My car is an Oct 1976 LX SS 4.2L 4-speed in Mint Julep with Slate Black interior.
It was my plan to restore the car to Palais white with Chamois interior - this being exactly the car I had admired since a boy, but Redslur has been at me to go original and worn me down - Mint Julep it is - thanks Gerry as I think you are right
Further on my plan - return the car back to very close to original deviating so far as the flared bodywork (decision made by previous owner who cut...well hacked the guards would be a better descriptor), 308 block, M21 gearbox, upgraded UPC disc brakes (front) and Hotwire wheels.
Timeline - I might see you at Toranafest 2012, but 2013 is more likely!
Story so far;
In Dec 2010 I heard of a genuine LX 5.0L SS Hatchback in a shed at Bungendore - you know the story...heck, we all know the story - turns out the old adage about when something seems to good to be true is (yet again) on the money!
Jan 2011 I visited the car - found to be a roller in primer but told everything was retained (except for gearbox, seats and dash) albeit much of the stuff was at a few different locations merely awaiting my collection upon handing over my hard earned... Negotiations commenced.
Feb 2011 the car turned out to be a 4.2L SS - Negotiations ceased for the time being.
Mar 2011: Negotiations re-commenced at a revised (lesser) price and a deal finally closed when the car came home on the back of a U-Tow-It. Remainder of the car collected the following day and that is when the coin dropped - I realised I'd been duded somewhat when so much of the stuff supposedly retained never appeared. Actually, that isn't quite true - the honest truth being I was too naive to realise immediately just what was missing and how significant the missing items are in terms of availability and cost - a lesson I soon would begin to learn the hard way. Essentially, it would be easier to write a list of what came with the car than what is missing! Live and learn I guess
I like this next one - two SS together despite being 31 years apart - that SSV is for sale by the way and so if you like a very strong but well mannered and beautifully modified car then send me a PM...
April - May 2011: The car sits in the shed whilst I navel gaze, trying to work out where to go from here and begin to get my head around what I didn't know (still don't know very much), what work was required and in what order, and what parts I needed to source including when I would need them. I did get the mojo up to put the thing onto a rotisserie and strip a lot of stuff from it including the suspension (f&r) but other than a few digs with a screwdriver at some bog here and there, things went slowly as I accumulated advice, parts and even a donor sedan to help both supply all those things found to be missing and to guide me on how all this goes into the car - remember mine came as a pretty bare roller and I've never tried my hand at this sort of thing before let alone a Torana, and so a reference point albeit a sedan was very welcome - thanks Craig.
June 2011: Bullet finally bitten and the car was sent to SodaBlast. With this process came some history - I saw the car has had a few hits with a tail-light panel and both rear quarters being replaced at some juncture, but surprisingly there is nil damage to the rear floor or rails... In any case, some of the things found after blasting helped to explain a few things, but funny enough I discovered that when you are talking about a 35 year-old car the more you learn, the more questions are created. The good news is the car isn't too bad rust wise, and certainly could have been a lot worse; the heater-box opening in the lower dash is great, hatch hinge area is very good, c-pillars have been previously repaired (not a great job but appear to be good enough to salvage) and windscreen frame is fine.
June 2011 also saw me track down yet another former owner who has promised to send some photos from her ownership in the late 1990's. I have one more previous owner to call but otherwise my avenues of enquiry have been exhausted going back only so far as April 1996. It seems the car may well have started off in Perth as a Holden car but Transport WA has nil record of it (not unusual given the change of record keeping formats and record tenure requirements since), hence the significant gap of its first 20 years is one I am likely never to know more about.
July 2011 saw panel work starting in earnest - a workmate Dave is helping me on this and by God he works fast. So far the panel work includes a new lower rad support panel, L&R panels behind headlights, bonnet hinge area, tidy-up of attempt/s by former owner/s to somewhat smooth the engine bay in places followed by metal prep and primer. I also need to do my best to 'relieve' a panel from another hatchback body tomorrow given the previous owner (we'll call him 'Tosso' - see his handiwork in the image below) decided to hack the floor brace between the b-pillars to create a custom interior (that never eventuated) and now won't own up to doing this butcher's job...Just very thankful to the donor of the replacement panel because my car and I am in a very difficult place without it.
Engine bay, dash and firewall is now in primer with the engine bay ready for next step - sanding the guide coat.
Also started is fixing the world's worst efforts on the rear wheel arches (former owner - remember 'tosso'?). To say the work was rough and ready is very on the money and so all the crap has been cut away leaving a significant gap between the double skinned inner and outer panels - welding metal between the two to re-create a flat lip or sorts. Still a bit more to do about the rear after the arches but making progress nonetheless.
As I said earlier, I don't propose to post anything that one can much learn from because there is very little I know and I am relying on others experiences both here on the forum and also amongst the fellas as my local Torana Club - all so far have been very patient and most hospitable - thank you.
Pluses to date are the wonderful deeds by so many forum and club members. I'd name names but don't want to embarrass - in any case, thank you. The only minus to date being my significant concern towards a fellow in Sydney who is supposedly building me a gearbox. Money up front by me months ago, deadlines passed, never contacts me unless I initiate it, broken promises, several excuses that contradict each other, won't commit to anything in writing, and to date I have seen for my money...well nothing actually. Last deadline is next week so we'll see what happens I guess. Having said that, help offered by absolute strangers has astounded me and I am grateful for it.
Until next time, cheers, TB
Edited by Tyre biter, 05 July 2011 - 11:54 PM.
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