145 replies to this topic

[neglectedtorana]

Thanks Heath, very happy with the console outcome.

Bought an Air-O-Crimp air con hose kit and started making the hoses. Easy system to use, hope it works as well as it is simple.

 

Made a bracket for the dryer and to support the hoses which is mounted inside the guard on the passenger side. Have a bolt at the front behind/left of the battery and a longer bonnet hinge bolt to hold it in.

 

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[Doubledip]

Looks good. Same kit I used for hoses... but I used a vintage air condensor. Along with the ve evaporator and VF compressor b

[neglectedtorana]

The engineer said although I don't technically need an enclosed or covered air box it will make life easier if the authorities ever look under the bonnet so I have a cover around some of the pod filter.

 

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Also added a coolant overflow bottle in the drivers side inner guard

 

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Feel like I am getting close now,

[neglectedtorana]

Recently went to the engineer for the inspection and testing, RMS were kind enough to give me an unregistered vehicle permit to drive the 106km each way to the workshop.

Brake test was a success although a pretty horrifying experience. It involved repeated stopping to get the brakes to temp then testing with the machine to record pedal pressure and deceleration. Also tested without the booster and testing on the Safe-T-Stop machine with the front calipers disconnected. The whole process was quite serious, had extra weight on the back seat and in the boot for the road test.

 

I have a short list of things to rectify before it will pass 100% including ground clearance so unfortunately taller springs are going in. Very happy to have passed the brake test and only have minor fixes to complete.

 

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[BIG KEV]

So close Tom 

[neglectedtorana]

Yes Kev, so close.

Unfortunately not close enough to make it this weekend but soon after.

 

Had to make the car taller, exhaust was less than 100mm off the ground so put different springs in the front and added 25mm of Whiteline spacers to the rear, used a spacer top and bottom as I didn't want all 25mm on either end reducing the amount the spring sits on the locator.

 

Fitted metal rollers to my park brake cable and made a new fuel pipe mounted further from the extractors, also rolled the rear guards a bit and moved the speedo cable away from the exhaust

 

Cheers, Tom

 

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[neglectedtorana]

Fitted rivet nuts below the scuff plates with M4 threads, was tired of the screws not gripping

 

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[neglectedtorana]

after receiving my engineering paperwork on Thursday 12th Sept I thought I was going to make it to Toranafest but had life get in the way at the final push so the car was on hold for a month, in October I got the chance to go for a blue slip and passed so went and registered it at RMS and then got so busy with work it has only been out of the garage for a wheel alignment.

 

Although no opportunities to drive it I did get the chance to finish the front sway bar mounting, I had a factory front sway bar that wouldn't fit with the extractors and gearbox so with a bit of bending I mounted it on the front of the cross member like the Whiteline. Looks a bit simple but will do for now, I had a local guy bend it that makes sway bars and if I am not happy with my modified version I will fit one of his.

 

The current sway bar doesn't hang down as far as it looks in the picture

 

If it is dry this Sunday I will get the car out to one of the Cars and Coffee gatherings with Dad,used to be his car. 

 

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[Cook]

Nice work Tom. I must admit the Whiteline ones do hang down a bit.  I've painted all the bracketry black so it isn't as noticeable and I'm contemplating running a front spoiler.  Cheers Ron

Edited by Cook, 13 February 2020 - 12:39 PM.

[neglectedtorana]

You're right Ron, colour would make a big difference to how visible it is.

Will see how it looks once I get it out in the open

[neglectedtorana]

Finally put 1500km on the car/diff and had to change the oil, unfortunately the diff didn't have a drain plug so I took it out and fitted one. Small but good progress.

 

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Something else that had been annoying was that when filling the fuel tank the fuel would come back up the filler neck and click the nozzle off, Unfortunately the tank didn't have a breather fitting to connect to the top of the filler neck so I took the tank out, got a barb welded in and it went back together, the filler neck used to rest on the number plate so I put a big P-clamp round it and it was much more secure. Put 6L from the Jerry jug into it and drove to the servo and it took 82L without a hiccup, much nicer!

 

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Nice to be using it after many years of building it, happy long weekend everybody

[Heath]

Tell us more! How have you been enjoying the car?

This thread went way too quiet.

[neglectedtorana]

Sorry Heath, besides driving it as my Sunday afternoon relaxation before starting off the week I haven't done a lot else.

