Forum:
ok so i bought a sportrak about two months ago which failed an MOT on three places on the drivers side chassis rail needing welding, and a damaged antorollbar mount.
also it had a damaged brake pipe leading to 46% braking efficiency. its a M reg 1995 1.6 ELXI with 86k. no history whatsoever and proof of timing belt change 25k ago.
paid £130
well easy i thought, so i paid not much for it and drove it home. upon closer inspection there was a massive list of jobs that needed doing. they are:
*brackets from an old bull bar sticking out of the bumper
*hole on the drivers side chassis rail to be welded
*hole next to a leaf spring mount to be repaired
*hole at the front leading to antiroll bar bracket falling off
*bashguards to be removed
*petrol tank to be dropped and drained to allow for welding
*rear brake pipes and wheel cylinders to be replaced
*brakes topped up with fluid and bled
*rocker cover cracked leading to oil leak needs replacing
*general service, plugs, filters etc
*battery wont hold a charge, replace battery or find drain
*nasty hole in drivers fron wheel arch
so after compiling that list i thought shit, i cant do this. but then a stroke of luck, a mate of mine works for range rover and said he will do the welding for me if i prep the areas and grind the metal down.
*so here we are. the major work started today by removing the bashguards which had to be drilled out. these will be cleaned and repainted.
*i drained the petrol tank and removed 2 gallon. removed one bolts as they are all rusted and stuck.
*removed bumper to aid repair of front chassis rail.
*removed all of the air filter boxes and housing along with the expansion tank to aid repair of chassis rail.
*soaked powersteering pump and towing hook in wd40 so i can get them off for welding.
*took off the rocker cover to see that the four corners had been overtorqued and cracked clean off the cover.
*removed the radio to see if the battery didnt drain. it did. removed battery to discover no water in it.
JOBS TO DO:
grind off bolts securing both rear wheel cylinders and attach new ones. fit new brake pipes.
drill out other 4 bolts holding petrol tank on and remove tank.
remove powersterring box and towing eye to aid welding.
grind all three areas to be welded and reattach front drivers side antiroll bar mount.
once the petrol tank is out i need to grind off all the stuck in bolts from the bashguard and tank and get new ones sorted.
MOT.
SPENT:
Angle grinder £18
brake pipe kit £33
wheel cylinders £42
filters, wipers and rocker gasket £20
updates to follow.
PICTURES CURRENTLY
good
good to see your sorting it up will still be a cheap 4x4 once you get it sorted mate.had the same problem with my rocker cover.busy getting a new engine put in mine as the last one had to many problems.so just as easy to fit a new engine.
c hebenton
hopefully. tomorrow is a big
hopefully. tomorrow is a big day regardless of our lasses moaning. taking the petrol tank out, slackening the handbrake cables right off manually and installing the new rocker cover.
cover arrived today - you should see the clip of it. no wonder he was breaking the thing it was full of black manky slime. pics to be uploaded tomorrow. K&N cone assy ready to be fitted, so ive got a complete air filter system of anyone is interested for making a snorkel.
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
lots of work done today, the
lots of work done today, the old rocker cover was knackered and got binned. the handbrake cable was slackened RIGHT off but cant get the rear passenger side drum off. petrol tank removed too, with some work mind. photos:
the ofl rocker cover, note how the corner snapped off. all 4 were the same.
bumper off and repair work in progress. need to remove that power steering pump but havent got a spare bar to use as an extension.
the bashguards off and sat in the shed. ill grind these down and repaint them before they go back on.
lots of room behind the diff now the tank is removed.
the new air setup waiting a filter. new rocker cover and gasket fitted tightened to proper torque this time! (3 - 4.9newtons)
the petrol tank off and removed. will need to renew some of those hoses.
next jobs upon return from hliday are grind down the holes in the chassis ready for welding, remove the powersteering unit and the drivers side towing loop in order to get in to weld there.
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
litte bit more bdoywork done
litte bit more bdoywork done on the drivers front wing, had a tidy out.
fitted the drivers side wheelcylinder and managed to reuse the passenger side.
new brake pipes all round at the back and new unions. filled up with fluid and going to bleed next week when i get a nonreturn valve off ebay.
rear wiper refitted.
no leaks from initial pedal pumps, bled a little air out but obviously the pedal is as spongy as shit still. will go round each brake corner asap.
