Looking a bit better already

[Meccles]

A week and already some positive changes. I had supplied a lot of replacement panels, they are all getting fitted. Note new rear cross member etc:)

[DoubleChevron]

A week and already some positive changes. I had supplied a lot of replacement panels, they are all getting fitted. Note new rear cross member etc:)

Is the inner skin metal? I assumed it would be aluminium like the outer panel!

[Meccles]

Haha no it is all metal. They should have made inners all aluminium, and the outer panels steel, would have saved us all a HEAP of work:D. The entire inners of these cars rust out, while outer panels look perfect. Leading to false sense that all is ok! The sills/floors/rear cross member, inner guards, firewall, A pillar, B pillar, all rot. :eek: The roof, and inner floor panel are aluminum. The rest.....

[Meccles]

First photo is of my first RRC I rebuilt in 1988, sold in 1997, re purchased in 2012, and was basis of this rebuild. Looks sort of ok yes? Second one is of doors, which you can look right through. All inner steel panels were rotten. And I mean gone. Courtesy of life on the beach :D Mind, I still drove it home. This engine/gearbox, most of exterior panels, fuel tank (a brown Davis 130Liter etc) are all part of new build.

[PhilipA]

My 1977 cracked at the base of the A pillars, just where they meet the guards.
It might be an idea to reinforce the A pillars by welding a plate behind them seeing you have it in bits.

I remember driving it to a mate's place without a screen to have the cracks welded , and the whole turret shaking about 100MM side to side. The only thing that keeps em in place is the windscreen and the two pegs at the tailgate.
Regards Philip A

[DoubleChevron]

My 1977 cracked at the base of the A pillars, just where they meet the guards.
It might be an idea to reinforce the A pillars by welding a plate behind them seeing you have it in bits.

I remember driving it to a mate's place without a screen to have the cracks welded , and the whole turret shaking about 100MM side to side. The only thing that keeps em in place is the windscreen and the two pegs at the tailgate.
Regards Philip A

I wonder if there is a way of fitting a very discreet roll bar in there. After seeing a few rangies end up shiny side down on youtube ........... You sure wouldn't want to roll one. They have the integrity of a wet paper bag :eek: I like the idea of external rollcage/"roof rack" :angel: on a defender, but it would look out of place on the classic shape of a standard 2door Rangie.

seeya,
Shane L.

[Meccles]

Mmm re roll bar, maybe. Really could only fit simple hoop over rear seat without impinging on interior. Thanks re A pillar will have a look at that. Reason tailgates on RRC used to spring open in rough conditions was body flex:) I fitted the ritters strut conversion in 88 - which will go on this car to help with that. Have a look at Jeremy Clarkson's RRC going down hill in his Bolivia trip... tailgate springs open:D

[PhilipA]

Reason tailgates on RRC used to spring open in rough conditions was body flex
Well Maybe.
But the main reason is simply that the catches have worn out.
The catches depend on 2 plates butting onto each other and need a perfect right angle for them to remain "caught". Once curves are worn onto the edges of the plates they will spring themselves open, or if the adjustment is juuust pulling on the plate.
I have pulled one apart to see if it could be fixed. They maybe could be built up with a bit of weld , but really they are cheap enough to replace.
I had them spring open on my 91 just near wolf creek on the Tanami, and bought new ones for fitting in Kununurra.
Never had a problem on umpteen corrugations with the new catches and the old ones did last 15 years .
Regards Philip A