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#Post#: 93814--------------------------------------------------
Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: Setch
Date: October 19, 2014, 11:35 am
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Hello all..
I am quite new to the forum and need a few honest and practical
answers to a dilemma I have regarding my series 1 80 1953
chassis.
I bought an ex trailer. It has been used and abused over its 60
years and ended its current life with v8 stuffed in the front.
I have no objections to the V8 in the front. The people who
bought the 80 wanted the old v8 for another project and the 80
was surplus to requirements.
It's been abused and bashed about. But that's how I like my
projects. It had a series 2 front axle, series 2 steering and
believe it or not a square home made dash board covered with red
fluffy stuff..
I knew the chassis was rusty from the seat box forward but this
did not deter me. I have rebuilt cars from rust upwards so a
little rust does not phase me..
I started to strip her down.. She did not give up her clothes
easily I can tell you. More or less everything was seized. I
eventually got her clobber off and started to assess her old
chassis.. It looks like mine a bit. Old and almost knackered..
Still I assessed.
Bulkhead.. Beyond economical repair top of the chassis rails
all good. Rear x member good but showing signs of a few prangs
and Impacts with things that bend metal. Gear box x member ...
Almost off the chassis and as rusty as the come. Bell housing x
member has had alterations for the v8 starter to fit.. And
rusty. Down to the front.
Passenger side dumb iron. Almost attached and not a happy
thing. The PO had welded a brace across the two dumb irons
that's all that was holding it on. The front bumper is bent
there as well,
Looking at the top of the chassis not bad... I them removed the
gearbox , front and rear axles. I turned it over on its back and
wheeled it into the garage for a serious inspection of the
underside.
I took out the hammer and poking device and set out on a rust
mission.
From the rear x member to the mid x member no problem nice and
solid which surprised me. From ther on it was another matter.
Drivers side. From the rear front spring hanger all the way to
the front rubber bump stop was a mess of rust. The top plating
very thin and holed. Good metal on the sides was found at 1.5
inches down do not so bad at least these was some left. The
dumb iron although bad was possibly repairable.
Passenger side. A similar story but not as bad. Dumb iron well
let's say hanging in there.
Front x member is present but will need the old now rusty repair
taking off and re doing.
I set up the chassis and levelled it up for and aft and side to
side. Measured the diagonals it was ok at the front and mid
section the rear was within 8mm which I thought was dire. But
reading posts it appears that it was normal ? Need your opinion
on that.
Side to side. Levels
Rear fine. Mid section to the bell housing x member fine.
Across the flat section just aft of the front x member and
between the rubber bump stops. There is a 5mm difference its
lower on theat side. Which may be explained by the bent bumper
and the mostly unattached dumb iron.
It looks like the chassis has a 5 mm twist at the front.
I have done a lot of welding to it already to put a bit of
strength back into the chassis rails.. Cutting out and flush
welding new steel My question is. Before I start with the x
members which I have bought from rad fords and the rest of the
chassis are these measurements a terminal case on requires new
chassis syndrome.?
Before I go too far and do anything else I would appreciate some
advice.
Thanks for reading this rather long post
#Post#: 93882--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: niteram
Date: October 20, 2014, 3:48 pm
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I'd say its not too bad all things considered.
I'd also say worth repairing,
I would think repairing the dumbirons would cure the front twist
etc
If it were mine I would do all the repairs, dumbirons outriggers
etc, then recheck the dimensions ect and if more than a few mm
out use something like a portapower to pull / push it back.
my front dumbiron was pushed in around 30mm, I pushed it back to
within a couple of mm (the bumper now fitted straight on) I then
rechecked diagonals etc and all were within 2mm.
probably easier to do on a jig of somesort
hope this helps
#Post#: 93901--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: Setch
Date: October 21, 2014, 7:34 am
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Hi
Here are a few images of whats been done so far.. all comments
good or bad welcome..
This is he..
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/_57-2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/_57-2.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/7A539682-B152-4C74-83D8-56272B042B35.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/7A539682-B152-4C74-83D8-56272B042B35.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/photo32.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/photo32.jpg[/img][/URL]
This is the dodgy dumb iron..
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/E3B0624F-C54C-457F-B4E3-05FCE9A753EF.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/E3B0624F-C54C-457F-B4E3-05FCE9A753EF.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/photo31.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/photo31.jpg[/img][/URL]
I do have a partial chassis which has the rear cross member
missing and all the out riggers.. which I bought for the engine
and gearbox..
#Post#: 93905--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: ferretjuggler
Date: October 21, 2014, 11:50 am
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Two ways of looking at that.
Is it beyond economic repair ???
Possibly, depending upon what your own time is worth.
