Sandringham 6x6

[sako243]

Currently winning the prize is a 300Tdi air box. There's a big bracket at the rear which is annoyingly close to working but a bit tight on its curvature, visible to the right here.

The housing looks like this

Small port is a dump valve for water, exit is on the end and intake on the bottom normally via a hose to the driver side wing.

 

[indy4x]

Dump valve is also good for sucking in water while water wading

 

[sako243]

Dump valve is also good for sucking in water while water wading

Never had an issue on the 110 and that's been through some deep stuff although touch wood I've always kept moving which makes a massive difference.

Not planning on taking the 6x6 massively deep as it leaks even worse and is lower to the ground. Plus the axles don't have proper breathers on yet.

 

[sako243]

As the weather was nice this morning a decision was made...



Unfortunately the trolley jack wasn't quite tall enough with an I beam to the light guards to lift the middle axle due to the slope. No problem, I really really like this little JCB, particularly with a hydraulic quick hitch on the front.



Unfortunately some discoveries have been made





There's also another small hole by the rear spring hanger.

So currently winning the stakes in the plan of attack is to strip it down to the chassis and do it properly and be done with it rather than having to take it on and off the road to sort. The front end is easy enough to sort as that's only just all been assembled. The electrics will mostly stay with the bulkhead and are connectorised where needed.

Power steering is a bolt in 3 bolt jobby so can either stay or be removed fairly easily.

Also a win was discovered in that there are no "in-chassis" bushes on this. They're all bolted between hangers below the chassis so I can cut the bolts out rather than faff with trying to remove them in situ.

 

[indy4x]

Never had an issue on the 110 and that's been through some deep stuff although touch wood I've always kept moving which makes a massive difference.

Not planning on taking the 6x6 massively deep as it leaks even worse and is lower to the ground. Plus the axles don't have proper breathers on yet.

Seen it happen twice, 300tdi 90, part of the way through a water crossing it just stopped. It had a snorkel but obviously sucked in water

He was lucky, no damage, just lots of water to clear out

The ducks beak wasn't sealing properly and sucked in water

12 months later, same water crossing but different 90. Asked the owner was he sure the ducks beak was sealing properly and he confirmed it was.

Um, nope, same issue again and thankfully no damage

 

[sako243]

Well I now have a long bed 109

Confirmation that taking it back to the chassis is the correct decision I found another slightly grotty bit that I'm sure will expand on further poking. So the trip to Cambridge will be in the trusty old 110 but still plan on this being ready for August.

Plan now is to strip it down to the bare chassis, see if I can find someone to blast it cost effectively then I can set it down on some trestles where it is and I can flip it over etc., with the JCB through the door to make life easier.

I will also be making some enquiries about getting it galved as replacement chassis aren't available. Luckily I can get it turned around in a week down the road, just depends on how pricey it'll be. Particularly after hearing the estimates for tonight's vets bills

.

 

[sako243]

Been a slightly chaotic day as Lyra had an emergency ovariohysterectomy (contracted pyometra) in the early hours of this morning but for a soon to be 12 year old lab she's recovering well. Not on her usual sofa but she's getting up and now lying down on her own and back to her usual labrador self (hint of food and she's there).



Yesterday prior to vets I did clear up some space on some pallet racking in the workshop to store various bits



After Lyra was picked up I did find a bit of time to remove both wings and then started unbolting the roof.

Then there was a face plan moment when I realised that was a stupid idea. Quick scrabble around and confirmed what an idiot I was. Rather than removing various bits of the truck cab I'm simply going to remove it whole like @miketomcatdid with an entire 110 only having the benefit of a JCB. No photos unfortunately but I've undone all the bolts holding it on so just need to disconnect the brakes, clutch, throttle, steering and ECU and I'll take the opportunity to cut @Bowie69's neat wiring in half so I can connectorise the power to the engine (as planned). I can then (hopefully) lift the body off leaving the drive train intact on the chassis.

 

[sako243]

Little bit done last night

• Both brake circuits disconnected at the chassis
• Steering column disconnected at box
• Power steering lines drained and removed
• Clutch disconnected (braided hose wouldn't spin so just pulled the slave out)
• Throttle cable disconnected
• Starter cables disconnected
• Exhaust manifolds removed (more for access than anything else)

I also did some brief hunting for a suitable wire to wire connector for the ECU power loom. There's basically 8 wires (2x Injector power, 2x Coil Pack power, 1x ECU, 1x ignition switched live back to fuse box, 1x fuel pump relay and 1x wideband O2) and 8 grounds (3 spare). I may put ring terminals onto the grounds and put a stud onto the bulkhead to connect them rather than connectorise them.

Still to do:

• Freeup the speedo cable (not actually connected currently due to a clash with the hydraulic PTO)
• Diff lock switch and vacuum line
• Power feeds as above
• Alternator signal wire
• Oil pressure switch

Stupidly I extended the latter two wires and ran them alongside the engine wiring harness. It would be more elegant if I connectorise them like the power loom but for now I'll just pull them out as they're half the original wiring harness.

Then roll it out of the workshop, sling it all up and lift off the cab with the JCB. If I've got the height I'll use the chain hoist because I'll almost certainly have forgotten to disconnect something... Then find somewhere to store the cab... Perhaps put doors back on and throw a tarp over it outside might be the simplest given it's supposed to be spring now.

