Chassis replacement or repair? SIII

I've a 1972 SIII LR on the drive. It's not moved for 12 months, (still starts first time, even with -5C this morning).
There's significant rot on the chassis that's repairable, but I'm seriously considering the purchase of a new chassis and swap over.
Not attempted anything like this before, (I can weld/ rebuild engines etc...), but this would be a significant project.

Another reason for this is that there's a intermitted short somewhere, (I think), as the engine will cut out intermittently. Missing at high revs or stalling if idling. I thought a swap over might fix the short at the same time, (naive possibly!).

I throw this out to the floor.

Thanks
Ollie.

I would repair and use the time to sort all the small stuff and enjoy it. If you really like it and its sorted then save up for a chassis swap. There's a youtube vidoe of some Swedish guys doing a series chassis swap in 24 hours. if you look at the build threads people who go for a rebuild / new chassis often take a year or more. Its hard not to want to fix every single thing once its apart and turn it into a new / resto series, a lot of work and money. A chassis swap is not just getting the body off, its the axles, all the brake lines, a good chunk of the wiring loom too along with no end of corroded nuts and bolts.

Try replacing the old ignition points set up with an electronic ignition module, this might sort out your misfiring issue. It's cheap and easy to do and if it doesn't solve the problem, you can revert back to points or keep the more efficient system.

Col

Get it on the road and use it, I reckon it'd be easier to get yourself a rolling chassis then just swap stuff over side by side

Thanks Marmaduke - rolling chassis? Are people actively selling rolling chassis, or are you suggesting I 'make-up' a rolling chassis?

I would get it on the road and use it too.

then if you want to, get a couple of axles and new chassis and possibly bulkhead, adding brake lines etc at your leisure, then once its ready do the side by side as marmaduke suggests

many full restos get started and sold on as unfinished projects as they take so long, people run out of time, money, interest etc. if you can weld, reparing the chassis should be a breeze

full rolling chassis do come up on ebay as do plenty of piles of bits that were once good intentions

OllieGBR said:

Thanks Marmaduke - rolling chassis? Are people actively selling rolling chassis, or are you suggesting I 'make-up' a rolling chassis?

Click to expand...

If you want to do a chassis swap buy said chassis and bung axles and wheels under it but use it in the meantime

I very much agree about the number of well intentioned rebuilds that never get finished, I think its a real risk and its hard for a chassis swap not to turn into a full rebuild if there are quite a few other things need fixing.

I think these guys have the right idea, start with a sorted vehicle and blitz it:

I done a full rebuild & chassis swap including rebuild on the axles brakes & engine ect plus a full re-spray
all done in 7 months & spent about 5k in parts..... I started as just a mini restro & ended up throwing everything
in the skip & bought all new parts.

If the chassis can be repaired id weld the **** out of it & enjoy using it.
I am looking for another 300tdi defender chassis as I want to build another one
but I have 2 weeks off every month so I have plenty free time to spend on it.
If you have funds/time/space/tools & a patient wife then go for it..........
Get plenty pics for the team

rob1miles said:

I very much agree about the number of well intentioned rebuilds that never get finished, I think its a real risk and its hard for a chassis swap not to turn into a full rebuild if there are quite a few other things need fixing.

I think these guys have the right idea, start with a sorted vehicle and blitz it:

Click to expand...

absolutely brilliant, clever idea to leave the wings bulkhead and front panel together, I would never have thought of that.

iirc someone once told me the easiest way to do it was to lift the body whole via a crane and drop it onto the new chassis