 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Seat box rebuild and modifications for twin batteries |
 
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92   
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I have just bought a Defender ( to rebuild ) and I have found that the seatbox has serious rust in the battery compartment, ... this is a bit worrying as it has 9 months MOT and this amount of rust.
Anyway, the plan is as I have to cut the bottom out anyway, I might as well make is sealed, so no more mud in there , and convert it to take two batteries and eventually my ARB compressor.  Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Battery was just bouncing about ! So cut the bottom off Click image to enlarge and ended up with... Click image to enlarge Not a lot ! 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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15th Mar 2017 6:18pm |
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| dorsetsmith Member Since: 30 Oct 2011 Location: South West Posts: 4554 |
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15th Mar 2017 6:25pm |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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Thanks, ... but £77 plus VAT ?
Folded a piece of steel up myself, £8.00, and it will take two batteries now ! Click image to enlarge 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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15th Mar 2017 7:15pm |
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| dorsetsmith Member Since: 30 Oct 2011 Location: South West Posts: 4554 |
I no, but you can guarantee it will fit
as you have kit to Folded sheet metal your self no problem  |
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15th Mar 2017 7:51pm |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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True !
Click image to enlarge Works with one battery Click image to enlarge And now with two ! Loads of welding yet to do, just put a couple of rivets in to see if it all lines up 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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15th Mar 2017 8:05pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17346 
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Why would you think a rusty seat box would affect the MOT?
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15th Mar 2017 10:29pm |
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| alwoodley72 Member Since: 14 Mar 2010 Location: salisbury, wilts Posts: 724  
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Insecure battery I would guess..
Well done Jim on a bit of British ingenuity!... Cheers. Alex 98 300 tdi 90 project 94 Range Rover vogue 4.2 lse 79 911 sc 08 130 double cab utility |
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15th Mar 2017 11:14pm |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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Yes, the battery was hanging on its wires, the mounting 'pods' had rotted out so it was completely loose 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey
1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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17th Mar 2017 8:00am |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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Finished now, the usual, should take a couple of hours took a day and a half, lots of welding, but very happy with it as it will now take one huge ( long) battery or two smaller ( as came out of the Disco V8 ) batteries, also sealed now. And there is a small storage area, maybe for a locker compressor ( eventually) or tool / jump leads storage for now.
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Welded strengthening on front and rear corners. Will get it galvanised, with my chassis ( if I can find one) and bulkhead. 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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17th Mar 2017 8:09am |
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347 
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What a super upgrade!
Good job looks really neat Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter  |
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17th Mar 2017 1:11pm |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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Thanks, should look better when galvanised,
Just ordered two new seatbox ends, lets see how easy they are to fit ! Also decided to move the seats in a bit as per my other landie. Might move handbrake at the same time as have the discovery one here, 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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17th Mar 2017 1:26pm |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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Decided to move the handbrake whilst I was at it , so using the Discovery one I made a bracket and positioned it next to the seat ( moved both seats inwards).
I also made eight 'captive nuts ' to hold the seats in. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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20th Mar 2017 9:38pm |
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| Mash Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Guernsey Posts: 1674  
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Great job on the welding
90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html
90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html 110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html 52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html D3 Hse - Fiona Capri 2l S - Anna Think I might have a problem............ |
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20th Mar 2017 9:41pm |
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| Jim G Member Since: 21 Jul 2014 Location: Ormskirk Posts: 92
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Back onto the seatbox mods today, fitted the modified handbrake, and mocked up where the auto shifter will go.
I mad a centre console out of scrap wood to see what it would look like....... well.... , Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Yep.... it looks bloody awfull ! I used the Disco lid. The cubby is only 1 inch higher than my exmoor one, but as its smaller.... it just looks awfull even with a seat Click image to enlarge Back to the drawing board.... anyone any ideas ? 1984 300TDi hardtop Stornoway Grey 1984 200TDi hardtop..... soon to be a V8 .. but which V8 ? 1974 DAF T244 4x4 wagon converted to a motorhome 1976 Jaguar XJC with supercharged engine |
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21st Mar 2017 6:39pm |
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