Chassis Modifications

[bemm52]

Having some random thoughts on my soon to be started rebuilds, one of my chassis is a military one which I want to turn into a ute.

It has terminal rust in rear cross member 148051 148052 148053

Plan is to cut of side rails and beef up vee'd x member as new rear x member to except tow hitch etc.

End result should bring 109 from this 148054 to this 148055 same concept as a 130 tub

Have truck cab and capping's for front of tub where door would normally go, plan to shorten front and rear of red 109 tub that someone has already flattened at rear quarter panel. Should end up with a tub approximately 1530 long as an outside measurement, front wall of tub will be vertical.

148056 148057 148058

Well that's the plan at the moment gunna have to commit soon[bighmmm][bighmmm]

Cheers Paul

[JDNSW]

You do realise that this will require engineering approval?

I assume that you are keeping the same wheelbase? That makes it a lot simpler.

[bemm52]

You do realise that this will require engineering approval?

I assume that you are keeping the same wheelbase? That makes it a lot simpler.

John I am keeping same wheel base and spring hanger positions just removing the rot, surely no different to welding in new rear x member in usual positions, hadn't really considered I'd need engineering and don't really want to go down that path

Cheers Paul

[weeds]

I doubt the inspector would pick up on it.

[JDNSW]

I doubt the inspector would pick up on it.

That is correct as well - but I'm pretty certain that changing the chassis length would (strictly speaking) require engineering - but the odds are very much that you would get away with it.

[Dervish]

Why go to the trouble of shortening a tub front and rear and having a separate tray back panel to enclose the cab when all you need to do is bobtail the tub?

[bemm52]

Why go to the trouble of shortening a tub front and rear and having a separate tray back panel to enclose the cab when all you need to do is bobtail the tub?

I had thought about this but I have a complete truck cab from a tray back, by shortening the tub both ends everything lines up re wheel arches and I could remove tub and substitute a tray back easily in the future.
To be honest I like the look of my 130 tub, I have all the body parts I need to create this in a Series sort of way and how often does the opportunity to build something unique come along.
I also think I will try and find out more about engineering as John mentioned, a few google searches of Vic Modification Guidlines didn't reveal to much they seem more concerned with engine HP upgrades and protrusions than slightly changing a chassis overhang

Cheers Paul

[Homestar]

Technically may need Engineering as the load of the tray will end up in a different place if I’m reading things correctly (I may not be though) but as the chassis between the axles isn’t being cut and shut, I would think that almost all road worthy places wouldn’t have a clue about what it should look like back there anyway or what brackets and outriggers were original to the vehicle so I’d just do it if it was me.

The factory welding is so bad, it’s easy to replicate - drag out the welder, break out some ****ty rods that splatter everywhere, get drunk, then do the welding - it will look exactly like what was originally there... 😆