Lude Generation

Does anyone have any ideas why my lower center beam will not go back on? It is as if it is too long I cant get the bolt holes to line up. The car is up on jack stands on the jack mounting points.

No? That's weird! Didn't have that problem when I took mine off/on (and the front of the lude I was working on was bent, too!)

How far out are we talking here? If the front cross member had dropped slightly, that would tend to move it backwards (because it's supported from above). Could try jacking that up slightly (with a block of wood under) to see if that helps? It shouldn't move though! Have you modified any of the engine bay chassis at all?

No modifications. It is out about half a cm. I wonder if I have bent something using the front lower beam as a jacking point I/we have done this before with no issues though

Did you do it with the jack under the front of the centre beam (where the tow point is)?
I've always jacked my ludes there and no problems. Once they're up, I support them under the rear suspension mounting points rather than the jacking points though (take a look at the exhaust update in the JDM profile thread, think some pics there)

It's probably just a bit of chassis flex as a result of being jacked up, gearbox off/on and where it's supported on the stands.

Could try lowering the car onto its wheels slightly and see if that shifts the chassis a bit to get it to line the centre beam up?

The centre beam is the trolley jack point I thought. Thats what the little loop is for?

I'd try what Wurly said and see if you can raise the front end a bit.

Thinking back (spent the last 4 days under the car) a heavy load was never put on to the lower beam itself, only as an extra support just in case the jack stands wobbled while we worked under the car. The car was jacked up on the little loop of the center beam.

I am baffled But yeah I will let the car down (Vanzep did suggest this at the time) and try and see it if lines up.

I found out that I bent the center beam somehow. It will be persuaded back into shape

You're just so strong!

I think it was a nit rusty and the jack bent it.

Merlin wrote:I found out that I bent the center beam somehow.

Compared it against the beam on your 5th/vanzeps 4th?