Unfortunately I did damage the sump pan getting it off the blocks so I have a future repair to look forward to. Only new update is I am putting some warning lights in for low oil pressure, high temp and the engine warning light. Although with the imminent re-opening of Sydney Dragway I hope to get it out to try the 1/4 mile soon

 

Besides being closed for this virus they have stayed closed due to track resurfacing, plan to fit in an after work event when they are open again

[hawk]

Looks awesome, glad to see this finished. Hope you're enjoying it.

[claysummers]

Fitted rivet nuts below the scuff plates with M4 threads, was tired of the screws not gripping

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Good idea. Might use that on my FB ute. Already got metric threads on the tonneau posts, remote booster bracket and steering box brace.


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[Toranamat69]

You can get imperial nutserts too. I use them all over the place on my torana.

[claysummers]

Where do you get them Matt? I haven’t found any in Aust.


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[claysummers]

Ok belay that. I was a tight arse and bought a cheap metric gun. Well Topex, wasn’t the cheapest but metric heads only.


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[neglectedtorana]

Unfortunately I haven't been driving it enough, work and life has been busy. Am doing some renovation type stuff at home, replacing the insulation in the ceiling and replacing part of the ceiling.

 

I did make some minor changes, got some H4 headlights and although they aren't yet pointed in the right direction are much better than the originals. Used the Hella H4 and had to cut the back off the bucket but not a big deal.

 

Also added some warning lights, a bit crude for some but they will give me some peace of mind. ECM and oil pressure are connected but I haven't worked out where I will get the high temp from yet. The warning lights are the red, yellow and blue round dots below the 4 gauge cluster.

 

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Although nt driving it a lot I did take it to Sydney Dragway 2 weeks ago, had been looking forward to going for a long time and with the track closed most of the year for covid then re-surfacing it was starting to seem like I would have to wait till next year but then the stars aligned and I got there on a Wednesday night.

 

Had 3 runs before rain ended the event but first out was 13.1 @ 108mph which I was very happy with, I was hoping for 13.5 or less, my second was a wild wheel spinning affair into the 15s and 3rd run was a calm 13.1 again so I think with some practice I will bring the times down. Both the 13.1 runs were with 2.? 60ft. Looking forward to going again.

The car has 225 street tyres and being a manual with stock LS1 was quick enough for me. Sorry no pics I went by myself and was too excited to dash cam or something.

 

Happy Toranaing

This pic is for Big Kev

 

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[neglectedtorana]

Had another visit to the track, although my 60ft times were still slow and all over 2sec I did manage a 12.89 @ 109.4mph.

Track was busy, only managed 4 runs in 3 hours, maybe that's normal but I felt like I spent a lot of time waiting, at least there were lots of interesting cars to appreciate. Thinking about my launch technique (slow) I am sure I can make some improvements still.

 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and 2021 is a good year for all

 

Cheers, Tom

[Ice]

Good to see it on the road Tom 

enjoy 

 

[GMH-01X]

Well done Tom
I’ve followed your build over the years, it’s great to see you’ve completed the Torana & enjoying it when you can

[neglectedtorana]

Thanks gents, very happy with the car!

Hope everyone gets their projects done and gets to enjoy their cars

[neglectedtorana]

There have been a few items on my to do list for a while,

 

Been planning on swapping my original bonnet hinges back onto the car as the chrome ones were too tight and the bonnet didn't move easily, the springs on the old hinges looked poorly with cracked paint so I swapped the chrome springs over and put the old hinges back and on what a difference that has made. Not opening and closing the bonnet is much nicer.

 

The front vent cover  for fresh air in has always sat a little high on the passenger side so I took it off and gave it a gentle bend but putting it back on the holes for the self tappers were a bit work so all got rivet nuts and back together, much more secure now

 

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The grill and the headlight surrounds were always black and I had been thinking about the silver option so I bought a spare grill and painted it and stripped the paint off and polished a spare set of headlight surrounds. 

 

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[neglectedtorana]

I have a pod filter under the silver cover on the drivers side fwd in the engine bay and was thinking of getting more fresh air to it by drilling a 4" hole in the inner radiator support panel.

 

I would probably make a cover to put back in for rainy days but hopefully leave it mostly open, in the pics it would go inboard of the headlight and just fwd of the silver pod cover

 

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In the previous post with the silver grill the 4" hole would be visible through the grill on the left side, any suggestions good/bad? or better ways to get some fresh air to the pod?

 

Cheers, Tom