Shane512

Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #1

Hello all, I’m currently doing a rebuild on my defender 90 following a chassis replacement. I got the replacement chassis from Richards and it came with a gearbox cross member which was separate to the chassis. When I offer the cross member up to the chassis it looks as though it’s about 1cm too wide to fit into the gap between the chassis rails, is this correct? Do I need to spread the chassis rails open to fit it?

 

The Mad Hat Man

Well-Known Member

LZIR Despatch Agent

• Aug 6, 2018

• #2

have yu spoken to Richards?

 

Shane512

Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #3

The Mad Hat Man said:

have yu spoken to Richards?

Click to expand...

Not yet, I will call them tomorrow.

 

Flossie

Well-Known Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #4

I had to spread the rails of my genuine LR new chassis but not that much!

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #5

Shane512 said:

Hello all, I’m currently doing a rebuild on my defender 90 following a chassis replacement. I got the replacement chassis from Richards and it came with a gearbox cross member which was separate to the chassis. When I offer the cross member up to the chassis it looks as though it’s about 1cm too wide to fit into the gap between the chassis rails, is this correct? Do I need to spread the chassis rails open to fit it?

Click to expand...

spread the rail to fit, the easiest ones still need knocking in place with a large soft hammer

 

Shane512

Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #6

jamesmartin said:

spread the rail to fit, the easiest ones still need knocking in place with a large soft hammer

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Anyone have any ideas about how to spread the rails? I’ve tried a bottle jack between bits of wood but can’t get enough purchase before it all explodes!

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #7

Shane512 said:

Anyone have any ideas about how to spread the rails? I’ve tried a bottle jack between bits of wood but can’t get enough purchase before it all explodes!

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a jacks not a bad idea just need better packing, i use a porta pack

 

Al2O3

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #8

I had to buy a cheap bottle jack as my trolley jack wouldn't pump on it's side. The trolley jack was handy to help hold the cross member in place as well as give it a push. I'm trying to upload an image, but I'm camped by the Haut Loire, in the middle of nowhere and the phone signal is poor.

 

Al2O3

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Aug 6, 2018

• #9

Eventually!
There was a lot of creaking from the chassis rails as I jacked them apart.

 

Shane512

Member

• Aug 7, 2018

• #10

Al2O3 said:

View attachment 155066
Eventually!
There was a lot of creaking from the chassis rails as I jacked them apart.

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That’s kind of what I was trying. I need to find a bigger block of wood!

Thanks all!

 

dag019

Well-Known Member

• Aug 7, 2018

• #11

Shane512 said:

That’s kind of what I was trying. I need to find a bigger block of wood!

Thanks all!

Click to expand...

I have done it the same way as @Al2O3 in the past when I have removed/refited the crossmember to drop the gearbox.
Just go and rummage around all the local skips for timber. If you are struggling for packing a last resort would be to go and buy a fence post, probably the cheapest way to buy a hefty lump of wood if you cannot find any for nothing.

 

dag019

Well-Known Member

• Aug 7, 2018

• #12

.

 

Mo Murphy

Active Member

• Aug 7, 2018

• #13

A high lift jack works nicely if the body is off. If you don't have one, a mate will usually have one collecting dust in the garage that you can borrow.
HTH
Mo