Chassis nightmare - guidance required please
Discussion
Hi All
I'm in the middle of a body-off resto and have discovered substantial rot in the chassis (central spine, trailing are mounts, seatbelt mounts, outriggers). I've been quoted approx 2500 (plus VAT) for a new chassis and an estimated 1500 for the chassis to be repaired. On top of that I need new trailing arms and a whole lot of work putting it together.
Simple question. The car stands me 3000 at the moment so.....
Is it worth spending money and time on it to get it repaired? or
Should I break it?
What is a realistic achievable price for a 1990 S2, 43,000 miles, nice condition other than the obvious chassis issues?
I'm in no hurry to rush into a bad decision so all guidance gratefully accepted.
Cheers
Mikee Boy
I'm in the middle of a body-off resto and have discovered substantial rot in the chassis (central spine, trailing are mounts, seatbelt mounts, outriggers). I've been quoted approx 2500 (plus VAT) for a new chassis and an estimated 1500 for the chassis to be repaired. On top of that I need new trailing arms and a whole lot of work putting it together.
Simple question. The car stands me 3000 at the moment so.....
Is it worth spending money and time on it to get it repaired? or
Should I break it?
What is a realistic achievable price for a 1990 S2, 43,000 miles, nice condition other than the obvious chassis issues?
I'm in no hurry to rush into a bad decision so all guidance gratefully accepted.
Cheers
Mikee Boy
mikee boy said:
Hi All
I'm in the middle of a body-off resto and have discovered substantial rot in the chassis (central spine, trailing are mounts, seatbelt mounts, outriggers). I've been quoted approx 2500 (plus VAT) for a new chassis and an estimated 1500 for the chassis to be repaired. On top of that I need new trailing arms and a whole lot of work putting it together.
Simple question. The car stands me 3000 at the moment so.....
Is it worth spending money and time on it to get it repaired? or
Should I break it?
What is a realistic achievable price for a 1990 S2, 43,000 miles, nice condition other than the obvious chassis issues?
I'm in no hurry to rush into a bad decision so all guidance gratefully accepted.
Cheers
Mikee Boy
I'm in the middle of a body-off resto and have discovered substantial rot in the chassis (central spine, trailing are mounts, seatbelt mounts, outriggers). I've been quoted approx 2500 (plus VAT) for a new chassis and an estimated 1500 for the chassis to be repaired. On top of that I need new trailing arms and a whole lot of work putting it together.
Simple question. The car stands me 3000 at the moment so.....
Is it worth spending money and time on it to get it repaired? or
Should I break it?
What is a realistic achievable price for a 1990 S2, 43,000 miles, nice condition other than the obvious chassis issues?
I'm in no hurry to rush into a bad decision so all guidance gratefully accepted.
Cheers
Mikee Boy
If it's any help, the trailing arms are £250 a side plus about the same for fitting (although that would probably be less on a "free chassis"
. At the end of the day, it's not about what the car is worth financially if you sell it to others - it's about what it's worth to you. I would hate to break mine and would spend stupid amounts to keep it going if I was in your position. I would hate to sell it for sweeties and then wish I'd fixed it... but maybe that's just me...
All depends on whether you are restoring it for money or for yourself.
If you are doing it for the money you probably won't make much, if any either way. In fact if you have a new chassis and do everything then you may make quite a substantial loss.
If it is for yourself then I would say possiby try what Olav has done and replace the danger areas with SS. But getting it repaired is just as good as a whole chassis, if you can wait for it to be repaired.
It would be a shame to let another TVR be scrapped or broken. If it's a matter of cutting out the old stuff and adding in tubes then I may know a welder who may do it at a very good price, if you have a MIG.
If you are doing it for the money you probably won't make much, if any either way. In fact if you have a new chassis and do everything then you may make quite a substantial loss.
If it is for yourself then I would say possiby try what Olav has done and replace the danger areas with SS. But getting it repaired is just as good as a whole chassis, if you can wait for it to be repaired.
