Practically Classics Forum

I'd have kept the mog grille but that is a fun looking thing. I bet it confuses quite a few people and makes the others smile.

tractorman wrote:I think this one would be more your style Terry:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor- ... 232e19736e

I can't remember when I last saw something that spoilt two good vehicles so successfully!

It does have an austin champ sort of thing going on
It works better than stuffing an ovlov on there

They do nasty things to MGB's as well

The list hasn't been started yet, but it's growing like mad!

I'm still trying to get the trailer/tractor shed built and, while having a fag break, I had a closer look at the fuel tank. It's a plastic tank (filler under the seat), but is held on by four lengths of threaded rod and a couple of flat steel straps! I knew it was a plastic tank - and that there isn't a fuel gauge - but hadn't really examined the mountings!



I have also discovered the source of the noise at the back offside. It isn't the rotten exhaust banging the spring like I thought, it's the shock absorber mounting on the chassis rattling about. The welded repair obviously hasn't worked! I have half a mind to take the back end off and see what the top of the chassis looks like - there was a nice pile of rust around the mounting. I'm just glad I sorted the MIG earlier in the year!!



This was taken the day I got the machine and the mount looks OK in the picture!

After parking the machine up and ignoring it for a week, I happened to notice the shock absorber mount again yesterday (I'm still busy making a shed beside the LR). I had a think and reckon that some of the chassis (at least) is from a 109. That would explain the fuel tank and the strange shock absorber mounting (it's like a 109, not an 88). I now think I know where the S3 bulkhead originated, but I'm loathe to investigate the chassis much further in case I find a chassis number that isn't the same as the one in the log book!

That would suggest that the back springs are from a 109 like the seller's dad thought. If anyone could measure the distance between the chassis mounts on and 88 and let me know - they are about 1150mm on mine. I suspect new springs are off the list at the moment, but may be included later on and I'd like to get something a little softer!

I "won" a proper fuel tank (with gauge sender) on eBay the other day and it arrived on Saturday. It has some surface rust on it, but nothing serious, so a quick clean off and some new paint should sort that problem. Or would if there was a front mounting outrigger for it (another reason for thinking it's a 109 chassis).

I also measured the space in the garage and am cursing somewhat! The pillar drill I fixed to the floor in the spring is in the way! If only it as six inches closer to the bench. Oh well, another little job to sort before I can do any serious work on the mongrel!

There are some handy chassis diagrams in this thread for you to compare with
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=66340

Cheers Terry, I've just checked and, without a slide rule or calculator, it's still obvious that the 88 mounts are closer together! I suspect a set of parabolics may give a softer ride - at some cost!

I have to confess that I am almost tempted to waste some serious money and put a galvanised S3 chassis on it (and not tell anyone). It would solve a lot of problems in a stroke! Getting rid of the old chassis without too many questions may be more difficult and need lots of discs in the angle grinder - or a good friend in the scrap metal industry...

The 109 chassis has deeper main rails than the 88, so I very much doubt that your theory is correct. Surely it's more likely that someone has simply replaced the outrigger in the wrong position.
Fitting a new galvanised chassis won't need to be kept a secret (unless you're talking about one that isn't new). And it won't matter if it's an SIII or not - it'll still be as close as you can get to a like for like replacement and totally acceptable to the DVLA.

And I'm sure you're perfectly aware how much of your Landy is already an SIII anyway.

If you are thinking about replacing the chassis then I would be tempted to have a new one made with the correct mounts for coil springs. As long as you leave the mounting points for the leaf springs in place you shouldn't run in to any problems.

While coil springs do make a nicer ride, I think I'll stick with the original set up - or what should be original - if I change the chassis. That's partly for originality, but more out of laziness! Don't forget, I worked in farming AND schools, so I know how to be tight-fisted! However, I don't want to fit a new chassis unless the repairs and modifications are totally unsafe; or I find terminal rust below the thick underseal/wax that covers it so well that the welding is hard to see! I'm just glad I sorted the MIG earlier in the year!

Willy, I admit I'm no expert on LWB Land Rovers and not a lot better on SWB ones - most of my experience has been behind the driver's seat. However, this machine has LWB springs (according the the dimensions in Terry's link) and rear shock absorber mounts (mounted on top of the chassis, not going through it) and no signs of a front fuel tank outrigger. The back spring shackles almost come tothe back cross member (that is non-standard and looks more like a lump of box section that someone has welded on the ends of the chassis than something that Land Rover made - if you catch my drift). The front of the springs is almost under the seat box and, it may be my imagination, but the back wheels seem to be an inch or so too far forward (I'll measure them sometime to satisfy myself).

While the picture shows the spring, it doesn't show how close the back of the spring is to the crossmember!





On a positive note, I managed to get some felt on the shed roof yesterday and it has thrown a few showers since without the floor getting soaked! I'd be tempted to put the Landy in there if it wasn't for the fact that the MIG's extension cable won't reach - and that I haven't finished that side of the shed!

This is what the damper mounting and rear spring hanger should look like on a 88", the spring hanger is taken from the centre of the vehicle looking towards the RH rear corner. I can't find one of the front mounting but it should be directly under the seat box (towards the rear of it) on the bottom of the siderail.