why couldn't my brother be more like you.
Great job.
XXKAZXX
1 votes
Fixing my brothers UC hatch
Started by
_dirtbag_
, Dec 30 2009 01:19 PM
1690 replies to this topic
#77
_TUFF75LH355_
_TUFF75LH355_
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Posted 03 January 2010 - 10:57 PM
looks awesome mate you've done a great job cant wait to see the finished product
#78
_dirtbag_
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 07:01 AM
Thanks again for the kudos. It's been fun so far. I can't wait to see it finished either. Can't wait to drive it!!!!!! Then I think I'll keep it hahahaha.
#80
_dirtbag_
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 11:22 AM
Well after spending all morning doing a weird combo of UC and LX front bumper mounts, there is a front bumper mounted. I don't have that extra bit the LX bumpers mount to, so I used some of the UC mounts and joined it into the LX bumper.
I don't want any bolts or holes showing either so I'm welding the mounts to the bumper for a smoother look.
I don't want any bolts or holes showing either so I'm welding the mounts to the bumper for a smoother look.
#81
TerrA LX
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Fulcrum Fixture
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 12:58 PM
I don't want any bolts or holes showing either so I'm welding the mounts to the bumper for a smoother look.
Don't tell everyone my secret.
#82
_dirtbag_
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 03:04 PM
Sorry dude, didn't know it was a secret : ) Can I tell them about the cross dressing? No? Sorry, another secret busted hahaha.
It's a nice easy mod hey, and looks good and subtle. Any pics of your car on here Terra?
It's a nice easy mod hey, and looks good and subtle. Any pics of your car on here Terra?
#83
TerrA LX
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Fulcrum Fixture
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 06:32 PM
No pictures here sorry and stop looking thru my windows ok.
#84
MRLXSS
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- Name:Matt
- Location:Upwey, Melbourne
- Car:355 LX Hatchback, DeLorean DMC-12, LX SS Hatch, VY Cross8 Crewman
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 06:49 PM
I'm really really really impressed!!
Great stuff mate! All fantastic mods your doing!! Keep it up!
Great stuff mate! All fantastic mods your doing!! Keep it up!
#85
_dirtbag_
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Posted 04 January 2010 - 07:10 PM
OK, I started making my mounts with a combination of UC and LX mounts, but the LX mounts didn't really help, so I cut the LX bit off and just made a couple of pieces to get it good and strong, as the UC mounts are fairly flimsy.
To fit the UC monts I had to cut a little bit out of the LX grill. The piece of bumper mount that sticks straight out used to have a mount on it for the UC bumper but it stuck out too far and wouldn't let the LX bumper sit right. That's where I "did" have the piece of LX bumper mount. Not any more.
My brother decided he didn't want the rubber strips on the bumpers. Luckily for me he gave me a bumper that had the rubber strip, so now I have to weld up all the holes : ) That's OK though because I'm also getting rid of the mounting bolts and factory jacking points too.
The first step was to knock the dings out of the bar and give it a good clean up around where I need to weld.
After a lot of mucking around and measuring I tacked welded the bumper to the UC mounts. It's nice to have it sitting there all by itself for a change.
I'm pretty happy now with where it's sitting.
With the bumper tacked to the mounts I was able to unbolt it from the car and start making it stronger. To add some more support to the monts I added some pieces I folded into U channels and welded them in so they spread out away from the original mount. It's super solid now.
I didn't count how many holes were in this bumper, but there was enough : )
Here's one side done. You just have to take your time when it comes to smoothing out the welds. Especially since this is going to get chromed again.
Here's my lovely daughter giving me a hand today. She's awesome. Love the safety specs and heavy metal hand : ) Yes, I taught her that.
Then she did some welding on the bumper for me.....
Finally all the welding and sanding is finished.
It was good to see it on the car. I like the subtle smoothness it adds to the front of the car.
In this small area, there used to be top and bottom mounting holes, rubber strip mounting holes and the big factory jacking point slot. Not any more : )
I also had a bit of a squizz at the engine mount adaptors for the LS1. The drivers side just clears the A/C compressor, but the passengers side hits the alternator support. No big deal though. I have a grinder : )
To fit the UC monts I had to cut a little bit out of the LX grill. The piece of bumper mount that sticks straight out used to have a mount on it for the UC bumper but it stuck out too far and wouldn't let the LX bumper sit right. That's where I "did" have the piece of LX bumper mount. Not any more.
My brother decided he didn't want the rubber strips on the bumpers. Luckily for me he gave me a bumper that had the rubber strip, so now I have to weld up all the holes : ) That's OK though because I'm also getting rid of the mounting bolts and factory jacking points too.
