Baby Steps . . . Baby Steps

I seem to have done so much rushing around just looking for things. With the tray off I have been able to get a good look at the chassis and determine if what I had "planned" to do is actually possible! So easy bits first - spare wheel carrier out - the wheels/tyres are just too big to store in the conventional manner under the chassis - so the spare will have to go somewhere else.















The front part of the chassis looks rather busy! And the top of the "round fuel tank (far side) protrudes above the chassis about 75 mm. The tank can be dropped with a bit of work but it is only 160litres nominal capacity and for some weird reason the filler cap is about 1/4 of the way down the side so it can only be filled to about 120litres. Not really the range I was thinking of. The service manager at the local Isuzu dealer says the filter just in front of the tank which consists of three elements including a water trap is obsolete and can be replaced by a much more compact and efficient unit which can be mounted (relatively) remotely. That will give an extra 200mm for tank length.















The Front-Middle looks a bit clearer. But the fuel tank is quite close to the rear wheel and then the stupid exhaust is jammed in between. So round tank to go! ADR (Australian Design Rules) say the exhaust must go to the right or right-rear as far as practicable so move the exhaust muffler/silencer and pipe to wherever is convenient when the time comes. This side is fairly clear and a large rectangular tank could go in there either as a replacement or supplement. Could total about 500litres if I really try.















The Middle-Rear has a bit of space too. Should be able to put the centre "torsion mount" in there without too much trouble.














The Rear is now quite open with the spare out. The rear torsion mount will go wherever I want with no trouble at all.
















After fiddling around with the chassis a bit the conclusion was reached that the original components for the torsion mount while theoretically adequate for the job just looked a bit "weak-kneed". So - New - Bigger - Stronger in every way. The original is on the left (5mm plate) and the replacement on the right (8mm plate).