stevebythesea
Member
My 1986 90 Defender is causing me to think hard about options regarding its chassis.
I have owned her for 5 years. She is mechanically very sound and has a Disco 200 TDI engine and a range rover rear axle, all fitted by the last owner. Body wise, the doors and batter box need attention but otherwise all very good. Roof, wings, upper body all very sound. I paid £1500 and have spent around £500 on parts since. She has never failed an MOT
The chassis though is in need of attention. I have attached some pictures. Most of the rust is surface, although I cannot be sure what lurkes in areas I cannot see. My dilema is whether to clean it up using wire brush, then wax oil or bite the bullet, and replace the chassis. Fortunately, I have reasonably good workshop facilities.
Either way, I will have to remove the body and will replace clutch and anything else that makes sense whilst stripped down.
Some caveats: I use her for launching a boat, so the back axle does get immersed in sea water (evident from the pictures!).
This is more of an emotional decision (I think) than economic. If a refurb costs me £3000, and she stands me in at £1000, what could I buy for £4k (and that's without costing my time)?
So some questions:
Is it possible to have the chassis shot blasted?
Has anyone refurbed a chassis before, if so how, and was it successful?
I being too optimistic thinking I can wire brush the chassis to a point whereby wax oil makes sense?
eceived. Often I find I have missed a 'way of thinking' about something, so it always helpful to canvass opinion from others.
Thanks in advance.
I have owned her for 5 years. She is mechanically very sound and has a Disco 200 TDI engine and a range rover rear axle, all fitted by the last owner. Body wise, the doors and batter box need attention but otherwise all very good. Roof, wings, upper body all very sound. I paid £1500 and have spent around £500 on parts since. She has never failed an MOT
The chassis though is in need of attention. I have attached some pictures. Most of the rust is surface, although I cannot be sure what lurkes in areas I cannot see. My dilema is whether to clean it up using wire brush, then wax oil or bite the bullet, and replace the chassis. Fortunately, I have reasonably good workshop facilities.
Either way, I will have to remove the body and will replace clutch and anything else that makes sense whilst stripped down.
Some caveats: I use her for launching a boat, so the back axle does get immersed in sea water (evident from the pictures!).
This is more of an emotional decision (I think) than economic. If a refurb costs me £3000, and she stands me in at £1000, what could I buy for £4k (and that's without costing my time)?
So some questions:
Is it possible to have the chassis shot blasted?
Has anyone refurbed a chassis before, if so how, and was it successful?
I being too optimistic thinking I can wire brush the chassis to a point whereby wax oil makes sense?
eceived. Often I find I have missed a 'way of thinking' about something, so it always helpful to canvass opinion from others.
Thanks in advance.
