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.....
If anyone wants to see more of the story - check out the Guns and Rovers forum (http://www.gunsandrovers.com/forum.php)
1980 Stage One Frame Swap
- firemanshort
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: Loudoun County, VA - near Wash DC
1980 Stage One Frame Swap
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Firemanshort
Virginia, USA
Firemanshort
Virginia, USA
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
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.
Alan
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
- firemanshort
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: Loudoun County, VA - near Wash DC
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
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.
Here is a link to the full photo album.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/47617502@N08/F89ZU9
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.
Here is a link to the full photo album.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/47617502@N08/F89ZU9
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Firemanshort
Virginia, USA
Firemanshort
Virginia, USA
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
Woohoo
Looks really good as a ute.
Looks really good as a ute.
Alan
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
Cool photos (but what happened to your driver's door skin?!)
- firemanshort
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: Loudoun County, VA - near Wash DC
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
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.
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
Virginia, USA
Firemanshort
Virginia, USA
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
Jeez, what crap luck I thought the door looked like it had stopped a bullet from the inside, but that hardly seemed possible.
Re: 1980 Stage One Frame Swap
Wow, sucks
Hoping you didn't been the door frames too and that the metal comes back without stretch.
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
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5