What's the latest mate? I've got withdrawal symptoms...:D. Mick tells me the Cummins looks very good in there and is the sort of engine these should have come with in the first place.:)
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What's the latest mate? I've got withdrawal symptoms...:D. Mick tells me the Cummins looks very good in there and is the sort of engine these should have come with in the first place.:)
Hello all.. Little progress here ATM, as I've been distracted by some major clearance behind the workshop for sighting of a 40' shipping container. Three pine trees now gone along with several tonnes of scrap, groundworks done, the container is now in, and the fence is back up, so all being well we'll be back to it this week! :)
Ok, now the re power is all but complete (yeah yeah, the vid is coming 'calm ya farm'), its time to get on with things like the bumper, better lights and the wheel carrier. Now, I'd love to have the bumper on for Melrose, but realistically its not going to happen. The dual spare wheel carrier hopefully is though!!! Here's the first pic for you all. Here are the pivot pins. Yup, they're prob a little on the heavy side :D , but those 255/100 R16's are heavy... Very heavy.
Here are the two 12mm plates that will carry the wheels, along with 8 Metric Fine bolts sourced from work (Kubota!). Once this is built I'll then look to buying two wheel covers, tho I plan to run the rego plate within the center of the RH wheel... depending on legality etc.
And lastly, the plate that will carry it all. Its 180 x 12 flat. The 101's rear x member is 180mm deep, but decent bolting points are limited to the 4 on each rear bumperette, the 2 on each lifting eye, and the 4 in the center on the original dropper plate. I've decided to run the plate from the two points where the bumperette's sit, stepping it in in the middle of the x member, where it will incorporate a tow bar receiver below the line of the rear x member, but there will also be another receiver hole in the center where the trailer drive PTO hole sits, where the NATO hitch will reside. The larger piece of RHS is to link the wheel plate to the 100 x 50 RHS swinging frame so will only be approx 200mm long. Well.. That's the plan anyhow!
Sure you've got enough towing/attachment points in the plan?
Personally I reckon you'd be fine just using half of the holes available and it'd still be quite secure.
Not quite the same, but the rear winch/crane mount on piper 7 just used the 8 bolt holes for the bumperettes (there were some further forward but the back end took most of the load) and even with some of the tricks it performed in use it was still as securely attatched the day it was removed as when it was first fitted.
Still thinking tin top?
So I made a start today. Removed the bump stops, the original NATO hitch plate along with its butchered bolts, and the two lifting eyes. As I thought, the average looking plating on the rear x member that I'm guessing was done this side of the water is a little les than average.. Not only that, its not flat, so my original idea of linking the two plates is the better plan! Here's the plate still in one piece running the width of the mounting holes.. The gap behind is the discrepancy over 300mm of flat area on the left side! :(
I briefly contemplated leaving the plate as one piece across the rear of the vehicle... But it looks so butt ugly, that idea didn't last long!! :D
So here's the plate (now stepped to suit the rear x member) being welded up! More tomorrow if I get to it! :)