703 replies to this topic

[notna]

Good question. I researched that quite a bit a couple of years ago, and came to the conclusion that it didn't have it from the factory. Everything I read pointed to the blackout being done with the stainless trim being fitted, although that pic contradicts this doesn't it

 

At this stage it's fair to say that no, I'm not going to do it, but peer pressure will sway me

 

Lots of progress since my last update here... but I really need to sort through my pics and tidy them all up before updating. I'm working on the trim now, with all glass in and my motor in pieces ready for machining, then reassembly. At this rate, I could be driving the Papaya by Christmas!

 

I need a flywheel... anyone got a spare one in Sydney?

[StephenSLR]

Here's a thread on the SL/R smile:

 

http://www.gmh-toran...0497-slr-smile/

 

blackouts:

 

http://www.gmh-toran...ipes-blackouts/

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 29 August 2014 - 06:05 PM.

[notna]

Time for some decent updates to the Payapa build thread.

 

As I was driving into work this morning, I was thinking how funny it is that I pretty much have 20 odd pages here of paint and panel work, and with all that done, and still plenty of other restoration work being completed, yet little is being posted. You can really see where my passion lies.

 

I really do take pride in attention to detail, when working with metal in particular. Paint too, is something I has mastered over the years, purely by having a keen interest. I am not formally trained in auto body building or spray painting but I love to think I am!

 

Anyway, all that is done and aside now, so it was onto the one area of a resto where I do not dabble. Sewing in particular, trim work and especially head linings, are not my forte. I will do EVERYTHING on a resto, as you can see, except that!

 

I have been using an old-school motor trimmer for about 10 years now. I found this guy when I was a keen Mini enthusiast. He did his motor trimming apprenticeship at the BMC Assembly plant in Sydney, and finished up with Leyland Australia in their experimental division, trimming prototype cars and the like. His father was head of engineering at Leyland when the doors closed for the final time. All this I have previously documented when I was writing for The Mini Experience magazine... it's a fascinating story.

 

Anyway, Ray did a house call and installed my head lining, pillar and door top vinyl. He might be getting on in age, and might have needed me to hold the lead light for him while the job was done, but the work is first class, and real old-school.

 

Before it all goes in...

 

 IMG_20140808_100434.jpg   100.9K   3 downloads

 

B and C pillars get the treatment first...

 

 IMG_20140808_110712.jpg   61.84K   2 downloads

 

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Ray wrestling with the new....

 

 IMG_20140808_125548.jpg   100.99K   4 downloads

 

And close up, making sure every corner is tucked and trimmed right.

 

 IMG_20140808_143731.jpg   77.39K   3 downloads

 

All done. Being black, and indoors, it was hard to photograph! Especially the head lining! I'll have to grab a better pic of it all, because it looks fantastic!

 

 IMG_20140808_163150.jpg   94.84K   3 downloads

 

I have picked up some new carpet, and previously purchased new reproduction seat trim covers, which are with Ray at the moment getting done. Pics of those to come....

 

Need some front door cards and seat belts, and inside is done!

 

 

[notna]

Now I was onto some fiddly fitting, which I actually really enjoy, and... finally... the motor build!

 

New door handles were chosen in lieu of getting the originals re-chromed. Can't believe it's cheaper to buy new!

 

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 IMG_20140807_123444.jpg   61.82K   2 downloads

 

Finally bought a rear sway bar. It had one fitted at some stage, because the fittings were there when I bought the car, but no bar! Scored one from Shane on the GMH-Torana FB page. Cheers mate! It painted and fitted up nicely!

 

 IMG_20140807_141740.jpg   103.57K   3 downloads

 

Some more badging gets done. I was going to keep the clean bootlid look, but decided to stick with original.

 

 IMG_20140816_154942.jpg   72.13K   7 downloads

 

And now... FINALLY... I just can't put it off any longer. I mean, eventually I want to actually drive this car! So it's going to need an engine build!

 

Out of storage comes the motor I bought for it. As it turns out, it is 1000 digits newer than the car's original motor. After 38 years, that's a pretty good score, so I was happy to pay the $ for this engine.

