The Big Fix starts

[4535jacks]

I bought 4 months ago. The chassis looked pretty solid but a much closer inspection has uncovered some corrosion which the last owner managed to cover up very well with hamerite and waxoyl. So please learn from my mistakes and be very careful when buying privately and always get an expert to check it over.
I can fix the chassis and strengthen it and since the corrosion is small and in open areas (due to progress stone penetration of the coating) and the outrigger look fine but I'd quite like a close to new chasis. So I am planning to assemble a new chassis and wish bones from salvage, restored and re-powdered, new adjustable suspension (recommendations welcome), restored hubs and ball joints. All new bushes, washers and nuts and bolts, upgraded brake discs and pads, All this while i still use the car(its my only car you see).
Then I plan to take the body off in one week, swap the engine, gearbox, propshaft and diff from the old chassis on to the new one (also the other bits and pieces like swirl pot etc) and get the body back on all to be completed in 2 weeks. The only thing I want to use of off the old chassis is the anti-roll bar with droplinks, Brake calipers and the steering rack.
Is this project too ambitious for 2 weeks? Does anyone have any key tips on body removal and remounting the drive train? Does anyone have any salvageable spare parts for sale that I may need for this project?
Thank You

Edited by 4535jacks on Monday 1st September 22:19

[900T-R]

4535jacks said:

Is this project too ambitious for 2 weeks?

I guess it can be done in two weeks if nothing conspires against you - but I wouldn't bank on the latter.

[AntonyJ]

How many hours in your days?
Two weeks might be pushing it, unless you have your new chassis sitting waiting.

I have not long completed a body off on a Griffith, I wrote this wiki for the Griff,and some others contributed aswell.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[4535jacks]

I will work 10 to 12 hours a day and have the new chassis ready to go

[crackedfinger]

Can you actually buy a chassis from salvage?

[jaxdanjo]

Not sure if you know this already, but there is a company (can't remember the name but its in the thread about outriggers). If its the outriggers that are rotten, they can replace them with brand new items without body removal in 1 day, for about £1500 if I rememeber right. This might be a better option for you rather than go through all that trouble.

[4535jacks]

There are also a few holes in he main box sections as well so I might as well do the whole chassis, I'm hoping the whole repair will cost no more than £2000 and the result will be better than standard hopefully.

[900T-R]

4535jacks said:

There are also a few holes in he main box sections as well.

Wow, that's pretty rare - did this car live by the sea, or was it ever involved in a prang that you know of?

[shpub]

Just make sure that the new chassis is the right spec for the car. In particular the gearbox and diff mounts varied: LT77/GKN through T5/GKN to T5 and BTR.

[4535jacks]

The car spent most of it life in london and as far I know has not been pranged. The car has been used as an everyday, all weather car and has 65k on the clock, so I've put it down to a lot of use in bad weather with maintenance or protection on the chassis.