need some help with my Mistral

long · Post by **long** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:50 pm

I orignaly posted this under nissan but thought it may do better here
Ok guys n gals im a bit lost here ive got my tow hooks for the chassis on my Mistral it is already boxed but theres no way i can get into the front chassis rails to mount up a hook.
I could use one of the existing bolt holes but not the other one if i was to drill a hole through the top rail i will have probs getting to it to do it up ?.
The orignal tow hook is at least 19mm thick cast steel by the look of it would or could i get away with useing that.
As for the rrear hook thats of no prob as the chassis rails are open at the end so you can get to any nuts etc with a little work.
Any ideas would be most welcome tnx in advance

coxsy · Post by **coxsy** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:44 pm

you can use to stardard one for awhile may not stand extreme action,see if you can get a steel plate welded to the chassis to take a hook on the front pefere bolted and welded for safety.

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:03 pm

can you get to the inside of the chassis at all at the front? is there factory captive nuts in the chassis at the front? (even if they don't line up...) do you know how thick the chassis is?

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:04 pm

also can you get to the sides of the chassis at the front?

long · Post by **long** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:33 pm

no i cant get into the front of the rail as its is closed off there is a small ovel hole in the outside of the rail but u cant get a spanner into it so what im doing is useing 75x75x6 angle iron bolt that to orignal mounts n then mount my tow hooks to that the chassis rail is 3 mm thick

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:52 pm

yeh thats similar to what i was gonna suggest

I've just done similar to another 4wd where origional nuts didn't line up with tow hook. but I used 6mm Box section instead of angle...

Remember to use hi-tensile bolts to mount angle to chassis and towhook to angle

long · Post by **long** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:33 pm

im useing grade 10 bolts to chassis n 8.8 on the tow hook should work ok

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:57 pm

CAN YOU GET TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE CHASSIS RAIL? IF SO, DRILL LARGe hole to allow for the insertion of a piece of shedule 40 pipe 5/8" ID. weld top and bottom to chassis rail. pass bolts thru pipe & hook etc. bolt up. The pipe is now a crush tube and the stresses are transfered evenly to the chassis rails.

I will call and see you some time soon and explain. or get hold of de-ranged in Hawke's Bay and he will explain more clearly. mayhap he wil draw a simple line darwing for you. After we come back from the 42travers, I will have a go to clarify my statements.