Thread: Roadworthy Inspection and Chassis Cracks

Probably depends on who is inspecting it, but I would be surprised if it was considered a problem in view of the amount of welding on the chassis out of the factory.

Hello All,

I went out in the cold light of day and took some photographs of the cracks in Snowy's chassis rails located under the tray. The inner welded cracks were more extensive than I first thought. I had previously missed the full length of horizontal welds that extend within both inner tray mount brackets. They were covered over with a layer of bull-dust the last time I had a glance at the welded cracks.

One of the local mobile mechanics is apparently is a Land Rover tragic so I will get them to come around for an inspection to look over things as they stand now. At the time I bought Snowy the chassis rails were covered by a thick layer of mud, oil, grease, bull-dust and cow crud that had accumulated over decades of being a farm ute. Jesus - it must have been one hell of an overload to tear such a long horizontal crack in the inner chassis rails!

The photographs are: working from the far left to the far right ... 1 Driver's side outer chassis rail, 2) Driver's side inner chassis rail. 3) Passenger's side inner chassis rail, and 4) Passenger side outer chassis rail - sorry for some reason this photograph has swapped position from being horizontal to vertically orientated when uploaded. The original photograph was taken on a horizontal aspect.

I think it is time to seek professional guidance before spending any more money on Snowy - like converting the rear brakes to discs. Fingers crossed.

Well a bit of an update. I am getting sent the mobile mechanic's contact number so I can arrange an inspection. In the meantime I will break out the pressure washer and clean the area around the welded cracks. Then give the area a going over with a wire brush fitted to my angle grinder so the extent of the welded cracks are clearer to see. Apparently, the bloke works week on week off at a mine and is only in town every alternate week. Gives me time to make things a bit more presentable.

Kind regards
Lionel

I have never seen anything remotely like that on any Landrover chassis. I suspect that the way the tray is mounted may be putting an excessively concentrated load on the chassis, but it could be simply a result of long term gross overloading!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I have never seen anything remotely like that on any Landrover chassis. I suspect that the way the tray is mounted may be putting an excessively concentrated load on the chassis, but it could be simply a result of long term gross overloading!

Hello John,

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One 1 ton fertiliser bag loaded on to the Defender's tray

Two 1 ton fertiliser bags

Three 1 ton fertiliser bags .....

Fo...


Let's go for a drive across a rutted paddock to the plough...

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It is amazing what can be covered up by years of bull-dust, grease and crud. Then make sure the car is not cleaned before it is sold.

It is all down to me a far as Caveat emptor is concerned. I did not follow my own due diligence. When you drive nearly 500 kilometres with a 3.5 tonne car trailer behind your vehicle one is a bit reluctant to drive back home the return trip of another 500 kilometres with an empty trailer.

A text has been sent to the mobile mechanic to arrange a future inspection. There is also a section in an Australian Hot Rod design manual by one of the government's technical sections about boxing chassis. Between the International D-Line chassis repair section and the hot rod design content an approved repair should be found.

Earlier this afternoon, I hit the area with a compressed air gun. Then a wire brush. Followed up by a water pressure blaster. A state of cleanliness has revealed that the 90 degree angle that forms one side of the vertical tray mount's 'C' or 'U' bracket was torn off the chassis by the horizontal crack (Previously posted Photo 2). The full vertical run of the 'U' shaped tray mount bracket has been welded back to the chassis rail.

Looks like in order to plate/box the cracked section I will have to take the tray off. Slice the tray mount bracket off the chassis rails. Grind the horizontal welded crack down flush. Then fit the plate around each side and weld it together at the corners - plus plug weld at regular intervals along the chassis outer and inner faces. After that weld the tray mount brackets to the boxed section of the chassis rails. I might as well wire-wheel the whole chassis and paint it while I am there. Then refit the tray.

Simples... Sigh

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National Guidelines for the Construction and Modification of Street Rods in Australia, Street Rod Manual | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Second Edition Section 3 — Chassis Boxing (p. 16-17) https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/vehicles/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/files/Street_COP_Rev2_Sec_3.pdf

According to the technical specifications I would be doing a combination of v. 3.3.2 Laminating and using vii. 3.3.4 Fish-Plates
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Kind regards
Lionel