This is the greatest project that I have ever attempted, thus far, in my shedolological career. I knew that it would be a biggy, but hadn't quite envisaged the true scale of work that would be required to accomplish the rebuild of the Yeti Monster.
For a few wonderful years, the Yeti Monster was to be seen chugging the lanes of East Lancashire, fun days out with the kids, and hauling heavy loads of goods and equipment.
When I first realised that the chassis was beyond economic repair, I thought that it would just be a case of purchasing a new chassis, and transplanting everything from the old chassis across to the new one. I estimated that 2 or 3 months of dedicated labour would have the Yeti Monster back on the road. How wrong I was.
Whilst it has had me pulling my hair out (figuratively speaking) on several occasions, I have to say that every step, once conquered, has been satesfying and rewarding, as well as educational. And thankfully, I have managed to keep costs down through some very fortunate ebaying.
The replacement chassis came as a rolling chassis, built up on new suspension, it had an rebuilt bulkhead, engine and transmission.
I initially expected to be able to do the work outside, but the state of the working area I had was no good for using the engine hoist. Plus, the weather always seemed to be against me.
After moving the entire operation up to the BIG shed, I was able to get some serious work done. Removal of the 2-1/4 diesel engine from the new rolling chassis....
.... and rebuliding the front and rear axles, brakes and steering.
A huge relief came, as I started to dismantle the remains of the original rolling chassis, until eventually there was just an empty space where once there had been an old wreck.
A replacement 4-203 engine was yet another ebay bargain, sourced locally, it was the last large piece of the jigsaw.
The smooth concrete floor of the BIG shed makes manouvering the loaded hoist managable.
Once in the engine bay and mated up to the gearbox bellhousing, a few minor modifications to the mountings were required.
SHEDOLOGY: GRASS ROOTS ENGINEERING.