How Bad Was That Frame Anyway?
In a word, the rot was extensive. I have no idea what kind of life this Rover had led in Oregon. It is evident that the roads were salted and she was not washed. The frame was rusted from the inside out. The front longerons had most of their undersides reduced to lace. Welded in this area was a plate of quarter inch steel that a winch was mounted to. I had to remove it prior to pulling the engine so that I could get the cherry picker close enough. That chore was tougher than anticipated and took several weekends off my schedule.
Here you can see the effects of a frozen spring bushing. The bushing, shackle, bolt and frame were all rusted solid. When the shackle was forced to pivot with spring flexion, something had to give. The weakened frame did. The rear shackles were also frozen solid, the source of a most uncomfortable ride quality.
Here you can see what I had to do to extricate the steering relay. It would not press out as per the manual, so I slowly chiseled away the frame. If you must do this, go slowly, the relay is made of a soft metal and is easily damaged. On top of the crossmember is the frozen bushing from the photo above.
Next
[ Electrical Considerations ] [ Bulkhead Removal ] [ Car Wash! ]
[ Engine Painting, Bulkhead Prep ] [ Rotten Frame ] [ Clearing The Shop ]
[ The Galvanized Frame ] [ Running Wires & Brake Lines ] [ I Drive It Again! ]
[ Finishing Up ] [ Rover Home ]
