Jobs that you thought would be easy/simple...
Discussion
My passenger door on my Chimaera had dropped. A bit of investigation and Googling and I need a new plastic top hat liner in the top hinge. Looks a bit of a fiddle, but easily sorted.
Well, replacing the plastic liner was as straightforward as I thought. Lining the (no married parents) door to shut and open properly...
Some hours later and it's done. I confess I took two bites at it. I got it to shut and stay shut but was an arse to open. This afternoon, my trolley jack (to hold the door) and a trusty 13mm socket and various extensions have succeeded! A five minute job that took far too long.
So, what jobs on your various TVRs have taken far longer than they should? And was it your fault they did, or just a 'not as simple as it sounds' job?
Or have there been jobs which you thought will take hours and haven't? I recently decided to remove my seatbelts to get them rewebbed in navy blue. Having read the horror stories on here about seized bolts, etc, I was surprised they only took 15 minutes in total. I was sure something was broken/wrong, but no.
Well, replacing the plastic liner was as straightforward as I thought. Lining the (no married parents) door to shut and open properly...
Some hours later and it's done. I confess I took two bites at it. I got it to shut and stay shut but was an arse to open. This afternoon, my trolley jack (to hold the door) and a trusty 13mm socket and various extensions have succeeded! A five minute job that took far too long.
So, what jobs on your various TVRs have taken far longer than they should? And was it your fault they did, or just a 'not as simple as it sounds' job?
Or have there been jobs which you thought will take hours and haven't? I recently decided to remove my seatbelts to get them rewebbed in navy blue. Having read the horror stories on here about seized bolts, etc, I was surprised they only took 15 minutes in total. I was sure something was broken/wrong, but no.
One comes to mind I recently did. I replaced front drop links and noticed that one went out at a slightly different angle to the other, the front ARB wasn't quite central.
Easy (I thought), I'll slacken the front ARB clamps and slide it over about 15mm, my OCD wanting it as central as humanly possible.... 2 hours of swearing later (on a Griff you can only just get a spanner on (unless you remove the radiator) and make about 1/12 of a turn at a time). Access is almost impossible and they were super tight. I nearly gave up, but persevered with liberal use of GT85. I even injured my knee bracing for the bolts to give....
Easy (I thought), I'll slacken the front ARB clamps and slide it over about 15mm, my OCD wanting it as central as humanly possible.... 2 hours of swearing later (on a Griff you can only just get a spanner on (unless you remove the radiator) and make about 1/12 of a turn at a time). Access is almost impossible and they were super tight. I nearly gave up, but persevered with liberal use of GT85. I even injured my knee bracing for the bolts to give....
Even though its still a faff, I was hoping it would be technically easy...
Number of years ago during the body off refurb of the Chimaera. The rear brake union decided to round itself completely in the engine bay block necessitating a replacement block. Ok so far, not a major issue.
The offending son of a *****
All installed with no issue. Except in the footwell 2 of the brake unions now refused to thread into the new block. No matter what I did they simply didn't want to play nicely. Hence having to cut the pipes, slip on some new unions and re-flare the pipes. All in the famed and much loved 'TVR Service Position"...
What should have been easy in replacing the block turned into hours trying to contort myself around the pedals and re-flaring the flipping pipes with the odd spot of brake fluid dripping on my face for good measure !! No thanks, never again ! And before you say it, yes I could have removed the pedals, but I was in such a stinking mood by then that I carried on with them in place, simply to show them who was boss...
Number of years ago during the body off refurb of the Chimaera. The rear brake union decided to round itself completely in the engine bay block necessitating a replacement block. Ok so far, not a major issue.
The offending son of a *****
All installed with no issue. Except in the footwell 2 of the brake unions now refused to thread into the new block. No matter what I did they simply didn't want to play nicely. Hence having to cut the pipes, slip on some new unions and re-flare the pipes. All in the famed and much loved 'TVR Service Position"...
What should have been easy in replacing the block turned into hours trying to contort myself around the pedals and re-flaring the flipping pipes with the odd spot of brake fluid dripping on my face for good measure !! No thanks, never again ! And before you say it, yes I could have removed the pedals, but I was in such a stinking mood by then that I carried on with them in place, simply to show them who was boss...
Lower Dash/Radio panel clips for the original (3 buttons) for the head lights to slot into.
In the end this panel came in/out 5 times to get them to line up and fit/glue correctly in place. Each time bending the radio cage in/out. Even now the hazard warning light buttons has sunken back into the dash, so assume one side of the stupid clips have come un-stuck...again...!!!
Although the re-veneer of the panel was worth the hassle.
And and of course don't forget the broken/floppy mirror repairs.. What a pain they were...!
jj
In the end this panel came in/out 5 times to get them to line up and fit/glue correctly in place. Each time bending the radio cage in/out. Even now the hazard warning light buttons has sunken back into the dash, so assume one side of the stupid clips have come un-stuck...again...!!!
Although the re-veneer of the panel was worth the hassle.
And and of course don't forget the broken/floppy mirror repairs.. What a pain they were...!
jj
Chimaera manifolds.
Yes, I know it's known as being a bit of a pig, and I allocated an entire weekend accordingly.
When both manifold bolts on no 7 snapped like carrots when I attempted to undo them, the job escalated into several weeks (around work etc) as the nearside head had to come off so I could get the remnants out with a welder. With a new head bolt set, new gasket, coolant and other bits, it bumped the cost up nicely as well....
Yes, I know it's known as being a bit of a pig, and I allocated an entire weekend accordingly.
When both manifold bolts on no 7 snapped like carrots when I attempted to undo them, the job escalated into several weeks (around work etc) as the nearside head had to come off so I could get the remnants out with a welder. With a new head bolt set, new gasket, coolant and other bits, it bumped the cost up nicely as well....
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff