SWERVE - 1972 MWB Soft Top

[Swerve]

Saturday 9th June 2007
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Well got the call this morning that Ross was coming over. Quickly got into the garage and started cleaning up getting ready to work.

Got started and started welding up the crossmember, long range tank mounts (I even had a go, on the TIG and it’s easy compared to ARC, I want one !!!) Then dug out the hole in the crossmember for the front tailshaft.

Ross just used the scrap 5mm plate and made a jigsaw and done. Also welded the spring hanger mount and a few other bits.

Photos. !! Here they come. Hopefully I’ll clean the welds up this weekend and may even start painting.

Steve

Ross getting into it


Ross did the right side, I did the left. Hehehehe I can TIG weld


That crack is no longer


New hole in the crossmember


First 5mm plate in the hole


More plates in there




Raw finished product



Thanks Ross !!!


Got to love all the toys in the drive

[Swerve]

Sunday 10th June and Monday 11th June 2007
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Well did some grinding with the steel brush attachment Saturday and today. My hands are both shot from both days. After around 2 hours the hands are routed and there is just no more strength to continue, plus the Mrs has woken up by know asking “what are we doing today “

Have done pretty much all the rails, while on stand, being the top and both sides, then underside on both rails is yet to be done. Thinking how will I do the little corners on the chassis mount etc? Also removed all the original wire clamps for the electrical and fuel lines etc, will replace these with new clamps using tec screws into the chassis.

Still thinking of getting it sandblasted as I really need to remove all traces of old paint to give the POR15 a better grip on the metal. Will see how we go.

No more work today other then to the hardware shop to see what other things can I buy to help with cleaning the chassis.

Steve

[Swerve]

Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:31 pm

You could use some paint stripper to remove what paint is left. Aircraft stripper works well: brush it on and hose it off. Wear glove, though! The stuff is like battery acid. Maybe you could use some rust remover like petroleum jelly for the corners and stuff, and then wire brush by hand the rest.

I thought I would try the degreaser and etch primer tonight and see what happened.

Problem is as the wire brush works you really cant tell what is paint and pitted rust. Quite surprised with the results.

I did call a few sandblasting places today and got some pricing. $300 for the chassis, sight unseen based on 1.5 hours. Also spoke to the place about the blasting pot and looking at $180 delivered to my door, plus blasting medium.

Have decided will go the hard work option and do it by hand. Will aim for 1/4's and do bit by bit.

Steve

[Swerve]

Saturday 16th June 2007
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Still raining here in Sydney after last weekend’s big storms and major flooding, did some minor work on the chassis and got 2 of the snapped bolts out. One remaining for the fuel tank mount on the rear bar. The Ezy out has also snapped of and it is hardened steel, so having trouble trying to drill it out. Also did some welding practice on the ARC welder on 5mm steel.

Just bought a cobalt drill bit and will have one last go at drilling it out. If that fails will probably cut the complete bit out and weld some plate in. Not keen on welding plate on top as the fuel tank brackets will be out of alignment (height wise)

Also picked up an air spray gun from the hardware down from $100 to $60. Good for later. As it’s raining again, not able to take the chassis outside to sand, but there is no point right now.

Also checked the cost of sanding discs etc to clean the chassis and I would easily cop a $150 - $200 bill in materials to clean the chassis, mainly for specialised bits to get in all the corners.

Thinking I will focus on removing the diff’s and springs from the green machine, get all the chassis, springs, diffs, ready to paint, stuff it and pay the cash get it sandblasted, as then as I can now spray myself quite quickly as by brush would take to long for all (maybe not just lazy

Just not worth the time or cash to do the sanding by hand. I feel like a yoyo going back and forth, but it is more cost effective to pay a shop I now think. Will start getting all the shop names together and get some pricing, will also price the extra cost for them to spray the POR15.

