did I hear you mention you don't have a garage? If you haven't, I wouldn't recommend it a body lift.

Yes you can replace outriggers with a partial body lift.

How bad is your chassis?
Correct, no garage. The condition of the Chassis seems to be good, just didnt want to spend time treating the bits I can see if there is rot where I can't. I appreciate that this is probably the biggest/most expensive job and would like to do it as thoroughly as possible.

Big thanks for all of your advice guys

Steve

edit for spelling

Edited by Steve H on Tuesday 2nd February 20:21
Does it merely need protecting then? Do you know the history of the chassis? has it required any work before? If the chassis seems good (and feels solid in all places), then I'd get her waxoiled and use her (stay away from salt is my advice though). If you have doubts, there are specialists and maybe people here who can check it out for you and give a second opinion. smile
To be honest, after I bought the car in Sept last year I had a guy check it out and he commented that the chassis and outriggers were in very good condition, obviously he could not see all of it. It has not had any previous work done apart from a rear "Trailing arm?" if that is the right term. Now I know that I am going to spend far too much money on this car and many will say it is not worth it on an S1 but I really want to keep this for a while and don't want to spend a good few weekends treating it on stands if there is evil lurking elsewhere. I suppose I should get it up on the stands and have a really good look, take ot the rubeers from the corner plates, front wheel and inner mudgard and basically strip back as much as I can for a good look.

I would then assume that if all looks ok its a case of rub down, primer, top coat (or 5) and then waxoil?

She then needs new carpet, seats and a damm good service

Steve