Lexus V8 with NOS in a Renault Espace - yeah lets do it !
Discussion
Managed a few hours in the garage earlier , I have finally got 2 pieces of box section welded into the lexus sill area , now if I have my measurements correct they should be in the exact place for the matching box section on the espace body to sit straight on top of them when I lower the body on - in theory anyway !!
You can just make out the box section in this pic -
This is easier to see them now the remaining sill has been removed -
And you can see how much wider the lexus track is on this pic -
I have some more cutting on the front to do but it's not a great amount , a little more welding and tidying of joints and cut lines to do and then it should be 'body on' time , it's getting interesting !!
You can just make out the box section in this pic -
This is easier to see them now the remaining sill has been removed -
And you can see how much wider the lexus track is on this pic -
I have some more cutting on the front to do but it's not a great amount , a little more welding and tidying of joints and cut lines to do and then it should be 'body on' time , it's getting interesting !!
Today Jupiter was in alignment with the 3rd moon of Uranus !!
In other words , a rare day where everything went to plan , a nice dry sunny day , a day off work , no children and the Mrs away !!
I got started at 8 this morning trimming the front arches of the Lexus
and some trimming round the front of the engine bay
That left the Lexus pretty much ready !
Work then turned to the Espace bodyshell, I removed the tailgate and doors , and had just a couple of other bits to do on it , then it was time to try out the 'lifting gear' which i must say worked an absolute treat , no heavy lifting - all done electrically by remote control
Then just slip the Lexus rolling chassis underneath .......
and carefully lower it down ...
a little bit of trimming here and there , not much tho , i surprised myself how smoothly it went , then clamp the important bits together and some more welding , then release hoists and hey presto , 2 cars are now 1 !!
I fitted the doors and they open and close fine with good shut lines, and just a little trimming round the wheels
I then needed to fit the correct wheels to get an idea of how it will look
here's a few more pics
There is plenty more welding to do , in fact there's plenty more work to do but i feel like i have taken a giant step today , i will check the calendar for the next time the planets align - maybe on that day i will get her running again .....
In other words , a rare day where everything went to plan , a nice dry sunny day , a day off work , no children and the Mrs away !!
I got started at 8 this morning trimming the front arches of the Lexus
and some trimming round the front of the engine bay
That left the Lexus pretty much ready !
Work then turned to the Espace bodyshell, I removed the tailgate and doors , and had just a couple of other bits to do on it , then it was time to try out the 'lifting gear' which i must say worked an absolute treat , no heavy lifting - all done electrically by remote control
Then just slip the Lexus rolling chassis underneath .......
and carefully lower it down ...
a little bit of trimming here and there , not much tho , i surprised myself how smoothly it went , then clamp the important bits together and some more welding , then release hoists and hey presto , 2 cars are now 1 !!
I fitted the doors and they open and close fine with good shut lines, and just a little trimming round the wheels
I then needed to fit the correct wheels to get an idea of how it will look
here's a few more pics
There is plenty more welding to do , in fact there's plenty more work to do but i feel like i have taken a giant step today , i will check the calendar for the next time the planets align - maybe on that day i will get her running again .....
That's looking pretty cool. It must have been a weird moment finally pairing everything up.
I'm not too sure if this has been covered earlier in the thread but after seeing the bodyshell dropped on to the chassis, how will you manage to service/work on the engine given the location of the winscreen etc?
I'm not too sure if this has been covered earlier in the thread but after seeing the bodyshell dropped on to the chassis, how will you manage to service/work on the engine given the location of the winscreen etc?
Frances The Mute said:
I'm not too sure if this has been covered earlier in the thread but after seeing the bodyshell dropped on to the chassis, how will you manage to service/work on the engine given the location of the winscreen etc?
Fingers crossed he never needs a new starter motor!(for those that don't know the starter on the LS400 is in the middle of the V at the back, it's a full inlet manifold job off job to do and it doesn't look as if there is enough clearance to do it)
Still, not like there isn't precedent. I'm sure I recall some supercar or other that needed some of the bodywork to be cut off then welded back and the car re-sprayed to do IIRC valve clearances.
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