crossmember and chassis leg replacement pic request

[singleton]

firsty happy new year to you all! just wondering if anyone has any pictures of removal/replacement of front chassis legs and centre crossmember? Interested to see how people tackle these jobs. cheers

[bmcecosse]

Mostly - with the car tipped on it's side for starters!

[Dean]

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/s ... /?start=60

Try this link.

[Steve_PFJ]

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/SteveDist ... directlink

Or this. It's more up to date than t'other

Steve

[aupickup]

some good photos there steve well done

[bmcecosse]

Blimey! Many would have given that up for hopeless. Well done indeed!

[Mogwai]

this is how I did my sisters car http://mog.myfreeforum.org/ftopic886-0-0-asc-.php

[Steve_PFJ]

Cheers guys, I hope the photos are of help.

I'm slightly suprised to hear I'm restoring a car that "Many would have given up for hopeless" If that is the case I hope these pics show people what's possible and that more hopeless cases are saved as a result

Steve

[singleton]

thanks for the pics guys

[stag36587]

Very encouraging I'd say. My car was equally "hopeless". Underfloor/chassis members all sorted and now going to work my way round the rest of the car.

[rayofleamington]

I'm slightly suprised to hear I'm restoring a car that "Many would have given up for hopeless" If that is the case I hope these pics show people what's possible and that more hopeless cases are saved as a result

Pretty impressive job there Steve!
I was wondering if it was a 1969... as it's a 'disability' sppecial series car. I've come across a lot of 2 door 1969 Trafalgar blue saloons with this spec - it must have been a very popular year for the government scheme.
One of the photos shows it's H reg, so maybe 69 or 70.

I'd say that most rotten Minors would be in a similar condition, but if all that work is needed in one go, rather than over a few years most people would give up. Also most people would be prepared to plate over half of it just to keep the car going and rather than face the time/effort/cost of having all that work done at once.

The inner-step box section where it passes under the rear seat (photos 66 to 74) is a job where even 'proffessional' restorers can make a bodge up. This area is not seen by the MOT'er or the customer and requires a lot of effort to do it properly, and some would just not do it at all .
Your replacement section from a donor car is a very sensible way to go, as I don't think this section is available.

On the one's I've had to do in that area, I've been lucky enough that the box could be reapired through the (missing) floor from underneath so I've not had to remove the rear seat structure.
This area is crucial for the spring hanger, and I've seen the bodge jobs where the hanger splits the floor as the (unseen) strength behind it is not there.

[Steve_PFJ]

Cheers Ray,

It was registered 7th October 69. I keep meaning to send off for the History from the DVLA but somehow always forget.

The patch over it method is what got Bertie this far so I wasn't expecting to find such extensive work was needed when I bought him but that said, I didn't hunt around for the right car, I just bought the one that was nearest at the time I figured a lot of time and fuel could be wasted not finding anything any better and I was buying with the intention of restoration.

Steve

[rayofleamington]

I was buying with the intention of restoration.

Be careful what you wish for!!
That said, I'm happy to see your car found just the right owner

I have to admit that sometime in the early 90's I gave up and scrapped a 4 door in a similar state - I'd got about half way but as myy first project it was too much to take on and I was making a bit of a mess of it. That one had plates over plates over plates until the last plates covered the 1/4 floor each, but what caught me out was the fibreglass sills and wheelarches
They had made a good job of hiding the glass and filler - I took a mate with me who had restored a couple of Minors to look at it / buy it and he missed that too, so I didn't feel quite as bad.

[new_adventures_of_arthur]

Cheers guys, I hope the photos are of help.

I'm slightly suprised to hear I'm restoring a car that "Many would have given up for hopeless" If that is the case I hope these pics show people what's possible and that more hopeless cases are saved as a result

Steve

I've said before, it's the people that offer the advice and help that really make this forum. Photos like this are so inspirational and reassuring for others - to show that whatever the state a car is in, someone else has had it worse.

For one bunch of photos like this, another few cars will be saved from scrap as other owners see that "it is worth it, and can be done".

Brilliant stuff!

[martinf]

superb job!! gives me a bit more of a boost,our 2 door is in a similar state,in some places a bit worse,i have been told by a few people that it was just beond any repair,but its suprising what can be done when you do a little bit at a time,im about to replace the rear arch and the flange,and the pictures are a big help,keep going mate!!!

[chickenjohn]

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/SteveDist ... directlink

Or this. It's more up to date than t'other

Steve

Nice work! Its good to see another Minor that many would have given up on restored back to health properly with new panels and not more lap welded patches. The only thing I would have done slightly differently is cut the floor edge panels to fit the spring hanger plate and butt weld it together rather than have an overlap. No matter, top work! Keep us posted.

[oilypaws]

AWESOME!

I'm just at the stage of wondering whether I need to replace the front sub-frame in mine (it's rusted through in places around the lower suspension mount on one side which can't be a good thing). But other than that, mine is almost 'mint' compared to yours! This project is big enough for me at the moment, but it could sure be a lot worse!

Thanks for the inspiring pics.

[bmcecosse]

Well - there isn't a sub-frame - but there are chassis legs - and if rusted they need to be replaced!

[chickenjohn]

Well - there isn't a sub-frame - but there are chassis legs - and if rusted they need to be replaced!

I guess if one had come from Mini's and the like one might look at the Minor chassis legs, joined at the back by the crossmember and the front by the front chassis cross member and view it as a subframe, but yes, BMC, you are right, they are strictly speaking chassis legs rather than a seperate detachable subframe as found in the Mini.

[Steve_PFJ]

The only thing I would have done slightly differently is cut the floor edge panels to fit the spring hanger plate and butt weld it together rather than have an overlap.

If I were doing those now I'd probably butt them to but I did those many many hours of welding ago. Now I'm more confident but I'm not sure It's worth going back to them.

Steve