505 replies to this topic

[Tyre biter]

Started today like this;


Washed it down inside and out, did some rubbing of the inside of the hatch's tail-gate and also got into a mess with the door and hatch hinges - Dioxadine once again went badly for reason/s not all that clear. Ended up having to remove all the residue with a wire wheel, wire brush and sand paper - took a few hours but got the hinges into primer - AND the big news is Dave let me have a go of painting...primer onto the hinges... Yep..., Moving on, the biggest news being the car ended the day looking like this...


And this;


That's right, no more rotisserie! Anyone want to buy it since I won't be needed it anymore?

Now have a few days away from it and will return my attention to the front suspension.

Cheers, TB

Edited by Tyre biter, 31 August 2011 - 06:53 PM.

[Tyre biter]

Hi tb how good is it looking going great guns keep up the great work.
cheers sting

Thanks Brett - you too have been making progress of late and seem to have a little plan of action for stuff getting done in the next week or so. As always I am looking forward to your updates.

Mmmmm! Hi Max. I think i might do mine Palais White

Craig - mate the colour is very...green.
I mean duh, of course it is, but I just wasn't ready for it - it is a very bold colour in person.
The opposite being true for photos - they don't do the colour justice and the colour comes out flat and dull - all the images in this thread are.
As always you are more than welcome to come have a look or if you can wait a while longer of course you'll see it when you take it away for me - either way you can see it in the flesh and better decide what you want to do.
And hey, why Palais?
Why not a really cool colour and in keeping with the green theme, why not that lime green LH colour - is it called Barbados or something like that?

FYI, looks like we'll be bringing the car home in three trips mate - sorry. Rourkey can't paint it until Mon 26th Sep and so if we finish with it prior (as we have hoped to - likely between Mon 12th and Fri 16th Sep), then it will need to come home beforehand, then go to Rourkey and then back home. So I'll speak to you when I have a better picture of the timeline and I am conscious of the limited openings you will have, especially in that same week, being the week leading up to Toranafest. Worst case scenario it can stay where it is and await your return from Newcastle and we can go back to the two trip plan.

Finally, the car went really well onto that frame you loaned me - thank you - jeepers there is a lot of overhang at the rear - makes for a very nervous moment when moving it as we were worried it would tip backwards onto it's bum in a heartbeat! Turned out it is fairly stable and in any case, thanks again - we'd be buggered without it.

All the best, TB

[Tyre biter]

Update time.

A lot of progress has been made since my last missive.
Door openings rubbed in prep for clear coat later in the month.
Inside of the hatch, doors, bonnet and nose cone are now in colour together with the door and hatch hinges along with a few other bits and pieces.


Inside of the fenders also stone-guarded and then painted gloss black - ready for fitting.
Today we fitted the door hinges and passenger door. Found out just how much of the door latch/lock mechanism from my donor sedan won't transfer to the hatchback - will need to source some parts there;


Followed by the bonnet;


Also fitted the hatch and everything seems to be coming together fairly nicely.
Have a bit of an issue with the door hinges fouling on the indent in the A-pillar when the door closes but should able to remedy that okay.
Otherwise the plan is to get the driver's door on tomorrow followed by the fenders and finally the nose cone.
A bit of touch-up to paint here and there and then the car is ready for wet rubbing in prep for going into the paint shop in a couple of weeks.

Thanks to the fellas in the club last night for your interest and encouragement, experience and knowledge - I even had to use up a couple of 'phone a friend' cards to RedSLur and CW today and I appreciate the help - thank you..

Cheers, TB

[Tyre biter]

Jeepers, how hard are the nose cones to fit!
Are they supposed to be such a struggle and effort to get bolted up or should they just slip on and all line up easey-peasey?
In any case, we got it one late this afternoon after getting all the other panels on the car today and everything is now latched up.




Didn't get to the front spoiler as planned for today but it will be fitted next block of days off.
After that, all there is to do is rub it down before our work is finished and it is off to the painter!

A couple of questions;

1. Those bonnet hinges are a bugger - the way the top corner of the bonnet (especially the left side) sits up after being closed and needs to be pushed down a smidge - I was told by a spare parts fella it is a widely known problem - anyone know how to fix this?

2. Finally, the black coloured self-tapping screws that hold the scuttle panel on - where do I get them?

Cheers, TB

[76lxhatch]

The bonnet hinges do that if they are old and worn out and twisted, but a lot of the time its just mis-adjustment - if you have a think about it, sitting both holes in the lowest spot isn't actually going to sit the bonnet at its lowest point. Unfortunately getting the ideal adjustment requires some pushing and pulling which can damage paint if you're not careful.

[Tyre biter]

The bonnet hinges do that if they are old and worn out and twisted, but a lot of the time its just mis-adjustment - if you have a think about it, sitting both holes in the lowest spot isn't actually going to sit the bonnet at its lowest point. Unfortunately getting the ideal adjustment requires some pushing and pulling which can damage paint if you're not careful.

