REPLACING A REAR CROSSMEMBER

he military 101 Forward Control has some similarities with other Solihull products, particularly the Range Rover derived V8 engine and driveline. Yet is totally different in other respects. Looking unlike anything else from Lode Lane, it is no surprise to learn its chassis is very different to the Land Rovers we usually see. All other Land Rover chassis have gentle curves front and back for the axles to fit underneath. The 101 Forward Control however, shares more in common with a truck chassis, being a flat ladder design, rather than curving in a mirror image of the leafsprings’ curvature. To be strictly accurate, there is a gentle slope on the lower edge, but the top face is simply flat.

This basic design means that its construction is very simple. To change elements means you merely have to cut

Tthe tabs off the joining item, and refit the new ones, carefully avoiding cutting into the chassis itself. To show the make up of a 101, and help demonstrate this simple construction, 101 specialists Able Engineering in Shepshed set up a crossmember swap on a 101 GS (General Service) variant. Able Engineering remanufactures lots of parts for 101s, from bump stops and fuel tanks to crossmembers, and they are even about to make a whole chassis for a client. Business partners Martin Howdle and Nigel Parker show us how the basic construction of a 101 helps simplify fitting a rear crossmember.

The main point is in carefully trimming the crossmember as it’s removed, avoiding cutting into the chassis. Aim to leave 3-5 mm either side of the chassis rails. Then take your time to trim back to good, solid metal to receive the new one. A good point, is that there’s plenty of metal to weld to.