gasket999
getting there...
- Messages
- 354
- Location
- Manchester, UK
Hi folks - I have some extensive repair/refabrication to do on some old Land Rover bodywork - this is mostly unseen aluminium brackets and support/reinforcement panels. Some repair pieces are available off the shelf, while some small pieces will have to be remade and some panels will need to be patched. Where I can remove damaged pieces and replace with repair panels I will and I will try to duplicate original fixing methods - blind or hammer rivets and spotwelding (which will be replaced with panel bond adhesive)
Damage is due to electrolytic corrosion and also the odd bit of damage from bumps or from past owners bending panels when removing them for repair work.
The panels are completely stripped bare and all steel trim removed.
When it comes to making replacement pieces - some are flat sheet, some are bent brackets, etc - and all are made out of Birmabright. I have a big stock of old, damaged pieces of Birmabright which I have salvaged from various Land Rovers over the years in a number of different gauges.
Where I have identified that a piece will need to be replaced, and where I have some Birmabright of a similar thickness - is using the Birmabright to make repairs the correct thing to do? Or should I use aluminium sheet of a specific grade?
The reason I've asked is that birmabright is funny-stuff (requires annealing before shaping, etc.) and wasn't sure if it is "single use" i.e. shape and fit once by the factory and thereafter cannot be 'worked'. Aside form anything else, reusing the old bits of Birmabright salvaged form knackered bodywork would save me a fortune over buying alloy sheet.
Many thanks.
Damage is due to electrolytic corrosion and also the odd bit of damage from bumps or from past owners bending panels when removing them for repair work.
The panels are completely stripped bare and all steel trim removed.
When it comes to making replacement pieces - some are flat sheet, some are bent brackets, etc - and all are made out of Birmabright. I have a big stock of old, damaged pieces of Birmabright which I have salvaged from various Land Rovers over the years in a number of different gauges.
Where I have identified that a piece will need to be replaced, and where I have some Birmabright of a similar thickness - is using the Birmabright to make repairs the correct thing to do? Or should I use aluminium sheet of a specific grade?
The reason I've asked is that birmabright is funny-stuff (requires annealing before shaping, etc.) and wasn't sure if it is "single use" i.e. shape and fit once by the factory and thereafter cannot be 'worked'. Aside form anything else, reusing the old bits of Birmabright salvaged form knackered bodywork would save me a fortune over buying alloy sheet.
Many thanks.