109 Expedition rig build
- Thread starter Mercedesrover
- Start date
:xxrotflma
Crazyfish
New member
Wow.... On mine, the tub supports seem to bolt to the tub sides, there are 1/4" holes both in the old floor, the tub sides and the supports. I was going to bolt through the floor 8 bolts per side - not pretty but I thought I would need it. Also, I am putting the floor pan on last, as I was thinking everything else would line up. It is an original tub but not to this frame or body.
I riveted the lateral supports to the tub supports, but I forgot to but something between the two. Riveted with alum rivets. Do you think this will be a problem? I get anxious to make progress and sometimes rush things.
I riveted the lateral supports to the tub supports, but I forgot to but something between the two. Riveted with alum rivets. Do you think this will be a problem? I get anxious to make progress and sometimes rush things.
Last edited:
Mercedesrover
Explorer
There's no reason that won't work. The only thing with doing it this way is the steel tub supports won't be attached through the tub floor.
I'm going to have the floor all fastened in, sealed and painted before I put the lateral supports in. My supports are now galvanized and I don't want to paint them. I figured that sealing and painting the tub first and then attaching the supports will help keep them appart.
Are you going to run your bolts through the floor pan or cut slots in the pan and drop it in around it?
Riveting your supports like you have shouldn't really be a problem, especially with aluminum rivets. I wouldn't worry about it.
Anyway, not much progress for the next couple weeks. In Anchorage for a backpacking trip and perhaps to drop in on Alaska Mike while we're here.
I'm going to have the floor all fastened in, sealed and painted before I put the lateral supports in. My supports are now galvanized and I don't want to paint them. I figured that sealing and painting the tub first and then attaching the supports will help keep them appart.
Are you going to run your bolts through the floor pan or cut slots in the pan and drop it in around it?
Riveting your supports like you have shouldn't really be a problem, especially with aluminum rivets. I wouldn't worry about it.
Anyway, not much progress for the next couple weeks. In Anchorage for a backpacking trip and perhaps to drop in on Alaska Mike while we're here.
Oilburner
Adventurer
Hey,
Sorry to hijack your buildup, but this will probably apply to your 109 as well, so here goes:
What material did you use as a headliner in your 88? It looks like carpet glued to the ceiling, and it actually looks really good. All the other glued-down carpet setups I have seen looked horrible. Just wondering what you used, both your rigs are very clean.
Sorry to hijack your buildup, but this will probably apply to your 109 as well, so here goes:
What material did you use as a headliner in your 88? It looks like carpet glued to the ceiling, and it actually looks really good. All the other glued-down carpet setups I have seen looked horrible. Just wondering what you used, both your rigs are very clean.
Mercedesrover
Explorer
viatierra said:
Sorry, Viatierra, just back from a couple weeks in Alaska. I'm back on the truck now and will post a couple pictures tonight to get you thru. Nothing too exciting, just some more work on the tub.
Mercedesrover
Explorer
Oilburner said:
I used gray felt from McMaster Carr glued over 1" closed-cell foam, also from M.C.. It works pretty well and really helps cut the noise down. I didn't use strong enough glue and a couple spots have started to sag over the years. I'll probably use a heavy brush-on glue when I do it in the 109.
greenmeanie
Adventurer
viatierra said:
Tell me about it! Now we have the heat and the humidity. I've even got my wife thinking about getting out. I just about killed myself the other weekend welding in my garage. Even although I was drinking lots I got to the point of having the shakes pretty badly.
I agree though - more pictures Jim. I'm needing inspiration for my 109 build too. I've been getting diverted into the world of hotrods looking at lump port heads for my 292.
Cheers
Gregor
DCH109
Adventurer
greenmeanie said:
That feeling i know.
Due to heatstroke last month i decided to hold off doing much on my rover until the temp are in the 80s. The last few weekends VA has been brutally hot.
Jim looking forward to seeing more on the build.
Myself i have used the 3M glue in the past and it has held up real well. This is the spray on glue that comes in the cans, and i put a thick coat on to make sure.
Are you going to do anything to the tub. Line-X style like Firemanshort did?
or you going to just paint it (i might have missed that post)?
Mercedesrover
Explorer
Work from the past couple nights....
Got the new (used) rear x-member in and done. It's a used one off of the original tub from the truck. This is a different tub that I'm using and it's had some work done to the back including replacing part of this x-member once. It had been sectioned with a couple extra brackets holding things together, and not very well. This x-member isn't perfect but it's not bad and still better than trying to reproduce it from scratch.
From there I drilled out and removed the old end-panels, cleaned everything up and test-fitted them. They're aftermarket panels but they fit pretty well. Drilled everything, applied a good coat of 3M panel bonding adhesive, set 'em on and riveted everything tight. I would have rather not used rivets on the outside surfaces, and probably didn't really have to, but I'd rather the body strong than pretty. From here I'll fix the few dents in the sides and prime them up, prep and paint the floor before installing the steel floor supports and then I'll paint the inside. It'll go on the truck before the outside is painted so I can install the dog-legs and paint them along with the rest of the tub sides.
Anyway, a picture is worth 1000 words.
Got the new (used) rear x-member in and done. It's a used one off of the original tub from the truck. This is a different tub that I'm using and it's had some work done to the back including replacing part of this x-member once. It had been sectioned with a couple extra brackets holding things together, and not very well. This x-member isn't perfect but it's not bad and still better than trying to reproduce it from scratch.
From there I drilled out and removed the old end-panels, cleaned everything up and test-fitted them. They're aftermarket panels but they fit pretty well. Drilled everything, applied a good coat of 3M panel bonding adhesive, set 'em on and riveted everything tight. I would have rather not used rivets on the outside surfaces, and probably didn't really have to, but I'd rather the body strong than pretty. From here I'll fix the few dents in the sides and prime them up, prep and paint the floor before installing the steel floor supports and then I'll paint the inside. It'll go on the truck before the outside is painted so I can install the dog-legs and paint them along with the rest of the tub sides.
Anyway, a picture is worth 1000 words.
Mercedesrover
Explorer
Some more work from the past week. The tub is together finally...Wish I could have found a better one. Anyway, did the bodywork on the sides and got them primed, then flipped it over and prepped, etch-primed, chip-guarded and painted the underside. Installed the galvanized x-members tonight. I'll flip it over and paint the inside in the next couple days. After that it can go on the frame, get the dog-legs attached and paint the outside. This tub has been a long haul and I can't wait to be finished with it.
Mercedesrover
Explorer
EricWS said:
I have a fairly large resistance spot welder and it works very well on steel, but it just doesn't have the amps to weld aluminum. Some of these welds are a long way from the edge so it would take a good size machine to reach them anyway.
No, everything was riveted and glued back together. As strong or stronger then spot welds and the glue seals the joints.
The side panels were good enough so the spot welds are still visible after the body work.
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