Mobile hobbyist mechanic Northants? - make Griff road-ready

[griffster]

Mint 4.3 low mileage Griff needs some loving TLC which, due to health reasons / lack of mechanical skills I am struggling with..

Dry stored for 15 yrs, 20k miles and dry road driven.

Would like to tackle most jobs on a non professional basis due to pensioner lack of funds!

Jobs incl:
Replace clutch cylinders and free off rusted on (20k) clutch without dismantling
Restore brakes + replace all flexies with braided
Re-bush front wishbones
Replace all fuel flexies with braided
Look at and remedy any easy oil leaks
Fit second cooling fan
Fix Speedo
Sand and protect outriggers (believed / appear to be ok - dry driven and stored)

Anyone experienced in working on pre cat Griffs who would enjoy making this mint example roadworthy this Spring & discuss compensation, please reply

I have tried local club, but they just refer me back Nationally

[GreenV8S]

Either you or somebody else had a similar request a few months ago, and it struck me as very optimistic. I'd be wary of trusting a car to an unknown person with no accountability, and also wouldn't expect any private individual to be interested in doing all that work on somebody else's car without being paid a sensible amount. And if they're experienced and willing to work for peanuts, you have to wonder why.

Really your best bet would be to talk to good local independents such as Topcats and see what they would charge for the work. With motorsport almost dead in the water and very little activity generally you might be pleasantly surprised how reasonable they are.

[Classic Chim]

^^^^^^ This
Brakes?
A pro might take half the time and probably cost you less in the longer run.
If the car is a good as you say it would be worth getting this and a general check over done by a known TVR company for its history record and your peace of mind.
If your looking for a local owner who has experience mechanically who might help maybe use the dreaded Facebook groups to ask who lives in your area and has these skills.

[PhilF329]

I understand the OP, but GreenV8S is spot on. I would suggest Techniques in Stotfold as a local specialist who seem pretty straight forward, decent guys who I would be happy entrusting my cars too under these circumstances. Happy to expand if the OP messages me.

[350Matt]

I might be prepared to tackle some of this
I had a precat of my own for 3 years and did all of the work on it and consider myself a pretty handy mechanic
(day job as an engineer)

does the car drive? has it got an MOT ?
what sort of compensation figure do you have in mind ?

[GreenV8S]

350Matt said:

consider myself a pretty handy mechanic

I'd say that was an understatement.

[LucyP]

GreenV8S said:

Either you or somebody else had a similar request a few months ago, and it struck me as very optimistic. I'd be wary of trusting a car to an unknown person with no accountability, and also wouldn't expect any private individual to be interested in doing all that work on somebody else's car without being paid a sensible amount. And if they're experienced and willing to work for peanuts, you have to wonder why.

Really your best bet would be to talk to good local independents such as Topcats and see what they would charge for the work. With motorsport almost dead in the water and very little activity generally you might be pleasantly surprised how reasonable they are.

It was the same person. They asked the same thing back in November 2020:

"looking for enthusiast non professional (for cost reasons) TVR experienced mechanic to re-commission 92 pre cat 20000 ml Griff after ten yr dry store

Mechanical work only - huge modernised barn to work in if required, Kettering area

to incl:

replace clutch cylinders, brake & fuel flexies with Aeroquip
service brakes
free off rusted on good clutch
couple of oil seals need replacing
front wishbone re-bush
full Service

Perfect Candy Apple Pearl paint, so needs to be very caring & careful smile

Can be done part-time any hours over coming months"


Why not just resurrect the old thread OP? You will get the same advice as last time, and this time, until 12/04/21, it isn't even legal for a "hobbyist" or "non-professional" mechanic to travel and work on the car.

This was the original thread:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by LucyP on Thursday 4th March 11:36

[anonymous-user]

I thought it was a good idea to put a request in here, as there must be semi retired mechanics out there itching to do a bit when lockdown is over, and we cant judge wether it right or wrong with lockdown that’s up to the two parties to agree to when the speak isn’t it?

[LucyP]

He was warned of the consequences last time - no redress, no public liability insurance etc.. He didn't find anyone and he's back here for another try!

This is what he said last time. Tells you everything! He wants it done "on the cheap"!

"This is rip off Britain...and I cannot subscribe to that ethos...figuratively of financially...so if that offends those going through a more buoyant phase of their lives at present...just remember, pride comes before a fall and there are many people in less fortunate circumstances - I consider myself exceptionally fortunate, I am however not above seeking more economic solutions in order that I can fix up my home and cars after a very difficult decade"

He will no doubt be tempted by the $3 brake discs direct from China, that Alibaba sell!

[Classic Chim]

LucyP said:

He was warned of the consequences last time - no redress, no public liability insurance etc.. He didn't find anyone and he's back here for another try!

This is what he said last time. Tells you everything! He wants it done "on the cheap"!

"This is rip off Britain...and I cannot subscribe to that ethos...figuratively of financially...so if that offends those going through a more buoyant phase of their lives at present...just remember, pride comes before a fall and there are many people in less fortunate circumstances - I consider myself exceptionally fortunate, I am however not above seeking more economic solutions in order that I can fix up my home and cars after a very difficult decade"

He will no doubt be tempted by the $3 brake discs direct from China, that Alibaba sell!

The Tvr family was once filled with people helping each other out and still is.
This chap has asked for help.
Do you really need to start insinuating because he is trying to choose this route he will now fit chocolate disks.
That’s quite a leap of assumption and seriously uncalled for considering you don’t know the gent from Adam.

[anonymous-user]

Consequences and redress my arse! TVR owners were once resourceful, helpful and more than willing to ignore the trivialities that burden true motoring.

When did all that end and we had to become American Lawyers as I must have missed it, was it in Sprint?

[N7GTX]

V6 Pushfit said:

I thought it was a good idea to put a request in here, as there must be semi retired mechanics out there itching to do a bit when lockdown is over, and we cant judge wether it right or wrong with lockdown that’s up to the two parties to agree to when the speak isn’t it?

As I said in the last thread, had the OP been close to me I would have done some if not all of that work. Since retiring as a mobile technician after 20 years rolling around in gutters, I've become bored now and as some know, the pleasure I get from cars is not driving them, its fixing/tinkering/repairing them preferably to as new condition. I've previously travelled to help a fellow Cerb owner when I had mine and despite offer of payment I declined. Its as Classic Chim says, TVR people help each other.

[anonymous-user]

N7GTX said:

As I said in the last thread, had the OP been close to me I would have done some if not all of that work. Since retiring as a mobile technician after 20 years rolling around in gutters, I've become bored now and as some know, the pleasure I get from cars is not driving them, its fixing/tinkering/repairing them preferably to as new condition. I've previously travelled to help a fellow Cerb owner when I had mine and despite offer of payment I declined. Its as Classic Chim says, TVR people help each other.

[griffster]

thanks guys, & thank the Lord we are not all like the selfish, arrogant opinionated Lucy!!

[350Matt]

So then Grifster do you want my help or have you decided to take it elsewhere?
if you want to contacted privately you'll have to upgrade your profile so you can be emailed

[Byker28i]

"Clarkson..."


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Danni-rose-Clarkson-Every...

[griffster]

350Matt said:

So then Grifster do you want my help or have you decided to take it elsewhere?
if you want to contacted privately you'll have to upgrade your profile so you can be emailed

Hi..didnt see the offer I am corresponding with others by direct PH mail ok, so presumably we could start there

thanks, David