New van chassis

Post by **paulhumphries** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:05 am

I'm developing an idea.
I need to sell several other vehicles to raise the funds so aren't ready to commit yet but am still dreaming of the idea.
I fancy a Minor van.
After years of Land Rovers I don't want to waste my time on an old chassis and prefer a new item (and having it galved

)
I've looked on all the dealer web sites an all I can see is repair sections.

Can anyone tell me if there is a brand new chassis manufactured and who can supply (I'm NOT interested in the fibrglass back, refurbished cab and chassis option offfered by one dealer - just a chassis is needed at present).

Thanks.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **dean36014** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:34 am

There's a new one on ebay at the moment at £695, in Reading.
Also the Minor place in B'ham lists them at £795 and I'm assuming thats + VAT.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:47 am

dean36014 wrote:There's a new one on ebay at the moment at £695, in Reading.

I've seen that one but unfortunatley I need to sell my CJ5 Jeep, A35, Microcar, Aixam and two bikes to create space as much as the funds otherwise I'd have been tempted

Paul Humphries.
BTW Even after selling the above I'd be left with 2 bikes and 3 cars (daily Chrysler, Minor and Austin Seven project!)

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:02 pm

i have heard that the b new chassis are not that good
so maybe is best to refurb an original one, thats if you can find one

Post by **M25VAN** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:21 pm

[quote="dean36014"]There's a new one on ebay at the moment at £695, in Reading.
Also the Minor place in B'ham lists them at £795 and I'm assuming thats + VAT.[/quote]

Got a link? I can't find it...
Thanks

Post by **dean36014** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:29 pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/new-minor-van-cha ... dZViewItem

Post by **M25VAN** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:11 pm

Thanks, much appreciated.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:33 am

There's at least two people out there who've had original chassis' galvanised after repairing them. Might be worth exploring as an option. I know one of them and I dont think it was two expensive. Lot of work after cleaning out holes etc but if you're used to Land Rovers....

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:34 am

Oh dear, I meant 'too' expensive. Brain obviously not functioning yet....

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:03 am

IaininTenbury wrote:There's at least two people out there who've had original chassis' galvanised after repairing them. Might be worth exploring as an option. I know one of them and I dont think it was two expensive. Lot of work after cleaning out holes etc but if you're used to Land Rovers....

I wouldn't consider building on anything other than a fully galvanized chassis - I can get it done for free

I've also found a firm, at Liverpool, who specialise in delicate items such as car bodyshells / panels so would pay to get the cab done too.
With a fibreglass back I reckon I'd be creating a van to last a very long time !

Paul Humphries.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:29 pm

Pretty sure it was a 'Liverpool' company that did the chassis that I was involved with. Guess its the same place. We paid a little more than 'free' but it was still a good deal!

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:06 pm

IaininTenbury wrote:Pretty sure it was a 'Liverpool' company that did the chassis that I was involved with. Guess its the same place. We paid a little more than 'free' but it was still a good deal!

The local firm I get things done for free are farm type quality so OK for chassis and brackets but not more delicate items.
A mate is (constant nights !) foreman there and owners say it's alright for him to do jobs for friends as longs as no money changes hands and they are personal items - not business related. Normally if it is too large for one person, and he'd need help, then they say a large bag of cheap (Aldi, Lidl etc) biscuits in rest room is sufficient payment for any helpers.
They know people will do "foriegners" hence laying out a policy to the workers and such is only done on night shift when there are long periods of nothing to do.
The Liverpool firm is Bunner Galv. I found out about them from seeing the results of their quality at a show - a fully galvanised Fiat 500 bodyshell !

Paul Humphres

Post by **M25VAN** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:58 pm

I think that Ebay chassis was a Sri Lankan one.
Hadrians do list van chassis', part No. 53-02-336 but I don't know the cost.
Don't know if these are made in the UK or not though or the quality. I doubt they will match the sadly missed Henric ones.

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:12 pm

From experience of Sri Lankan parts, it would need to be checked VERY carefully, as the measurements are sometimes rather approximate

Post by **les** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:01 pm

I wonder how the coating would stick to the inside of the chassis, as any used one will be full of rust etc, and this is surely where the protection is needed. I doubt if any chemical could transform the interior to a suitable finish ready for galvanizing even if the top plates were removed.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:25 pm

les wrote:I wonder how the coating would stick to the inside of the chassis, as any used one will be full of rust etc, and this is surely where the protection is needed. I doubt if any chemical could transform the interior to a suitable finish ready for galvanizing even if the top plates were removed.

Items to be galvanized are shot blasted to remove paint.
They are then pickled in acid.
Trust me - it removes ALL rust - even in hidden cavities !
I have really rusty items pickled just to derust even if they aren't going to be galved as it saves ages sandblasting / sanding / grinding rust off.
BTW for small items brick cleaning acid (around £5 for 5 ltrs from B&Q and other sources) works great.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:28 pm

ah yes it was Bunners. Was a while ago now. Dont know how the coating worked on the inside of the chassis, but anyhting is better than non. Drowned it in waxoyl stuff too to make sure....

Never tried a sri lanken chassis. They look more original than the old Henric ones, which had straight bits where they should be curved but as to dimensions I dont know. presumably they build tham on a jig like Henric did.
Last I heard from Hadrian, they weren't producing new ones as they hadn't got to grips with the Henrics jig and patterns they bought, but things might have changed more recently. If and when they do do them I expect they'll be the same as the Hadrian ones used to be.

Spent a good day the other day trying to get a ******** front inner wing to fit. It wasnt very nice, and I gave in on the other side and made one myself, which fitted much better. Not spot on like, but it met the flitch panel which was more then the other one did....
In there defense, it was a very old ******** one and i'm prepared to admit they're better now. I hope so.

Incidentally, I bought some ******** panels recently ************ and they came with nice little labels with part no., order no., customer name and "Made in United Kingdom" on them. Isnt that a bit naughty?

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:38 pm

It woud seem so

Apologies for the slight edit above, but I'm trying to avoid being too obvious about the trader

I gave up on these panels after buying pick-up floor pans which were utterly and completely wrong in every dimension, hole and curve and are now slowly being cut to bits for patches...
I'd better go back over these posts with my big red pen

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:00 pm

Fair enough. Sorry for the obviousnous of my post re the supplier. Thought I was being discrete, but obvioulsy not. Will try harder!

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:17 pm

Don't worry, it's just that AFAIK there's only one supplier

I've asked the other mods to check that this is all within the rules - guilt stricken for mentioning it, me, but I *think* it's all OK