Series 3 SWB Nut and Bolt rebuild

Thank you for keeping this updated, I'm really enjoying it.

Day 11 - Turned the chassis over and gave it a once over to see if there were any splatter that I had missed, drilled a few extra 10mm holes in the corners of the outrigger just to make sure that there are no air pockets when galving.
Filled up the shock mounts with some 8mm threaded bar to avoid having to drill galv out of them and that was it, chassis and smaller bits ready. Below some before and after photos of chassis prep

Some of the other bits that I'm sending for glav.

First order in with John Craddock's (hey that must be worth 10% discount !) All the items needed to refurb the front and rear axle, brake drums, shoe kit and diff seals.
Does anyone know how to take the halfshaft inner bearing race and oil seal collar off the half shaft ? I would like to re use the collar, have quickly tried heating them up wishing they would drop off ! but no such luck. Any suggestions ?
Attached photo of what I'm trying to explain. (red arrows show inner race of bearing then the collar that the oil seal runs on

I'm sure ive read about them being drilled on both sides (two or three holes in a row) so they can stretch a little when heated and once off a small way will come away easily. Obviously making sure you don't drill all the way through but nearly.

Youtube, the best tool in the garage! there's a video showing you how to remove and install the halfshaft bearing race and collar. Brilliant! just use a grinder to thin out an edge being careful not to go through to the shaft, then use a chisel to split. Once off give the shaft a good clean, apply some heat to the bearing race and some wd40 onto the shaft and hey presto it should slide on.

Day 12 - Spent the day sand blasting the exhaust brackets to send to the galv, blasted all of the axle components clean of rust ready for painting once the bearings have been pressed in.
Found the five original wheels which have been blasted and ready for painting limestone white.

Day 13 - Could this be an unlucky day I wonder ? hell NO! superstitious bull s@#it, quite the opposite may have found an engine ! wont count my chickens just yet but fingers crossed. Only problem is that's its frigging miles away (saying that I do live in Anglesey so nowhere is near!) quick google and a pallet couriered will cost me £100 Hmm..... suppose it's worth it. As the landy's no good without it. Anyway I do deviate and ramble on. Some progress today, degreased all of the axle parts other than the axle casings and diff covers (tomorrows job) masked them all up and sprayed them with an aluminum based 2pk primer (international marine grade) oh this stuff is the dogs! it sprays really well, no runs and thick ! ( no not me ! the paint) check out some pics!

Yes I did spray the parts in the garden as the garage was full up, and before anyone asks 'No' flora or fauna were not harmed. The pet rabbits didn't mind a bit of overspray neither in fact I quite like flopsy with grey highlights !

Day 14- well the engine that I found came up trumps, well lets say that I have paid and arrange collection will wait and see what turns up as the chap that's selling it was slightly confused as to what he thought and what he actually had! The photo showed glow plugs and holes for the injectors but for some reason he thought it was a petrol engine. Will see what turns up on Wed. lets hope its a 5mb diesel as the bloody delivery cost the same and the engine!
As well as a productive day on the phone I managed to get some work done in the garage, de gunked, de greased and painted the front axle case and diff housing. Chassis and smaller items went to galv and the front axel and casing is ready for painting tomorrow. And breath..... I think I deserve a glass of red now! hmm... maybe two!

forgot to add this photo of the mk1 internal axle cleaner ! the ultimate Gizmo Gizmo ! available from QVC next week

Day15 - Rain stops play! Well maybe not in the garage! Chassis should be back from the glav some time today had a call from they yesterday asking if they could drill 3 8mm vent holes, not sure where as I had made a thorough job of making sure every compartment and corner was done even a few extra ones in the cross members for luck. will take a look when its back, just hope there not in a obvious place! Spray painted all the axles etc. with 2pk marine grade undercoat (dark gray/drown) this morning, wow they do look good even though the tin stated dark grey they look more like chocolate brown ! Either that or my eyes and stomach are deceiving me as its nearly lunch time ! Think if I was doing a cream coloured county then dark brown would definitely be the chassis color to go for!
Right then as for the Poll I had going..... Galv or paint !

The poll closed yesterday and 10 votes to 1 gets it ! paint the chassis! well I cant leave that one vote out so here's the plan and bear with me here, I do like the look of a galv back end as it matches all of the galv on the rear tub ( see photos) so I plan to mask off the rear bumper and paint the rest of the chassis black. (etch T-wash, 2pk chocolate undercoat then 2pk black top coat)

As the sole voice for leaving galv I thank you.

wasn’t going to name and shame you Steve but I recon your 9.1% of the vote equates to the rear bumper being left galv! Plus I do like the look of a galv front bumper and galv rear bumper it just matches.

Chassis back from Mersey Galvanizers (www.wedge-galv.co.uk) , who have done a superb job. Will get onto some cleaning this afternoon then its ready for T-wash (etch).

You're really steaming ahead there. Puts my progress to shame!

Me too. It's embarrassing. I've been working on mine 6 years. At this rate you'll be done in 6 weeks.

Chassis etched ready for undercoting tomorrow! Think I’ll mix the 2pk and use a paint brush to paint all the difficult edges then spray the larger flat sections

Once I get started....