The mystery of the split galvanizing

[lesfurieux]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone knew why the galvanized rail on the top of the truck bed on the Series Land Rovers is split. Should it be welded together? I've pointed to it in the picture with a red arrow. Thank you for your help.

[TJR]

Mine too..? ('73 serIII) Seems like it is designed that way, the front portion is welded.
Perhaps it was a way to control the length and account for body mfg variation







..Talbot

[lesfurieux]

Exactly! Why is this so? You've got better pictures, by the way.

[LaneRover]

My guess is that the front is welded because that will be the same for 88's or 109's. For the rear of a 109 maybe they just put in a longer 'spacer'. I can't check my 109 p-up right now but what are the chances that there are 2 non welded joints on each side of a 109?

Purely speculation on my part!

Brent

[daveb]

front portion is different on a 109 as the seat bulkhead to b-pillar relationship is different.

My guess is that the front is welded because that will be the same for 88's or 109's. For the rear of a 109 maybe they just put in a longer 'spacer'. I can't check my 109 p-up right now but what are the chances that there are 2 non welded joints on each side of a 109?

Purely speculation on my part!

Brent

[LaneRover]

front portion is different on a 109 as the seat bulkhead to b-pillar relationship is different.

Damn you and your logic!

Then maybe the front needs more structure as the rear end ties into some vertical steel pieces and thus derives some strength from that.

or maybe the guy that welds the back section died and they didn't want to replace him at the factory. . . .

[daveb]

heh heh, pretty rare situation when logic and land rovers meet. I think I've seen where the rear corners are welded, perhaps on defenders.

I would guess that it has to do with taking up production tolerances.

Damn you and your logic!

Then maybe the front needs more structure as the rear end ties into some vertical steel pieces and thus derives some strength from that.

or maybe the guy that welds the back section died and they didn't want to replace him at the factory. . . .

[4flattires]

One word.

Thermal expansion.

Ok ...it's two words. I was boored at the office today and had to poke fun at something.

Jeff

[I Leak Oil]

It's probably just easier to make it out of 2 pieces than one big piece. And, of course, why weld them together? Doesn't really add anything to the structure. Who really knows though, maybe the factory welded some and not others for no apparent reason!
Jason T.

[pvkd]

mine is welded together!

[daveb]

on the 90 or the 5 door or both?

mine is welded together!