Thread: when is a bent chassis considered 'terminal'?

Originally Posted by garrywlh

I have a fairly sad specimen of a Series II (1959) that I bought cheap to serve as a donor while I have a go at fixing up another one that I was expecting to buy; but have now missed out on. sigh.

While stripping this one down to check out the chassis, and possibly to consider doing this one up instead, I discovered this. I hope it is clear in the pic. I can't see any obvious damage to the steel, but clearly somewhere in its past, the front of the vehicle has tried to occupy the same space as something else and been bent to the left in the process!

I have no experience with this sort of thing. Is this too much of a problem to ignore? If so, can these things be fixed, and who would do this kind of work? If not, do you reckon I should give up right now?
Garry

hi gary if thats the only damage its a easy repair jim

thanks Jim. I'd be glad if I don't have to just give up on it. What do you recommend for this particular area of damage? Who do you reckon I should get to look at it?
cheers

Garry... Panic not. If the front left dumb iron is bent like that, it had a sideways hit, not a frontal. If you are handy with a grinder and a welder, I'd be slicing through the top, bottom and outside face and allowing the leg to spring back into place. It may take a few cuts which WILL try and grab the grinder, but with the spring still there and a lump hammer that'll come back fairly easily. If I was nearer I'd come and fix it for you. If your not handy with a welder, find yor local welder/fabricator. He'd have that straight and welded back up in such a way that you won't see it in under an hour if he's any good. If you have the whole body off, run a tape diagonally from a select corner to corner. Then compare the measurement from opposite corners.. Land Rovers are known to be a little out as standard but I would expect it to be within 10mm or less. Let us know what you find!

Ya got me checking SWIMBO's chassis now! From left rear outer corner of xmember to front rh web of bell housing is 2505mm. (Note it has an original x member and is a military SWB!

Thanks for that. I do tend to panic, not being experienced with steel fabrication! I haven't finished removing the body yet, but will now continue to see what other surprises may be in store. I already know that the rear cross member suffered a dodgy repair some years ago, so I knew I would be needing a replacement and a mobile welder to attach it. I'll ask him to look at the front now also.
Will keep going and eventually post some more pics and a progress report.
Cheerio and thanks again.

And from RH rear outer corner of rear cross member to front lh web on bellhousing x member is 2508mm. Only 3mm difference. Not bad for a 1960's Land Rover!

Originally Posted by Sitec

Ya got me checking SWIMBO's chassis now! From left rear outer corner of xmember to front rh web of bell housing is 2505mm. (Note it has an original x member and is a military SWB!

Wow, thanks mate for checking! Very kind of you. Actually I have the technical drawings of the chassis with all measurements in the Haynes. I was going to show it to the welder.

I was going to make the suggesting that your first problem is you have placed that foreign looking black metal device with white markings onto a landy chassis...

Surely if you remove that square have a few pints and then just carry on carry on

That has got to be within Solihull limits - surely

S