NOW’S THE TIME TO PROTECT
It’s time to think about inspecting and protecting the underside of our Land Rovers, and carrying out any weld repairs that are needed before the winter sets in. Okay, it’s still the middle of summer here in the UK, but that gives us the best chance of warm dry days. The longer days are ideal for drying out the chassis and underside, applying fresh paint, and for making weld repairs while there’s less moisture in the air, which can adversely affect the quality of welds.
Preparing for all this work now, means the vehicle will be properly protected well ahead of the inevitable winter road salt, which can arrive as early as October. Half an hour underneath with a good inspection lamp and a scraper is enough to make a proper assessment of the chassis and underbody, shifting collected dirt from corners and scraping defective paint and underseal away to check there is good metal underneath.
Light rusting can be cleaned off with emery cloth and repainted using rust convertor and protective top coats. Heavier corrosion needs a brave tap with a small hammer, and any perforations will need metal cutting out and a good weld repair made, followed by a full paint treatment. At the same time, clean any surface rust from brake and fuel pipes, and smear grease on them for protection. Don’t scrape Discovery 2 ACE pipes and connectors – just apply a spray grease. Replace any pipes that have more than slight surface corrosion. Always wear eye protection when working beneath the vehicle, and ensure it cannot roll. Cleaning and re-painting the underside is simple enough – just ensure the surfaces are completely dry before painting. Weld repairs though, are a different matter, which is why in this issue Alisdair Cusick provides an encouraging DIY introduction to this dark art. Basic welding is simple, but only if you have the skill that comes from plenty of practice and an understanding of the processes and techniques. If you fancy having a go, this month’s Product Review looks at entry-level welding machines, which are ideal to learn on. But until you become proficient, chassis and structural body welding remains a job for the professionals.