 

 IMG_20140824_113922.jpg   129.45K   3 downloads

 

Now... I bought it from a guy on here a few years ago, and he was a top bloke when I met him and picked it up, so no disrespect to him at all... but when he said it was a good runner, as you will see in the following photos, I wonder how that could have been the case? Ironically, when I bought my SL/R, it came with a QR block 253, that was supposedly "ratshit" The guy I bought the car from, an apprentice motor mechanic, told me... "it is old, tired, has no compression, and is only good for parts". Why then, when I opened it up and stripped it for those said parts, did I find very clean 0.040" oversize bores still with nice hone marks, ground crank, clean, decked heads and fully balanced? She looked like a GOOD runner to me! Even the cam lobes and lifters were sweet. In stark contrast, the "good runner" HR block 253, was virgin bore, worn, rooted cam lobes and worn lifters, and even worse..... banana rods!

 

 IMG_20140905_151018.jpg   126.35K   3 downloads

 

Yep... All I am using from it, is the block, and possibly the carb / inlet manifold setup. The rest was ordinary. Anyway, I was never going to just drop it in and go, so it's no big deal. Kinda funny in a way.

 

My 9 year old son was super keen to get in on this action, so I cracked all the nuts / bolts with a spanner and let him undo them all with the pneumatic impact driver. He had a ball!

 

 IMG_20140830_172844.jpg   79.44K   3 downloads

 

Yes, those are his PJ's

 

The engine strip down was surprisingly easy and routine, which gives me confidence now for the reassembly.

 

 IMG_20140905_143200.jpg   73.32K   2 downloads

 

I have a good mate who owns a motor mechanic business. 2 doors down from him is an engine reconditioning business. I took the HR block and 2 sets of everything else to the machinist, which is getting done right now. In a week's time the parts will move to my mates workshop, and we will spend a day spannering it all back together. The original block is going out to 0.040", using the balanced ACL pistons / crank / rods from the QR block. One set of heads (both were the same) will be decked, cleaned, and have hardened seats for unleaded, plus new springs to match the CROW CAM I have purchased. I'm not chasing horsepower with this motor build, but rather every time I turn the key, I want to smile at the sound, and know that I built this donk right, and it's going to be reliable!

 

 IMG_20140912_134546.jpg   53.57K   2 downloads

 

Next update will be the motor build, in a couple of weeks. Can't wait for that one!

 

 

 

[SmacT]

You didn't get the engines mixed up did you? :-)

Great progress, and do you have details of the trimmer? Or is he just helping you out?

[notna]

Motor trimmer is Ray Rodham. http://www.yellowpag...67-listing.html

 

He has trimmed a few cars for me in the past 10 years. Knows his stuff!

[hanra]

Wish I lived in your part of the woods Anton. Would be cool to be out on the road cruising with ya. Not long now!!!

[a9x868]

looks so good!

[notna]

Cheers guys. Spoke with the engine machinist today... damn these engine builds add up when you want to do things right. Brad, I'll have it running by Christmas for sure, but the car won't be finished. The last pieces I need are some of the most expensive. 2 bumper bars = over $1000

 

Motor build is scheduled for Sept 27. Looking forward to that day!

[SmacT]

Motor trimmer is Ray Rodham. http://www.yellowpag...67-listing.html

 

He has trimmed a few cars for me in the past 10 years. Knows his stuff!

 

Great, thanks notna. Great build, I've enjoyed reading it all. I'm not far from you geographically, look forward to seeing this drive past some time soon!

[notna]

In years gone by, I seem to have spent an eternity on motor builds, farming out all the work and waiting for ages while so called professionals finish everyone else's jobs before my own. This time around, I was involved in pretty much EVERYTHING, and with the help of a great mate... my motor build is COMPLETE!

 

Last update I was dropping off all the bits and pieces at the engine machinist. Here are all the good bits, looking good.

 

Block was a virgin  ... but I took her out to 0.040", as I had a nice set of pistons already, that size. Crank was linished, as it was -0.010" and very clean. Heads had the full treatment, plus hardened seats for unleaded. Crank, rods, pistons had previously been balanced. All very nice...  

 

 IMG_20140923_104937a.jpg   119.09K   1 downloads

 

 IMG_20140927_134553a.jpg   88.82K   1 downloads

 

In goes the crank...

 

 IMG_20140927_115040a.jpg   104.7K   0 downloads

 

And pistons... Gotta love a fresh bore and hone!

 

 IMG_20141025_102503a.jpg   124.86K   0 downloads

 

Cam goes in... why don't I have a photo of that? hmmmm. It's a Crow Cam #5665, same as what I had years ago. Nice grind for a street car.