Multiply what you are worth per hour by your total time spent
repairing it.
Then add on all the cost of materials and services you've had to
use.
More than the cost of a new Richards galvanised one ???
Quite possibly.
But then it's not quite the same as repairing the original is it
?
Personally I think you are doing the right thing.
You obviously have the required skills and facilities.
Do a top notch job on it and have the satisfaction of knowing
that you have a vehicle which still retains its original chassis
#Post#: 93906--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: NoelC
Date: October 21, 2014, 12:47 pm
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Nothing is beyond repair! As a series one chassis is ridiculous
money and only available through the series one club I'd be
inclined to keep going considering the effort you've put in so
far. Had it been a series 2/2a/3 it may have been a different
story as a new chassis is much cheaper. I'm going to have a
crack at my 2B chassis and that's far worse than yours.
#Post#: 93913--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: niteram
Date: October 21, 2014, 2:20 pm
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there is someone on ebay doing "flatpack" series 1 chassis and
chassis parts.
#Post#: 93936--------------------------------------------------
Re: Is my chassis beyond repair..r
DIR By: Setch
Date: October 22, 2014, 7:02 am
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Thanks for the support..
I totally agree with you. I have had a few landrovers .. i
would love to know what happened to this V8 series 1 ?
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/DSC00974.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/DSC00974.jpg[/img][/URL]
I restored that one a few years ago.. then I was 'forced to move
house!..
Back to the 80 inch.. OK they are rare. They were not rare when
I had my first one
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/AFU6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/AFU6.jpg[/img][/URL]
and I loved the little monster so much that I just had to have
another. Looking at the high prices they are fetching.. the only
way to do it was to locate the best i could find under 2K.. I
gave up looking after a few weeks even complete rotten falling
apart examples were being snapped up for in excess of 2 / 3K..
I found 'herbert' yes I am going to call him that as hes turning
out to be a complete 'Herbert'.. decent panels repairable
chassis I Still paid £1600.00 for him with no engine, box
wiring , instruments, series 2 a steering.. I was still left
needing an engine, box, correct axles plus innumerable parts..
so I bought a Minerva.
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/M2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/M2.jpg[/img][/URL]
recently repatriated to the UK.. good everything. All series 1
80 running gear , engine , box , instruments etc.. I had the
intention as the parts were all very low mileage to use them on
the 80 resto and move the rest of the parts on that I did not
need... I mentioned this on the S1 web site and almost had my
head snapped off as I suggested it. oops.. I backed off the
idea of breaking the Minerva and looked to get hold of an engine
and box.. well these are like hens teeth S1 2000 siamese bore..
whoa.. and the prices ouch.
I found this so I bought it.. cheap ish
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Landrovers/_5716.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Landrovers/_5716.jpg[/img][/URL]
Its an 80 chassis which is in great condition apart from missing
a lot of chassis parts. The engine is correct as is the box..
needs a rebuild which i can get done locally and at the right
price { I hope}..
God I do waffle on.. sorry may need a beer.
Any way.. Back to the 80 sitting in my garage.
I am going to finish off the welding on the underside of the
chassis, weld on the new G box x member and the one for the
bellhousing. Once I am satisfied that the strength is back I
will turn it over. rig up a jig of sorts and replace the front
dumb irons.
I have been told by an old landrover guy that the chassis of the
era were never bang on anyway and what I have is probably how it
left the factory in the first place. I take that with a pinch of
salt but I have heard similar before. However onces its back on
its belly I will look at the alignment again.
I would much rather keep the original chassis as its been with
the car through all these years. I am not a rivet counter, the
car is not going to be a concourse restoration.. I did that with
this:
[URL=
HTML http://s658.photobucket.com/user/Zed-the-red/media/Other%20cars%20etc/various252.jpg.html][IMG]http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu309/Zed-the-red/Other%20cars%20etc/various252.jpg[/img][/URL]
Which sucked my wallet dry.. a Maserati Indy 4700 V8.. beauty
but the cost was more than I ever got back.. so I am not going
down that route with the 80.
Everything will be perfect mechanically, but I want to leave the
body with its scars and history intact. I will scotch pad the
exterior, fix any holes with new ally {suitably distressed of
course} and then clear coat the body.
I have already found a canvas back off a 1952 80 which is
suitably distressed but serviceable.
I want it to look its age and none of this back to original
repainted stuff. Just as it should look after 60 years in the
UK.
Hope you all agree.. Cheers for reading. I will be back with no
doubt more saga's .. would you split the minerva for parts,
bearing mind that the instrument panel alone.. a similar one on
ebay sold for £1600.00!!!..
Still on the fence with that I am afraid.. tata
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