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Author Topic: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body  (Read 19637 times)

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Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« on: June 11, 2013, 10:46:12 am »
Here are some pictures of my newly acquired 404.  Body work has a few rust patches but the chassis is solid.







The previous owner told me that the fuel tanks had contaminated fuel in them.  He just bypassed them and ran from a boat outboard tank in the cab.  Also the choke knob had seized so he ran it with out engine covers so he could reach the carb from the drivers seat and set the choke directly.

I have replaced the choke cable, brand new genuine Mercedes was only £12.  Job two was to remove the box from the back to make it more suitable for my planned usage and make access much easier for planned maintenance.  To do this I made a large frame out of scaffold poles with a couple of chain blocks at the top. 



The box came off fairly easily, only 9 bolts, a few cables and the rear lights to disconnect.





The next jobs will be replace a split torque tube gator, clean the fuel tanks - and replace the link tube and in tank filters, fit the rear lights to the chassis - they were attached to the box and finally make some rear mud guards.

Ian
« Last Edit: September 18, 2013, 11:17:32 am by IanRubie »
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Re: 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2013, 05:36:03 pm »
Tidy looking chassis youve got yourself  :) body work isnt always everything :P

For the tank i would highly recommend por-15 http://www.por15.com/ weve used it before and its amazing stuff, we had a tank that if you held it up to the sky and looked through the filler pipe, it was like looking at a night sky full of stars, so we stuck some por-15 sealant in it and it was sorted  :)
What do you plan to do with the body?
you can get the rubber gaiter from any dealer, a new one is around 50-60 quid i think.
Have you thought about moving the tanks and battery box on top of the chassis for belly clearance?
Keeping the standard engine?
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2013, 05:45:11 pm »
Thanks.  The tanks do not leak, they just had a nasty liquid in them.  Don't know what it was but it did not smell like petrol and had the consistency of engine oil.   I have ordered the gaiter and a few other things from Westfield 4x4. 

The initial plan is leave it fairly standard, just get it road legal.  I will then see for myself what it is like off road compared to my old Land Cruiser.  If I like it I will then look at modifying it.  Things on that list include moving the fuel tanks and battery box, much softer springs so it will flex without the weight of the box, roll cage, fix the rust . . . . . If I don't like it the box will go back on and I will pick a different project.

Ian
« Last Edit: September 18, 2013, 12:07:35 pm by IanRubie »
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Re: 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2013, 05:59:24 pm »
Por-15 also do a cleaning fluid for tanks, the sealant was just an example :)
I would stick some weight on the back for when you take it off road, this will allow the chassis to flex more meaning youll get better articulation, something a lot of people forget, it also frees the bushes up. youtube has a lot of videos where there's no weight on the mog, so they dont flex.
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2013, 06:14:33 pm »
I have been thinking about putting some weight over the back wheels.  The isometrically mounted thing you mentioned in another thread has me thinking though.  If I want to strap my spare wheel over the back axle, how do I do it?  Conventionally I would just bolt a frame between the chassis rails and away you go.  I will have to crawl under my radio box and have a closer look at the pivot mount.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2013, 12:07:12 pm by IanRubie »
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Re: 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2013, 06:37:04 pm »
I would just use a length of steel a suitable width for carrying your wheel (something like 9 inch) then have it go across the chassis with some folds to lift it away from the chassis, so that the wheel is stored horizontally. Remember to use existing bolt holes, as drilling a unimog chassis can cause it to tear, the problem is reduced when you dont have a lot of weight on it, but i still wouldnt risk it.

If i get the time, i will do a drawing to describe what i mean.
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2013, 05:22:19 pm »
After much work I think that my 404 is finally ready for its MOT.  It better be, it's booked for 9.30 tomorrow morning :D  Finished all the work with 16.5 hours to spare, plenty of time by my normal standards.

Fingers crossed.

Ian
« Last Edit: September 18, 2013, 12:06:53 pm by IanRubie »
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Re: 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2013, 08:06:30 pm »
Good luck! Always nice to have another mog on the road :)
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2013, 11:10:46 am »
Thanks, it passed  :)  Got a few advisories but nothing serious.  Now to put a few miles on it and fully test it out.  Reached the dizzying speed of 60kph (about 37 mph) on the way back from the MOT. 

Taking it to an off road event next weekend, hopefully will get some good pictures.

Ian
« Last Edit: September 18, 2013, 12:06:32 pm by IanRubie »
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Re: 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2013, 08:16:55 pm »
Good news about the MOT :) should go pretty quick with it being a 404 :P

At least youve got the right tyres ;)
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2013, 11:14:59 am »
Just to keep the development of my Mog in one place I will repost the pictures from the other thread that they are in.










Following a bit of research I have decided to have a spring swap round.  The rear springs are going on the front and I have ordered some 4" lift Jeep TJ springs for the rear.  This will hopefully make it easier for the 404 to flex its suspension now that it has so much less weight on its back.  The new springs are due next week so I will post some before and after pictures.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2013, 12:06:14 pm by IanRubie »
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2013, 02:05:44 pm »
I do like those pics  8)
I have heard about tj springs being used before, but never about sticking the rears on the front, look forward to hearing what you think :)
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2013, 05:45:07 pm »
looking good!!   8):)
 
it always gets me how much a mog can flex its chassis!! it caught the me out the first time brian tok me for a spin in the 411  :o

whats it like keeping up with the other lads you were with?
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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2013, 07:57:26 am »
It did OK.  The pictures were taken at a Land Cruiser club off road event that I help to organise.  Unfortunately because I spend most of the event weekend running things I don't get much time to play, just a quick drive round while setting things up. 

Here is a link to a thread about the weekend for those who are interested http://www.landcruiserclub.net/forums/showthread.php/49195-Lincomb-September-7th-8th  The pictures start about page 13.

The ground clearance of the 404 certainly helped lots with one of the bog holes on the site, the relative lack of power did not seem to be a problem.  I did not get the chance to try the big hill climb that is on site.  If you read the above thread you will see reference to "the hill" otherwise known as Rubie Hill.  It is called this because the land owner said it was an impossible climb without a winch, apparently people had been trying for years and nobody had done it.  I was the first one to do it in my modified 80 series Land Cruiser.  The hill was then named after me!

Ian

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Re: Evolution of my 1967 404 Radio Body
« Reply #14 on: September 19, 2013, 12:39:44 pm »
Now that really is cool! Well done!
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