Puma 130 chassis replacement

[Summiitt]

After near 5 months of waiting after my bingle, my new chassis turned up from the UK, will start a post of the chassis swap with photos where possible..the repairers are hoping all said and done in 3 weeks including a full re spray..
Here's a photo of the ute as it was.. Note the waterline from the tub to the doors..the chassis is bent under the back door pillar..

[POD]

Bummer. Good opportunity to get in a get some fair dinkum sound deadening under there.

[wpalmo]

Good opportunity to galvanise the chassis too.

[Summiitt]

I tried to get a gal chassis, but landrover wouldn't do one..also tried to get a HD chassis, but they said the 130 chassis were already reinforced above standard, and said there would be no gains in custom building one.

[weeds]

You could get it galvanized locally......a member on here had his rear cross member gal'd prior to fitting and it was an insurance job....he paid for the gal himself.

[Summiitt]

Drivetrain has been swapped over, took 2 guys, 2 days, now just waiting on some fixings and new fuel lines and it will be taken back to the panel beaters for the body to be bolted back together..

[rick130]

Curious how the RTA or whatever they now call themselves treat the chassis number ?

[Beery]

Drivetrain has been swapped over, took 2 guys, 2 days, now just waiting on some fixings and new fuel lines and it will be taken back to the panel beaters for the body to be bolted back together..

Make sure you keep lots of photos for potential warranty/insurance claims...I don't like those air and coolant hoses being left open to atmosphere. Do you know if the block has been kept full of coolant?

[Summiitt]

G'day rick, the main reason the vehicle wasn't written off was that land rover are one of the very few manufacturers that will build a chassis and stamp it with your number, hence the near 5 month wait for it to be stamped and sent over.
Beery, the block is still full of coolant and the hoses have either been clamped or plugged so I'm not too concerned.

[Summiitt]

This is where the chassis bent.. It did this on both rails

[dromader driver]

Summit,
was that bend just behind the cab. i have seen this area crack on a ute used with a boom spray on broadacre farming.

Fix was to straighten, weld and fishplate. all designed by an engineer.

Not a good sight.:(

[Adrian18]

So how'd you bend it

Sent from my SM-N9005 using AULRO mobile app

[Summiitt]

Summit,
was that bend just behind the cab. i have seen this area crack on a ute used with a boom spray on broadacre farming.

Fix was to straighten, weld and fishplate. all designed by an engineer.

Not a good sight.:(

Yep the bend was just under the rear body where it sweeps up to go over the back axle, this was as a result of an accident, not structural fatigue, however at the time of the crash I was 3.4+tons as this is the normal load I carry.
The front right chassis rail also had a twist in it.. It was a big impact, knocked me out for a little, give me 2 black eyes and a split lip.. Motor and radio were still ticking along as if nothing had happened..and drove another 30,000km in 5 months while I waited for the new chassis to arrive with no issues..

[d2dave]

Curious how the RTA or whatever they now call themselves treat the chassis number ?

This crossed my mind as well. I have a friend who is a fully certified RWC tester in Vic.

He told me that you can't change a chassis as it then becomes another vehicle.

Next time I see him I will question him for more clarification.

[cafe latte]

This crossed my mind as well. I have a friend who is a fully certified RWC tester in Vic.

He told me that you can't change a chassis as it then becomes another vehicle.

Next time I see him I will question him for more clarification.

But if Land Rover have given him a chassis with his old number on it nothing has changed.
Chris

[d2dave]

But if Land Rover have given him a chassis with his old number on it nothing has changed.
Chris

My bad. I missed that post. I did not realise that he was getting one with the same number.

[Summiitt]

Got the ute back yesterday, new chassis, new doors, new guards and a respray, plus I got some upgraded suspension thrown in as well. The guys have done a great job, quieter than when new and general fit and finish is better than from the factory.

[Tombie]

Great to see it back straight and shiny!

[dennisS1]

Good to see back on road, very interesting as I have not long finished a rebuild project of a 2008 130, repairable write off from WA. Will post a full details under new thread. As with yours new chassis stamped in England and landed here in just under 3 months.
Same story Vic roads seemed some what confused about the Chassis number, but in the end it still has the original Vin.
The people that say you cant change the chassis are wrong even the ones that work for Vic roads. But the Chassis like all parts must match the ADR for that car.
Dennis

[Summiitt]

You just have to get the right smash repairer and the right assessor.. My assessor deals mainly with heavy vehicles where chassis replacements aren't uncommon, so after finding the right repairer it all went smoothly but took along time.. 4 months for the chassis to land and 7 weeks for the repair wasn't ideal, but after driving it for a week it's better than when new, less movement in the body, tighter closing doors, and a better fit and finish in the interior..it went straight in yesterday for the oil pump recal, service, gearbox output shaft and I think new rear axles and drive flanges to address the backlash issue.. Got myself a new truck @70,000km!! Can't wait to get it back and use it to earn a living..