howdi it looks like I will have replace my front beam after all. was hoping to wait till my wallet had recovered (some hope) from the cost of the welding but MOT forces hand. If I got another unit, has anyone any idea how long it would take to swop them over? I have been offered a '76. Would that be a straight swop for my '73? Cheers
You should be looking at 4hrs max.. But rusty bolts can be a mare Is the new beam bare?? If it isn't, then the 4hrs will go down to 2/2.5hrs
weekend if you have not done one before... It used to be my specialty ,sent one owner for a cornish pasty by the time he got back we had it finished, mmm pasty... Remember the gearshift rod, everyone forgets...
I could murder a pasty. But more to the point, I did this recently and think it depends on what kind of mechanic you are and what your set up is. My bus is kept on a neighbours drive at the other end of the street to me, going from the bus to my shed for whichever tool/lever/jack/etc I've forgotten this time adds hours to every job I do as does procrastinating (happens every time I do a job for the first time) and cups of tea. My thinking is you'll have no trouble over a weekend, just one day is likely and four hours sounds right if you're experienced, have a workshop and a tool chest to hand with every tool you are going to need. When putting the new beam on the bus started to lift before it was home, a few taps with a lump hammer (block of wood in between) to align the bottom soon sorted it out. Other than that I didn't have any big problems, it may be different if you find rust in the chassis behind the end plates - obviously that would need addressing before the new one goes on.. Good luck with it.
...and of course you might want to swap the best bits after you snap the bleed nipple off the "new" caliper and decide to swap out for your own, then see your one has torn dust covers so swap from broken nipple one, check the other caliper and do that one as well, your new idler pin bushes are shagged, you'll need to check/set the camber and tracking, the sleeve rips out of you bottom shock bush and is rusted firmly to the trailing arm on the old beam and you can't get the gear shaft apart because it looks like someone tried to jack the van under it... 4 hours pottering if it was plain sailing but it rarely is. I'd advise you do some preparatory checking or it could turn into ordering stuff and finishing next weekend
Zed you don`t even have to touch the brakes ,well remove the calipers but that it is,have them like dangly earrings... grease the new beam and it will slip into place...
I know, I was just countering the 5 minute job boys (including you!). It's fine in a workshop surrounded by bits and bobs when you've done it 10x before, but even needing a couple of bolts for something can slow you down at home.
