66 replies to this topic

[LabradorBoy]

Getting ready for the Summer/Fall project season now, this one needs body work more than anything else, along with some TLC on the rear skid. Doing this one for my good buddy on the Labrador North Coast.

The builder:
 Builder_v800_outside_side.JPG   152.82K   3 downloads

[LabradorBoy]

Hoooah! Smack in the tunnel/footrest. Major rehab needed here. Tunnel cracked off and footrest/rear trailing arm mount completely free.

 joe_V800_side.JPG   134.81K   1 downloads

 builder_v800_photo.JPG   138.32K   1 downloads

[LabradorBoy]

The working donor... oh man she's rough, but works! Was fun to bull over some alders on this tonight LOL

 donor_v800_front_2.JPG   173.46K   1 downloads

[LabradorBoy]

Total. Tunnel. Annihilation.

 donor_v800_tunnel.JPG   165.57K   2 downloads

[LabradorBoy]

Not my welding! It will cut off just fine.

 donor_v800_rear_bumper.JPG   190.99K   3 downloads

[swt4ever]

......and i thought we treat those machines bad down this way.....you fellers are the worst!!!lol

[LabradorBoy]

......and i thought we treat those machines bad down this way.....you fellers are the worst!!!lol

These are particularly rough. I have to do some painting tonight and while that's drying get the gearbox/drive axle/track off the builder V800 so that I can get a good look at the tunnel for repair strategies. Should be fun.

[LabradorBoy]

And the strip down begins... nasty!

 tunnel_rear_ugly.JPG   120.69K   1 downloads


 tunnel_under_ugly.JPG   100.23K   0 downloads

[LabradorBoy]

This one was stripped of all bubble gum, elastic bands and paperclips before aligning and welding tonight, fist pass just to hold some lines before major reinforcement.

 tunnel_bulkhead.JPG   108.32K   2 downloads

Gonna steel plate this one on the inside real strong and weld it tight c/w plug welds for maximum hold.

[swt4ever]

WOW....you got some work to start on that one bud!
Now your getting me motivated to start early on my "restoration"!

[Downeaster]

Holy moly, I have that same exact machine, and its mint. Pictures of that give me the shakes.

[LabradorBoy]

Ha ha yes she's rough, prob has 27000km's on the clock though and over rough, rocky terrain so the sucker smacks in the bulkhead/trailing arms eventually add up.

She's on her way, the rear end is straight and square now, steel cut for rear bumper and fit tested, now I just need to make up the tunnel brace brackets and get going with the welder.

The tunnel powder coating is what gives me the most trouble, that crap really makes the welding spattery and ugly, need to burn/brush off before trying to make any sort of an aesthetically pleasing weldment.

Lots of work left but if I can tackle the tunnel the rest is easy.

[Oilburner]

Ha ha yes she's rough, prob has 27000km's on the clock though and over rough, rocky terrain so the sucker smacks in the bulkhead/trailing arms eventually add up.

She's on her way, the rear end is straight and square now, steel cut for rear bumper and fit tested, now I just need to make up the tunnel brace brackets and get going with the welder.

The tunnel powder coating is what gives me the most trouble, that crap really makes the welding spattery and ugly, need to burn/brush off before trying to make any sort of an aesthetically pleasing weldment.

Lots of work left but if I can tackle the tunnel the rest is easy.

As you guys know I tried sandblasting a 2004ish chassis and found that it was extremely difficult to get off. Unfortunately I did not find a good way to remove it, even aircraft paint stripper just made it a gooey globbery mess that didn't come off easily. I think burning it off is likely the best way to get a decent weld.

[Snow Terrorist]

As you guys know I tried sandblasting a 2004ish chassis and found that it was extremely difficult to get off. Unfortunately I did not find a good way to remove it, even aircraft paint stripper just made it a gooey globbery mess that didn't come off easily. I think burning it off is likely the best way to get a decent weld.

A flapper disk on a mini grinder should make short work of that powdercoating...would it not? The inside of the tunnel should be doo-able, as well as most of the outside.

[LabradorBoy]

A flapper disk on a mini grinder should make short work of that powdercoating...would it not? The inside of the tunnel should be doo-able, as well as most of the outside.

That works, but burning it with a torch and then scraping it off with a wire brush is pretty fast too. Either method works fine.