C3 Advice needed please.....
Discussion
I have always been a TVR owner but have recently sold my V8 TVR and want to buy a decent C3. I have always liked them. The looks, the sound, the power. I have found an L82, as I understand these have more power and tuned higher. It has a few issues I’d like some advice on please. Firstly, it has a small crack on the side of the windscreen. Is a windscreen easily available and is it expensive to replace? Is the crack due to a rotting bird cage? The headlights don’t work very well, I’m guessing the actuators are poor. Are parts generally easy to get hold of? The drivers door doesn’t open from the outside. Again I’m guessing rods or linkages have come adrift. Being a long time TVR owner I’m handy with the spanner’s as long as I can get hold of the parts. Apart from rust, and obvious engine and transmission problems, is there anything else I should be looking out for that may be a common problem on these. Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks in advance.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
I see you are London based - Wednesday 13th June is CCCUK Kent regional meeting at Dartford - following Wednesday is CCCUK Essex regional meeting at Margaretting. Go talk with C3 owners.
"I have found an L82, as I understand these have more power and tuned higher." - not a 'deal breaker' in performance terms.
Q. Is a windscreen easily available and is it expensive to replace?
A. Various suppliers around on-line/Ebay etc
Q.The crack due to a rotting bird cage?
A. Unlikely - mis-alignment of doors when jacking the car up are more indicative.
Q. The headlights don’t work very well, I’m guessing the actuators are poor.
A. Vacuum actuators - perhaps perished tubing causing vacuum leaks. High performance aftermarket cam with low idle vacuum can be a reason.
Q. Are parts generally easy to get hold of?
A. All engine and servicing parts are easy enough to obtain from UK based American parts specialists - body panels are expensive to import owing to size etc. - there'll be limited availability in the UK.
All available through UK suppliers and direct from the USA. Interestingly two of the UK's Vette specialists are both developing their website and will very shortly be offering many parts on-line
Q. is there anything else I should be looking out for that may be a common problem on these.
A. Brakes. Achilles heel on many C3 Vettes. But only because many people do not maintain them correctly - many will say that brake fluid should be changed annually if the car isn't used frequently or stored in an unheated garage. For the reasons corroded disc's can be an issue.
Parking brake is rubbish - fixable but a b'stard job.
UJ's on propshaft and driveshafts should be checked for play - not too expensive a job. Rear wheel bearing replacement is more of a complicated (read expensive) job (check them out for excess play)
Birdcage rot is more difficult to see (do the jacking-up thing) Later 70's C3 can suffer with floorpan corrosion (earlier cars were 'glass) Lower front radiator support corrosion is a potential issue.
"I have found an L82, as I understand these have more power and tuned higher." - not a 'deal breaker' in performance terms.
Q. Is a windscreen easily available and is it expensive to replace?
A. Various suppliers around on-line/Ebay etc
Q.The crack due to a rotting bird cage?
A. Unlikely - mis-alignment of doors when jacking the car up are more indicative.
Q. The headlights don’t work very well, I’m guessing the actuators are poor.
A. Vacuum actuators - perhaps perished tubing causing vacuum leaks. High performance aftermarket cam with low idle vacuum can be a reason.
Q. Are parts generally easy to get hold of?
A. All engine and servicing parts are easy enough to obtain from UK based American parts specialists - body panels are expensive to import owing to size etc. - there'll be limited availability in the UK.
All available through UK suppliers and direct from the USA. Interestingly two of the UK's Vette specialists are both developing their website and will very shortly be offering many parts on-line
Q. is there anything else I should be looking out for that may be a common problem on these.
A. Brakes. Achilles heel on many C3 Vettes. But only because many people do not maintain them correctly - many will say that brake fluid should be changed annually if the car isn't used frequently or stored in an unheated garage. For the reasons corroded disc's can be an issue.
Parking brake is rubbish - fixable but a b'stard job.
