Anglo-Frenchman Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Hi, I've just taken delivery of a replacement crossmember for my 110 which has the extensions to allow welding onto the existing chassis. My local welding person has quite rightly noted that the new part does not come with the floor support brackets attached so I queried this with my friendly parts supplier who explained that this is quite normal and that people generally fabricate these components from scratch or cut off the old ones and re-weld them in place. Does anyone have experience of this and who could offer advice about how to fabricate these or if they can be bought as a seperate part? Thanks Ged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Doesn't sound right Ged.. All of the posts I've seen where others have completed the change over have had the tabs and each person has used these tabs to bolt the cross-member in place to get alignment and then weld up on the chassis rails. Is your parts man able to challenge and get you a replacement with tabs ? Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 When I replaced the cross member on my 90 it had the tabs already fitted. Which, as Neil says, were use to hold it in place whilst it was welded. Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Ged, Do you mean the flat tabs along the top edge at the back of the cross member, or the upsidedown 'U' shaped bits that the floor cross members sit on? Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglo-Frenchman Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 Mark, yes the latter. These are the upside down 'U' shaped brackets which to which are welded on top of the chassis and welded to the channel that supports the floor. It seems to me that when you cut the rear cross member off, the location of the cut falls directly between these brackets which makes me wonder how one addresses the issue of replacing them. My local garage are not particularly happy about cutting these off and trying to reposition them on the new piece of chassis. Interestingly, my UK supplier says that the 90 replacement crossmember comes with the bracktes attached but not the 110 one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muther Trucker Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 i dont know if these pics are any good to you, http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/C...ions_-_110.html http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/C...tions_-_90.html i`ve got a paddocks 90 x-member with extensions in the garage waiting to be fitted, you`ve got me wondering now.............. but its too dark + cold to look now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 The floor support brackets don't come with any crossmember I've replaced. You have to cut the old ones off and weld them to the new crossmember. To the right of this picture - Half on the old chassis and half on the new, so you don't cut it completely off, just the welds towards the rear. Les, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Me thinking of the wrong part Ged.... Good Job the others knew what you meant ! LOL Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglo-Frenchman Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 Thanks very much Les - as they say, a picture paints a thousand words. Mind you, why on earth these aren't included with the x-member I don't know and certainly no reflection on your welding skills either but it does look a bit of a mess at the rear end. The main issue in France is that the law is (apparently) very unforgiving on inappropriate welding and if such is discovered during the equivalent of the MOT (Control Techinque) the tester can notify the appropriate body and criminal procedings entered into. Hence the reluctance of the garage to carry out the work. This may be a case of 'Plan B' and plate the chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 it does look a bit of a mess at the rear end. It's gas welded and hasn't been tarted-up with the wire brush yet. Gas welding just burns everything else until the metal starts to melt. None of this girly 'bling it all up first' MIG welding Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Whizz Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Thanks very much Les - as they say, a picture paints a thousand words. Mind you, why on earth these aren't included with the x-member I don't know and certainly no reflection on your welding skills either but it does look a bit of a mess at the rear end.The main issue in France is that the law is (apparently) very unforgiving on inappropriate welding and if such is discovered during the equivalent of the MOT (Control Techinque) the tester can notify the appropriate body and criminal procedings entered into. Hence the reluctance of the garage to carry out the work. This may be a case of 'Plan B' and plate the chassis. Hi the 110 crossmember is available with the said tables in place it mounts right behind the spring mount almost a quarter chassis i have seen them at Liveridge 4x4 in Solihull B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglo-Frenchman Posted September 30, 2007 Author Share Posted September 30, 2007 Thanks to all for the advice. Out of interest, in the UK how much would you expect to pay a garage to weld this rear X-member in place (excluding the cost of the part). My local garage has quoted for 2 days work €700 (about 480 GBP) so does this sound about right? Ged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_a Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 If you get them to QUOTE I would say it would be worth it. When we did mine a few months ago we found some extra speed holes back there, which meant extra fabrication was needed, extended the job time quite a bit. It's also a rubbish job with weld landing on you a lot, loads of grinding, dirt, dust, bit of wiring that need doing. Not especially technical, just laborious when we did it. If it's an estimate, I'd watch it, if they find extra problems and the x member is already off, you don't have a good bargaining opportunity and can find it difficult to try and get it to somewhere else and get it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglo-Frenchman Posted September 30, 2007 Author Share Posted September 30, 2007 Thanks for the heads-up Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 (about 480 GBP) Blimey that's expensive. The job can be done in a day - I guess welders earn more in Frenchland. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglo-Frenchman Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Thats interesting Les. Do you mean to say that this job would only cost about 220GBP in the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Replacing the rear crossmember on a 110 is the easiest due to the way the chassis sweeps down where you cut it off - making access to it very easy. I don't know what people charge in this country because I do it myself. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Ged, Sounds like you need a day-trip to the UK.... Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Whizz Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Ged,Sounds like you need a day-trip to the UK.... Neil I agree my mate had one fitted and i'm sure it cost him less than 400gpb including the rear crossmember i will ask him exact price if you want Billy Whizz B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglo-Frenchman Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 Sounds like I'm being stuffed. I didn't think that it was that expensive at the time given the hassle of removing the tank, sorting out the tow bar etc and its not a job that I could do myself anyway. A day trip to the UK is not on the horizon - I've not been back for nearly 3 years and frankly the thought of UK roads terrifies the cr*p out of me. I suspect that the garage is being caution as they have not done one before - familiarity and all that. I'll see if I can negotiate a bit! Ged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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