See, there's the problem - I thought having the hinges set as far down as possible would help - I can't work these bloody things out!
Any tips by any chance - like just where/how should I be setting the hinges against the body?
Cheers, TB

Hi TB, mate you are kicking ass love the colour, are you going to toranafest if so i would love to catch up and have a chat, also bring photo's as well i am going to .
cheers sting

Brett, sorry mate I won't be at TF this year - I have to attend a family re-union in Sydney.
I look forward to popping my TF cherry in 2012 (as a spectator) and hopefully you will be there too - would be great to put a face to the name.
And thanks - the colour is growing on me but again - by God it is green!
Cheers, TB

Hi Max, I'll get the screws off your four door for you

Thanks CB but I'd really like nice, new shiny ones for this jobbie.
Make no mistake, I will remove, refurbish (as best that I can) and fit a shed-load of stuff from the donor sedan you got for me, but there are a few things I'd like to do with new bits and these screws are one of them.
The difference is significant - remember those three bonnet hinge bolts you gave me a while back that had been cleaned and plated by that mob in Thuralilly Street?
They look a treat, but the fourth (old) one one stands out like the proverbial!
This is what I am trying to avoid in places like this - the one' that are in your face and important if you get my meaning?
Again, thanks for offering in any case.
Almost done; it seems Monday 26th Sep is indeed the likely moving day of my car to Rourkey's - I'll speak to you post TF to check your availability for uplift.
Finally, have a great time at TF - I am green with envy, but I wish a safe trip to all.
Cheers, TB

[Redslur]

Gotta Kermit chubby...............................

[76lxhatch]

The bonnet hinges do that if they are old and worn out and twisted, but a lot of the time its just mis-adjustment - if you have a think about it, sitting both holes in the lowest spot isn't actually going to sit the bonnet at its lowest point. Unfortunately getting the ideal adjustment requires some pushing and pulling which can damage paint if you're not careful.

See, there's the problem - I thought having the hinges set as far down as possible would help - I can't work these bloody things out!
Any tips by any chance - like just where/how should I be setting the hinges against the body?
Cheers, TB

Its probably not the easiest to explain here but I'm sure if you open and close it a few times and visualise what's happening you'll understand.

Because the hinges would continue to pivot past the point where the bonnet closes, you never have to worry about the front getting low enough to seat, its more about the angle of the back rather than the position. Normally to adjust it you'd nip up the bolts tight enough that you can push the hinges around but they will stay wherever you push them too (if careful) - then you close the bonnet and push down on the back of it. The way that the hinge pivots is not the same as a single pivot point either, if memory serves (been a while since I last did one) you get the back lower by having the front of the hinge high and the rear of the hinge low (I think).

Its still a bit of a pain to get right but there may be a little more adjustment there yet.

[its Paul]

TB in relation with the hinges, when I did mine, it seamed to be, I want the bonnet to go down, raise the hinges up, want the bonnet to go up, lower the hinge down.

It was in reverse to the way I thought it should go.

If that makes any sense.

Cheers.

[Tyre biter]

Thanks for the tips 76lxhatch, Paul and Yella - much appreciated.

I am getting pretty excited - all the fiberglass bits are rubbed (by Dave) and tomorrow I'll go see my car again when the body gets wet rubbed in prep for paint.
Monday it goes to the paint shop and all things going well it comes home again within a week - it might be delayed because Rourkey will surely need to fit my job around all his 'sausage factory' smash repair jobs but 7-10 days ought to see it done.

At the same time I am feeling very much overwhelmed - now I have to turn my mind to putting it back together and what with it missing so much in the first place, this will be a tedious and (I expect) an expensive learning curve I am sure.

The good news is the Hotwires seem like they will fit and this is great news because my heart is set on them - anything less and I would consider chucking all this away. Seriously - yes, it sounds silly I know but I have had a picture in my mind for ages...decades in fact - regarding what sort of Torana I'd like to have one day, and whilst I have deviated from the colour (always liked Palais white), the Hotwires are essential for me. On top of this, Neales are kindly knocking up a wheel to my specs for me to trial fit over my UPC package just to be sure, but they are confident - fingers crossed!

Still trying to decide if going with UC UPC.wishbones is worth it. With my VE I had heard a stack of raving about Rip Shifters and after shelling out several hundred $ and stuffing about fitting one, I found the reality underwhelming really. With this in mind, has anyone any commentary based on personal first hand experience about going from LX to UC UPC whilst retaining LX hubs and steering rack, and if so - did this mod provide a discernible difference?

Cheers, TB

Edited by Tyre biter, 24 September 2011 - 07:26 PM.

