i did a bit more yesterday.
firstly i went and bought the 8 bolts for the bodylift, with washers and 2 nuts for each bolt, normal and nylock, came to £4, so has been a very cheap bodylift.
fronts.
rears.
i then bolted it all up. the rear ones were a bastard to get in, as the body needed lifting slightly off the chassis and spacer to get the bolt in. this would have been a lot easier if i hadnt already done all the other bolts up.
so id advise anyone else doing a similar bodylift on a 70, to fit the very rear bolts first.
next i removed the centre console/rear heater matrix.
this left a hole in the floor pan.
so i cut a piece of stainless and stuck it down in place with super strong RTV sealant (room temperature vulcanising).
i then used some hose to reconnect everything under the bonnet.
i sanded, rust killed and painted the few rust spots on the floor, and then began re-fitting the seats.
once id got the front seats back in, i decided to sort out my storage issues.
for far too long, all my recovery gear and other essentials has just been crammed behind the front seats, which is not the best place to have it, especially when you need a rope etc. quick as your stuck in the middle of a river, or up to your axles in mud.
i also decided i needed to do something to protect the floor pan inside the vehicle. although this truck is first and foremost a toy, i do have to use it some times for work, so i need to be able to chuck tools and materials straight in.
so first off i removed all my gear and then spent about an hour thinking of the best way of storing everything, and how best to build it.
usually when ever im building/making anything i have a clear vision in my head of what it will look like, so i find projects very easy. but with this i had too many ideas and couldnt decide what would work best.
i was thinking of putting a new false floor in above the wheel arches, with some big pull out drawers for all my gear to go in, but i decided id loose too much valuable room.
anyway, heres what i did.
all the stuff that needs a home.
the space that ive got.
cut a board for the back, out of 3/4" marine ply.
and scribed it to the shape of the floor.
was then thinking of building some storage bins either side of the sub, but decided against this, as i wouldnt have been able to easily get any recovery gear from the rear of the vehicle.
so i cut a board for the floor next.
screwed some sides on it, with an angled end to match the upright piece.
and screwed it in place.
filled in the sides.
so in the drivers side, which involves opening both back doors ive got.
both socket sets.
fire extinguisher.
first aid box.
jump leeds.
compressor.
new fuel filter.
and the other side, which is easier to get to ive got.
high lift jack base.
shackles.
8 meter strop.
quick strop.
kinetic rope.
spade.
saw.
scissor jack.
snatch block.
gloves
these 2 boxes will both have hinged up lids on them, out of 3/4" MDF.
next i screwed my sub in place and wired it up. i also found a home for the high lift and tool box. once the door is closed the high lift is wedged in place nice and tight.
just need to screw a few bits of wood down to stop the tool box moving, will also add a strap to hold it down in the event of a roll.
i want to get some 20mm aluminium angle to face and protect the end-grain on the ply, i want to edge the bottom piece when the doors are open, the 2 uprights, and the top of the upright board behind the front seats.
this is the hole left in the front of the truck.
i need to make a centre console/arm rest to go in there. it will also incorporate my CB radio.
testing to see how well my tools fit.
couple of pics after ive driven her a few miles since fitting the bodylift.