Club 80-90 Forums

Didn't know about the nylons trick. Did it by touch and sight when pouring. Something for next time.

Yep Baz, I hope so.

Finally got around to this. It was pressing as couldn't drive at CF and Normandy is looming.
Spent the morning bouncing on scaffold poles chained to ears. All I managed to do was flex the pole. Looked at trolley jacks and decided pockets not deep enough at the mo.
Bought some flat steel and made some extension bars as Jed did.
Outdoor man cave. Can't live without a vice (Lloydy you taking note).

Made four of these. (camera not obeying macro selection).

Test fit.


Now got a whopping 36mm between nosecone flange and top of mini crossmember.

Mounted gearbox and engine frame. What a fecking faff that is! Do a bit of fettling tomoz and that's good enough for France.
One day I'll bend them down and fit Ian's monster slab. (piccy taken of his van at CF).


Thanks peeps for all the advice and encouragement. Couldn't have done it without ya!

I strongly ad(vise) anyone going near a car boot sale to keep their eyes open for a set of 24" Stilsons.

Defo the tool to use for many straightening jobs, like those pesky tabs

silverbullet wrote:I strongly ad(vise) anyone going near a car boot sale to keep their eyes open for a set of 24" Stilsons.

Defo the tool to use for many straightening jobs, like those pesky tabs

2nd time in recent days I've heard that advice. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

i should get a vise really.........

stillsons are great... for plumbing.. how would they straighten something a long bar could not?

scaffold pipe is too small to fit over the end of the ear to lever down. I guess with a large stilson one pops van on ramp, scoots underneath and applies stilson either in vertical position and then pushes backwards, or horizontally and then hangs from it like a chimp.

ah ok, you can get stillsons with vertical jaws, might be easier than the normal 90 deg ones

Having not owned or used one, this is conjecture on my behalf.

silverbullet wrote:I strongly ad(vise) anyone going near a car boot sale to keep their eyes open for a set of 24" Stilsons.

Defo the tool to use for many straightening jobs, like those pesky tabs

had to bend one tab slightly today stiltsons worked a treat with a long bar thanks for the tip dude

lloydy wrote:ah ok, you can get stillsons with vertical jaws, might be easier than the normal 90 deg ones

Not necessary mate, ordinary ones do it just fine. Reverse onto ramps, slide under the van and pull back (not down) on the Stilsons:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 5#p7872266" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well I used the trolley jack method and then stillsons to twist straight afterwards as the n/s one is canted. They don't always stay in-plane when pulling down.

i reckon you should all just look after your vans more, or choose a better line through the rocks!

More driving, less fettling. You know it makes sense. Can't see the point of a trailer queen Syncro myself.

More driving gets my vote every time