I have a Transarc welder sitting in my garage doing nothing but collecting dust. I might drag it out this weekend. I can weld as I have undertaken classes when at TAFE many years ago. When I get the LRPV stripped down to the chassis, I will determine how much metal working I think I can do myself.

I can buy an excellent cross member for $100 from the local wrecker. I will do this then have a professional weld it in. At least this will be done correctly.
Looked at secondhand Mig welders for sale but found them to be a little too high priced for me. Apart from the chassis, there is no other structural welding required on the LRPV so welder will have to wait.

I feel better already. The galved series 3 chassis was starting to worry me as it required so much work and the fact that it was not the original.

__________________
Regards Stuart

174-323 1969 S2A LRPV
175-170 1969 S2A LRPV
178-404 1971 S2A LRPV
172-463 1968 S2A GS/LRPV
178-185 1970 S2A GS
101-527 1964 No.5 'Norforce' Trailer

REMLR Member No - 209

How much work do you need to do to the LRPV chassis ?
Do you have a pic of it stripped down ?

I will post some as soon as I have the rest of the body panels off. This weekend I hope.

__________________
Regards Stuart

174-323 1969 S2A LRPV
175-170 1969 S2A LRPV
178-404 1971 S2A LRPV
172-463 1968 S2A GS/LRPV
178-185 1970 S2A GS
101-527 1964 No.5 'Norforce' Trailer

REMLR Member No - 209

Cheapest way might be to get another S2/2a chassis which is ok at the front, and get it cut and shut to the front of your chassis if it is that damaged. I guess you won't really know how bad it is untill you get it stripped down. Rebember it may look worse than it is, my s2 ambulance (also a 1 ton chassis I believe) looks awfull, but all bar one tiny bit at the end of a chassis rail is all sound still. Looks bad in places, but it's only flaky paint and some scaly (not structural) rust.

__________________
1981, Series 3 FFR. 33-727 - Grover
1961, Series 2 Ambulance. 108-098 - Eden

Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers Mem. 129
Defence Transport Heritage Tasmania Mem. 12

You know, strictly speaking, throttling the staff is my job

G'day Folks

To clarify Phoenix's comment re the chassis,ALL Australian Military Landrovers in the 2a series were built on a raised chassis, I.E. the Spring mounts were built to give the vehicles greater ground clearance, and had added strenghing plates,(after approval from Solihull) this chassis design was so successfull that Solihull decided to put the chassis into production as the "1 Ton", along with a lower Transfer Ratio, and with 9.00x 16 tyres and diesel spec springs, this model was never imported into Australia, therefore all Chassis produced in Australia are from the Rhd CKD Chassis series, hence the 243/253 chassis prefix numbers.

Hope that is of help

cheers

__________________
68 2a GS 6028D 172-484
Aust No5 trailer 2wheel 1/2 ton Ch 1974=173-489
REMLR No 003

G'day Phoenix

Just had a look the front-on pic of your Ambo, Yes, It has a raised Chassis, so therefore the Ambos might have been the first to use that type after approval

cheers

__________________
68 2a GS 6028D 172-484
Aust No5 trailer 2wheel 1/2 ton Ch 1974=173-489
REMLR No 003

Under the 'bat wings' you can see the original colours of the camo paint. The faded pinkish colour is infact a brown earth colour. Other areas that were protected from the sun have also revealed original colours. If these colours are not ADF approved and listed, I will need to have them colour matched.



The ROPS bars/side steps cannot be removed from vehicle unless cut and separated. After studying the construction method, I have concluded that the ROPS bars must have been placed over the vehicle and welded to the chequer plate side steps. To remove the LRPV tub, I have to undertake 'reverse construction' and remove ROPS at the same point. This works well as there will be no tell tale welds and originally will be preserved.





As you can see, side steps/bat wings can now be unbolted from chassis and simply dropped off. Bat wings cannot be removed from side steps as they have reverse hinge brackets. Their removal is not necessary as they can be sand blasted and painted whilst in situ.

__________________
Regards Stuart

174-323 1969 S2A LRPV
175-170 1969 S2A LRPV
178-404 1971 S2A LRPV
172-463 1968 S2A GS/LRPV
178-185 1970 S2A GS
101-527 1964 No.5 'Norforce' Trailer

REMLR Member No - 209

Removing the tub.





More casings found behind the tub mounted fuel tank.

__________________
Regards Stuart

174-323 1969 S2A LRPV
175-170 1969 S2A LRPV
178-404 1971 S2A LRPV
172-463 1968 S2A GS/LRPV
178-185 1970 S2A GS
101-527 1964 No.5 'Norforce' Trailer

REMLR Member No - 209

great work tommy keep them coming mate ! you are going 100mph on this one !

__________________
I know if I ever get attacked by a piece of paper or a man in a black suit firing paint pellets ill be safe !!!!

Chassis ready for sending off to be repaired and sand blasted.

__________________
Regards Stuart

174-323 1969 S2A LRPV
175-170 1969 S2A LRPV
178-404 1971 S2A LRPV
172-463 1968 S2A GS/LRPV
178-185 1970 S2A GS
101-527 1964 No.5 'Norforce' Trailer

REMLR Member No - 209