Last Year's Griffith rebuild

dnb · Post by **dnb** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:46 am

A few pics from when I decided that it would be a really good idea to see how many parts there are in a TVR Griffith...

After counting them, they were shot blasted, polished, painted or in extreme cases, thrown away and new parts bought or fabricated. I didn't take enough photos during the build due to hardly ever having a camera on me! (Most are from my old camera phone so aren't brilliant)

Dismantling the car: If you ever wondered what a TVR 4x4 would look like...

My first view of the chassis. Not as bad as I expected (believe it or not)

Very rusty diff carrier and outriggers. Especially the areas around the seatbelt mounts!

I stripped everything from the chassis and sent it, along with a pile of other bits to my local shotblaster.

While it was away, I stripped the engine down

Yes, these are cylinder heads in a dishwaher. What can I say? I have a very understanding wife!

Stuff arrived back from the shot blaster having been primed in zinc phosphate

Painting the chassis - in the lounge! (Did I mention that she's REALLY understanding?)

Alternative use for curtain poles...

Back in the garage, getting some of the mechanicals sorted out.
Here's the refurbed front hubs and diff

That's all I can find for now. I'll dig the rest out tomorrow.

dnb · Post by **dnb** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:32 am

It was a nice weekend, so I started assembling the chassis outside on the patio.

Fitting the first bushes and wishbones

Fitting the new brake lines. Note that unlike TVR, I get upset by metal-on-metal contact so all pipes and hoses are suitably spaced off the chassis.

Chassis ready for transport back to garage

We then go through a stage where there are no photos. During this time, I fitted the new (custom valved by Track Car Solutions

) Protech suspension, the refurbed hubs and diff.

I also organised a rather large party of helpers to lift the body back on to the chassis. The area round my garage looked like a scene from the Fast and Furious that day - 2 Scoobs, an Evo, Esprit v8, a T350 to name a few.

Next job was to fit the engine and gearbox. I only had the hoist for a weekend, so there was a lot to fit in and I didn't get photos until the engine was installed.

Bare engine in place, along with new sound deadening/heat reflective stuff.

Engine ancilliaries all fitted. The sharp eyed amongst you may notice the coil packs and lack of dizzy.

I decided a while back that I could design a better inlet manifold. After a few months of experimentation, here's the result: Power gains are substantial, specially now the proper cold air system is installed

I even got around to working on the interior. These doorcard centres are my first foray into trimming. The rest of the interior will be Portland grey leather

I think that's it for the moment. I've still got to finish the better heater system (ie one that actually works!) and then think about a full respray.

RobCallow · Post by **RobCallow** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:33 am

How the hell did you get away with painting the chassis in the lounge!

Looks like you had a bit of a project going there :-D

dnb · Post by **dnb** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:54 am

I get away with murder in the house really.

As long as I clear up afterwards and do whatever DIY she wants, no matter how difficult. (This has included gems such as moving a door 6" to the left and mitre cutting tiles so that no edging strip was used for external corners...)

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:00 am

Incredible project.

I thought that my wife is understanding but that just takes the meaning of the word to a whole new level.

Keep it coming :thumb:

Post by **Ben** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:57 am

Fantastic thread - cracking me up with the chassis in the lounge .. absolute class.

Keep the project coming...

Matter of interest - what made you believe the car was bad underneath - had it had a hard life on a farm ? ...

dnb · Post by **dnb** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:03 am

It has had a hard life for a TVR. Both the previous owner and I had used it as a daily driver in all weathers - over 100k miles on it - and I make it live outside a lot of the time.

Waxoil is all well and good, but it's not very good when the powdercoat underneath it has crumbled away. (they're all like that sir!)

vpulsar · Post by **vpulsar** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:48 am

Very nice build David, The new inlet manifold is a work of art mate.

I have one question though, Wont the air going into it be very warm with the filters mounted above the exhaust ?, Or have you some kind of shielding waiting to go on ?.

Nice job though, And yes you have a very understanding wife

, Mine looked at the pics and wanted to punch you herself

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: .

Rob

Post by **Stuart** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:07 am

What a great read

Love the comment from Robs wife above!
______________________________________
I am always impressed with the determination of people to 'have a go'. My own projects are severely hampered by my reluctance to get it wrong. Fair play :thumb:

dnb · Post by **dnb** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:52 am

I do have a proper cold air intake on the car. The bonnet wouldn't close with those filters on the throttle bodies! We only did it that way for lasiness during dyno testing.

I should point out that the car actually belongs to my wife, although we try to share the cars 50/50. She likes fast cars as much as I have - even complains that my STi RA is too slow!