Thread: Changing bodies

Yep, body will come off fine after brakes, steering, wiring, etc is disconnected. Not sure how many body mounts you're looking at though. You may need to make a frame up or something to put the bodies on while you swap them over. Access to a hoist would make life much easier.

Why swap bodies?

Is the roof straight?

If so, just swap panels, ALL the panels unbolt and can be swapped over without touching the main electricals.

You will have to do the electrical leads on the doors but that is it.

Much easier and could be done by yourself in a solid weekends work.

Unfortunately the roof is not straight, was thinking of a roof rack to cover and new panels but thought a body change while more work would be the correct way.

The roof unbolts too, you know. A guy I know swapped out his sunroof that way between an '82 and an '86. A relatively easy job.

Does the roof come of the post 86 model ranges?

The front inner panels are welded to the main frame on the later models like the disco.

Originally Posted by Corgie Carrier

Does the roof come of the post 86 model ranges?

The front inner panels are welded to the main frame on the later models like the disco.

Well my '89 wreck has had its roof unscrewed. I think the change to the Disco shared structure came a little after that, at the time the RRC lost its corrugated alloy load space floor and gained a plastic fuel tank.

This great news, is still a little while off as I finishing off the storage and brakes on the other RRC first.

All the doors, bonnet, roof and wing panels bolt on and off. The inner body shell while welded together is bolted to the chassis through rubber body mounts. (this is how they do body lifts by putting longer bolts and spacers under the rubber mounts.)

There are however some compatibility issues with exposed and concealed hinges (exposed ended at MY85 IIRC), but given your donor is a MY86 you should be O.K.

When you re-fit the panels use a liberal amount of sealant like a black butylrubber compound (Butylmastic etc). You should find it in tubes you can get at any hardware like Bunnings, Home or Masters and apply it with a gun. This will reduce body noise and won't fracture and fail like silicone sealants.