Outrigger question.

[Road2Ruin]

In the next few weeks I will be removing the outriggers for replacements. My brother in law who will be helping me asked an interesting question when we were discussing putting them back on. 'Why can't they just be bolted to the main chasis?'. I now ask you guys the same, any ideas?

[Griffinr]

I pondered making the outriggers bolt on when I did mine but it turned out that they were in much better condition than I thought so I only had to replace 2 small sections.
They could be made bolt on but there would be a lot more welding to be done on the chassis to add fixing plates and if the outriggers are looked after they will never need changing again anyway.

Rob.

[Road2Ruin]

Griffinr said:

I pondered making the outriggers bolt on when I did mine but it turned out that they were in much better condition than I thought so I only had to replace 2 small sections.
They could be made bolt on but there would be a lot more welding to be done on the chassis to add fixing plates and if the outriggers are looked after they will never need changing again anyway.

Rob.

Thanks Rob, I am sure TVR said that in the first place

[v8s4me]

Road2Ruin said:

Thanks Rob, I am sure TVR said that in the first place

I wouldn't be too sure of that. If TVR had given any thought at all to the problem of chassis life they would have galvanised it. There’s just so many examples of this lack of, shall we call it “design”, on our cars you just have to laugh sometimes, eg you can’t remove a V6 sump in-situ because there is a cross-member in the way. That’s just part of the fun of owning them I suppose.

[GreenV8S]

If you're bolting two load carrying tubes together it takes a lot of work to make end fittings strong enough to take the point loads, and then weld the tubes to them. You can't just drill the tubes and drop a bolt through. Unless you specifically need the tubes to be removable, for example so you can get your roll cage inside the car, there's no point to the extra time and cost. Simply welding the two parts together is far cheaper, quicker and stronger.

[Road2Ruin]

How much load do they actually take though? Mine at the moment carry none as one of them had rusted through completely and looking down the car it doesn't actually touch anywhere, not even the mounting plates!

[v8s4me]

I don't know how true it is but I've been told the outriggers are there to give a bit of protection from side impacts as well as position and support the corners of the tub. Given how low they are it seems most other vehicles would just ride over them.

[Barkychoc]

The thing that always seems to be forgotten is that TVR's were cheap performance - some corners had to be cut to keep costs down.
Considering the age of the cars now you have to say they have survived pretty well really.

[V8 GRF]

The outriggers do more than just support the tub. I'm not sure in detail about the S but in the Griff and Chim the seat belts are secured to the outriggers and the front and rear suspension lower arms, rear and front pivot points, respectively are located in the outriggers adjoing the chassis.

The Griff/Chim chassis was a development of the S chassis so I'd be surprised if there wasn't similarities.

[Griffinr]

v8s4me said:

eg you can’t remove a V6 sump in-situ because there is a cross-member in the way.

Now that one I am going to sort out with a bolt in section. Maybe sooner rather than later as my oil pump may need replacing.

Rob.

[phillpot]

Griffinr said:

Now that one I am going to sort out with a bolt in section.

Sorry mate, I've got the patent on that