Chassis Repair or Replace?

[InterMechanico]

Good morning, Everyone.

I'm looking for some advice from those persons with experience in restoring or refurbishing a Series 1...

I brought the 80" back to the shop over the weekend to clean up and pressure wash prior to disassembly, which is slated to happen over the Easter weekend.

To be honest, the chassis is in really rough shape. Entire sections disappeared while pressure washing :shock:

So the question to you fine folks is this:

Should I repair the original frame, which I am capable of doing no matter the extent of the corrosion?

Should I source a new frame from a company like Richards in the UK? Has anyone done this (specifically a new series 1 frame)? If so, with a purchase price tag of $7500.00, what can I expect for shipping? Is $10k worth it for a new galvanized chassis? I'm thinking it likely isn't, but....

Let me know what you think :D

Julian

[oldgravy]

The cheapest shipping quote I have found recently is $2500 fob Calgary. Richards has about a 12-16 week delay for Series 2A chassis, as well.

[InterMechanico]

The cheapest shipping quote I have found recently is $2500 fob Calgary. Richards has about a 12-16 week delay for Series 2A chassis, as well.

Well, perhaps we should start a thread on what one Canadian Dollar will buy a person these days! :lol:

So, budgeting for a figure of $10500.00 for a new chassis is not unreasonable.

I'm going to look into CAD drawing what I have before I pull the trigger on that.

[StuartL]

Hi Julian,

When we restored the Grizzly Torque, the frame was also an issue. The biggest problem we faced then was getting a frame, the wait was about 18 months which we didn't have.

The other plus was to have the original frame under it.

I know very little about welding other than I shouldn't even try it. But we were fortunate to have access to Rob. Rob did an absolutely amazing job. I was able to get the drawings through the Land Rover Series One Club and when he was finished you couldn't tell that it had ever been repaired.

Rob.jpg

(99.19 KiB) Downloaded 169 times

When the frame is in bad repair, replacement is always the preferred course of action. I really don't understand people that take an old nasty frame and clean it up and galvanize it.

If you are doing a serious restoration you should spend the money and join the LRSOC, they are a great source of both advice and parts.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[oldgravy]

Who is this "Rob" you speak of?

Asking for purely personal reasons, as my frame needs to go somewhere.

[RobinS]

It really boils down to how much money you want to spend. none of us have seen the extent of your damage but If as you said you are capable of making all the repairs yourself that would be the way to go. There is something to be said in having the original frame even if only parts of it still exist, just my thoughts on it.

[InterMechanico]

Robin that is great advice.
The chassis turned out to be in pretty decent shape. Surprising for sure. The area I was focused on is definitely rough and will need to be replaced, but the rest of it is really good (except for some outriggers).

It was a pleasant surprise to a land roverreaction. I definitely thought the frame was pooched.