 

[sako243]

It was a close run thing, either soak in a bath after an afternoon of fencing or be productive. Productivity won out.

Some labelling has occurred followed closely by some cutting.



Doors back on



All ready for the big lift, hopefully tomorrow before the weather turns and I have to head back to the farm to deal with some hateful sheep.

I'm definitely coming back with a round bale of hay for the horse, perhaps I can bring the oxy back to see what state that's in. Probably help with the couple of bushes that are in the chassis if they need replacing. To be honest they look in decent nick but if they're going in to galv they won't be.

 

[sako243]

Did I say how much I love this little JCB?



And as if by magic



I did forget some stuff...

The main one was the diff lock lever, that "sorted" itself out. Let's just say I have a little bit of sorting to do now.

Also fuel pump power lines needed to be snipped. Only other bit was the vacuum lines for the diff lock which I knew about but there was plenty of slack and it was easier when the cab was in the air.

 

[sako243]

That's all I've had time for this morning so chassis was pushed back inside (mostly by hand but the final bit with some assistance). Didn't quite line it up right, lack of steering wheel makes it a little more difficult. So the little JCB that could helped maneuver it properly.



And it was quicker to lop the sides off the sheet of shuttering ply (more left overs from the dance floor from the wedding) and dump it on the back of the chassis than it was to wrap it up in a tarp.



Everything gets puts on pallets here because then it's a doddle to shift things about.

 

[sako243]

Decided to take a break from some office work this afternoon and did some more stripping

Engine and gearbox out as one. Not unsurprisingly the transferbox mounts bought it. They didn't look the best.



Dumped onto a pallet with some wheels underneath so I can keep it in the workshop and push it about by hand.

All brake lines removed, rear lights, fuel tank, transfer box mounts, steering box.



Stopped for a cuppa and a bite to eat but basically at the point of the two remaining axles to come out and then it's done. Time to make some phone calls about sand blasting

 

[addjunkie]

phone calls about sand blasting

And galvanising.

 

[sako243]

And galvanising.

That's already in hand, I can just drop stuff off with CLH but want to double check a few things such as making sure it'll go to a hot dip galv plant and whether their usual ones will be able to handle a 5.2m long chassis.

Also if there's any coating I can do to prevent flash rusting that's not going to incur extra costs at the galvanisers. I would probably get it blasted and straight back into the workshop which is pretty dry. The stuff I wire wheeled hasn't flash rusted yet.

 

[galooph]

You've got me wanting a 2CX, now

 

[GRW]

Well I now have a long bed 109

Confirmation that taking it back to the chassis is the correct decision I found another slightly grotty bit that I'm sure will expand on further poking. So the trip to Cambridge will be in the trusty old 110 but still plan on this being ready for August.

Plan now is to strip it down to the bare chassis, see if I can find someone to blast it cost effectively then I can set it down on some trestles where it is and I can flip it over etc., with the JCB through the door to make life easier.

I will also be making some enquiries about getting it galved as replacement chassis aren't available. Luckily I can get it turned around in a week down the road, just depends on how pricey it'll be. Particularly after hearing the estimates for tonight's vets bills

.

There's a guy near you above Meidrim who powder coats.... so I'm not certain but think they blast also.

 

[sako243]

There's a guy near you above Meidrim who powder coats.... so I'm not certain but think they blast also.

I've had a good recommendation for A1 blasting in Carmarthen so will give him a call tomorrow. Bonus is I can take it to his yard and thus not have any mess to clean up. 10t from the house a few years back was enough...

Narberth powder coaters were also suggested but I've spoken briefly to them in the past and they didn't inspire me with confidence.

 

[GRW]

I've had a good recommendation for A1 blasting in Carmarthen so will give him a call tomorrow. Bonus is I can take it to his yard and thus not have any mess to clean up. 10t from the house a few years back was enough...

Narberth powder coaters were also suggested but I've spoken briefly to them in the past and they didn't inspire me with confidence.

Dunno if you've heard of or know of Mike & Tom Bleakley? Father & son, always been into rally, autograss etc. They work out of a farm (can't recall name but its entrance is right next to the old Maenllwyd pub if you know where that is).
Only reason I know is they have had engine work done at Hargreaves (last one was for their elderly Nissan fork truck).
Just in case it turns out to be useful (chances are you'll know people who'll know them, & be able to tell you what their work is like).

 

[sako243]

Dunno if you've heard of or know of Mike & Tom Bleakley? Father & son, always been into rally, autograss etc. They work out of a farm (can't recall name but its entrance is right next to the old Maenllwyd pub if you know where that is).
Only reason I know is they have had engine work done at Hargreaves (last one was for their elderly Nissan fork truck).
Just in case it turns out to be useful (chances are you'll know people who'll know them, & be able to tell you what their work is like).

No idea, you forget I was/am an antisocial b******* most of the time and lived in the South East for a good chunk of my time

 

[GRW]

No idea, you forget I was/am an antisocial b******* most of the time and lived in the South East for a good chunk of my time

I'm not exactly a social butterfly myself, but I've been kicking around the place a lot longer