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SS Hatchback - The Story So Far

Started by _SS Hatchback_ , Jul 23 2010 09:59 PM

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279 replies to this topic

#1 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 09:59 PM

Ive had a few messages about a build thread and some history or background on the car and i know i have been slack in starting one but we finally got use of a scanner and scanned a few old pics of the build up of the car, started way back in 1990 so quality of pics are not the best at the start and it was bloody expensive to develop film so i could just take hundreds of photos so here is the best i can do.

Originally this car was owned by a mate who i asked if he ever sold it to make sure he sold it to me, even though it was flat black in 1988, a 12 year old car at the time had already seen tough times but it was a original SS so i was keen for it. Eventually i run into him again and he tells me its sold !!! Not happy .. 12 months or so later there is one for sale in the paper so i go take a look and end up finding out its the same car, so it was just meant to be i suppose..

Anyway only a apprentice at the time and already a Dad and supporting a family this build was always going to take forever so yes those nice exhaust tips stayed on for a while

come to think of it i should have just cut them off .

Anyway first pic is of the car at motel at summernats 1990, not entered though

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#2 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:12 PM

a few pics of it during the day, paint was pretty flat and the interior was ordinary but i was over the moon with it

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I had already lowered it but with those 13's it had plenty of room in the guards.

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#3 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:18 PM

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#4 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:23 PM

hahaha check out our engine hoist on the xw in the background, nice strong tree with a chain block

That little girl next to the front guard is now 20 to put things into perspective

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#5 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:29 PM

Running a 253 , 4 speed , and a 2:78 banjo , it actually went pretty good but thought i would change the 2 barrel 500 holley for a 600 vac secondary to hopefully liven it up a bit, it was the beginning of a tidy up also and making it look a little better in the engine bay

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but that didnt last too long , never even got to put it on when dramas happened :(

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#6 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:39 PM

Driving along the express way there was a pile up in the right lane and when coming over the crest of the hill i had no where to go :( , Front bumper was hardly touched

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So again not much cash flow so we did what we could before sending it out to fix what i couldnt

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And here is the only shot of the engine bay before we started the build

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#7 _LJ355_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:47 PM

Wow it's come along way from those pics

One of the best hatches around

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#8 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:50 PM

Anyway started to look for spare guards , bonnet , apron etc

Then the car came back, and although we had no experience with body work a friend and i begun to work

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#9 _2ELCS_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:50 PM

Wow it's come along way from those pics

One of the best hatches around

+1

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#10 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 10:56 PM

Wow it's come along way from those pics

One of the best hatches around

thanks Lee , huge compliment coming from someone that owns what you do

a few bits and pieces , ended up getting another apron but that was just for trial fit . We ended up paint stripping as sanding was taking too long and sand blasting was a fortune back then.

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Edited by SS Hatchback, 23 July 2010 - 10:58 PM.

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#11 GTR469

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:01 PM

Wow it's come along way from those pics

One of the best hatches around

+1

+2

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#12 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:05 PM

starting with primer , sorry no more pics of it further stripped.

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#13 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:12 PM

I know pics go quickly but this took ages, the car was at parents place and i was busy trying to support my young family so it was mainly a weekend thing and half the time i sat and talked shit with the old man rather than work on the car , then the mrs would ask how much did you get done , errr a fair bit

And on its way for a top coat

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#14 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:19 PM

Back from the painters and now the exciting part , finding all the pieces you have laying around and putting it together

This would be around 1993 now and this is still the current paint and body work so im pretty happy for what it is and the amount of know how we had .

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We then eventually painted all below the rail in black and tidied it all up

Edited by SS Hatchback, 23 July 2010 - 11:21 PM.

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#15 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:26 PM

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#16 _lxss5l_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:26 PM

Wow it was a beautiful car to start with. So do you still know the guy who had it when it was black? . Just because it would be interesting to know if he's got eny old pics of it from when he had it. I've often wondered about my cars family tree. That reminds me I actually faund on old ces dole form in the back of the carpet in the door trim on one of my toranas.

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#17 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:36 PM

looking at the engine bay pics i laugh at what i had doen then gone over again and fixed, but that happens when its your first car, always learning from mistakes or things you could have done better

anyway here is the first engine, 253 gone and luckily found a HT block 308.

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Sitting in the bay

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Although this engine did not last long due to balance issues, a local speed shop here 18 or so years ago was meant to balance it and did an ordinary job , they left and went on to become bigger and better , otherwise known now as a supplier under several different names , selling ordinary products, no names need to be given but im sure you all know who, that long ago how was i to know

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Looks pretty enough for back then, running edelbrock performer, 600 vac sec, l34 valves, 494 lift hyd cam

Wow it was a beautiful car to start with. So do you still know the guy who had it when it was black? . Just because it would be interesting to know if he's got eny old pics of it from when he had it. I've often wondered about my cars family tree. That reminds me I actually faund on old ces dole form in the back of the carpet in the door trim on one of my toranas.

Yes i do know him and never thought about it but next time i see him i will see if he has any pics of it...

He still cant believe i still own it after 20 years but says "shit, you really wanted it hey "

Edited by SS Hatchback, 23 July 2010 - 11:44 PM.

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#18 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:50 PM

front end out for rebuild

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Brake booster, master and prop valve in (Later all changed)

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hid the wiring and a heap of other things obviously but next pic you can see its getting there

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#19 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 23 July 2010 - 11:56 PM

nearly there

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trying to hide the white vinyl on the seats , 1 can of black vinyl spray

Anything to save money back then , i just wanted to drive it

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#20 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 24 July 2010 - 12:09 AM

finally running and out of the shed for a wash before going to the pits for rego inspection Posted Image

Yes i did install door locks before going

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And thats my 253 HZ at the side, what a beasty.

no problem , new plates and registered, probably around the 1994 mark

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and getting the first wheel alignment

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#21 MRLXSS

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Name:Matt
Location:Upwey, Melbourne
Car:355 LX Hatchback, DeLorean DMC-12, LX SS Hatch, VY Cross8 Crewman
Joined: 09-November 05

Posted 24 July 2010 - 12:16 AM

Sweet old pics!!!!! Some nice camera work there!

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#22 _SS Hatchback_

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Posted 24 July 2010 - 12:20 AM

Sweet old pics!!!!! Some nice camera work there!

Yeah wish i had a digital camera back then mate , would have had so many more of the build but its enough to remind me of all the hard work , but worth while thats for sure considering its still here