1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Technical questions and answers
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firemanshort
Posts: 378
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:42 pm
Location: Loudoun County, VA - near Wash DC

1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by firemanshort »

Hey everyone - I have been updating my local forum with the progress on this project but it looks like I forgot to post something over here - where people might really be interested in a Stage One.

I bought a Stage One galvanized frame from Richard's Chassis in the UK and had it shipped to me in the USA.

The project has drawn out a lot longer than I expected. (What Land Rover project does not?)

Here is where I am at today.....

Image

Image

If anyone wants to see more of the story - check out the Guns and Rovers forum (http://www.gunsandrovers.com/forum.php)
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Firemanshort
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Virginia, USA
Jeremy
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Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:53 pm

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by Jeremy »

Looks good!
disco2hse
Posts: 1637
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:51 am
Location: Auckland NZ

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by disco2hse »

Looking at your first photo. I think you may have been ripped off. Your frame looks a little light and the wheel diameter is a bit small.

:lol:
Alan

1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
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firemanshort
Posts: 378
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:42 pm
Location: Loudoun County, VA - near Wash DC

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by firemanshort »

I have been posting updates on my regular forum about this project. The full story is at GunsandRovers.com

But the short version is that I am finished (near enough to finished). I took it to an off road rally this weekend and drove it for about 400 miles.

Image

Image

Here is a link to the full photo album.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/47617502@N08/F89ZU9
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Firemanshort
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Virginia, USA
disco2hse
Posts: 1637
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:51 am
Location: Auckland NZ

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by disco2hse »

Woohoo :D

Looks really good as a ute.
Alan

1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
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Geoff
Posts: 599
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:21 am
Location: Leicester UK

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by Geoff »

Cool photos (but what happened to your driver's door skin?!)
2 1981 Stage One 109 V8 SWs
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firemanshort
Posts: 378
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:42 pm
Location: Loudoun County, VA - near Wash DC

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by firemanshort »

Long story - sad story. I will see if I can give a short version that in understandable.

I was building the new frame up at a professional repair shop (friend of the Rover club) and I was taking apart the original truck at my house.

I had to transport the body shell to the new frame as one of the last steps. I loaded the body shell on the trailer facing backward - just because that is how it came out of my garage. The doors were not closing very well because everything was out of square since it was half disassembled. So, I used a bungee cord to hold them together and keep them close for the journey.

About 1:50 hours in the 2:00 hour journey - and on the interstate highway at 60mph - the bungee cord broke with spectacular results. The little hook that was attached to the bungee cord ricocheted across the truck and placed that huge - bullet-hole-like dent on the inside of the door. The doors then flew wide open - catching the highway wind and hyperextended into the bulkhead. The results are bent doors, bent catch rods, bent catch rod brackets, and a bent/torn bulkhead where the catch rod brackets bolt into the bulkhead. It really made a mess of things.

At the moment, the doors barely shut - but shut enough to get around. It will be several weekends of looking and figuring and fixing to try and undo the damage that I have done.
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Firemanshort
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Virginia, USA
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Geoff
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Location: Leicester UK

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by Geoff »

Jeez, what crap luck :( I thought the door looked like it had stopped a bullet from the inside, but that hardly seemed possible.
2 1981 Stage One 109 V8 SWs
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disco2hse
Posts: 1637
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:51 am
Location: Auckland NZ

Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap

Post by disco2hse »

Wow, sucks :(

Hoping you didn't been the door frames too and that the metal comes back without stretch.
Alan

1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
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