[Swerve]

Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:07 pm

Well my yard of cars has just increased to a number three G60.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... &rd=1&rd=1

Paid big bucks for this as I really wanted the PTO winch. Plus in addition I also get UHF radio and aerial, stereo and speakers, Bull bar (which will have the corners trimmed off), 15” rims for my new 34” (2nd hand) Simex Jungle Trekkers, LPG System, Ford Crossflow adapter and engine, and 10 months rego which I will cash in.

So all going well will go to Melbourne on Saturday, pick her up, then collect the tyres, drive back, cancel the rego, toss in the green P engine and then sell it off to recoup some cash.

Expected to come out about $600 down with all the above goodies

[Swerve]

Sunday 1st July 2007

Well after playing with the Blue G60, have to start getting rid of the Green one, started pulling the rear tub off (including F/G top and Roll Bar). Will join the remaining 6” rear and 6” front of the tub and make a mini tun for later on.

Note the bog in the rear end, interesting the rear tub had been fixed by panel beaters and they had tried to remove the tub but had strip the rear left body mount nut above the blinker. I grinded the rubber and bolt out with the 9”. However they never removed the tub and must have repaired it with the tun as the mount above the tow bar was also bent and not bend back, along with the right rear chassis where the blinkers attach onto. Dumb ???

Photos from today

[Swerve]

Saturday 14th July 2007

Well the plan today is to finish the chassis preparation before sandblasting on Monday. Next is to get the green diffs out and then get the garage ready for painting on the chassis and diff’s return.

I like this shot as it shows all my four Patrols


Started of with cleaning the chassis up and grinded all the old plates mounts off from various other uses, also grinded back all the old metal clips for the cables and brake fuel lines etc. Then while the chassis was up on a large tilt washed out the chassis rail of some more dirt and muck.

The only stuff left on the chassis is taping for areas not to be blasted, bolts have already been placed in all threads during the week.





Next was to start pulling the rear diff out of the green wreck. Started by from this to this



Well took a few shots while grinding the other 2 foot of the body, the more complex setup for fuel lines on the newer patrol, the seized and locked forward shackle.

Body off


Check out all the lines and cables



Look at the shackles and the bent rear bar




Last photo before day wrap up. Also the tank in this appears in good condition



Bushrangie mate came over and dropped of his 8x4 trailer so will have to remove the cage and load her up tomorrow evening after getting diffs out as well.

So Sunday will entail,
1- remove green rear diff
2- remove front green diff
3- prepare diffs for blasting & painting
4- tape up chassis
5- remove trailer cage
6- load trailer
7- sleep waiting for blaster on Monday

PS- Nice badges John

at least it will live in the memories of its pieces

[Swerve]

Sunday 15th July 2007
===================
Well big day as went into town to meet some friend for brekkie then some quick shopping (umm Wedding). Then dropped into Fernando’s to see his G60 and then home. Also dropped into the hardware and got some bolts to cover the pressed in bushes.

http://www.rmp-o.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1050

Well got home and started to remove the rear indicator mounts as these shall be moved to the new bar work 2” higher. This way they wont be ripped off 4Wdriving.

Ed turned up to help with the work and lifting etc. removed the cage from the trailer and finally got the diff out of the green wreck. Starting to get dark so gave up on the cleaning up the green rear diff and tossed in the beige diff with no brakes. Got the chassis in tied her down, cleaned up and done for the day.

[Swerve]

Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:19 am

what was wrong with the other h260 ??

Just didn't have time to remove the brake lines as they were stripping nuts.
Iwas running out of time and help had to go so last resort was to chuck the bad H260 diff in.



Monday
Chassis and one rear diff is at the Sandblasters and should be completed Wed afternoon. Time to start cleaning the garage up for painting !!!!

Ye hah

[Swerve]

Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:37 am

Wednesday
Garage is all cleaned out and ready to paint.

Amazing when you sweep how much crap is there. Just glad it's less dust to settle on the chassis when painting.

Also installed some more power points, got some more lights for painting at night , brushes as I wont be cleaning them in the bin and thats about it.

Steve