UJ's on propshaft and driveshafts should be checked for play - not too expensive a job. Rear wheel bearing replacement is more of a complicated (read expensive) job (check them out for excess play)
Birdcage rot is more difficult to see (do the jacking-up thing) Later 70's C3 can suffer with floorpan corrosion (earlier cars were 'glass) Lower front radiator support corrosion is a potential issue.
roscobbc said:
I see you are London based - Wednesday 13th June is CCCUK Kent regional meeting at Dartford - following Wednesday is CCCUK Essex regional meeting at Margaretting. Go talk with C3 owners.
"I have found an L82, as I understand these have more power and tuned higher." - not a 'deal breaker' in performance terms.
Q. Is a windscreen easily available and is it expensive to replace?
A. Various suppliers around on-line/Ebay etc
Q.The crack due to a rotting bird cage?
A. Unlikely - mis-alignment of doors when jacking the car up are more indicative.
Q. The headlights don’t work very well, I’m guessing the actuators are poor.
A. Vacuum actuators - perhaps perished tubing causing vacuum leaks. High performance aftermarket cam with low idle vacuum can be a reason.
Q. Are parts generally easy to get hold of?
A. All engine and servicing parts are easy enough to obtain from UK based American parts specialists - body panels are expensive to import owing to size etc. - there'll be limited availability in the UK.
All available through UK suppliers and direct from the USA. Interestingly two of the UK's Vette specialists are both developing their website and will very shortly be offering many parts on-line
Q. is there anything else I should be looking out for that may be a common problem on these.
A. Brakes. Achilles heel on many C3 Vettes. But only because many people do not maintain them correctly - many will say that brake fluid should be changed annually if the car isn't used frequently or stored in an unheated garage. For the reasons corroded disc's can be an issue.
Parking brake is rubbish - fixable but a b'stard job.
UJ's on propshaft and driveshafts should be checked for play - not too expensive a job. Rear wheel bearing replacement is more of a complicated (read expensive) job (check them out for excess play)
Birdcage rot is more difficult to see (do the jacking-up thing) Later 70's C3 can suffer with floorpan corrosion (earlier cars were 'glass) Lower front radiator support corrosion is a potential issue.
Thanks very much for the information. That has pointed me in the right direction and I will try to get to a meeting and speak to owners. It has also put my mind at rest about availability of parts. The car I have in mind and went to see the other day needs some work but I prefer it that way as the final result will be to my taste and level of repair. Having owned several TVR’s over the years I’m used to reaching for the spanner’s frequently, and jobs that are beyond me usually end up at a spacilist. I have made up my mind to buy one even if it’s not the one I’ve already looked at. There are quite a few available but I just want to make sure I buy the right one for me. Thanks again for your help."I have found an L82, as I understand these have more power and tuned higher." - not a 'deal breaker' in performance terms.
Q. Is a windscreen easily available and is it expensive to replace?
A. Various suppliers around on-line/Ebay etc
Q.The crack due to a rotting bird cage?
A. Unlikely - mis-alignment of doors when jacking the car up are more indicative.
Q. The headlights don’t work very well, I’m guessing the actuators are poor.
A. Vacuum actuators - perhaps perished tubing causing vacuum leaks. High performance aftermarket cam with low idle vacuum can be a reason.
Q. Are parts generally easy to get hold of?
A. All engine and servicing parts are easy enough to obtain from UK based American parts specialists - body panels are expensive to import owing to size etc. - there'll be limited availability in the UK.
All available through UK suppliers and direct from the USA. Interestingly two of the UK's Vette specialists are both developing their website and will very shortly be offering many parts on-line
Q. is there anything else I should be looking out for that may be a common problem on these.
A. Brakes. Achilles heel on many C3 Vettes. But only because many people do not maintain them correctly - many will say that brake fluid should be changed annually if the car isn't used frequently or stored in an unheated garage. For the reasons corroded disc's can be an issue.
Parking brake is rubbish - fixable but a b'stard job.
UJ's on propshaft and driveshafts should be checked for play - not too expensive a job. Rear wheel bearing replacement is more of a complicated (read expensive) job (check them out for excess play)
Birdcage rot is more difficult to see (do the jacking-up thing) Later 70's C3 can suffer with floorpan corrosion (earlier cars were 'glass) Lower front radiator support corrosion is a potential issue.
Tony. TCB.
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