bent frame

[cuppy65]

Please tell me the radiator is supposed to set in there crooked?
After getting an inch of putty chiseled off the front end this is what I found .
I guess I'll try to use the porta power jack to bent the left frame rail down.
My parts car has a good front end except the lower valance . The trick will be to discover if the frame is bent behind the front suspension or , hopefully, in front of the front suspension.
Not good.
Any thoughts?

 

[junkman]

It is supposed to be like that, note the clearance hole in the hood for the radiator . That doesn't look all that bad, just remember to measure down from the a post to the front edge of the fenders to be sure the car is square.

 

[65beam]

Two of my cars based on series 2. They're cross flow radiators so DON"T TOUCH YOUR FRAME RAILS!

 

[Barry]

Please tell me the radiator is supposed to set in there crooked?
After getting an inch of putty chiseled off the front end this is what I found .
I guess I'll try to use the porta power jack to bent the left frame rail down.
My parts car has a good front end except the lower valance . The trick will be to discover if the frame is bent behind the front suspension or , hopefully, in front of the front suspension.
Not good.
Any thoughts?

Series Alpines do not have frames; they are unibody cars.

 

[65beam]

Series Alpines are unibody style cars but do have what the parts books call front and rear side member units that shops call front and rear frame rails. They are welded to the four corners of the X frame and to the floor pan of the car. If you were to take the front and rear side members and an X frame and weld them together you would have what could be called a frame made of box channel. Some British cars do have a frame that the body bolts to where the Alpine/ Tiger have this frame welded to the body. The front rails do get bent and need straightened. I have two cars that have spent time on the frame rack to get the front rails back in line. I've seen Doug replace many front rails over the years

 

[cuppy65]

Thanks for the information. I'll sleep better tonight.
Now if I could locate a decent front lower valance ?

 

[phyrman]

The workshop manual does have the frame specs
Have a frame specialist check yours!

 

[cuppy65]

A frame specialist is not in the budget. That why I have you guy!

 

[oLD lIMEY]

I have frame specs, send me your email and I will send the page.

 

[Warren]

I was looking at the dimensions. The firewall and the spring shackles are the best reference spots , but .
How would you measure from the inside of the engine bay or the passenger compartment .

 

[65beam]

I would say if you were to look at a bare metal shell you might find a center point on the brace ( V shape ) that runs from left to right on the fire wall just below the bulkhead. My cars have a dimple that confirms the center point.The shop that has restored a few bodies for me has made measurements from that point in the engine compartment.

 

[Warren]

Thanks Bob, how about show and tell rather than tell. Too many Tigers get beaten up in that general area. Seen several with it cut out all together for carb clearance.

 

[65beam]

Warren,
I'll try to get a photo of the dimple on the blue car. It can still be seen. The next Harrington body won't be dipped until later this year so I'll try to remember to take a photo. I'm sure it will have a dimple for measurements due to some damage to the right front. The other cars now have the dimple painted over with the epoxy primer, filler, primer and paint. I've seen these sections cut out. The 74 Tiger had the heater core box cut out in previous years . It was that way when it was in Dayton. FYI, our project that was just finished was set up on a frame rack to check for proper alignment of the body. Doug has the doors and gaps set pretty good. The Harrington roof sets on top of the B post but he has the doors set so the top of the door at the B post area is real close to the same level as the roof. He had to drill some holes to line up the side mouldings since the original holes would not allow proper alignment . Lots of time involved. The hood is not latched in this photo.

 

[oLD lIMEY]

Did you get the specs I sent ?

 

[Warren]

Here is the page, I see the pimple I mean dimple on the less beat on car. The picture leads me to believe that the center is aft of the angle iron like piece too bad the manual isn't written in Colonial English.

 

[65beam]

You're looking at a Tiger drawing.

 

[cuppy65]

Yes, old limey, I got the spec's
Thanks