350I Chassis replacement needed

[TVR NorthAmerica]

We are working on a 1985 TVR 350I with a body of restoration. The chassis needs the usual outrigger repairs but considerably more now that the body is off and the chassis has been cleaned to reveal numerous areas that need attention. We are in Canada and I've searched for links that might have new chassis available if we need to go that route. I have found nothing! Does anyone know if anyone is remanufacturing wedge chassis? It does have to be for a V8 as they are different (wider) than the V6. It doesn't matter if it's for left hand or right hand drive. This has the early rear suspension but if only the later rear suspension models are available we could use that. Any help would be greatly appreciated. John

[mk1fan]

No one is remanufacturing the chassis. People are either refurbing theirs, refurbing a 'scrap' one or junking the car.

There is nothing special about the chassis. Indeed being in USofA may well be an advantage as the steels are imperial sizes.

Strip the chaasis. Use plywood to make up jigs. Chop out the rot and renew.

[Adrian@]

I have supplied the tower parts to encourage people to get the ball rolling, as I do not have time to follow this through. The factory jigs are out there (3 different versions) but I don't believe there is a monatary want or desire to put them to use.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
A@

[keynsham]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/88063722...

https://www.facebook.com/craftedoriginals/

https://www.craftedoriginals.co.uk/

This company is a fabrication company that claims to be able to remanufacture chassis for virtually any car and have made TVR chassis before.
I cannot say how good they are as I have never used them but it certainly looks promising.

[Adrian@]

The chassis pictured is a Grantura 2a Torsion bar chassis, with a LHD Ford Anglia steering box (RHD car)...truly as simple a TVR chassis ever made (brazed originally) 4 tubes need reaming and a maybe 10 brackets need to be created.
That said, as they will be copying the original chassis, the owner will not draw down on a TVR knowledge-able person in 2a chassis.
The chassis has added corner shell plates to make the car a bolt on shell, but not used the VW Torsion Bar Adjuster, which has a two part toothed boss to set the suspension heights.
IMHO any fabrication workshop can (should be able to) copy things. A@

[harryt]

Years ago someone in Sheffield did chassis fabrication and repairs - dunno if they are still around.
Maybe post in the Wedges section as there are a lot of wedge addicts in there and they know a lot about these beautiful motors.
Still miss my 350i.
Fabulous car.

[De Tomaso]

John,

My wedge chassis had a serious amount of rot but with an experienced fabricator and welder it can be rebuilt.



Phil

[TVR NorthAmerica]

Thanks for everyone's input. It confirmed what I had thought. So we are moving onward and upward with the restoration of the existing chassis. There is no other choice!!!!! I like to give our customers some options wherever possible!
We already have the correct tubing and plates in stock. So just lots of cutting, fitting and welding and we'll have it as good as new.

[Adrian@]

There are front end double 1" tubes stitched to the OE chassis ARB mounts that stop the front end from breaking off/cracking, that your car may not have. These were added onto the chassis at dealers here and fitted on later cars.
Then as OE there are rubber packers on top of the rear passenger (LHD) drivers UK that exude out and drop away, that the later cars get proper packers that correct a twist in the jig.



A@
You will see the cracks on the pictures on this link...you need double stack 1" tubes under the current tubes
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.14477637...

Edited by Adrian@ on Sunday 8th March 06:14

[TA14]

harryt said:

Years ago someone in Sheffield did chassis fabrication and repairs - dunno if they are still around.
Maybe post in the Wedges section as there are a lot of wedge addicts in there and they know a lot about these beautiful motors.
Still miss my 350i.
Fabulous car.

You may be thinking of Richard Thorpe who sadly passed away far too young.

[Basil Brush]

TA14 said:

harryt said:

Years ago someone in Sheffield did chassis fabrication and repairs - dunno if they are still around.
Maybe post in the Wedges section as there are a lot of wedge addicts in there and they know a lot about these beautiful motors.
Still miss my 350i.
Fabulous car.

You may be thinking of Richard Thorpe who sadly passed away far too young.

His RT Racing setup is still going as part of Central TVR now. They did my Tuscan chassis a couple of years ago.

[TVR NorthAmerica]

I contacted Central TVR and unfortunately they do not make Wedge chassis. Thanks for the input though