chassis leg

Post by **ady4502** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:23 pm

Hi. Can anyone help. how do i remove the old leg? i have a new one ready to install but unsure where to start.thanks

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:40 pm

A little more information would be a help - do you mean you plan to replace (by welding) one of the chassis legs which go from the central crossmember up to the front of the car. Or are you talking about something else?

Post by **Dean** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:18 pm

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... c&start=60

Very photo heavy and eveline's friends took the engine out. Some may have tackled it with the engine in and supported. I'm unsure about this as I've never actually done the job.

Support the car on axle stands under the sills at the back of the front wheel arches, just where the front wing finishes underneath. Use some strong wood to spread the weight. This is because you won't be able to use the chassis legs. Chock the rear wheels front and back. Give car a good shake to convince yourself it's supported well.

Then you'll need to remove the eye bolts that bolt through the legs (possibly the torsion bars too, as they may get in the way). You will then take off the gearbox tunnel and remove the master cylinder and the pipework around it, then do something with the electrical cables that go to the rear. I think the clutch and brake pedal pivot will need to be removed. If just replacing the front section then this work can be reduced.

Then drill out the spot welds (from the top not underneath the car, you want to be above the car if it falls) and hope the leg drops away without too much force. Weld new one up using holes as the guide to positioning (the new one needs to be in the same place) use clamps and self tapers to help you pull the panels together. When welded up do the other side.

I'm sure if someones tackled it themselves, they'll give a few more details and issues they came across.

It's only attempting these kind of jobs that you learn.

Post by **ady4502** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:28 pm

Many thanks you make is sound so easy but sure it's not she can be so stubborn sometimes.the car is a complete shell i am doing a complete rebuild back to bare metal. i have a nice shiny full leg just waiting to be put on my 1959 series II. Great idea about the self tapers.

Post by **Dean** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:36 pm

ady4502 wrote:Great idea about the self tapers.

My dad told me to do it this way when welding up the sills on mine. As long as one panel is a clearance hole and the other a pilot hole and deburred, you can close the panels right up tight. Reduces the opportunity for water ingress too

Post by **ady4502** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:53 pm

this is a great forum

never knew there was help at my fingertips. new too all this. my first car restoration. when i got told i should join mmoc i thought why? but i know why now. All mm owners are very helpful.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:57 pm

If you're going to plug weld through holes, don't be tempted to drill them when both panels are together. Sometimes this will give a hevy drill burr that prevents the panels from closing right up.
Therefore it's better to have all holes drilled and burrs removed before you start welding.
Adding more when you've welded it on solid isn't usually a problem - mainly it's when you're at the part way stage when things can move.

Drilling out the old spotwelds is a good way to go as this should give enough holes for plug welding anyway. However, whenever i've tried this, there are always some extra spot welds out of sight / out of line that hold the darn thing together and make the job last twice as long.

Post by **ady4502** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:15 pm

so have i got this right? . i have a spot weld drill bit. i drill out the old spot welds, the leg should fall out then i line up my new leg and plug weld the old spot welds? everything on this car has taken twice a long anyway nothing new there. it has been sat in a shed for 28 years so you can guess what it is like.

Post by **Dean** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:20 am

Basically yes, you may need a cold chisel to help the old panel come away. Also you may need to jack up the new chassis leg or clamp it somehow to position it. Then using the big drilled holes as a guide to mark where you have to drill through the new chassis leg with a pilot drill for the self tappers. Take the chassis leg off and pilot drill where marked and deburr. Deburr under the floor and engine bay where the leg is to be attached. Then self tapper the leg up, you may need to use a washer on the self taper or a large headed screw. When up and happy with positioning, take out a self taper and plug weld through the large hole, filling the little one up too. Remember to make sure all metal is shiney where it is to be welded. Do one hole at a time, put self tapper back into box for use another day.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:24 am

Sounds like a 10 minute job! Bet it takes ~ 10 days!!

Post by **Dean** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:59 am

bmcecosse wrote:Sounds like a 10 minute job!

Post by **MarkyB** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:06 pm

10 minute jobs never take 10 minutes

.
This sounds like a long days work for a pro, and up to 10 days for anyone else.

The time it takes will be much shorter than the feeling of accomplishment once it's done

.

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:15 pm

Here's a tip on welding........

It's a battle - always! There comes a moment, after lots of hard slog and discomfort, when there is finally no doubt at all in your mind that all is ready for welding. A moment when all the little niggling doubts disappear. A moment when you know you have everything lined up, and that there's nothing more you can do to make anything better.

Weld away!

If you are still thinking: "What if I try............", then you are not ready to weld it up. Jiggle on, and wait for that moment.

Simple really, but Clapton would say that about playing live at the Albert Hall :D !

Post by **ady4502** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:14 pm

if i know this car it will probaly take me 10 days just too get the thing off. thanks for all the input feeling a little more confident about doing the job now.