Thread: Betsy, my 67 s2a build.

Here is todays effort. Ive fitted the front springs. Ive left the bolts loose so i can tighten them once the weight is back on them and i painted them too just to make them look presentable, no other reason. I did have some trouble tho with the left front spring bush. I tapped the bolt in and it jammed inside the bush. So i gave it a hit and it got really jammed in tight. So i put a spanner on the bolt and tried to turn it a bit and the inner sleeve of the bush broke away from the rubber. Ive never had that happen before on a new bush. So i grabbed the vise grips and fitted them to the head of the bolt then used a balljoint splitter to bash the bolt out from the inner part of the bush. It came out eventually after i fitted a second pair of vise grips as the bolt was drifted out. The bolt was ok but the bush was stuffed. I drifted the bush out of the front spring and checked it out. The inner was ovaled and so was never going to work properly. Luckily i hadn't fitted the bushes to the rear springs yet so i used one of those to refit to the front spring. I refitted the spring and all was good. Quick squirt of cheap black paint and it looks the part. Just gotta get 4 new bolts when i can and a new bush for the rear springs.
When Betsy was still together she used to lean down on the drivers side so ive swapped the front springs over left to right. When shes back together ill see if shes still lazy on one side then. I dont know the history of Betsy but i know shes been apart before as shes had some major chassis repairs in the past and i wondered if they've fitted the springs incorrectly. I know that the rear springs are not the originals as there arent enough leaves (only 7) and they are a lot thicker than the front ones.

Time for rest and thoughts of our brave soldiers who paid the ultimate price for us to be free to work on land rovers.

Thanks Boys and girls.

Cheers Rod

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Hi Rod,

Hope you've got some well muscled assistance threading the axle back in there... I work mostly on my own and the axles are blooming heavy once rebuilt!

Ignore me if the plan was to drop them again to refit the axle!

Cheers,

Lou

Hi Lou, i do have a plan whether it works or not ill find out when the time comes. I am planning to fit the axle housing with the diff first and then build up the disc brake setup after so it shouldnt be that heavy i hope. Im just waiting for parts from England so i can fit the rear springs next.

Cheers Rod

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So today i fitted new bushes to the LHR spring and then tried the bolts this time b4 i fitted it to the chassis. Found that 1 bolt went in half way then stopped. Out with the round file and a few swipes later bolt fitted good. Checked the chassis bushes and bolt fitted one but not the other. Same thing with the file. All good. Plenty locktite anti sieze and fitted all the bolts and plates and nuts. Left them all loose. Then cleaned up the leaf spring with the angle grinder and a wire wheel. Then i put a liberal coat of gloss black cheap crap spraycan paint and its drying as i write this post.
Waiting for parts for RHR spring now.
See pics⬇

Cheers Rod

Ps. Just got a call from my nice niece. Her rodeo diesel wont start. Starter is just clicking. Batterys good😕. At the Elizabeth centre with all the shopping. Guess whos going to push start the thing with his trusty old Magna....hmmmm😕😕

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Originally Posted by 67hardtop

Hi Lou, i do have a plan whether it works or not ill find out when the time comes. I am planning to fit the axle housing with the diff first and then build up the disc brake setup after so it shouldnt be that heavy i hope. Im just waiting for parts from England so i can fit the rear springs next.

Cheers Rod

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Aaah... Significantly lighter without the hubs, although the off centre weight of the diffs make them awkward regardless. 6 of one and half dozen of the other concerning fitting the diffs I suppose...

So much easier on exposed axles, but reasonably hard work moving the axles about with them fitted.

Cheers,

Lou

Ok today i fitted the last 2 bushes to the RHR leaf spring. Was waiting for a replacement for a damaged bush. Still waiting for a parcel from England with a couple other bits. Its been a while but patience is a virtue. Will clean up the spring later and paint it with cheapy paint. Its bloody cold today and wet.

Cheers Rod

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Ok parts arrived fron England. Seems they dont know the difference between front and rear shocky rubbers. They sent me two front sets but the numbers on the packaging were front and rear. Dont matter. Rear lower bushes are easy to get. The top rear and front ones are harder to get due to the internal diameter of the bush. Got my colder thermostat now as well and two new wiper arm hubs. Also got the spring shackle plate i was waiting for.

So i wire brushed the spring and fitted it to the chassis with the new shackle plate and bolts and plenty anti sieze grease. Left the bolts loose. Painted the spring. Now it matches the rest.

Time to relax till i get the diffs sorted and fitted.
The u bolt plates are still in the molasses so they will be clean by now😆.

Cheers Rod

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Forgot the pics⬇

Cheers Rod


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