The first step was to knock the dings out of the bar and give it a good clean up around where I need to weld.
After a lot of mucking around and measuring I tacked welded the bumper to the UC mounts. It's nice to have it sitting there all by itself for a change.
I'm pretty happy now with where it's sitting.
With the bumper tacked to the mounts I was able to unbolt it from the car and start making it stronger. To add some more support to the monts I added some pieces I folded into U channels and welded them in so they spread out away from the original mount. It's super solid now.
I didn't count how many holes were in this bumper, but there was enough : )
Here's one side done. You just have to take your time when it comes to smoothing out the welds. Especially since this is going to get chromed again.
Here's my lovely daughter giving me a hand today. She's awesome. Love the safety specs and heavy metal hand : ) Yes, I taught her that.
Then she did some welding on the bumper for me.....
Finally all the welding and sanding is finished.
It was good to see it on the car. I like the subtle smoothness it adds to the front of the car.
In this small area, there used to be top and bottom mounting holes, rubber strip mounting holes and the big factory jacking point slot. Not any more : )
I also had a bit of a squizz at the engine mount adaptors for the LS1. The drivers side just clears the A/C compressor, but the passengers side hits the alternator support. No big deal though. I have a grinder : )
#86
_ehdave_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 07:52 AM
Wow that is some awesome work, have you considered making a fibreglass mould of the front end while its in primer? I reckon there would be more than a few people interested in a "bolt on" conversion for the uc - lh/x front conversion.
Cheers
Dave
Cheers
Dave
#87
_torriechick_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 08:46 AM
Good stuff. Cute as daughter! haha 
#88
_dirtbag_
_dirtbag_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 02:22 PM
Hi ehdave. That's an interesting idea. I can't really imagine there being much of a market for it though, considering how much work would be involved in making the moulds. I think it comes down to me being lazy : )
#89
_dirtbag_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 07:16 PM
Well i finally got the front indicators fitted today. This is the first time the whole front end has been together. Well, except for the headlights : )
I like the round indicators. I know others wont as they are a bit weird, but that's cool : )
I'll tint the lenses a bit later on so they're not so orange. Other than that I think they're cool.
Once that was done it was time to get the engine bay sorted out. Once I was finally happy with how the filler looked on the passengers side I couldn't wait to do the other side so I put some primer on to see how it looked.
It's starting to take shape now.
I also filled the seam that runs along the top of the firewall. It looked too messy as it was.
I also got a bit of work done on the drivers side today, but it's not finished yet.
It's nice seeing it in all one colour for once.
I really like the smooth look in torana engine bays. This makes it worth all the work.
I like the round indicators. I know others wont as they are a bit weird, but that's cool : )
I'll tint the lenses a bit later on so they're not so orange. Other than that I think they're cool.
Once that was done it was time to get the engine bay sorted out. Once I was finally happy with how the filler looked on the passengers side I couldn't wait to do the other side so I put some primer on to see how it looked.
It's starting to take shape now.
I also filled the seam that runs along the top of the firewall. It looked too messy as it was.
I also got a bit of work done on the drivers side today, but it's not finished yet.
It's nice seeing it in all one colour for once.
I really like the smooth look in torana engine bays. This makes it worth all the work.
#90
_Yella SLuR_
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 07:37 PM
Nice stuff. I wouldn't tint the indicator darker, as you will find Torana ones are much lighter than the ones you have IMO. Once it is painted, I don't think they will appear as orange. The are quite dark as it is.
The internet gives no sense of time. How long did the bar take you all up in both hours and elapsed days? Just to give peeps an idea of how long it takes.
That last picture, bottom right is an alignment hole. It might have saved you a little bit of shaping. Guard could of been pushed to the left a bit on top. Interesting that the UC guards have them and they still line up with the LX nose cone.
The internet gives no sense of time. How long did the bar take you all up in both hours and elapsed days? Just to give peeps an idea of how long it takes.
That last picture, bottom right is an alignment hole. It might have saved you a little bit of shaping. Guard could of been pushed to the left a bit on top. Interesting that the UC guards have them and they still line up with the LX nose cone.
Edited by Yella SLuR, 05 January 2010 - 07:39 PM.
#91
_dirtbag_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 08:39 PM
Hi Yella. That hole on the bottom right you mentioned, well I only drilled that out today : ) The nosecone had the hole but not the guard.
As for the bumper bar, it took a day pretty much from start to finish, including making the UC mounts fit etc.
