The front tub mounts have also been repaired with a section of 3mm marine grade ali sheet bolted behing the damaged sections. The new sheets extend the full span from the outer tub skin to the first diagonal floor reinforcing web, and are held in place with 4 zinc plated high tensile 1/2″AF bolts. The vertical 5mm galvanised steel strip is one of the rock-slider stabilisers – the rock-sliders secure to 3 of the outriggers, and this strip provides anti-rotation stability.
On the front of these sections, as further reinforcing, I have refitted the lower part of the Defender seatbelt brackets (outboard), and fitted a matching inner lower bracket, so that all 4 chassis outrigger brackets fit to the repaired tub mount AND the 3mm steel brackets. These brackets align with the chassis brackets and have studs that pass through the “shelf” behind the seatbox. The outer studs will engage on the Evans Bulkhead removal bar and the upper half of the seatbelt bracketry, while the inner studs will just have large washers and nuts.
Between the 3mm ali sheet and the 4x 3mm steel brackets, the mountings should be significantly stronger than the originals were when new.
I have also fitted the seatbelt buckle stalk captive nut plates (inboard). All this area was given a good undersealing before fitting the Tetrasealed steel brackets to ensure complete isolation. Once tighened, the nuts and bolts were sprayed over to prevent any possiblity of electrolytic corrosion.
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