Whitters

Whitters

Member
So after my initial ‘ introduce yourself’ post I’ve not really done any thing to the SWB except driving it around and enjoying it, however it dawned on me that a rebuild was needed and work has commenced!

After reading a few project threads it’s blatently apparent people love giving out some advice so I come cap in hand for the same!

I think the bulkhead is past repairing! So I’m after a new one one but has anyone bought one recently? I’ve seen a few online but I’m after what the buyers think!!

The chassis is going to be a Richards which seems to be the go to but I’m open to others if anyone has bought one recently!

I would like galvanised doors if anyone makes them?

I know these have been discussed on the forum but they all seem to be a few years old and times move on! As do opinions. :)

I’m going to keep regular posts with the build! I’ll be here a lot with bone questions, I apologies in advance.
 

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I think Richards are the only ones doing series chassis now, marsland stopped a few years ago and only do defenders.
 
if that's a picture or your landrover then the bulkhead looks very repairable to me. worth getting a good welder to look at it. many repair panel out there very cheap
 
minecab said:
if that's a picture or your landrover then the bulkhead looks very repairable to me. worth getting a good welder to look at it. many repair panel out there very cheap
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That might be an option then! I just have to find a good welder because if left to me I’ll make a right pigs ear out of it!
 
your bulkhead is in way better condition than mine was before I swapped it out for one I found on ebay. not sure what prices are now and I can't even remember what I paid for the one I found, it was a good few years back.
 
New footwells can be bought all correct shape and size and a good welder should be able to waive his hot spanner at them.
 
What have you bought if the bulkhead and chassis are shot? Engine, transmission and body panels? You're talking about a total rebuild as opposed to a refurbish. Get hold of the full parts and workshop manual. Good luck with what will be a huge project.
 
John S said:
What have you bought if the bulkhead and chassis are shot? Engine, transmission and body panels? You're talking about a total rebuild as opposed to a refurbish. Get hold of the full parts and workshop manual. Good luck with what will be a huge project.
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I think I’ve bought an extremely well used 50yr old Land Rover! I think it’s more my want of perfect than anything, the chassis is solid but it’s a masterpiece of many many patches and I think the bulkhead is a 50/50 mix of steel and filler!

I’ve been using it as is for over a year, the engine is solid as is the drive gear! Most of the panels are showing signs of age so I’ll probably get new ones!
 
Whitters said:
I think it’s more my want of perfect than anything,
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You wont get that no matter how hard you try, even land rover couldn't manage perfect when they first left the factory, that what makes them so lovable :D


Whitters said:
I think the bulkhead is a 50/50 mix of steel and filler
Click to expand...
Nearly all parts of the bulkhead are available as repair panels, foot-wells, a pillars, outrigger mounting feet, vent panels etc. So it needs to be very far gone before it is un-repairable. The question is if it is economic to repair. From the picture it does not look in bad condition ad would only need a new panels, although if the entire top vent section is filler I will retract that statement.

Whitters said:
the chassis is solid but it’s a masterpiece of many many patche
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As long as the patches on the chassis is solid I would not worry too much about it, there are plenty of people who would love a solid chassis. Just give it a good coat of rust protection inside and out. If you are really worried about how it looks if it is currently it would be possible to cut out the patches (assuming they are over patched) and let in fresh metal and grind smooth so it is almost undetectable but is a lot of work for something which is effectively cosmetic.
 
dag019 said:
You wont get that no matter how hard you try, even land rover couldn't manage perfect when they first left the factory, that what makes them so lovable :D



Nearly all parts of the bulkhead are available as repair panels, foot-wells, a pillars, outrigger mounting feet, vent panels etc. So it needs to be very far gone before it is un-repairable. The question is if it is economic to repair. From the picture it does not look in bad condition ad would only need a new panels, although if the entire top vent section is filler I will retract that statement.


As long as the patches on the chassis is solid I would not worry too much about it, there are plenty of people who would love a solid chassis. Just give it a good coat of rust protection inside and out. If you are really worried about how it looks if it is currently it would be possible to cut out the patches (assuming they are over patched) and let in fresh metal and grind smooth so it is almost undetectable but is a lot of work for something which is effectively cosmetic.
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I don’t think the pictures show it in it’s worst light! I couldn’t agree with you more on the chassis comments unfortunately i do not have the the skills or equipment to cut out all of the old patches and weld in new sections, plus I think I’m just being a bit of a tart and want a nice new galvanised one a lot of these reasons cover the bulkhead too!