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
WELL.. last weekend was a
WELL..
last weekend was a bit of a nightmare, i had a wheel bearing go on the focus and the shed roof blew off so no sportrak work for me!
this weekend is planned in, our lass knows and everything.
planned work:
grind down chassis rails for welding
bleed brakes
remove power steering unit from front o/s chassis
clean and repaint bashguards
attach new brake pipes with ties/clips
finish front wing repair
ive decided, believe it or not, to have a crack at welding myself. ive got a mig here from my brother and plan on doing it before june time. so keep your eyes peeled, if i pull it off i might just make a habit of repairing these things.
il post pictures of progress on sunday afternoon, hopefully with everything ready to weld up and get it in for an MOT!!
if only i could remember what hose does what off this petrol tank...
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
big two days work yesterday
big two days work yesterday and saturday.. heres what happened:
ground all four points down which are going to be welded in preparation for my man don to come round and weld in two weeks, which took all day sunday
fully repaired front wing, primered up and looking like new. just need to source green paint!
removed back o/s mudflap and all plastic components for welding
removed headlights, grille, radiator, powersteering unit for access to chassis
fitted k&n air filter finally
fitted larger battery and all new associated terminals and wiring
removed old speaker wiring
removed old trim from the rear of the sportrak (the bits which hold the existing speakers)
removed both front seats for access
fitted kenwood cd player
fitted professional speaker wiring and ran under carpet
next jobs:
cut and refit thicker trim to hold big-ass speakers in rear
refit seats
work out how to get petrol tank back in
welding
repair and clean up bashguards
charge battery and start engine
refit all trim and panels and prepare for MOT
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
well, ive not updated for a
well, ive not updated for a week or so as ive been busy as a get in a busy factory.
the weldings done, cost me £150 and was done in a day and a half.
fully polybushed the front antiroll bar while the bumper etc is off
charged battery
waxoiled the chassis and especially the places where rust sets in
cleaned the cabin out
fitted new pedal covers
resprayed the grille and fully repaired drivers wing.
debadged and removed all those 80s graphics.
and at the moment im having a coffee break from putting the petrol tank back on (ive had to redrill new holes)
so once i get it finished and hopefully started today than i will post pictures and update in full. watch this space!!
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
well, went round yesterday
well, went round yesterday before the rain and rubbed down the remainder of the exposed chassis and fully coated it it waxoil. i got worried about the back bushes but theres no play at all and i dont see the point of breaking into them if theyre ok.
petrol sender unit needs sorting
front three bolts remain unattached to petrol tank
need to source some green spraypaint for wing - help anyone?
headlights and front bumper connected, reattached and tested ok.
grille repainted after lots of scratches sanded out and fitted.
battery charged and car started, sweet as a nut.
all i have to do now is work out how to sort out the sender unit and reattach the petrol tank for good. the hoses are still all connected but otherwise its sat on some bricks.
then its on to a test, i think im going to request to be there when he does it. hopefully itll pass, but if he picks anything up after all this i wouldnt mind.
newest pics:
and yes it looks like our gardens are a garage - next doors metro suspension died.
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..
diary of a sportrak - repairs and advice, pics to follow...
Hi Paul
Good for you mate!! you have your work cut out but it will give you a cheap 4x4. Once all the welding is done and MOT obtained then get some Wax into that chassis and on the outside. I say get the MOT first as that stuff has a low flash point and further welding for the MOT will be a bit dodgy.
Good luck
OLDMINIMAN
M J Young
more work done today, got
more work done today, got the angle grinder out to remove the drivers side tow loop bolts, it came off well and left a nice piece of chassis! i thought it would be rotten underneath.
the back end on axle stands, the drivers rear wheel was removed and after some persuasion i got into the wheel hub.
brake shoes look good, removed the old rusted wheel cylinder and made and replaced the brake pipe which goes from the main system rear to the drivers side cylinder.
wife stopped play, more tomorrow. hopefully will replace other side cylinder and another brake pipe. topup with fluid and test for leaks.
PM me if you need Sportrak Help..