Chassis (GTA)

If a GTA is a bit nasty underneath, I mean really beyond any practical help, how feasible is it to attempt a full chassis replacement? Effectively, would you be rebuilding the car from scratch?

Presumably, you can't get a new chassis from the factory either?

How bad is beyond help? Is this a rhetorical question or do you have some photos?

I don't have any pictures as yet, but it is really bad - swiss cheese springs to mind. Its been patched at some point in the past, but even the patches are now shot.

I guess its probably not even vaguely economical to attempt something of this magnitude, but I thought I'd ask the question anyway.

After seeing all your lovely GTA's last night, I thought I'd drag mine out this morning and have a shifty. Body wise - its not actually too bad, paintwork is a bit faded in places and there is a crack in the rear bumper, but i've seen a lot worse. Headlamps - both cracked!! Brakes - all seized. Engine - started, but sounds poorly and is smokey.

I think the writing's on the wall really.......

Break it....

I guess its probably not even vaguely economical to attempt something of this magnitude

.......... since when have economics ever figured in the running of a GTA

Remember the rear subframe can be removed and welded up, (dare I say when the engine is removed for a rebuild) it's things like the sills that start to become problematic if they're shot because they're so structural, but even those can be fixed.

Where's the rust worst?

Looking at it another way, if you did want to do something more extreme with it (a la Rupert's Le Mans 24 valve conversion) at least you wouldn't be tampering with a perfect example.

[Alpineandy]

Break it....

Guess who wants some bits off it...

Break it....

As said, I think the writing is on the wall....

I think i'll probably just leave it as it is until I can find a replacement - at least that way I'll have a new toy to take my mind off it.

I suppose I should be grateful that its not a Le Mans otherwise...... well, I don't really know what I'd do.

Just out of interest, are the A610's any better protected against corrosion, etc?

Looking at it another way, if you did want to do something more extreme with it (a la Rupert's Le Mans 24 valve conversion) at least you wouldn't be tampering with a perfect example.

Don't even think about it...

Break it!

All Alpines will go to heaven eventually!!!!!!!!!!!

All Alpines will go to heaven eventually!!!!!!!!!!!

...don't think it would get that far...

[stephendell]

Tricky one really. With an A110 or A310 you can seperate the car and the chassis if you are feeling brave but with a GTA it's not so easy.

As Darren says, if the rear subframe is rotten, just unbolt it and either repair or replace it. Front subframe isn't removeable but is fairly accessible for repair.

Rust around the rear turrets can usually be patched. But if the floor pan, sills or centre chassis rails that are embedded in the polyester start to rot and blow off the fibre glass it's a much bigger job and the finished car usually isn't valuable enough to justify it, unless perhaps it was a Le Mans and labour was cheap.

If the door pillars are also rotten or the front bulkhead, then definately break it and buy a nicer one unless it owes you nothing in the first place and you have a friend who is a welder.

You can recoup a fair bit of cash as a breaker, the rear hatch, gearbox & engine should get you the best part of £1500 and that's just for starters.

[Alpineandy]

All Alpines will go to heaven eventually!!!!!!!!!!!

I think MrJon is expecting his car to end up downstairs (rather than up-stairs!)

first offer on the passenger side headlight glass if its broke