FT’s Patrol Project

[Flying Torquewrench]

Not sure if this is the right place for this topic. If not, moderators feel free to move it.

Bought my Patrol 2.8TD in November 2009 and it failed the MOT in October with two pages of fail items. Mostly small items which can be resolved fairly easily but ofcourse there is always one thing which requires more work. In my case this was a hole in either chassis rails in the last foot.

The garage quoted £1100 for the repair and the that was just enough to get it through the MOT. However on the advisory's there were two other rust related items. As I want to drive the car for a lot longer I have decided to remove the body from the chassis so that the chassis can be repaired in a proper way. And in the meantime while everything is off I am going to repaint the whole underside and every part connected to the chassis. And last but not least, new brake & fuel lines and new bushes all around.

Some photo's from before I started and during the 'restoration'. In this topic I will keep you updated about my progress and will ask questions. :augie

Before:

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Rust.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

More rust.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Last photo for today is a view into the chassis rails. The last foot is like this and the rest is good condition. So out comes the welder and lets start getting this baby back on the road. To early in her life to be reduced to coke cans.

 

[solarman216]

Wow some project, I have a Mk 1 T2 chassis in storage, I do not want the chassis but it is holding a good engine/gearbox and axles, but do not know if the rear sections are the same, I am sure someone will enlighten, Rick

 

[762buzz]

well if u have gone to the trouble of lifting the body off make sure u get some waxoil or something round the underneath when u put it back to save ur hard work for the future

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

762buzz, the underside will be painted in Blackshell industrial grade protective coating. As will the chassis and all other parts except the body.

Solarman216, you got a PM.

 

[lacroupade]

What year is she FT? Thats a nasty mess but sounds like you've got the kit and cojones to sort it mate - well done!:thumb2

 

[makeitfit]

What a stinker, I bet that's been launching boats in that there sea for a while :doh
Ideal time to stick a nice big body lift on it :naughty That'll make room for some proper size tyres like 37s :sly
Good luck :thumbs

 

[clivvy]

wow, thats one hell of a task. im VERY surprised at the extent of the rust on a car that looks as nice as it does!

best of luck with the task, its good to see you are fixing it, rather then getting rid, which most people would have done...

 

[rustic]

What a stinker, I bet that's been launching boats in that there sea for a while :doh

To be honest this was exactly my first thought, or the original owner drove across salt water causeways.

Either way:- what he couldn't see, he wasn't bothered about.:nenau

 

[solarman216]

As promised pics of my T2 scrapper, about mid way on the fuel tank it measures 70 mm X 90 mm I did not measure between the two rails (forgot) but can do if you need, if this chassis is the right shape etc just tell me where to cut it, £20 plus carriage, if it is correct I would suggest just to the rear of the springs, the rust you see is only surface, Rick

plonker forgot to add the pics

 

[solarman216]

pics

 

[solarman216]

2nd pic

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for measurements and photo's. Unfortunately not at home till later this afternoon, when I get home I will measure my chassis and get back to you.


@Lacroupade, she is a 1998.

The car belonged to a farmer up in Essex so expected a little bit of surface rust due to th salt air/rain on his land and him driving through it. However I did not expect the chassis beams to be rusted that much.

I have to admit that I have thought about just scrapping her and buy another second hand. Downside of that is that you don't know what you get either. At least when this one is back in shape I know exactly what I have got and what to expect in the future. Lots of work especially as I haven't done this kind of work on a car before but I am sure that if I take things slowly it will work out.

Hoping on a reasonable summer as my workshop got an unexpected visitor which has priority so now working outside. Only rain protection is a gazebo which is far from ideal.

Can somebody recommend a good program for looking up partnumbers? Bought the Nissan FAST CD but I am less than impressed. Can't search on my VIN number and doesn't seem to have the SWB included in it either.

Thanks. :bow

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Today was the big day were the body was seperated from the chassis. Unfortunately I had to improvise when getting the body of but it went without problems.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Body removed

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Chassis

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Rust!

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

More rust.