Monday, Nov 11, 2002 at 01:00
Another How-To...
Well guys it seems even those with limited mechanical ability and
even less
tools can get some things done on their 4WD.
Fitted the el cheapo draws over the weekend to the GQ wagon without
too much trouble.
To maybe help those that haven't done the fitting yet here are a
couple of tips.
This was done on a seven seater. It is a tight fit between the wheel
arches.
Basically following the instructions with the kit the following mods
may help.
Remove third row
seat and rear locking plate. Fill the 3 locking
plate bolt holes (plugs or sikaflex)
Trim the drivers side tab on the draw base plate no 2 to clear the
rear of the wheel arch trim.
Use the rear tie down points bolt holes to fix base plate no 2 - need
to drill new holes in plate. (I didn't use the plastic spacers
provided as I had adequate clearance from the floor with the mounting
strips.)
Remove the third row
seat belt holding bolts in wheel arches. Fill
the bolt holes (flush plugs or sikaflex)
Relocate the roller bearing that fouls with the wheel arches on each
side.
Use the front bolt holes of the third row
seat mount to attach base
plate 1 (again no plastic spacers) and redrill 3, 4 and 5 to suit.
Cut down bracket 9a to clear the wheel arch.
Cut down bracket 8a to clear the wheel arch. I also trimmed the top
sections of 8a and 8b to fit the LHS of vehicle.
This is where I got fussy and wanted the cover 13a to be at the rear
to provide access to the jack so I placed the cover flush to the rear
and repositioned bracket 8b to pick up the front of the cover and
provide the mounting point for a new piece I made up to fit
the gap
left forward of the cover.
Measure in from the locating holes in 3 and 5 and trim the outside of
the deck 12a and 12b to fit the rear shape. You will have to
reposition and shorten the load rails on the LHS deck.
As a final touch I cut a section out of covers 13a and 13b to fit
around the 3rd row
seat belt retractors (too much of a pain to
remove).
When all screwed down the result is a tidy professional looking fit
with no additional holes drilled in the vehicle.
As a word of warning watch the edges on some of the steel as it can
be sharp and the oil film on some parts make them slippery and I have
the cuts to prove it.
Additional
tools ran to a small angle grinder (cutting disc), jigsaw,
trimming knife, glue, drill and a couple of drill bits to suit.
Have fun.
AnswerID:
8385