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Well, I shook that hornets nest and started the teardown. Really going well, Only a couple weekends at my leisure and I have the entire interior,wiring harness,rear glass,dash all out. I just got to get the heater and the windshield out and then we can get the engine and tranny out this fall. So...I'm getting it ready to have it moved into my garage where I can strip the underside down to bare metal...treat it with POR15, rubberized undercoat, and then waxoyl, but looking at the rear of the car, there is hardly any indication of deterioration.maybe a few scrapes in the undercoating but that's it, the undercoating is still pliable and does not scrape off easily. Should I leave it? should I strip it and do the above process? Maybe I should just wash it real well and waxoyl it. I'd like your opinions on this ladies and gents. The front end is a different story altogether though and I'll address that later but for now, any advice appreciated. Thanks!

If you have to do (extensive?) welding to the front of the car, it is better to do the complete bodyshell properly while you are at it.

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<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="2"><font color="red">My Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size2"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

Depends on your mindset. If your like Beans (I suspect) or me (to a lesser extent I suspect) you may want to redo entire bottom. Somethings to remember. Undercoating (rubberized or other) with harden and crack in time depending on time and heat it is exposed to. It is partway into that process now although you may not know where in the time frame you are. Depends what you are happy with. Waxoil is not a permanent covering. It will wash off eventually (sooner than undercoating) but is a good covering to fill in the nooks and crannies the undercoating may not get into as the undercoating is much thicker.

It's a lot of work to remove undercoating and it depends how much you enjoy that type of work. If your in a rush to get it on the road to drive I wouldn't but if it's a project to keep you busy, escape from hustle and bustle of life as you drive your other TR7/8 then go for it.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

Seems about right.....I'm trying to get it in the garage by mid fall to give myself the whole winter to do the rear half of the underbody. Thanks!!!

Have you thought about getting the bare shell on a rotisserie and then sand blasting it?

Michael
1980 TR8 FHC #0020 Rally Conversion & 1981 TR7

I've been down this road a few times (not with a TR7) and I recommend that you DON'T do a complete teardown/rebuild. You will spend 100's (maybe 1000's) of hours and the amount of money you spend will be much more than the finished product is worth (other than the satisfaction of saying you did it yourself). Plus, you may lose interest in the project and then you're stuck with car parts everywhere and that can be a royal pain.
If the car is in rough enough shape to NEED a complete rebuild, I suggest that you sell it and spend the money on a beautiful condition, low mileage, rust free example. You'll wind up paying much less than what a complete rebuild will cost you (not to mention the time) and you can enjoy DRIVING the car instead of sanding/cleaning/wrenching on parts.
I personally will never do another restoration on any car and would rather just spend the money and find one that's already been done (or an untouched survivor) and just ENJOY the car.
Restoring a car can be a great deal of fun, but it can also be one big aggravation and I have too much aggravation already in my life - what about you?

Aaron
1976 TR7 FHC (an ongoing project)

Whats wrong with going WAYYYYYYY OVEEEEEERBOARD? Its part of owning a british car. Millions invested for pennies on the dollar value? [:D]



Michael
1980 TR8 FHC #0020 Rally Conversion & 1981 TR7

Aaron makes a good point and many have gone down that road but doing a total rebuild can be fun (satisfying) in and of itself. It depends on the individual and many have overestimated their patience and commitment, some have had the silly idea of saving money. It's much easier if you have another wedge to drive while you do the rebuild. The besy excuse for owning at least two wedges.[:)]

Michael, that picture is a beautiful sight. I may use that to design my own rotisserie. I like the idea of using engine stands. I'd like to design something so they could fit in a cradle (so they could be reused as engine stands and have them with larger wheels for easier rolling on rougher cement).



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

I love the rotisserie idea but unfortunately there isn't enough time/ funds/ or space in the garage or driveway. I imagine the driveway could possibly be something in the future but I havea couple cars there now (doing nothing of course) on the only flat part...the rest of the driveway is a bobsled/luge run. Hilly area. I'm thinking of just a rolling chassis with brakes and the thing goes in the garage and up on stands where I can do a small section at a time. Wintertimes in Worcester Ma. can be kinda unforgiving so I need to get in the garage before the first snowfall.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by TR7Aaron</i>

... DON'T do a complete teardown/rebuild. You will spend 100's (maybe 1000's) of hours and the amount of money you spend will be much more than the finished product is worth (other than the satisfaction of saying you did it yourself) ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I can only say that I don't agree with this [}:)]
It indeed is very satisfying to restore a car properly, and use it afterwards.
With a TR7 you restore it because you like it and want to preserve it for years to come.
You will never (I should say almost never [:)]) get the money back you put into a restoration.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="2"><font color="red">My Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size2"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>