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DIRTBAG FINALLY HAS A TORANA.....SORT OF?

Started by _dirtbag_ , Aug 18 2010 10:34 PM

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542 replies to this topic

#501 _dirtbag_

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Posted 13 August 2012 - 11:26 PM

hahahaah yes you had me squinting a bit there : )

I'd never heard of anyone modifying a stock shifter like this but not surprised to hear they have. For such a simple job I'm amazed I haven't come across it before. In all seriousness, if I wasn't so crook when I did it on the weekend it would have taken under an hour and a half all up from start to finish, and half of that time was mounting the dagger, so if you're using a stock stick it's under an hour. I know I'm going on about it but I just can't believe the difference it's made.

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#502 76lxhatch

That was easy!

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Posted 14 August 2012 - 07:11 AM

Some of the aftermarket shifters seem to have shorter throw, they must have a similar difference in lever ratio somehow. I guess it used to be a lot easier to just buy one off the shelf? (Probably not as short as what you have to allow for the long stick)

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#503 _dirtbag_

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Posted 14 August 2012 - 07:35 AM

Plus, there is zero fun in buying a part over the counter compared to building or modifying your own. Also, a shifter is hundreds of dollars, this cost $0 : )

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#504 Statler

Heckler Extraordinaire

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Name:Col
Location:Mackay Qld. Whitsundays for all you back packers!
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Posted 14 August 2012 - 08:04 AM

If you aren't bringing the ute to Tfest this yr, i might leave the boxes of chalk at home.

Oh ..... i bought another Jem

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#505 _dirtbag_

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Posted 14 August 2012 - 08:50 AM

Oh ..... i bought another Jem

I kind of hate you right now, in an excessively jealous kind of way!!! : )

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#506 StephenSLR

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Name:Stephen
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Car:1976 LX SL/R
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Posted 11 February 2013 - 01:05 PM

Was this ute featured in an obscure car mag many years ago when it was blue?

I may still have that magazine somewhere.

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 11 February 2013 - 01:06 PM.

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#507 a9x868

maurice mead of hatchbacks

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Name:facebook dave
Location:perth miles n miles from shiney
Car:valencia holden torana a9x hatch ultimate improvement on the barbados L34
Joined: 24-July 11

Posted 11 February 2013 - 05:30 PM

I know I'm going on about it but I just can't believe the difference it's made.

Plus, there is zero fun in buying a part over the counter compared to building or modifying your own.

2 great posts tim
and i will second the the comment
as to the difference it has made
my a9x hatch looks standard but when i tell people about
the mod to the shifter and they go through the gearbox shift
they are amazed
love your work!

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#508 _Slippo_

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Posted 26 August 2013 - 08:38 PM

I got my axles back this morning. Until I can spend the time making the new diff I'm just using the stock banjo. The guy who did the stud pattern change to HQ for me welds a ring around the axle hat, welds the old stud holes up then machines the lot down. Then he drills whatever pattern you want. He also drilled out my drums as well. I also got him to fit new wheel bearings for me.I'm now just going to load a heap of pics that I like. Too bad if you don't : )Once it was all back together I took it for a drive to Queensland Transport to change the colour on the rego. During that drive I decided the 295s were too big, so since these pics were taken I've put the 265s off the other wheels on these wheels. Hopefully they wont scrub as much.Well that's it! I might take a couple more pics tomorrow with the different tyres, and you never know I might even wipe all the dirt off it : ) I doubt it though hahaha.

Just wondering who you got to change the stud pattern

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#509 _dirtbag_

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 01:29 PM

Hi Slippo, I got George May at Racecraft to do the axles for me.

Well lately I've been having sleeping issues so my midnight rampages have had me making some steel bits and pieces for the ute, just to amuse myself : )

First silly thing I did was make a new "key" : )

TIG welding the key to the screw driver was tricky, but the look of this cracks me up so worth it : )

I also made a new bonnet as I was never happy with the other one.

So anyway, the metal bits I've been making started in the interior.

