LDR XR Update

Got the sill mounted jack stands installed today as well as some other welding-does the welding ever stop!? ;-)

Debating removing the roof to do the cage-has anyone else done this? How many spot welds did the Germans put in the roof? I'm not sure I want to know.

Almost time to get the Subaru in the shop and start rebuilding that.

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

I'd like to see what your sills ended up like, and how you chose to set up the stands.

If I were going to de-roof a car, I'd just weld some quick bracing in the openings and take the roof off at the pillars with a zip disc. If the glass were out, that would take a total of 4 min or so? Much nicer to patch the sunroof with the roof off the car, and replacement would still be better in my mind than drilling out spot welds (which I loathe).

Patrick, I'll take some pictures of the sills and jack mounts in a few days.

Cutting the top of the car off would be a possibility, but I'd rather take the skin off. Flip side is that I hate drilling out spot welds as well! :-)

On another note, we bent a 1.5" thick walled tube with the hydraulic bender. Took us about 2 minutes to bend it 180 degrees. Wicked sweet! :-)

Cheers! John

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http://www.triplecaution.us

I don't think roof removal is worth the effort. On Subaru's we just cut a v and push the main hoop down, which gives enough space to weld everywhere. Then push it up and reinforce top and bottom.

Roof removal would be nice, but more work that isn't really needed.

I'd like to see the sill stuff too someday.

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Grant Hughes

Grant, I'm not getting what you mean about a V? Talking about a hole in the floor or the cage footing?

Cheers! John

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http://www.triplecaution.us

Just in the floor and bend the sheet metal out of the way to drop it down. Then you can push it back into place and reweld it. Easier than cutting a full hole and easily done with a air hammer. In a Subaru that is. Not sure on the thickness in the Merkur as we didn't need to drop it any more.

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Grant Hughes

Gotcha. That explanation works. We're finding the Merkur has much stouter steel than the Subaru. A bit overbuilt, which is fine with me.

Cheers! john

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http://www.triplecaution.us

Some pics as it's been awhile since I updated.

Here's a pic of the sill jackstand mount.

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Picture of the tubing bender done(and just after use) in it's sexy gray(sorry, no green JV!). A picture of a MIG 230V welder I scored locally for $349 this weekend. Whipped up a quick and easy cart for it.

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http://www.triplecaution.us

Here's a pic of our first tubing bent with the bender. Fit the first time. We're going to do it again though, with a bit more length across the top of the hoop so that it fits a bit more snug against the body.

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

I'll post a pic of our second main hoop in the next day or two.

Waiting on some more 1.75" tubing to come in to the steel supply shop.

Unfortunately/fortunately, we're going to have to roll the Merkur(or Rommel as we've named him) out of the main bay and get the Subaru in. With only 8-9 weekends available to work on the Subaru before STPR, we need to get moving!

No drivetrain in the Subaru and front end bodywork to replace and upgrade.

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

Here's a pic of the final main hoop. A lot tighter fit than the first.

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http://www.triplecaution.us

Lookin' pretty sharp!

Thanks Patrick. Just got a call today that my 1.75" tubing came in to the local steel supplier. 4-6 inches of snow here expected overnight, so I might not be able to get it if i can't get the trailer out of the yard.

Hard at work on the Subaru and I'm afraid the Merkur will only get attention as work on the Subaru allows. I'd love to get the Merkur out for a run this summer sometime, but there's lots to do on it yet.

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

Sorry I haven't been round much folks-thought I'd check in and post some random updates about what the LDR crew is up to.

The XR has been on the back burner for the past few months as we've been working to field the Open Class Subaru in the RA Eastern States championship.

STPR was a bust, Rallye BDC in Quebec showed some promise, but NEFR was where we finally saw some light. :-) The car is close to where I'd like it to be(although never actually done-you know how that goes).

We have a few weeks prior to Rallye Defi up above Montreal, and have a few things to do on the Subaru. Also just pulled an engine out of an old Mercedes 240D to put in my 1966 Land Rover.

The Merkur remains on the To-Do list and is quite high on the list! :-)

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us