 | Home > Tdi > Rear x member replacement |
 
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1841  
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Tricky one.
Speaking for myself, I tend to go along with your own view of not wanting to contend with 'rusty' things. You can be sure that if it's rusty there, it'll be rusty somewhere else - and if it isn't now, it will be soon! But, that said, getting the chassis done is a big job. If you've any thoughts of replacing the car in the next 3 or 4 years, then I'd reckon doing the crossmember is the thing to do. Obviousy the part is available, so lots of folk must do it, and done properly it would last for a while. If any part of you thinks you'll be keeping the Landy for the next 10 years ( or any longer period) then the chassis swap would come back into contention I reckon. Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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18th Nov 2019 5:47pm |
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| Jeebs Member Since: 23 Oct 2015 Location: North West Posts: 197  
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Thankfully, the rest of the chassis is in good order with minimal rust, it seems to be just the rear x-member that has suffered.
Is there any truth in my thoughts that x-member replacement hurts values? |
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19th Nov 2019 10:37am |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1841
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Hi,
To be honest, I don't think I know enough about current values/the market to answer that question. I HATE buying and selling cars - just one of the reasons I'm still driving my 110 after 18 years! If I was buying another Defender, and with a view to a 'project', I might be quite happy to buy one needing work, and budget for a chassis and/or bulkhead myself. I'd be expecting to put it straight off the road. But if I was buying one to use for any length of time, then having a repaired rear crossmember (as long as it was done well/properly) would be a positive thing - but that might be just my opinion. However, if the crossmember needs done, then surely the question of value is redundant? Without it done, it's worth less, or harder to sell? Though that might depend on how original/good condition the rest of the car is. I think there is this view about a Defender's "originality" pushing values up, but as I say I don't know enough about that aspect of the market. As I said above though, I think it depends more on your plans for the car. If it's a short/medium term thing, then don't consider a chassis swap. You might get some of the investment back, but not all. Selling it without the crossmember fix, then I think you're looking for the "right" buyer to come along, and possibly restricting your options. Sorry! Having said I didn't know enough about it, I've wasted three or four paragraphs demonstrating how little I know! Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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19th Nov 2019 11:04am |
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| hank Member Since: 12 Sep 2016 Location: South Wales Posts: 2294  
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I do understand where you're coming from, but I don't think it's the case so much on a Defender. Remember yours (1995?) is 25 years old and a rear cross member is to be expected. Rear cross members are common and replacement is not an expensive job, both parts and labour. Structural welding on a conventional monocoque vehicle perhaps yes might concern me. Galv chassis would be lovely! But time, cost and inconvenience... At the end of the day only you can weigh up the options and see what you can afford, both in terms of time and cost. But to keep you mobile with minimum impact I would not be worried about a replacement cross member > 110 XS Double Cab |
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19th Nov 2019 11:24am |
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| Slideywindows Member Since: 09 Sep 2016 Location: North Essex Posts: 1283 
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There are hundreds (thousands?) of Land Rovers of all ages that are carrying on for years with replacement rear crossmembers.
(If you are worried about value, make sure you fit an exact replica of the original for that year, and not a generic one). As a very long-term Land Rover rivet-counter, I would say that whilst a totally original chassis may fetch a premium on older Land Rovers, it is generally recognised that if you actually use a Land Rover, things will rust, and especially rear crossmembers. A well-executed replacement may slightly devalue a vehicle, but not nearly so much as having a rotten one! After replacing the crossmember you will still have a 90% genuine factory-fitted chassis, which you say is still in good condition (I hope you have filled it with preservative fluid). If you fit a replacement, you won't. However, different buyers look for different things. I suspect that a good service history, a vehicle that looks like it has been well cared for throughout its life and a corrosion-free chassis and bulkhead will be the more important things. My advice? Don't fret about the crossmember, replace it. |
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19th Nov 2019 12:01pm |
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| miker Member Since: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Surrey Posts: 1763 
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I don't think it's a big deal to replace a crossmember. When I bought mine one of the first jobs was a new crossmember. The vehicle had done 180k, lots of towing, lots of motorway miles but very little proper off roading. As it hasn't regularly been up to it's body in mud, the chassis is still in very good condition.