 

Heads, rockers, timing chain, etc...

 

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Rocker covers, sump, and oil pump...

 

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And then a touch of Red... or Orange... It's the original colour anyway.

 

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Manifold goes on, and.... well what do ya know, it's beer o'clock!

 

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Not much left to do but....

 

[notna]

...BRING IT HOME!

 

Onto the trailer she goes....

 

 IMG_20141101_132444a.jpg   110.58K   2 downloads

 

And pretty much ready to drop in, with the addition of the M21 box I have ready.

 

 IMG_20141101_142231a.jpg   100.14K   1 downloads

 

Getting pretty close now! Just trim and electrics left.

[notna]

Cheers Jack. It's been 4 years and still not done, so the encouragement along the way really is motivation to keep going.

 

It was 1993 when I last drove a Torrie... Haven't even driven this one! Can't wait to hear and feel it all again!

[GMHAz]

Motor looks good in original paint Anton, I've been looking at chrome rocker covers for my
253 but don't like many on offer except the alloy finned type that are expensive.
Seeing your motor has made up my mind to do the factory look as you have done.
What carby are you running for the motor set up you have

Az

[notna]

Hi Az. I have the period correct ADR 27A Quadrajet carb to put on it.

 

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Currently stripped for a clean and rebuild.

 

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Not sure on an air cleaner yet. I love the stock look, but some stock things need updating, especially the restrictive standard 4 barrel air cleaner!

[StephenSLR]

Some more badging gets done. I was going to keep the clean bootlid look, but decided to stick with original.

 

IMG_20140816_154942.jpg

 

Are you going to get the TORANA individual letters for the other side?

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 08 November 2014 - 10:42 AM.

[notna]

Yea I have already. Did that just after taking the pic.

[Swarbs]

Hi Anton

Been following this for a while but first time post

Car is looking great mate

 

Are you dropping out the K frame and installing the frame, engine, gear box as 1 unit?

Be a shame to see all that hard work get scratched

[notna]

Hi Dave. Cheers for the comment mate

 

K-frame was an absolute spanner-throwing nightmare to line up. It's in nicely now, so it's staying! Motor goes in the old-school way. Bonnet off and down through the guts. Hoping some blankets will stop any scratches!

 

Couple of weeks and it will be ready. I just want to fit the heater box and fan before then. I figured it would be a nightmare after!

[notna]

OK, getting very close now. I have a question... Can this be installed down through the engine bay, WITH the headers attached? From the research I have done, some say yes, some no. My mechanic mate says yes, so I was going to try....

 

The engine bay is bare, so what could they snag on as it is lowered in? I hate rooting around with headers, with an engine in situ.

 

Peoples thoughts?

 

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[Statler]

Get the engine 1/2 way in, then throw the pipes in & tie them off. 

[76lxhatch]

I doubt it, the headers need to stay high to hook over the outrigger legs on the front cross member, but the engine and box need to go lower to clear the body

[ISLR]

I always fitted mine as a complete unit (engine, auto, pipes) but I wasn't over cautious with the paint in the engine bay. From looking at quality of your resto I would be removing the pipes and re-fitting them once the engine is almost in place, its a shit job but be worth it in the end. Good luck and nice job

[notna]

This resto reached a significant milestone over the weekend... For the first time since I have owned the car, it has a motor fitted!

 

My fresh rebuild had been sitting like this for a few weeks, just waiting for the perfect moment to be dropped in...

 

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I chose to drop it in from the top, with gearbox AND pipes fitted. Wrapped everything up nicely... just in case!

 

 IMG_20141122_102655.jpg   162.18K   3 downloads

 

Got my father in law to lend a helping hard... this was a LOT easier than I remember... although it has been 21 years since I dropped a V8 into a Torana!

 

 IMG_20141122_105137.jpg   160.18K   1 downloads

 

After about 2 hours work, not one single scratch, no swearing, not even a spanner thrown in a furious fit... It just went in with ease!

 

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And doesn't that look pretty!

 

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With all that extra weight it's starting to sit like it should.

 

 IMG_20141122_134457.jpg   154.09K   1 downloads

 

On the home stretch now. Need to wire it all up, exhaust, interior, lights and bling... and will probably finish it all off with the original hubcaps. A few months I think, depending on my (now limited) budget.