james6546

james6546

Well-Known Member
Hi All.

Have decided that I am going to bite the bullet and get my rear crossmember sorted. Will try to make it into a useful thread as I couldn't find much on here about it.

Luckily LRO seems to have a guide this month :)

I think that Clive isn't making them anymore (are you Clive?) so I am looking at getting this:

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 300 TDI REAR BACK CROSSMEMBER WITH EXTENSIONS UK MADE | eBay

Think it looks ok? I am going for the extensions as some of the rear section is splitting internally.

Also, I am going to get the following from YRM:

- New floor
- New floor retainer
- New rear door seal

I am also going to take the floor up and see if I can salvage any of the supports, otherwise I will have to buy some of those.

I know a very good welder, so got that sorted. Is there anything else I will need?

Have just bought a riveter and rivets.

What would people recommend painting the floor with? Was thinking primer then paint then stonechip on the bottom maybe and primer and paint on the top.
 
pressbrake said:
I am til the end of the month being no more chance , extensions etc d day:confused:
Click to expand...

Ok, great.

Are you able to do me a xmember with extensions for a 300tdi? pref with the holes for a NAS tow bar?

I can't find any contact details for you, if you give me your number I will give you a ring.
 
I have been having a think and have had a proper look at the chassis.

It has been plated in a couple of places and there are a couple of new holes.

So I am wondering whether to do the chassis instead.

Would probably mean either borrowing some money from someone or selling some shares...

Hmm...
 
james6546 said:
I have been having a think and have had a proper look at the chassis.

It has been plated in a couple of places and there are a couple of new holes.

So I am wondering whether to do the chassis instead.

Would probably mean either borrowing some money from someone or selling some shares...

Hmm...
Click to expand...

It's certainly something that's worth considering.

Add up the extra costs - so parts plus welding, plus other bits that you've spotted.

How long has your old cross member got left? Would it pass an MOT, and if so when's the next MOT?

Try and work out how much time you've got to save up, and prepare for doing a chassis swap. Would be worth doing other things at same time - suspension, brake pipes, clutch etc....
 
gse1986 said:
It's certainly something that's worth considering.

Add up the extra costs - so parts plus welding, plus other bits that you've spotted.

How long has your old cross member got left? Would it pass an MOT, and if so when's the next MOT?

Try and work out how much time you've got to save up, and prepare for doing a chassis swap. Would be worth doing other things at same time - suspension, brake pipes, clutch etc....
Click to expand...

Next MOT is Jan. I reckon it prob has another year left in it, maybe 2 but will need some more plating.

I reckon changing the crossmember will cost me £300ish. I think most people factor about £3000 for a chassis change.

The thing is I keep taking parts off, so at the moment arches, fuel filler, sills, rear floor, tow bar. Suspension and bushes next month. It makes sense to take the whole thing apart and change the chassis.
 
If i were you i'd go for the new chassis option. I didn't and have worked out repairing it myself only saved a little bit of money, albeit I didn't do it the cheapest way but definitely would have worked out far more economical in the long run to pay the extra and get the chassis.
If its any help here is how i figured it out cost wise.
New cross member about £220, shot blasted £150, plate steel £50, spring hangers £50 (pair), Outrigger £40, Welding supplies (I made the big mistake of using disposable bottles so ended up spending about £200 on gas), Wire £20, paint about £30 So that comes to around £700 and that's not equating time into it. For something like £1200 you can get a chassis, the extra expenditure will be recouped from the next decade of no repairs that or selling it. Plus its a lot quicker to get a chassis.
 
james6546 said:
Next MOT is Jan. I reckon it prob has another year left in it, maybe 2 but will need some more plating.

I reckon changing the crossmember will cost me £300ish. I think most people factor about £3000 for a chassis change.

The thing is I keep taking parts off, so at the moment arches, fuel filler, sills, rear floor, tow bar. Suspension and bushes next month. It makes sense to take the whole thing apart and change the chassis.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends what 3000 includes.

Personally, I do any work on my land rover myself, so I wouldn't factor in my time, as it's something I enjoy. If a chassis costs you 12-1500, i wouldn't imagine it'd be much more than 2k, would it?
 
gse1986 said:
I guess it depends what 3000 includes.

Personally, I do any work on my land rover myself, so I wouldn't factor in my time, as it's something I enjoy. If a chassis costs you 12-1500, i wouldn't imagine it'd be much more than 2k, would it?
Click to expand...

No, but if I did the chassis I would do suspension all around, plus a recon disco transfer box.

Let me do some maths...
 
So...

Chassis: £1500
Suspension: £250
Bushes: £100
Paint: £100
Refurb kit for diffs ext: £?
Bolts, mounts, brackets, brake pipes etc.: £150
Rear Floor and other bodywork: £150
Engine service components: £100

Anything I have forgotten?

Comes to about £2350, so I would probably round to £3000 for other stuff I have forgotten.

I am keeping this 90 for a long time, so want to do everything properly so I can rely on it.
 
james6546 said:
So...

Chassis: £1500
Suspension: £250
Bushes: £100
Paint: £100
Refurb kit for diffs ext: £?
Bolts, mounts, brackets, brake pipes etc.: £150
Rear Floor and other bodywork: £150
Engine service components: £100

Anything I have forgotten?

Comes to about £2350, so I would probably round to £3000 for other stuff I have forgotten.

I am keeping this 90 for a long time, so want to do everything properly so I can rely on it.
Click to expand...

You've overpriced your chassis, give richards a call and ask how much cash on collection

Engine service seems way too high, £3 fuel filter, £4 oil filter, £20 engine oil

Brake pipes are cheap, bolts are cheap

Suspension buy a set on sale, bearmach blue with de carbon shocks work
 
Dr_evil said:
You've overpriced your chassis, give richards a call and ask how much cash on collection

Engine service seems way too high, £3 fuel filter, £4 oil filter, £20 engine oil

Brake pipes are cheap, bolts are cheap

Suspension buy a set on sale, bearmach blue with de carbon shocks work
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I actually have the oil and filter already.

Was planning on getting Richards to put the brackets on for a TD5 fuel tank as well, you think that is an ok idea?
 
they'll charge a bit extra in that case if you want a 300 chassis with TD5 fuel tank mounts but its doable, you would of course have to cut a new hole in the tub for a filler
 
I just looked, Richards isn't too far away from me. Though I would probably have to borrow a trailer (and maybe a land rover so my tow bar doesn't pull off)
 
I did a chassis swap for a customer for £3000 including suspension, brakepipes, bushes. If thats helps with your maths and obviously I wasnt doing it for nothing for myself.

Try marshlands theyre just the other side of buxton so not too far away and their chassis are ready made if you want a standard one. Richards is more like a 6 week wait.

The body can be lifted off in 1 if you are careful but quite easily if you take the wings off but this adds time.
 
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