S III rebuild chassis advice

gareth131 · Aug 25, 2014

My 1978 88" has been stood for about 8 years. Spent a couple of hours underneath her today with a wire brush and the dreaded "screwdriver of truth" corrosion testing tool.

The middle crossmember is rotten but looking through some threads on here it seems replacable, the front of one front chassis leg needs patching / replacing. The main chassis rails are solid apart from a patch above one rear shocker mount.

I keep my landy in a lock-up but fortunatley I've managed to long term borrow a petrol genny for the duration. My first purchase will be a mig welder, not held a welding torch for over 30 years and I wasnt much cop then so I'm looking at some serious practic sessions.

So a few questions, reading about mig welders I gather that gas mig is far better than a no gas mig. What rating of machine is required for a Landy? 135A or more?
I think my next task is to empty my garage of as much kit as possible and suspend the tub from the ceiling and clean the chassis.

A couple of photos attached, all advice / critisism greatly recieved.

Chris W · Aug 25, 2014

swap over to a galvanised chassis and ramp up the residual value by more than the cost of said chassis

dominicbeesley · Aug 26, 2014

How big's your genny? Welders need a lot of VAs...

I got a Clarke 151TE and never needed it on full power for anything on a Landy yet.

I have to say my chassis looked better than that and I lost heart and bought a galv one...thing is swapping over from one to the other needs a lot of room and time if you're gonna make a job of it

davebeccles · Aug 26, 2014

Don't want to be too pessamistic but there is an awful lot of the evil brown stuff, you have got a very tight space and it looks like everything needs a bit of cleaning up. I would go with a new chassis, if finances allow. You could then put the chassis in the lockup and add the rest as you strip and clean.

gareth131 · Aug 26, 2014

Not got my hands on the generator yet so I've know idea what the output is, I'm never going to be able too swap a chassis in the space I've got currently, I waited nearly 2 years to get a lock up. Time isn't a issue so I think I'll be pouring as much tic as possible on it.

ben waine · Aug 26, 2014

I think youd need a new rear 1/4 chassis the hole is above a suspension point, I may be wrong but even if you patch it, it maybe be so close that its a mot fail anyway, especially as patches arent as strong as what used to be there!

Blackburn · Aug 26, 2014

What rating is the generator as that might be the limiting factor?

gareth131 · Aug 31, 2014

Picked up the genny tonight it's a Honda GX160 5.5 which apparentley gives 2.7Kva, I've no idea how Kva relates to ampres so I'll have to look that up tomorrow and set about getting the genny to run, another step forward

I also lashed out on a shiny 1lb ball pein hammer & a wire brush (bloody things only ever go bald at the bit you need!)

ben waine · Aug 31, 2014

P=vi, I=p/v , I=2700/230, I =11.7amps, but the welder will have a transformer, how big is the welder, mine is a clarke 131 teor maybe 135, cant remenber, but id reckon my welder would run of that genny, also another thing, some gennies you can set the revs high, or to adapt to the load, you want the gene on max, as with the adaptive tingy,when you suddenly try draw allot of amps, the genny will stall,also have you welded before? If not, watch lots of youtube, and practice before you go on the landy, it will help you get to know your welder, plus fixing poor welding is harder than just doing it right imo

ronsealdeath · Sep 1, 2014

Chassis looks very crusty. Usually they are worse than they look! Dont pour money into a basket case and consider a new project if you cant re chassis it I reckon.:confused2:

series 3 sweet 16 · Sep 2, 2014

Where you based because if you wanted to get a chassis I would be up for helping out, I did a 90 300 in a ten day after mate rolled it last Xmas bent chassis, but if your not far from Scotland I'd happily help you, I brought my 69 2a facelift on a replaced chassis well cheap keep look out you'll find one nae bother

gareth131 · Sep 3, 2014

series 3 sweet 16 said:
Where you based because if you wanted to get a chassis I would be up for helping out, I did a 90 300 in a ten day after mate rolled it last Xmas bent chassis, but if your not far from Scotland I'd happily help you, I brought my 69 2a facelift on a replaced chassis well cheap keep look out you'll find one nae bother

Many thanks for the offer but I'm about 15 miles from Manchester so a bit of a trek.
Currently doing some small jobs whilst keeping my eyes open for a welder.

Genny is running well keeps a grinder and lights going without a problem.

series 3 sweet 16 · Sep 3, 2014

I may be selling a clarke MIG for a mate, will find out

gareth131 · Sep 3, 2014

Ok please let me know

NiteMare · Sep 3, 2014

my dad has an "as new" mig for sale (in Meriden, Coventry), i've no idea what model or make or output it is (not interested as i already have one i'm happy with), i've also no idea if it's gas or gasless or what price, it's complete with a reactive mask is about all i know along with it's had very little use from new (dad is too old and frail to be gluing steel together now) and is only a couple of years old

if you're interested i will try to find out more details, it'll be cash on collection is about all i do know as neither i or him have the time to wait on couriers and neither of us do any form of electronic money (no paypal etc')

if you're interested shout up

Murtle · Sep 6, 2014

ben waine said:
I think youd need a new rear 1/4 chassis the hole is above a suspension point, I may be wrong but even if you patch it, it maybe be so close that its a mot fail anyway, especially as patches arent as strong as what used to be there!

I doesn't matter where you patch the chassis, as long as its a good weld it will pass an MOT.

nickjaxe · Sep 6, 2014

Looks like its been in salt water to me....as other have said be careful or it could bankrupt you....

Welders...I bought a 130 amp mig...its only just up to the job...I would never consider a gassless mig...the welds I have see from gas less...look very poor,

dont forget you can arc weld a landrover chassis...but the arc is not as versatile as a mig...I have both...never part with my mig though.

S III rebuild chassis advice

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