So far I've made a console, door cards, kick panels, sun visors, floor panels, B pillars, stereo and heater blanks, dimple die punched the scuff plates and made a panel to wrap around the base of the seat. I also drilled and scuffed the window winders just to give them a new look.

1499459_555528974529754_2035365580_n_zps

It's silly, but it amuses me : )

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#510 _dirtbag_

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 01:34 PM

Next part I'm doing but not yet finished is the tray.

Still got a fair bit to do in the tray so see how my sleepless nights go hahaha

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#511 Potta

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 02:07 PM

Gonna need a bigger Donk

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#512 _LONA-CK_

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 02:12 PM

as always excellent work.

cheers gong

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#513 torana_nick

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Name:Nick
Location:victoria
Car:LH Torana Project
Joined: 11-December 11

Posted 30 December 2013 - 03:04 PM

Love the work. My favorite has to be the screwdriver.. I would love to see the look on a cops face if he pulled you over

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#514 Neils LX

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 05:55 PM

Just use a flat blade screwdriver, ready to go in 10seconds. Looks cool good cops would frown lol.

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#515 _nowaynicko_

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 06:00 PM

Top job mate!

That key is gold lol

Would it look neater if the cover for the fuel filler came all the way down to the ute floor?

Seems a bit dicky that it stops and you can see the pipe y'know.

Love the car though and have enjoyed the thread (as with all threads you show off your skills lol)

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#516 _dirtbag_

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Posted 30 December 2013 - 08:08 PM

Hi nowaynicko. The fuel filler ends because it'll continue on the floor section when I get a chance to make it. I still want the two big floor sections to be removable as I keep my tools and crap in there :-)

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#517 _nowaynicko_

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Posted 31 December 2013 - 08:43 AM

Oh yeh I get it. Maybe a blank for the end?

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#518 Bart

Shit a brick

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Car:LJ Torana
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Posted 04 January 2014 - 09:21 PM

Is it regoed as a ute or custom sedan?

Over here in NSW the Green slip compulsory insurance rape our ass if you have what is a commercial vehicle, ute, panel van etc

You could have a market down here in making utes out of sedans??

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#519 _dirtbag_

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Posted 18 January 2014 - 03:15 PM

Hi Bart. It's registered as an LH Torana utility.

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#520 _BARRY JACKPOT_

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Posted 19 January 2014 - 06:51 AM

As always your work is astounding. Love the holes punched into everything, looks like an old fighter plane.

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#521 notna

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Posted 21 January 2014 - 12:48 PM

+1 for "love your work"

That key is hilarious, and so appropriate!

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#522 _berro59_

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Posted 21 January 2014 - 06:35 PM

Fully sick as always!!!! love the metal door cards!

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#523 _dirtbag_

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Posted 25 January 2014 - 06:08 PM

Just for a laugh I used the piece I cut out of the bonnet to make an air cleaner top.

I also did a little bit more in the tray.

This is the start of the piece to go under the back window.

I still have to do the floor but it's getting there. It's just for a giggle anyway : )

I found the old UC steering wheel that came on the car, so I stripped the paint off the spokes, cleared the bare metal and repainted the rim. I just need an SLR/GTS style horn button now and it's good to go. I was told rare spares sell them?

Here it is after I started cleaning it.

Some clear on the spokes.

And some black vinyl dye for the rim and boss kit.

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#524 _dirtbag_

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Posted 25 January 2014 - 06:14 PM

The next thing to go was the corolla fuel filler. It served it's purpose, but even after replacing seals I couldn't stop it leaking around left hand corners. Plus it looked crap.

The before shot.

The during shot.

Finished.

I also used the commodore fuel filler, breather and cable.It's nice having the unleaded filler neck with the screw on cap. No more leaks!!!

Well that's all I've done for now. I've bought a tunnel ram and am collecting carbies so should have that on soon. I've also been playing with the pipe bender making roll cages for the escort so I'm going to make one for this too : )