Chassis strengthening

[Vern]

Has anyone on here done this. Chassis Strengthening (http://www.lrautomotive.com.au/contents/en-us/d625.html#p304)

Was thinking whilst i have the body off and the engine etc..out that i should do it.
I have some 5mm sheet here so was going to cut my own out, but now have a few questions.
Why are the LRA plates notched? Is it so you only stitch weld them on?
Would the be an issue with continuous welding them if i made my own?

[67hardtop]

If u fully weld a chassis it could bend out of shape due to heat and stresses. Thats why they stitch weld

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

[crash]

Make your templates out of cardboard first for a perfect fit - cutting cardboard is easier than trimming steel.
An easy way to transfer the pattern to steel is to lay the template onto the steel then spray paint it with a rattle can.

Another reason for stitch welding is if a crack forms it will only run the short length of that weld VS the full length if fully welded.

I disagree with 67hardtop - If done properly and taking your time and running short welds, alternating from one side of the chassi to the other - you could fully weld the chassi without "warpage"

[Vern]

Have already made them. Will weld on this weekend. Was just curious as to why LRA did theirs that way.

[67hardtop]

I was only suggesting u dont fully weld all one side at once. As the other poster said a short weld on one side and then on the other side, alternating ur welds will not stress the chassis too much. Ive seen the results of someone welding all on one side only. The results were not good. The chassis had to be scrapped. Not a land rover but another brand. Weak chassis. Anyway its just my opinion. Do what ever you feel is right.

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

[loanrangie]

Will adding stiffness to the chassis have any adverse effects ? , i know rover chassis's are stiffer than jap vehicles by design.

[manofaus]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. I am no veteran but I don't hear too often that the defender needs a stronger chassis. You might increase strength in one part but bound to introduce a stress in another or make a localized point for failure by welding. I would get it dipped and galvanized.

[JDNSW]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. I am no veteran but I don't hear too often that the defender needs a stronger chassis. .....

I'm not sure we are talking about a Defender - the link in the first post refers only to D1 and Rangerover. There have been problems with 130 chassis, but they seem mostly to relate to either poorly fitted trays and/or gross abuse.

I suspect the strengthening plates in the link are intended for highly modified vehicles that are being used way outside the design parameters.

John

[Vern]

Correct john, its in a range rover, with 4bd1t etc...so whilst the body is off and the engine out, why the hell not hey:D

[JDNSW]

Sounds like a good idea - the 4BD1 is about twice the weight of the engine this chassis was designed for! Quite apart from any use planned for it.

John

[workingonit]

Have you welded the extra plate yet?

My RRC chassis was showing some minor bulging inside the rails - 4 pound mallet resolved that issue. Then I got a certified welder to put some white tigers on. They are galvanised. Welding had to be certified as part of my provisional alterations approval from motor vehicle registry. The welder charged minimum of 3 hours at $100 an hour - he would have finished in about 2 hours and 30 minutes, but I took him out to 2 hours and 55 minutes with lots of welding questions :)

I asked the Richardson sales guy how they should be welded. "Your welder will know" was the response. Pressing the point, I was told only weld the valleys, circles, and half circles - not the valley walls or crests. For a complete seal lather it in chassis paint.

Adding the chassis strengthening plate reduces the space into which the cross member must fit. Rather than just cut the cross member in half and shorten it I decided to unpick the welds at one end and adjust from there - probably stronger.

The RRC chassis (viewed externally) is not much different to the D1/D2 (I've actually installed a poly D2 tank into the RRC). The Defender is about 2 inches deeper in the mid section of the chassis rails than the RRC/D1/D2 - but suspect Defender chassis over the axles might be similar to the RRC/D1/D2. Can't vouch entirely for what internal bracketing goes into each model's chassis.

[Vern]

Yeah made my own, stitch welded and welded circles. Then sika flexed all gaps and added plenty of paint.
Gotta love their attitude don't you. So arrogant :mad:

[workingonit]

If the pictures on their website were a bit clearer I probably wouldn't asked! :)