[Redslur]

Was lucky enough to have a sticky beak at the Tyre biters car today, it looks fantastic. All ready for paint now. The mint julep looks superb in the engine bay and door jams. Dave has done a fantastic job on the body from what it was. No short cuts taken at all. This car will be a great asset to the clubs stable! Conngrats mate. As far as putting it all back together, there will be plenty of volunteers mate!

[Tyre biter]

Thanks Cruiza - you learned this having tried before and after?

Thanks Aaron - I have similar memories about pubs in all manner of towns like Coota, Tumut and a few others around that district are most prominent in my recollection.
And you peg me - I don't recall Mac's Reef Rd being dirt - must have been before I began venturing down the coast as a boy - how long ago was that?

Gerry, thanks for coming our to have a look and glad you approve. Dave is a tad nervous about how his work will hold up what with it being a few years and it being the sort of car that will be scrutinised by fellow Torrie tragics but I had to keep reigning him in, reminding him we are aiming to build a 'nice car' and not a 'concourse show car/trailer queen'. I know he was chuffed at your positive comments to his work as am I mate.

Thanks for your repeated offer of help - seems everything is a one way street from yourself and others - I look forward to being able to return the favour one day. I have to admit I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed - It is dawning on me that getting it painted and home is by far the end, but more like the beginning and I am not really sure where to start, what follows what or how to do a lot of stuff. I now we'll get the just as I say, a tad overwhwelmed right now and needing a few 'wins' solely of my own doing will surely put some confidence and wind in my sails.

Spent some time rubbing down the nosecone with Dave after you left;


I can tell Dave is 'over it' - he has let me wet-rub the car - even left the scuttle panel all to me!



Got some serious cleaning up to do inside the car tomorrow morning before CB comes to take it away - there is sludge everywhere and sort of looks a flock of sea gulls has nested in the car overnight! Left poor Dave hard at it, finishing the bumpers and then I think that is it until we wash it tomorrow morning. Not sure exactly when it goes into the booth but will keep you posted.

Cheers, TB

[Tyre biter]

87/88 - I was finishing school (87) and starting my first year at work (88) - I don't recall Macs Reef being dirt then but maybe its one of those things that age does to you...
And the days of no P plates in Canberra - I remember them fondly together with the paper licence - I still have mine somewhere, and do you remember the licence you could get in Canberra as a 16 year old if you needed to work or study and public transport didn't suit?

When you ask where did the years go - I was speaking with the NSW RTA about my car's history a few months back and it turned out they destroyed their records prior to 1996. When asking a few questions about the little detail I did have I got this response ; "God knows what they did or why back in the old days mate" - IT WAS ONLY 19 BLOODY 96!!!

To top that, I am in Sanity the other week, looking for an Ice House CD. The wee lasse is tidying up about the 'I's" and asks if she can help. I say; 'yes please; I'm looking for Ice House'. She looks at me like a German Shepherd does with its head twisting this way and that whilst displaying a blank expression. I say; 'you're kidding me' and go on to attempt to jog her memory by naming Iva Davies, previous band name of The Flowers, and finish by rattling off umpteen hits, albums and the like...still nothing. She says: "I'll go look in the computer". "Fine" I say and follow he to the counter where we are met by an older bloke there. I have a bit of fun and tell him he won't believe his workmate has never heard of Ice House and... well I am sure you know what comes next. I could finish by saying something like "pfft, kids these days" but then I'd be a card carrying member of the old brigade and have to accept the bloke that stares back at me in the mirror doesn't look as youthful as he thinks.

I am rambling, but yeah, the coast road was a cracker and whilst the Clyde isn't the test nowadays that it once was, it can still be very, very entertaining piece of road. I remember a run up there having first gone down the Brown via Cooma in a loop up through Narooma, Moruya and into Bateman's Bay at the end of my bike course in 1999 - that whole ride but especially the hills leading into the Bay from the south and the Clyde Mtn range was absolute commitment to a level I will never approach again - the old adage about the older one gets the faster they were comes to mind.

All the best, TB

[Redslur]

Funny you talk about the old paper licenses. I still have my first one as well as my assessment sheet. The funny part was that Ned was my licence examiner and actually passed me LOL...That was all in 1986...As for Max's Reef road, I can remember going down to Ray Winkles Animal Park back in the late 70's and the road was definitely sealed back then. May have been unsealed prior to then though. Oh the old memories....Probably why I am still stuck in the Torana time warp nowadays LOL.

Let me know how you go with CB tomorrow...

[Tyre biter]

Gerry, it all went well mate.
Gave is a clean this morning to get all the slurry out from wet-rubbing it down - reckon I'll be chasing that crap out of the car for a while yet - It gets everywhere!


Then CB came by and did what he does so well - moved the car beautifully.


Now it is tucked in at Rourkey's and awaiting paint later in the week before CB moves it for the final time.
Not much else to tell until then.

Cheers, TB

Edited by Tyre biter, 26 September 2011 - 02:46 PM.