Stripping off the body panels..

The bodger that sprayed waxoil all over the chassis of my series 11a has covered everything - even large lumps of mud that he could not be bothered to wash off first. when you see this you wonder what the chassis is really like.

I don't fancy lying on my back trying to remove all this mess so thought that removing the front wings, seats and rear tub might make the job a lot easier. In my Haynes manual it rates this as 2 spanners for difficulty - same as changing an oil filter.

Is it really that simple? Am I likely to run into unforseen problems like bolts that wont budge or shear off? If I do get the chassis exposed, is it going to be a bitch of a job getting it back down to bear metal?

I am not sure what to do - leave everything as it is and sort out rust on the chassis when it starts falling apart or try to fix it now. I guess it comes down to how much time it will take. Has anyone done what I am planning - if so, how much time did it take?

Cheers, Jim

Wait for a really really hot day, go park up on some tarmaced on concrete road in the sun to soften the wax slightly - leave it a few hours then go get the underneath jetwashed or steamed, did the same to mine and it worked a treat.

Prepare to find holes.

What you suggest is simple enough in principle, but as you say it could turn into a complete pig of a job. The front wings should come off easily enough - you could do those and see how you get on, cos if you are going to end up replacing the chassis it will all have to come off. Getting the back end off was a real sod when I tried it on my S3 - all sots of seized bolts in difficult places to get at - some near the petol tank were particulaly tricky as there wasn't room to get an angle grinder to them.

Take it down the local bus depot and offer one of the fitters a tenner to steam clean the waxoyle off the chassis If the chassis has got any corrosion the high pressure steam jet will find it for you.