NeilR

I think the cross member is a good idea. The alloy 'beehive' looking thing is a cabin heater - the origins are unknown. It's not Datsun 1200, which supplied the engine and gearbox.

The front of the chassis looks to be in better condition than the rear. We cleaned it up further, but it seems quite acceptable really. I think this will give everyone a reasonable idea on the condition.

Update time: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bsfT9cbdVvGLDGvS7

The efforts of the Canstel Clubman are worthy of note. Effectively there is a welded on tunnel, as well as other mods.

We don't have artificial salting of the roads and in most places it is not as damp. My car sat under cyprus tress for a long time and gently rusted away - the coupe bodywork is falling apart. We lifted the roof off today without having to undo one of the bolts under the rear glass as it pulled through the tub. I have been told that all Heralds sold in Australia had the Mk1 chassis in the export spec - supposedly this was stronger. More to learn. In any case the car has a Datsun 12A engine and four speed gearbox, which is the best thing about the car for the purpose it is being put to.

We got the bonnet and coupe roof off today and more of the chassis was visible down near the gearbox. I gave it a bit of a hammering and it was sound enough - I'll know more when we get the rear tub and floor off. Just for reference this is for the special body I have that you can see in this thread: I have disc brake uprights from a spitfire and the swing spring as well.

Hope so too!

Zetec the main rails seem OK, having be bathed in oil for many years. I'll know tomorrow when we get the rest of the body off the chassis.

I saw that in my searching in the past week - the road rules in Aust have changed and a full cage is not possible without expensive engineering. I cannot encroach into the door opening, I can make a frame to go under the scuttle that bolts to the chassis and tie the front shock towers to - this will be 'body support'. I can make the sill RHS quite a bit higher and stiffer then the original channel and tie roll hoop and front body stiffening to it.

Thanks for the replies. It was a Herald chassis I was thinking of, but few seem to bother with them, whereas I had found material and images of Spitfire modifications. Since they are so similar I thought those images would be a good guide. I had thought to box the outriggers that come out from the chassis and then replace the sill section with some RHS steel ... the thing is almost falling off anyway. Then I thought to weld a 1.6mm flat sheet steel floor across from one sill to the other. The front turrets do look pretty flimsy.

I recently had a computer issue and lost a lot of data, including all of the pictures and information I had on stiffening Triumph chassis. Can anyone point me in the right direction - I had found a lot about adding plates to join the two center sections etc, but the search function and google has not helped my in the past two days, clearly my google-fu has deserted me!

I likewise have not had a good run with AVO's. I love bilsteins, but no adjustment possible. Koni yellows are available in a motorsport damper in roughly the right size - on the books at least.

I have Spitfire 1500 front uprights/brakes etc and a 1500 spitfire swing spring on it's way to me. Dampers will be next and I've read that Koni seem the best of what's available, short of getting some Bilsteins made locally, which will be twice the price.

oh dear, that old canard - do we respond with soap and washing jokes? GT6 are you a member of the TSOA?

well, relative neighbours!

I'm in SE side of melbourne. The Herald is in Drouin at a friends place. What makes you ask?

I actually own a Rochdale Olympic, so I can compare them. As I've noted this body seems to be a 'bitsa', but a well done one. I'm not sure if it has more/less overhand than a GT6, but the longer wheelbase will alter the look a little - it is still a modestly sized car.

Founds some complete disc brake corners locally, using late model vertical links, 120UKP a corner. Also got a swing spring setup from a 1500 spitfire for the same price - a good day.

Thanks Nick, being so far away and new to the marque, I was not sure. I've contacted them to see if they will ship OS.

Awesome, thanks very much. It's little details like this that experienced people like on this forum help so much with. Do you know if James Paddocks Pty Ltf a reputable parts supplier? Their swing spring conversion kit is substantially cheaper, as are some of their other parts.