As for the bumper bar, it took a day pretty much from start to finish, including making the UC mounts fit etc.
#92
Posted 05 January 2010 - 08:44 PM
Are the original UC indicators designed to be visible(-ish) from the side for legal reasons? I'm not sure if they are or not but if they are then I guess that would mean you'll need side repeaters?
The angle of the brake duct holes looks like it goes downhill a bit toward the back but I think that's just my eyes playing tricks on me or the camera angle, the bumper made it look a whole lot better.
Looking great overall and I like your posting style, lots of pics!
The angle of the brake duct holes looks like it goes downhill a bit toward the back but I think that's just my eyes playing tricks on me or the camera angle, the bumper made it look a whole lot better.
Looking great overall and I like your posting style, lots of pics!
#93
_dirtbag_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 08:54 PM
Side repeaters are the devils work. I hate them : ) My mod plate guy says they're fine, as I told him what I wanted to do before I started. He said they're no worse than an LX. If anything, they're more visible as they're a bit further away from the bumper.
As for the spoiler, yeah some of the pics it looks a bit weird. I totally copied a fibreglass spoiler for the brake ducts, so the bottom of the ducts is level with the ground and the top part slopes down from front to back.
I'll just say that if it's different or weird then I meant to do that : ) hahaha
As for the spoiler, yeah some of the pics it looks a bit weird. I totally copied a fibreglass spoiler for the brake ducts, so the bottom of the ducts is level with the ground and the top part slopes down from front to back.
I'll just say that if it's different or weird then I meant to do that : ) hahaha
#94
_Yella SLuR_
_Yella SLuR_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 10:04 PM
I imagine that is a fairly full on day, especially the grinding.As for the bumper bar, it took a day pretty much from start to finish, including making the UC mounts fit etc.
Oh, nice daughter. Enjoy her before she becomes a "teenager"!!!
Edited by Yella SLuR, 05 January 2010 - 10:04 PM.
#95
_dirtbag_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 10:42 PM
Hey Yella. Yeah, the grinding is the biggest time taker. The welding itself doesn't take that long. You just need to make sure you put enough metal in there with the welds so it can be sanded down flat, otherwise you have to weld over it again and sand it again. I had to do that with a few holes, but it has to be done.
#96
_AD_75_
_AD_75_
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Posted 05 January 2010 - 11:17 PM
What an awesome project! good on ya mate top job so far look forward to seeing it progress. 
P.s i like what you've done with the front end and i know nobody's mentioned it yet but were those dents already in the nose cone or did you have a little accident? my powers of ocd..er i mean observation keep zooming in on them.
P.s i like what you've done with the front end and i know nobody's mentioned it yet but were those dents already in the nose cone or did you have a little accident? my powers of ocd..er i mean observation keep zooming in on them.
#97
_dirtbag_
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Posted 06 January 2010 - 12:03 AM
Hi AD_75. Yeah, the nosecone has always had those dents on it. I've still got to get the bonnet to fit perfectly, and I know the nosecone is a little pushed in so once the engine bay is all in primer I'll bolt the hinges and bonnet back on and get it sorted then. Good spotting by the way : )
#98
fenz
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Posted 06 January 2010 - 07:51 AM
Looks like its still going well (wish i had more time to work on my toranas)hahaha.
I notice from the earlier photos it was a SA plated vehicle where did it come from???
Have you decided on a colour/paint scheme??
Keep them photos coming its a great read so far.
I notice from the earlier photos it was a SA plated vehicle where did it come from???
Have you decided on a colour/paint scheme??
Keep them photos coming its a great read so far.
#99
_dirtbag_
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Posted 06 January 2010 - 09:10 AM
Hi Fenz. Yes the car is from S.A. My brother bought it off ebay, so I'm not sure where abouts in S.A it was from.
As for colours, the top choices are either barbados green, orange or red - with black around the windows and on the top of guards and bonnet. No black around the back or on the sills. Black sills make the car look too high.
What's your opinion people? What colour?
As for colours, the top choices are either barbados green, orange or red - with black around the windows and on the top of guards and bonnet. No black around the back or on the sills. Black sills make the car look too high.
What's your opinion people? What colour?
#100
Heath
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I like cars.
- Name:Heath
- Location:Eastern Suburbs, Melbourne
- Car:Heavily Modified UC Sunbird Hatchback
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Posted 06 January 2010 - 09:59 AM
A metallic colour with some depth, but still bright enough to be attention grabbing. Like this Vette
http://lib.store.yah...-vette-3-08.jpg
http://lib.store.yah...-vette-3-08.jpg
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