149 replies to this topic

[355LX]

Hi guys, it's probably well over three years since I posted any progress on my car. What started as "just" replacing all suspension, driveline and brakes and doing some track work, leaving the body as is, has now snowballed into a full baremetal rebuild. Some guys will remember her from the Mandurah cruise we did when we met Tiny and Simmo for the BBQ.

This is what I started with, 308, single rail 9 inch.


This is as far as I got with just screwing it together as is to do some circuit work and worry about the body later. Harrop/A9L 355 stroker, walky manifold with haltech, Tremec, Brembo's and 9inch. It has been off the road for over 2 years now


I've since stripped it, put it on a rotisserie, and done some work done underneath, with more to come. I have just made it a roller again though to have a cage fitted.




Also have decided to start fresh with the motor(more HP/reliability/no injection) and go in a slightly different direction with the rims/brakes due to the fact I'm now trying to ready the car for Targa West with Welby (A9X).


Using Performance superlite 16x8 all round for targa, and will eventually fit 17x9 and 17x11 simmons FR17 or OM17 later on funds pending. Am using the AP's instead of brembos for more clearance so I can still run a 330mm rotor under the 16's.

I sourced a VR/VS block, and the motor is currently having the 4 stud conversion done and all machine work. It will have Scat rods swinging off a Crankshaft Rebuilders crank and SRP forgies. Using my VN heads and a high rise Torque power manifold with a 750 Ultra HP on top. Dave's(Bottledup) work A1 High performance will be flowing my heads for me and make up a solid roller to suit.

Will still use the tremec, and the 9 inch. As for suspension hoping to pick up some bilstiens along the way if there is spare $$$, otherwise will just hope the Koni's will last the Targa weekend. I am fabricating a panhard rod as well, which is alot of fun.

Will post more pics as things progress. Will be going up to some mates of mine about 400km's north of Perth for the panel and paint in the next month, long trip but I'm sure will be worth it!!

When complete it will be log booked and ready to tear up the tarmac!!!

Hoping it will be complete around June sometime.........will just have to see how it goes. Sorry for the long winded intro!!

[tinkers]

Geez Uni must be paying well

[355LX]

Hahaha nah have deferred uni, have just been working out the mines for the last 5 months, about to start a new job in the city, uni part-time now, want to try and buy a house!!

Dave

[Heath]

Awesome car, awesome plans

[A9X]

Good one Dave.

Must be ready before the last weekend in may/first weekend June, 'cos that s the Albany Round the Houses.

And we can both do some testing.

Aqua, Orange, ???????

Wanted, colourful entrant to join Team Torana for Targa West 08.

pretenders need not apply

Welby

[355LX]

Will be pushing it for late May Welby but what the hell I like a challenge, it'll all come down to my mate doing the panel beating I think.......

As for colour, I was going to go Aquarious, but I've changed my mind again and have decided to stick with my 15 year old dream of a yellow flared hatch!!

Dave

[A9X]

Yellow is good,

Chrome Yellow is better!!!

theGTS,

Targa West accepts team entries of 3 cars. I have a provisional entry in for Team Torana.

I'm Orange, Dave is Aqua/Yellow, so we need a colourful 3rd.

We have a couple of interested people , but nothing firm yet.


Welby

[355LX]

The yellow was going to be Absinth, but have since changed my mind and will be going with Chrome with black-outs.

Will try and get up to the workshop and get some more work done before the week is out, will be starting on the panhard rod I think.

Dave

[Racehatch]

Nice project there Dave, looking forward to some more updates!

[A9X]

The plan is to combine sponsors over the 3 cars, same visual effect, decent pool of $ and combined resources.

Gotta be better than going alone.

Welby

[A9X]

course she does,

just buy her the ticket !

[355LX]

Hahaha it would be worth the trip Rory. If they deliver on the offer of a street stage through the CBD of the city, the sound alone would send you back home with a smile, just have to make sure there is a decent in-car camera strapped in with a decent mic for it!!

Dave

[355LX]

With Targa West fast approaching (Sept 5-7) and being a member of Team Torana with Welby and Alex(LHracer), I have alot of work ahead of me in the next 4-5 months. Basically the car requires full panel/paint, motor to be built, and everything assembled, not to mention some custom bits to be fabricated here and there.....

They say Rome wasn't built in a day, and I guess they meant it didn't take 4 or 5 months either, but you know what, f#$k it, I'm going to have a red hot go at getting this thing ready, and as far as I'm concerned, it's going to happen.

Had a huge day in the shed today. A deadline has been set to have the car in Geraldton end of next week. Gero is a 420km trek North of Perth, where two of my best mates, one being a panel beater, and the other a spray painter, will work their magic.

With this deadline in mind, I have a sh!tload of things to do to the thing before it goes up next week.

Today involved making up seat mountings, doing them to FIA spec, seems the safest way to go, will take pics tomorrow. I also today finished making up my chassis connectors which I will also get some snaps of tomorrow. All this crap will be getting welded in tomorrow, along with my panhard rod mount and associated bracing.

Bottem end has had 4 bolt conversion done and caps fitted, has been acid dipped and line bored. Will start peicing together the combo when the car is away getting the panel/paint done, and hopefully have everything ready to go together at the same time.

Sorry for the big post, but there is alot on, and more to be done!!

Wish me luck everyone, I'll need it!!

Dave

[TerrA LX]

Good luck champ.
Go Torana.

[355LX]

Hahaha it would be worth the trip Rory. If they deliver on the offer of a street stage through the CBD of the city, the sound alone would send you back home with a smile, just have to make sure there is a decent in-car camera strapped in with a decent mic for it!!

Dave

I am getting one of those ATK Helmet cams like LXCHEV has got...Look the goods with a 2MG card does 1 hour of video.
R

Whats the picture quality like on those? would love a camera of some type in or on the car, something with a decent mic.....hahaha

[A9X]

don't worry about the mic, all you hear is one long scream for the left hand seat anyway,

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh



Or maybe that's just in my car

Welby

[355LX]

Sorry for the average camera phone picture. Here is my panhard rod mounting to the body. I'll post a pic of the rod I've made later in the week.


This is where the rear passengers feet used to go. Now instead is my chassis extension.


Here's an underside view of the rail, and you can see where the trailing arm mount has been stitched.


Have to do the seat mountings during the week.