Just when you thought.....

...it was safe to turn on the heater.

I have been traveling a bit in the Chimaera - quite a bit of motorway driving.  All of a sudden I smelt burning and then the heater fans stopped working.

I took the dashboard apart and found this:

Yes that is what you think it is :-( that's the heater control unit under the dashboard. This is the second time it has burnt out. First time I suspected the unit itself but now I think the current draw on it is increasing because the heater blower is seizing up - or is packing up.

More to follow next weekend - when I can get my head into the passenger footwell again

Sweet!

BRILLIANT
Everything seems to be working.

New rad and themostat installed.

Temp constant through the town in traffic and drops on the open road.

I am really pleased as all the restoration work I wanted to do is now done.

1. No clacking exhaust manifold noise.
2. Perfect cooling system.
3. No PAS leak.
4. Car is completely water tight.
5. Speakers upgraded.
6. Alarm sounder fixed.
7. Dashboard squeaks fixed.
8. Tidied up dashboard leather.
9. Re-trimmed doors.
10. Re-sealed doors.
11. Fixed window closure.
    
12. Windscreen sorted out.
13. Idles well - mixture is perfect.

The only things I'd consider doing now are:

1. New seat belts (the old ones got wet and now stick a bit sometimes)
2. Respray - paint work is looking rather tired
3. GAZ or Nitron shock absorbers
4. New discs and pads
5. Remove precats - (maybe)
   

When I get time I'll take some proper pictures and get some PDF tutorials up and online.

From great to opps in one easy step!

New radiator fitted, also replaced thermostat (74 degree) and otter switch (88 degree) to lower temp ones (just because whilst I'm sorting the cooling system out - why not).

Fired it up and bled the system.
Took it out for a drive and heard something 'ping' off - followed by a worrying rumbling noise.
Was only up the road from home so pulled up on the drive and had a look - OH DEAR.... looks like I didn't tighten up the alternator pulley bolt enough - luckly it's just stripped the thread on the alternator and ruined the pulley.

Got a new pulley and have put the alternator in for a repair.

The final job?

Ok - the end is nigh!

I took the radiator our today and dropped it off at Gloucester Radiator Services - 140.00 next day radiator recore - great guys really know their stuff.

Will post some pictures of the finished article and a guide on how to fit it.

The windscreen is sorted! (finally) also know as the story of the ridiculous dealership and the brilliant dealership

Well over 6 months after taking the screen to a windscreen replacement company that operates nationally, the screen, hood and seals all fit properly.

Granted 3 months wasn't the windscreen companies fault as the car was off the road whilst I was doing a the things on this blog, but, they did manage to screw up fitting the screen 3 times.

The 3rd time the roof came back and the passenger side roof was a great fit - the drivers site had a 1cm gap! I too the car to a so called TVR specialist in Worcestershire. Their ridiculous diagnosis was that the body needed to be lifted from the chassis! Quite frankly the most outrageous thing I've heard in a LONG LONG time.

I spoke with the MD of the windscreen company - he agreed things needed to be put right. I took the car to David Hendry - a dealership I trust and can recommend highly. They managed to whole process and sorted out the roof by fitting the CORRECT seal and supervising the installation. They charged to windscreen company and I got the car back and it looks great.

All I had to do to finish things off is adjust the door alignment because the door had dropped slightly and it's now perfect.

So to the dealership in Worcestershire - you didn't get your 'blank cheque' to work on a horror story - I took my car to professionals that know what they're doing.

Viper stripes

I thought I'd get a practice in for Le Man. I bought a vinyl cutter off of ebay a few months ago with the view to selling some stickers etc - so I cut myself some cobra style viper stripes.

Not sure if I'm 100% keen on them, but they'll do for Le Man!






PS.I've just noticed my TVR badge is a bit wonky. I'll sort that in a bit.

We're getting there...

....Pretty much all the jobs I wanted to do are finished now.

Just got the windscreen and radiator to do - then a full service and it's all good.

I've done about 300 miles now since refitting the manifolds. Going to have to tighten them up again shortly, but oil pressure is good - temp could be better (due to knackered rad), power seems fine. Ticking has gone. (Horay)

New rear speakers

Here is my step by step guide to fitting rear speakers to a Chimaera.

You will need:
Balls!
Speakers (pair)
Speaker wire
Hacksaw blades (wood)
Wood drill (small)

1. Unbolt cd changer (if you have one)
2. Remove carpet from above fuel tank
3. I choose to loose my vents and put the speakers in their place - remove vents and drill holes from the boot into the cabin around the edge of the speaker template.
4. Carefully cut and break the fibreglass between the holes you've made.
5. Fit speaker.
6. You *might* have speaker connections in the nearside panel between the rear wheel and the door post. - If you do pickup your speaker connections here, run them over the wheel arch (tape in place).
7. Connect speakers
8. Enjoy

It's alive.....

Horray!

After weeksmonths of work, pain, bad advice, crap workmanship and cold weather the Chimaera is back together.

Started first time.
Next job is to get the radiator replaced/recored and switch the alternator our with my spare, because the charging light fails to go out.

Brilliant to have it back on the road.

Nearly there

My friend has been really busy so only just got the heads back.
Heli-coils look good.

Bought yes another head gasket set - head bolts and valley cover and started putting things back together today.

Heads are on - inlet manifold is on.

Just got:

• Rocker covers
• Injection system
• Pas pump
• Heater pipes
• the dreaded exhaust manifolds
• and poly vee belt

to put back on then I should be ready!