Quote:
Originally Posted by Private_collector
While my chassis has been shortened, it's not as short as F15, so I guess that stuffs that! Unless I find someone with a good F15 chassis. It would save me from cross member work on this one too.
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Hi Tony,
I've only joined MLU recently but I've been greatly enjoying your posts, and finding much useful information in your detailed reports of this very fine resto job. Keep up the good work! I'm looking forward to many more hours of enjoyment following your progress!
I've gotten about half way through this thread so I'm not fully conversant with your plans, but one thing I've been wondering about is the chassis. To my mind the F60L chassis is not up to your standards - having been butchered pretty badly towards the rear, and missing what looks to be two crossmembers, as well as all four spring hangers. Those chains give new meaning to the term "fully floating rear axle"!
Also, in using that chassis, you'd need to choose a wheelbase, which for the sake of originality I imagine you'd want to keep standard, ie. medium or SWB. Eventually you may want to put an original body on it, which means sticking to a standard blitz wheelbase. But even then, it would always be something of a "mongrel" chassis, due to the incorrect taper at the rear.
I'm sure you've considered all this so I hope you don't feel I'm insulting your intelligence! It's just that I'm curious about the next installment in the story!
You mention finding someone with a good F15 chassis, which I agree would be ideal. However, judging by the pics in your very first post, the original F15 chassis looks pretty good to me. The rear crossmember appears to be intact (difficult to tell from the pic) with only the rear chassis rails having been docked. A new pair of ends wouldn't be too hard to fabricate, along with the missing gusset plates, as seen in the pic below. You'd probably want to reinforce the weld joint internally, so you could fit a pintle hook and tow stuff without seeing it overtake you on the highway!
One query though...I'm not that familiar with F15 chassis, but is it missing the gearbox mount crossmember? If so, perhaps the one off the F60L would fit.
I can't quite discern the front axle in the pics, which looks to be original F15, but with 6 stud hubs fitted. Very weird! Almost looks like F8, which would be extremely unlikely.
Of course, you could always get hold of an F15A chassis and go 4WD! Depends what you want to do with it I guess. I'm told the F15 is much lighter to steer, and I've certainly seen Keith throw one around corners!
As you mention, an F15 chassis would allow you to use the sunshine roof and still keep it original (as would an F15A chassis, like Euan says). Personally I'd go with the sunshine roof, I reckon they're a good Aussie feature, quite handy in hot weather I imagine. Besides, you've already Australianized the floor, so why not the roof as well!
Anyway, looking forward to the next exciting episode....
Cheers,
Tony