Getting there
Trev’s 130 Chassis Cab project moves forward
WOULDN’T you think that during the long lockdown, the 130 Chassis Cab build would have been completed by now? It is true that I have made lots of progress with the Land Rover and have been building in provision for various features that I would like the finished truck to have, such as on-board compressed air, warning beacons and a certain little black box that I shouldn’t really talk about here.
It has been fortunate that my workshop is in the grounds of my house, so travelling to work and continuing to work has not been an issue. I am also fortunate to have a list of clients who are still in a position to pay for their Land Rover to be rebuilt (and this cannot be taken for granted in these times where a major recession is probably upon us), so when I can get the necessary parts, my paying work continues thankfully. But I have been setting time aside for my 130 project too – and I’m very pleased with how it is coming along.
One particular snag is getting the new Tipper body built. My first choice Coachworks is firmly shut down at present, with no prospect of my 130 job being booked in anytime soon. Consequently, the other Coachworks that I could use are fully booked with big truck body builds (and have little interest in my small-fry job). So how can I get my Land Rover 130 into useful service?
I happen to own a 110 High Capacity Pick UP (HCPU) which has very good bodywork, but an engine, drivetrain and chassis that is essentially scrap. I plan to rebuild this bodywork onto a new chassis with a Td5 engine and drivetrain, in due course, so it will be dismantled before too long. Could I borrow the HCPU tub for the 130 as a temporary measure? Fitting it is just a fistful of bolts really, so why not? I duly set to work on the 110 HCPU to liberate the tub for use on the 130.
Of course, nothing is ever simple, and although the tub came off the 110 easily enough, the front and rear mounting points had been destroyed by corrosion. I therefore had to set about effecting some repairs, which added an extra day to the proceedings. The aluminium rail across the rear of the tub (underneath), which houses a number of captive nut plates, needed to be replaced with a good used one (that I was fortunate to have). Also one of the front-oftub mounts was replaced with a homefabricated item, while the other was strengthened up. I saw this work as time well spent, because it would have needed to be done for fitting the HCPU tub to the new Td5 chassis is due course.
The HCPU tub bolts onto a 130 chassis in exactly the same as it was fitted to the 110 – a straight transfer over. Of course, there is a 17 inch gap between the rear of the cab and the front of the tub – but hey, my good friend Matthew (the carpenter) could fashion me a toolbox of some description from marine ply. Couldn’t he?
Well no, not at present! Matt is not working due to the lockdown; instead he is homeschooling and looking after his two boys, while Ruth works from home all day in the study. My own carpentry skills are miles behind Matt’s but I might have to take the plunge and get my old circular saw out. And after all, it is only a temporary solution – surely the Coachworks will open up again soon? This lockdown can’t last forever!