It would be a shame to let another TVR be scrapped or broken. If it's a matter of cutting out the old stuff and adding in tubes then I may know a welder who may do it at a very good price, if you have a MIG.
I reckon theres probably as much work in breaking it anyway and all of the hassle delivering/collection of the big bits and you would be doing very well to recover the £3k it stands you. I'm biased, being in the middle of a refurb myself, but I would go for the repair (new or repaired chassis depending on how much money you have) and as suggested above, a good condition S2 with 43000 miles only on a new/repaired chassis and new outriggers ticks all of the boxes in a prospective buyers book so you will probably recover the cost of repairs and your standing. but I bet if you do all of that you will not sell it (I wouldnt !!!)
good luck with whatever you choose to do.
good luck with whatever you choose to do.
If you're doing it yourself, repairing is likely to be a lot cheaper. If you're having it done professionally then the labour costs alone of a body off strip and rebuild will likely exceed the value of the car afterwards, and you will have several thousand pounds of parts and materials on top of that. In that case it comes down to how much are you willing to pay to keep the car on the road. As a non-runner it will still have some value to somebody who is in a position to repair it themselves.
The fact that you say "I'm in the middle of a body-off resto and have discovered substantial rot in the chassis" must mean you're up for doing the work yourself. In which case if it was me I'd take the £1500 chassis repair and finish the rebuild myself. Add on 330 per side for NEW trailing arms and bushes ( or less if one of the specialist repair them) and you're just over 2100. All the other costs you'd incur on this major overhaul would probably come your way over time anyway. At least at the end of it you will have a nice solid car that should easily reach £5k because all the weak points are fixed.
I'm starting my body off rebuild next month because of dodgy outriggers. The pile of parts in the spare bedroom is growing and the combined car plus repairs costis more than it is worth. However it will then be solid and better protected than new and should keep me going for the next 10 years.
Good luck.
PS. Update your profile with a location and you might get offers of help etc.
I'm starting my body off rebuild next month because of dodgy outriggers. The pile of parts in the spare bedroom is growing and the combined car plus repairs costis more than it is worth. However it will then be solid and better protected than new and should keep me going for the next 10 years.
Good luck.
PS. Update your profile with a location and you might get offers of help etc.
Hi All
Thanks for the positive replies. I'm capable of stripping and rebuilding, but I'm not sure I'm up to all the the welding which is why I'm considering getting somebody else to do that. I'm assuming the only chassis supplier is TVR Car Parts (Okehampton)or is there a cheaper option?
Thanks again, I'll let you know what I decide.
Mikee
Thanks for the positive replies. I'm capable of stripping and rebuilding, but I'm not sure I'm up to all the the welding which is why I'm considering getting somebody else to do that. I'm assuming the only chassis supplier is TVR Car Parts (Okehampton)or is there a cheaper option?
Thanks again, I'll let you know what I decide.
Mikee
I would take the chassis to a local engineering/steel fabricator,they should be able to cut out the rot and let in new steel where necessary and I cant beleive there would be £1500 worth,I can buy 6m of the main chassis rail (40mmX60mm I think)for around £20, also cash talks so ask the question, you may get someone prepared to do a few hours overtime each night cash in hand.
clarenceboddiger said:
I would take the chassis to a local engineering/steel fabricator,they should be able to cut out the rot and let in new steel where necessary and I cant beleive there would be £1500 worth,I can buy 6m of the main chassis rail (40mmX60mm I think)for around £20, also cash talks so ask the question, you may get someone prepared to do a few hours overtime each night cash in hand.
what he said
It may sound a lot to either repair or replace the chassis. And you wont get it all back if you sell it.
But you will have a good as new S to use and enjoy. Its got to be worth it.
Ive done an S1, and will be doing my S3 in the next couple of years. Very rewading if you like spending time in the garage.
But you will have a good as new S to use and enjoy. Its got to be worth it.
Ive done an S1, and will be doing my S3 in the next couple of years. Very rewading if you like spending time in the garage.
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