GB Crossmember Converted to Bolt-on

[geodon]

Following a harrowing experience mating a Holden 186 to a Landy GB on the garage floor, I decided I want to avoid doing it in-situ. I reckon you would need the patience of Job & the Queen Mother of all G-clamps to accomplish the connection in the vehicle,

There was no way the eng and GB can go out-in together with the 3rd x-member in place so I cut it out.

I got a nasty surprise when it came off: rust had formed on the underside of the chassis

It was welded on on only 2 sides so water seeped in. Horrible welding job to fix it-on my back with slag dropping on me!

The GB mountings had to come off to get at one of the welds.

I welded the two lugs on because I was going to bolt thru the big chassis rail. That shows how much LR experience I have. Fuel tanks?? DERRR!!

Any way, it wouldn't have worked without a solid tube inside the rail to stop the sides deforming when the bolts were done up.

So I elected to go inside the rails and place a 150mm length of 50mm angle iron along the bottom with 2 nuts welded on the receive 2 bolts coming up thru the x-member.

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[geodon]

Looking at the "panel" that came out, I saw the chassis was double thickness where I needed to cut. There was no way to be sure the re-fixing weld would penetrate to the 2nd layer so I plug welded some leftover angle to the inside & connected it up with a few plug welds further foward when it went back in.


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[geodon]

The stitch up went OK & included the plug welds further forward of thge patch to connect up the reinforcing anlge iron.

Overall? Yeah a damn lot of work! But then things ALWAYS look simpler before you get into them, don't they!!

But hey! If I have to take out the engine or GB I will be smiling ear to ear!!

Yes! I know I have blocked the drain holes. I have drilled other ones.


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[Ivan]

Standard thing in the UK was to replace the X member with a military bolt on version. Just needed to weld the fittings onto the chassis.

HTH

Ivan

[juddy]

The fc got a removable cross member came in handy, when we removed the gear box, I cleaned it up before it was refitted.

[geodon]

Oh golly gosh! Did I just "re-invent the wheel"? That's the price of lack of knowledge I suppose!

Surely by attaching a bracket the GB hangs a bit lower? Was I a bit anal to make sure the x-member went back exactly where it was?

I'm guessing the military use inverted saddles (with a pair of caged nuts) simply welded onto the flanks? With holes drilled to allow the caged nuts to go into the chassis cavity?

It would have been a damn sight easier than all that cutting & shutting & then going deaf using an angle grinder.

[juddy]

Must me still on the parts list? As a new part.

[korg20000bc]

Here's some examples of what the Army did:
Details Mods LAND-ROVER -REMLR (http://www.remlr.com/detailsmods1.html)

[geodon]

Hell!

I wish I had posted a "how to" question first!

KORG that IS how to do it.

The original x-member could be used but you would have to take up the gap between the rim & the narrower part of the top-hat section: a few flat washers tacked together.

I love the thru-bolts to attach it! No frigging around lining up threads. I had to taper the ends of the mounting bolts then clean them up with a die.

I could play the "Originality Card" but it's a bit hard with that orange example of Detroit's finest hanging on the GB!

[korg20000bc]

Hell!

I wish I had posted a "how to" question first!

KORG that IS how to do it.

The original x-member could be used but you would have to take up the gap between the rim & the narrower part of the top-hat section: a few flat washers tacked together.

I love the thru-bolts to attach it! No frigging around lining up threads. I had to taper the ends of the mounting bolts then clean them up with a die.

I could play the "Originality Card" but it's a bit hard with that orange example of Detroit's finest hanging on the GB!

You still did good, mate.

[MuckUte]

Hell!

I could play the "Originality Card" but it's a bit hard with that orange example of Detroit's finest hanging on the GB!

Although the engine isn't LR it definately isn't from Detroit either, It is a home grown Aussie engine