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19th Nov 2019 12:51pm |
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| Zed Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: In the woods Posts: 3256 
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No idea about values but if buying I would prefer a Defender with a professionally fitted replacement crossmember over a rusty original. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm. |
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19th Nov 2019 3:05pm |
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| foxhound Member Since: 02 Mar 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 363 
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Cross members need replacing too often, they are designed to hold the dirt!
I needed a new cross member and some repairs on my 110 chassis and compared to 2 Berkshire quotes, it was only £1200 more to go to Richards, buy a galv chassis and then ask Paul Marsden who is 50 yards from Richards to do the swap (you need to book in in advance, it's a 2 week turnaround). The decision was a no brainer! 110 Defender 300tdi & Penman trailer with ally exped top and roof tent |
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25th Nov 2019 11:29am |
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| Jeebs Member Since: 23 Oct 2015 Location: North West Posts: 197
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I have been considering just biting the bullet and sticking it on a galv chassis. Just getting quotes together
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25th Nov 2019 11:38am |
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| Oldowner Member Since: 26 Dec 2018 Location: South west Posts: 618 
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That chassis has prior bodgerey around the rear crossmember - it has already been patched on the underside.
My opinion is (and I have welded up many defenders over the years) is a properly replaced bare cross member is fine, but one you have to start using “crossmember with extentions” (which that chassis needs) then forget it and replace the chassis. I will add I have never seen anyone replace the bare crossmember as it is far easier to bang on one with extentions if it is a paid job as it takes 1/3 of the time it would doing it properly. I used to cut off the crossmember, repair any small repairs to the chassis legs and then fit the new crossmember, welding it as original. I even managed to get a supply of the upper closing plates that are not available to purchase separately from crossmember manufacturer. Done properly it is indistinguishable from new. Come to think of it perhaps in this age of early defender restorations perhaps I should start doing it again! |
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25th Nov 2019 1:14pm |
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| Jeebs Member Since: 23 Oct 2015 Location: North West Posts: 197
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Next question, Richards or XD Chassis?
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25th Nov 2019 6:24pm |
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| Oldowner Member Since: 26 Dec 2018 Location: South west Posts: 618
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I currently own four defenders with Richards chassis under them, I fitted three of them and one I bought done already. The quality and fit improved a lot since the first one I had 15 years ago.
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25th Nov 2019 11:17pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1218 
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Whilst if budgets allowed I'd be tempted to go galved chassis I feel obliged to say that any decent fabricator would be able to replace that cross member.
Mine ended up taking a Hi Lift through it and needed replacing. Didn't have the time or space to do a chassis swap so opted for a custom rear cross member built up to my spec. Open c section out of 6mm with another 6mm between the rails for the tow bracket. Spoke to an acquaintence who runs a trailer fabrication company and 2 days later (only a day labour actually involved) the old one had been cut off, new one fabricated and okayed by me, and then welded on. Was around £500 all in, over half was the time involved in cutting the old one out carefully. £22 in materials... Note I dropped the tank out but deliberately left everything else attached for them to take measurements. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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25th Nov 2019 11:56pm |
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| Mash Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Guernsey Posts: 1674  
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I used a Dixon fabrication 6mm HD rear crossmember, it comes with pre cut plates for trimming to your needs on fitting of the crossmember, excellent product and great service from them. I think it was around £250 ish delivered and me and my mate had it fully done including wire wheeling and repainting of the chassis in a day.
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge I would of loved to put a galv chassis on Buggsy but time and money constraints meant a crossmember was the only choice. 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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26th Nov 2019 10:44pm |
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