Who's done it then? Defender Chassis Swap

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BearDy89

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,518
Location
Bristol
As Above.

How many of you have done a swap onto new chassis Galv or otherwise.

Im well on the way to saving enough pennys to think about doing mine next year. I was wondering if anyone has a list or can recall what parts i need to have ready to go?

I guess im going to uncover bits n pieces as i go but there must be a starting list?

Chassis, Bushes, brackets, nuts n bolts.
 
Not yet but would love to do mine.

I replace all bolts I take off as a matter of course now. So many of them are rusted to the point of having to be cut off or sockets hammered on. And have done a fair amount of welding to the chassis itself. I need to get a fund going for a new chassis.

I do wonder the best way of doing it though. I have a horrible feeling that pretty much everything I would take off would need replacing also. Quite concerned about the rust on my axles also.
 
Mmm friend of mine just done one an dare I say it she ended up needing spacers lol. Looked great by the end but took some doing!! Best of luck
 
ive done quite a few ,bolts i remember are a bag of m8 x25mm nuts and washers and repair washers, m8 x 100mm x 6 cross member ,m10 x 30mm + nylocs x 6 for triangle bushes m10 x 45 + nylocs for a frame brackets x 6,floor plate screws and washers ,its much simpler if you can lift body in one
 
ive done quite a few ,bolts i remember are a bag of m8 x25mm nuts and washers and repair washers, m8 x 100mm x 6 cross member ,m10 x 30mm + nylocs x 6 for triangle bushes m10 x 45 + nylocs for a frame brackets x 6,floor plate screws and washers ,its much simpler if you can lift body in one

Or if you've got your own Jamesmartin to lend a hand ;)
 
I had a galvanised chassis fitted by Specialist 4x4 Services in County Durham a few years ago, they did a package that included a new galv chassis, new suspension, brakes lines and a few other bits and bobs.
I also had a new heavy duty clutch and a de carbon gas steering damper fitted at the same time, they also MOT'd for me all for a smidge over £3k.
 
I did a chassis and front bulkhead replacement it was worth it but its a shed load of work because you will find things just crop up that need doing as you strip the vehicle.
Good Luck:)
 
I did mine last year, you'll be needing new brake hoses/pipes, Ideal time to replace all of the suspension bushes and clutch! Lots of M8x25 bolts M8 repair washers and M8 nyloc nuts. You'll be needing plenty of cutting discs for your grinder (use 1.5mm slitting discs), get a few able bodied persons to help lift off the roof/rear tub/bulkhead. Remove the bulkhead complete without removing the dash, oh and be prepared to buy new floor and top repair panels for the bulkhead! Start to finsh should take about a month, but thats assuming that you're not working on it every day. You could do it in about a week/10 days if you can work on it every day. Also give yourself £200 extra in your budget to allow for any unforeseen circumstances. Good luck with it, and try and enjoy it. I started mine in November last year and was fitting the wheels in the snow! Bloody good fun though and I'm really glad I did it.
 
Thanks all!!

Great help. It is as i suspected lots of nuts n bolts good to know the sizes etc.
Will make sure i have plenty of cutting discs and lots and lots patience!!

I have a 10% contingency in my budget at the moment the budget is £2.5K so £250 extra.
 
i plan on doing a step by step guide/experience log with plenty photo's.

Im hoping marchish. weather/budget dependent.
 
Found a guide which suggest an engine crane and some strong lads can lift entire body off in one.

So i bought a crane and bribed my mates with pizza n beer so i should be able to do it in one ;)
 
I have just completed my swap over and it took 9 months and a lot more than I planned to spend to be honest. But I did a complete rebuild which meant galvanised bulkhead too. I replaced all the nuts and bolts, bushes track rod ends the lot but came out good in the end I think.
 
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