Hi all. Been a while since I posted which is a good sign lol. Anyways, her indoors Freelander need a new fuel tank cradle. I have picked up a good secondhand cradle but having examined the offending part it looks a bit of an operation. Anyone done one of these and is it as bad as it looks?

Thanks

See this copied from a thread I put up recently about a cradle I bought on Fleabay and my experience fitting it - after searching and reading extensively through this forum
"Right - I received my cradle (quickly) from freelanderpartsuk and like another customer of his on ebay was slightly surprised to find it a bit more basic than his current ebay picture - just two simple plates - no ribbing but a bit thicker - 16wg instead of about 1mm but on two solid rails - not tubes - all finished in a decent looking silver coloured zinc-rich paint. A simple but good workmanlike cradle. I gave mine a couple of brush coats of Wickes Rust resistant black and then greased it with an Admiralty grease that they used to use to mothball battleships (unlike waxoil it never dries out and cracks) Encouraged by Gilbertian's post of 12th July about how he managed by just backing off the subframe bolts to get clearance I got started - I had the back up on ramps but before I wedged the fuel tank I took the precaution of lifting the car a bit and putting axle stands under the jacking points to ensure that when I lowered the subframe nothing moved and either dropped the tank or punched holes in it with my props. Prop off at rear diff only. Exhaust just off the rear rubbers and resting on the subframe. Actually I did not manage to get the old cradle out without completely removing the four subframe bolts but with a jack under the diff it all behaved very well and was no problem fitting back up. The new cradle was a little tight under the back right hand side and rather than squeeze the tank too much I just packed under that corner bolt about 1/4" Job done!"

Looks like fabricating a new bit might be easier than removing the cradle. Pit would be handy for this job

I have got to do mine but I was wondering if I jacked the body up as far as I could would I need to take the rear diff off it has been suggested that if the tubes were good enough just to replace the panels it looks ok to do that but the second hand one I have from a better supplier than freelander parts seem to goo to take the panels off.

I'm having a new one fitted this Tuesday. It came from Land rover at a cost of £308 (incl. VAT) so not cheap, especially for what it is. I've put several coats of Hammerite on and oil pumped into the tube sections. A local 4x4 specialist is doing the fit. If he's agreeable I'll ask to take some pics during the different stages and post soon after.

Not cheap to buy new then. I thought we'd come up with our own version which someone was making. If not then a possible side line for a metal worker.

teddywood1 said:

I have got to do mine but I was wondering if I jacked the body up as far as I could would I need to take the rear diff off it has been suggested that if the tubes were good enough just to replace the panels it looks ok to do that but the second hand one I have from a better supplier than freelander parts seem to goo to take the panels off.

Click to expand...

You don't have to take the rear diff off - read my post on this thread last Friday - tells you what you have to do.