Defender chassis swap

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David1985

New Member
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4
Location
Dorset
Hello our Land Rover just failed it’s mot, chassis rot is main points of failure. We was hoping she would go on a year and swap the chassis next year but she’s failed. We don’t really see the point in doing her up for an mot, and then still having a chassis that’s half rotted. I’m quiet good at undoing nuts and bolts etc but not handy on a welder. I’m thinking of doing the swap myself. I just wondered if anyone has any ideas of time scale it would take and things to replace. I spoke to a couple garages and they said it’s about 7-10k to do it. Was hoping to do it myself would half this cost. If people tell me it’s worth paying someone else to do it I might have to swallow the pill. How many man hours do you reckon it would take? Also which chassis would you fit?
Many thanks

David
 
Richards chassis are very popular and have little fettling to do during install..

there are certainly one or two brands to avoid.

Time wise depends on if you are rebushing it or refurbishing components as you take them off

or going to just lay it side by side in a big shed and get at it..

Reckon with 2 or 3 mates and some gun impact guns you would certainly be well on the way over a good weekend if you didn't drink too much Tea
 
its taken me over two years and that's with experienced guys, be prepared to either manage your expectations or extend timescale and budget, budget can expand exponentially, while doing it do you need a new bulkhead, seat box ( or repair), gearbox, xfer box, axles, brakes, wiring looms, body work etc etc etc

if its a straight chassis swap the you could possible do it in 2 weeks
 
David1985 said:
Hello our Land Rover just failed it’s mot, chassis rot is main points of failure. We was hoping she would go on a year and swap the chassis next year but she’s failed. We don’t really see the point in doing her up for an mot, and then still having a chassis that’s half rotted. I’m quiet good at undoing nuts and bolts etc but not handy on a welder. I’m thinking of doing the swap myself. I just wondered if anyone has any ideas of time scale it would take and things to replace. I spoke to a couple garages and they said it’s about 7-10k to do it. Was hoping to do it myself would half this cost. If people tell me it’s worth paying someone else to do it I might have to swallow the pill. How many man hours do you reckon it would take? Also which chassis would you fit?
Many thanks

David
Click to expand...

I fitted a Marsland chassis on my 110, but I got it for a very good price. In total I think I spent around £9-10K, but if it looked worn, it got replaced. It took me 50-51 weeks to do mine, I work 4 shift rota, so that’s almost 4 full days per week; that also included some 18 weeks waiting for chassis to arrive (Shielder chassis are one to avoid, at ALL cost). I also fully resprayed it myself.
I think you are dreaming if you think you can do it for £3.5K. I’m sure chassis prices are around £2-2.5k, add in new suspension and brakes and that’s closer to £3K, then bushes and brake/fuel lines, and your probably over £3K. If you said £5K, then you may have a decent chance, but only if you don’t run into any problems. I would very highly recommend you save the YRM website.
 
+1 for YRM, I opted for a Richards chassis also agree avoid Shielder, I did extensive research prior to selecting the chassis supplier
 
Been talking to my wife and as well as reading advice on here, gonna get it done at a local garage. They will fit a chassis of my choice with new brake lines etc for £1500, labour. Would love to fit it myself but time is gonna be a big constraint. While it’s apart I’m gonna get a new clutch, timing belt, suspension and bushes all round and anything else that needs doing that’s easier while it’s separated. Also gonna have a gkn chassis fitted as he said it’s exact as original except galvanised.



Also got a 76 series 3 in a barn that needs a full restoration at some point so I can do that myself one day. Only had it ten years so I’m doing well. Got 7 years left as my son wants it for a car he’s now ten.....



Land Rovers are like marmite you either love them or hate them...
 
David1985 said:
Been talking to my wife and as well as reading advice on here, gonna get it done at a local garage. They will fit a chassis of my choice with new brake lines etc for £1500, labour. Would love to fit it myself but time is gonna be a big constraint. While it’s apart I’m gonna get a new clutch, timing belt, suspension and bushes all round and anything else that needs doing that’s easier while it’s separated. Also gonna have a gkn chassis fitted as he said it’s exact as original except galvanised.



Also got a 76 series 3 in a barn that needs a full restoration at some point so I can do that myself one day. Only had it ten years so I’m doing well. Got 7 years left as my son wants it for a car he’s now ten.....



Land Rovers are like marmite you either love them or hate them...
Click to expand...
Make sure you have some agreement for the work & costing. This seems very cheap to remove body,axles,fuel tank then swap over to new.
Plan on replacing all bushes
Hope the build goes well
 
David1985 said:
Been talking to my wife and as well as reading advice on here, gonna get it done at a local garage. They will fit a chassis of my choice with new brake lines etc for £1500, labour. Would love to fit it myself but time is gonna be a big constraint. While it’s apart I’m gonna get a new clutch, timing belt, suspension and bushes all round and anything else that needs doing that’s easier while it’s separated. Also gonna have a gkn chassis fitted as he said it’s exact as original except galvanised.



Also got a 76 series 3 in a barn that needs a full restoration at some point so I can do that myself one day. Only had it ten years so I’m doing well. Got 7 years left as my son wants it for a car he’s now ten.....



Land Rovers are like marmite you either love them or hate them...
Click to expand...

I don’t think £1500 is too far away from a rough guide, but that depends on how they do it. I know some local places offer that price, but that assumes a 2 day turnaround using a lift to take the body off in one go. That’s not the way I would recommend doing it, but I can see why. I would definitely get them to agree on a list of jobs, written down, and the approx cost of them jobs. Also ask them to ring you before doing any “extra” jobs over and above that list. Then you can see how much extra it is going to cost.

I think you have made a good choice with the GKN. Hopefully it’s a fast turnaround for you.
 
Chassis has been collected by the garage and they have now spilt body and chassis eeekkkk!
 

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