Wing to bulkhead fixed with rivnuts...?

[Maverik]

Just stripping down the snow plough project 90 and come across this which I've not seen before on a bulkhead, anyone got any idea's other than an odd experiment?

 

[ianmayco68]

Has it had a plate of some sort welded over the top of the original pillar then rivnuts fitted as it looks like weld on the outside edge , has someone tried to hide rust ?

[MR-HIPPO]

Clearly an early vehicle but:

That looks like a Friday afternoon bulkhead to me.☺️

 

1983?

Edited May 28, 2019 by MR-HIPPO

[western]

the rusty part is item 15 & 18 on page 828 in http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/parts_books/90/9_body_chassis_p794-923.pdf

 

AFAIK the wing side panel rear edge bolts into spire nuts, item 13 on the linked page

[Maverik]

No repair sections, its the original steelwork panels - drivers side came off ok, but passanger side the nuts just slipped... had to some some tactical cutting.

D Reg 1986, another odd thing i noted was the roof has alu guttering but its ridged, i didn't think they brought that in until the flat roofs of the 1990's.

[Snagger]

At that age, the roof should have the three external ribs.  The next iteration was smooth outside with internal spot welded ribs, and then finally the rubbish roofs with pressed ridges that failed to stop the drumming or give any real strength.  I'd guess they came in around 2002, along with the revised doors and dash, but could have been 2007 with the Pumas.

I've never seen that door pillar set up before.  It could be a manufacturing fault where the pillar skipped the hole stamping stage and slipped through QC and the defect was spotted only after the bulkhead was assembled, but could also have been a misguided experiment, as you say.  Weird experiment, though, as it'd increase production costs while creating a maintenance problem (spinning rivnuts are not exactly rare).

[Maverik]

Well it confirms my initial thoughts that this is a bit odd, I've got to replace the passenger side nuts anyway so I'll weld some nuts on the inside nice and securely, and I'll make some windows in the other side to weld up the rivnuts in that side too, that should secure them for future use. 

Its quite interesting seeing some of these differences as my other 90 was registered 6 months earlier and there are some quite surprising subtle differences on this "later" one.

 

Regarding roofs, so my C reg 90 has external ribs but it has the galvanized steel guttering, D reg 90 has external ribs but Aluminum guttering.

 

I guess it was/is common in car production to see these little changes of components as they tweeked the manufacturing process along the way, I've only ever really played with Landys so I guess that where I see it.

 

I did find this after a quick random search - looks to be a series 2 bulkhead with rivnut type fixings.

[Snagger]

That SII bulkhead has replacement door pillars, though.  You can see the stitch welds above the edge of the foot well, neatly done though the work is.