Thread: Tiny bit excited

thx john, the top steering box is now full of oil was empty, just need to find something small to pour oil into the relay seems empty as well.

pic1 removing these seat back brackets were a small nightmare, very hard to get to the bolt behind. anyway all out today

pic2 2nd fuel tank bracket, don't think this is genuine looks home done, fuel tank out with angle grinder seems quickest approach

pic3 close up of said bracket someone confirm please this is not original

pic4 removed with angle grinder, will stick to the original one fuel tank, will need more grinding to come later

pic5 2nd fuel tank removed, some previous owner had turned it into a storage area with the cut out on one side closest to the p/s door

pic6 paint used for the body in case anyone curious, dulux brunswick green

found something to pour some oil into the steering relay, first squirted some WD40 thinking it will mix with the oil anyway, then used a syringe with a caulking tube plastic head and see thru plastic tubing, and then slowly squirted some oil in. after 30mins or so did free up somewhat but still pretty hard to steer. think it just needs time now and another top up later

You very likely need to replace the bottom seal in the relay - can be done in situ. In fact the relay can be overhauled without removing it (just as well since they are often almost impossible to remove!). Caution! Read the manual before disassembling the relay, it contains a powerful spring, and can cause serious injury.

While some oil will make it easier to move, it will take several weeks before the fibre bushes are thoroughly soaked, and it will need a fair bit of exercise to rub all the rust off the shaft.

chassis clean up and small paint, finding the spray cans can be expensive but a whole lot easier to get paint on the chassis. could spray out of a spray gun but then you have the clean up afterwards. anyway small progress is still progress i guess.

can see someone has repaired the bottom half of the main chassis as there is a weld across the bottom 2/3rds of the main face just noticeable in the pic.

pic1 d/s 3 bolts needed removing to undo tub, so out with the grinder

pic2 d/s this is what holds the tray in place afterwards with the grinder, thankfully minimum damage to alum

pic3 p/s done this time, just wanting to prepare for tub removal

pic4 while at it removed the door sills both side again part with grinder some with spanners

pic5 separation between tub and frame, finally

pic1 top view top bar

pic2 top view tow bar

pic3 unpainted chassis top rail, needs clean and quick paint

pic4 painted chassis top rail

pic5 towbar not original so needs to go, seems like a nice set up, prob from a ute nicely fitted, but gone.

pic6 unoriginal tow bar gone

pic7 underside of tub untouched, needs a lot of work

managed to remove the front bump stop rubbers that's it, slow day. chassis looks to need a lot of work. bracing myself for the amount of welding, cutting, grinding etc involved. more to come later. also added some more oil to steering relay, slowly becoming softer to rotate but long way to go yet though its not seized up as before.

Originally Posted by shamirj

managed to remove the front bump stop rubbers that's it, slow day. chassis looks to need a lot of work. bracing myself for the amount of welding, cutting, grinding etc involved. more to come later. also added some more oil to steering relay, slowly becoming softer to rotate but long way to go yet though its not seized up as before.

Good progress.
Make friends with a sheetmetal shop, also some members may have bits of old chassis lying around,but it's not hard to make repair sections from some 2mm sheet steel.
I trust you are only freeing up the steering relay so you can get it apart. It can be rebuilt in chassis if it won't come out easily.

Cheers Steve