FT’s Patrol Project

[Flying Torquewrench]

I want to replace the green curved panel in the photo above.

To get the right radius on the bend I used a piece of pipe that I had laying around. On one side I used a clamp to hold the sheetmetal to the pipe and on the other side I welded it to the pipe. Didn’t fancy cutting perfectly good section of pipe.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

After a bit of bashing with the hammer, you get a nicely curved panel.

Now it is a case of cutting it to size and weld it in place.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

That is class :bow:thumbs

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Not a lot left after cutting the rot out. Time to start rebuilding again.

 

[Banshee]

Woooooooo :bow

Lovely stuff

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

My initial plan had been to rebuild the back end exactly as it used to be. However my plan has changed as there are to many overlapping pieces of metal which would only lead to rust. Therefore I am now rebuilding it as a hollow section with strengthening braces welded in.

In my opinion this is a better solution and also easier to maintain as there are not numerous closed off areas. Now I can Dinitrol it every year and cover all of it.

All of the work is hidden anyway so from the outside it won’t look any different.

 

[Banshee]

My initial plan had been to rebuild the back end exactly as it used to be. However my plan has changed as there are to many overlapping pieces of metal which would only lead to rust. Therefore I am now rebuilding it as a hollow section with strengthening braces welded in.

In my opinion this is a better solution and also easier to maintain as there are not numerous closed off areas. Now I can Dinitrol it every year and cover all of it.

All of the work is hidden anyway so from the outside it won’t look any different.

That's lovely work mate, really good stuff to login and look at

 

[solarman216]

What I do not understand is as far as I remember you took the body off your Patrol and sorted the chassis but now you have rust problems, or have I got this wrong somewhere, Rick

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Damn you Rick, I had hoped that nobody would have picked up on that. :doh

10 years ago I removed all the rot that was present at that time. Now the rot has continued and while my repairs are still going strong it is the area around it that is rotten to the core. It is predominantly the areas around the wheel arches and back end.

One day in the future (a fair few years away) I would like to take the body off again and have it acid dipped. I have been busy building a barn since 2017 but neighbours and the planning system have delayed that considerably. Once that is finished I have space to take the body off.

As long as it keeps passing the MOT it stays in the family. :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

When I got mine a couple of years ago I grit blasted everything I could get at and immediately pressure sprayed everything with Shultz including bits of the workshop walls, will be doing the Mrs 3ltr shortly, so will take pics, Rick

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Please do Rick!

My biggest problem is that I normally overrun with work and lack space. Due to the lockdown I have some time to spend on the Patrol. Fortunately the weather is also good which helps.

On the downside the current crisis puts my job at risk and if I lose my job then building a barn is not a priority. Since I lost my job in 2017 we don’t seem to be able to catch a break. Hey ho, that is life and as long as we are healthy then the rest will come in due course.

 

[Banshee]

You used up your luck years ago!!!!

You've got a SWB Y61 :naughty

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

You used up your luck years ago!!!!

You've got a SWB Y61 :naughty

Time to sell it. If they offer £2500+ for that Y60 then the Y61 shouldn’t do to bad. :sly

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Finally some progress today. The outer skin is in place.

Maybe not the best looking welds but at least the penetration is good.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

And it is all welded up from the wheel arch looking to the rear. Now I need to weld the body mount back together and this side is a wrap. :thumb2

 

[elty001]

And it is all welded up from the wheel arch looking to the rear. Now I need to weld the body mount back together and this side is a wrap. :thumb2

Very impressed :thumb2
It's nice when it starts to come together.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Been busy rebuilding a body mount which was a right pain in the rear. Access to these is not brilliant as the chassis is in the way.

Also made some strips of 5mm thick mild steel to weld to the underside of the chassis beam near to where the towbar attaches. This will distribute the forced on the chassis over a wider area. Hopefully this is acceptable for the MOT as otherwise I end up taking it off again.

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Repairs completed for the time being. So now smothering it all in underseal.

Next job is to make some new side steps but that has to wait a little bit while I sort out some other jobs.

 

[elty001]

Brilliant stuff :thumb2
Can't beat that feeling of completion knowing you did it all yourself!!!!

 

[FerdiNL]

Good to know that Hammerite makes that stuff :clap

Oh and big respect for the welding job, that is something I still want to learn to do myself.