We all like shiney new things though right??
 
Whitters said:
I don’t think the pictures show it in it’s worst light! I couldn’t agree with you more on the chassis comments unfortunately i do not have the the skills or equipment to cut out all of the old patches and weld in new sections, plus I think I’m just being a bit of a tart and want a nice new galvanised one a lot of these reasons cover the bulkhead too!

We all like shiney new things though right??
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I totally see where you're coming from. I made a similar purchase. The bulkhead was much worse than yours though! I don't weld and had to spend a lot of money buying a galvanised refurbished one, together with a galv front panel too. Land Rover projects are so varied in terms of desired outcome - from just getting and keeping them on the road to turning an already half decent Landy into something concours or close.
Mine made no financial sense - I've spent more than what it's worth but it's a hobby and makes me happy.
The important thing is that you have some fun whatever you do or aspire to achieve.
 
Land Raver said:
Mine made no financial sense - I've spent more than what it's worth but it's a hobby and makes me happy.
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I can completely agree with that. My 110 is like that, and the series only made financial sense because the initial purchase price was so low (already had a galv chassis).

Whitters said:
We all like shiney new things though right??
Click to expand...
Don't get me wrong I am not trying to steer you away form galv versions, if you have the money they are the best way to go, and I am slowly converting everything on both of mine to galv. But it is a big in investment if the budget it tight and they are not strictly necessary.
 
Land Raver said:
I totally see where you're coming from. I made a similar purchase. The bulkhead was much worse than yours though! I don't weld and had to spend a lot of money buying a galvanised refurbished one, together with a galv front panel too. Land Rover projects are so varied in terms of desired outcome - from just getting and keeping them on the road to turning an already half decent Landy into something concours or close.
Mine made no financial sense - I've spent more than what it's worth but it's a hobby and makes me happy.
The important thing is that you have some fun whatever you do or aspire to achieve.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity where did you get your bulkhead from? I’ve seen a few places online but I want to hear from people who have actually bought them.
 
Whitters said:
Just out of curiosity where did you get your bulkhead from? I’ve seen a few places online but I want to hear from people who have actually bought them.
Click to expand...

I got a spare one i bough refurbed and galved by Classic Bulkheads (link) It took a long time but this seems to be standard for all of the places offering the service. i was ver happy with it considering the amount of repair work it needed and they were very local t me.
 
dag019 said:
I got a spare one i bough refurbed and galved by Classic Bulkheads (link) It took a long time but this seems to be standard for all of the places offering the service. i was ver happy with it considering the amount of repair work it needed and they were very local t me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, looks good, this could certainly be an option. I’m in Wiltshire so it’s not a million miles away!
 
dag019 said:
I got a spare one i bough refurbed and galved by Classic Bulkheads (link) It took a long time but this seems to be standard for all of the places offering the service. i was ver happy with it considering the amount of repair work it needed and they were very local t me.
Click to expand...

I bought an exchange bulkhead from Ashtree Land Rover. I also got my front panel from them and regalvanised cappings. When I placed the order they suggested 6-8 weeks. They contacted me after 3 weeks to say one would be ready in a week's time. That slipped just a week as the gearbox on their van packed up and they couldn't deliver it.
 
That bulkhead and chassis look fine, a few bits of welding is ll. You could spent a lot of time and money geting replacements that are 1) not orginal and 2) never fit quite right. A replacement after market part is always that no matter how shiny. I would get is welded, get it on the road, enjoy it, then decide what to prioritise. Once you drive it a bit you priorites are likley to change quite a bit. My 109 get used quite a bit and while it has a few holes in the bulkhead they are not a serious problem and will get welded next summer, likewise the chassis is due an outrigger in the next 12 months, but my preferred next spend is a disc brake conversion or bigger servo because that is what I notice every time I drive it. I like the fact that its 48 years old, doing 3000 miles a year and still on its orginal (woodmans axe) chassis.
 
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