mick the builder
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Chassis swap on a 300tdi
- Thread starter CassienLandy
- Start date
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Will do. I'll let you know what they say.
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Called them at lunchtime today, Mick. Got put through to 'the director', so I presume there's only one. Anyway, explained that three years ago I bought a 90 with the passenger, tubular outrigger 15mm out, have read about another one a year or so ago and now I'm reading of another which is 18mm out - same outrigger. The director said that because of the variance in tub dimensions they make theirs with a 12mm allowance. Mine must have been put on the jig incorrectly to 15mm. He was a bit surprised that my drivers side was bob on. Interestingly, the OP @CassienLandy seems to have an 18mm gap on both sides. He's got two packing plates, anyway. The director said that some Defenders even came off the production line with packing pieces in that joint.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
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I just don't think Landrovers are very exacting technology.
I once read somewhere that a Ninety twists by half an inch under acceleration. And that is probably a good thing, steel stuctures that don't flex, tend to break.
If I was welding up something the size and shape of a chassis from plates, I would be surprised if there were no slight variations in the dimensions.
Only to be expected with variations in temperature, both ambient and from the welding.
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I agree. In terms of production techniques though, in my case anyway, 15mm difference from one side to another is quite a margin. Does make me wonder about the jig set up.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
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Yes. hard to imagine they don't use a jig. As you say, odd that it was dissimilar. Maybe a Friday afternoon after the pub special.
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He did mention the jig, said mine mustn't have been jigged properly. I think he said they do 1000+ per year and get very few complaints. By the way, I wasn't complaining on the phone.
mick the builder
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Would that be Mr Richards himself? He dosent sound that bothered. If all the parts of a landy are that made with those tolerances, its a wonder they fit together at all.
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Might have been, Mick. I think the guy that put me through said 'I'll put you through to Alistair the director. I think he said Alistair, it was a bit mumbled.
EDIT
Just looked the company up. Alistair Mackenzie Banks. All three directors are called Banks.
mick the builder
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EDIT
Just looked the company up. Alistair Mackenzie Banks. All three directors are called Banks.[/QUOTE]
And they're laughing all the way there with the price of them and their tolerances!
Just looked the company up. Alistair Mackenzie Banks. All three directors are called Banks.[/QUOTE]
And they're laughing all the way there with the price of them and their tolerances!
I think he is talking out of his arse, 15mm is an awfull lot when you buy a rear quarter panel and its 15mm too short, or your doors don't fit because the tub is 15mm too long, look at how the tub is built, there was never any variation between tubs or mounting points, perhaps between models but I very much doubt that as well , lots of TD5 tubs on older models. They are building the chassis wrongly from the word go, originals were pressed for a start, all it takes is for the rail to be bent a few degrees from true and the outrigger would easily be 15mm out. A few degrees is mm's inwards on the rear cross member for the front outrigger to be out by a small fortune.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
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Its an agricultural machine. Not a spaceship.
CassienLandy
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Its been a while since I have been on here (to busy with this chassis swap) to give an update. The job is still fighting me all the way. Reading some of the above comments has made me feel a little better as I was coming to the conclusion I have been to fussy maybe. Expecting everything to just bolt on and be good is a long way from reality.
When I started this project I had the thought that I was not only saving a Defender from being broken but was actually making a better vehicle, and yet every time I put in an extra washer or make a packer, say to myself "Thats as good as it gets" I feel that sliping away and thinking I should have sold the parts and bought a newer one.
When I started this project I had the thought that I was not only saving a Defender from being broken but was actually making a better vehicle, and yet every time I put in an extra washer or make a packer, say to myself "Thats as good as it gets" I feel that sliping away and thinking I should have sold the parts and bought a newer one.
Gmacz
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You just need to dig deep and get it finished.
We have all been there if we have changed a chassis etc.
I never had issues with my designa chassis, it just bolted up nicely but bulkhead was a pain.
We have all been there if we have changed a chassis etc.
I never had issues with my designa chassis, it just bolted up nicely but bulkhead was a pain.
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Please be safe in the knowledge that things rarely go smoothly for any of us. You have good days and bad days. Even on good days, things take a hell of a lot longer to get done than you expect. And..... there's a lot of 'fettling' to be done to get parts to line up and fit properly. Be prepared to take your time, don't rush and don't feel you need to get parts fitted in a given time. It's your job at your pace.
CassienLandy
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I am on a deadline I am afraid, On the 26th of Feb I will be driving the beast 860 miles over 3 days to go to my day job in the south of France. Once there she does 300 miles a week for 10 months towing a boat. Its no easy life for my old girl.
I allowed myself a month to do the job and I am now on week 6 but the end is in sight. I have carried out the whole job on the back garden patio so its been cold and horrible for most of the job, not something I would consider doing again in a hurry.
I allowed myself a month to do the job and I am now on week 6 but the end is in sight. I have carried out the whole job on the back garden patio so its been cold and horrible for most of the job, not something I would consider doing again in a hurry.
mick the builder
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I wish you the best of British luck. Let us know how it goes.
