173 replies to this topic

[Doubledip]

most definitely....   that's the only problem when you do a restoration... no one can really see how much work has gone into I unless they followed a thread/forum... (like marty's where you can see everything he has done and all by himself as well - and I know others as well have done) where as a conversion / modern take when you see it finished and see the changes , regardless of the starting condition of the car it is easy to appreciate the amount of work that has gone into it....   and besides... I love driving my VE commodore with all its mod cons but I just love the old school look of a Torana... so combine the best of bot h worlds I say

[IMORAL]

Great work. Cant wait to see it finished.

[Covert]

Agree with the above, looking forward to watching the build progress and the finished product.

It's great to see someone who after a couple of previous Torana builds, now has the know how and balls to progress to a build that's uncharted so to speak.

[Doubledip]

Just a little update... been fitting the console and adding in the pieces that we need to run , dash controls, electric handbrake button, getting the shifter into correct position, USB/Aux input mounted

Then welding in a few brackets to mount the under dash and modifying the glove box and feet ducts to fit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SmacT]

I wouldn't even know where to start fitting that up. Nice work. :-)

[Doubledip]

I wouldn't even know where to start fitting that up. Nice work. :-)

 

Thanks SmacT - yes its a bit of a jigsaw puzzle... when it comes time to installing it the final time i will be very much relieved as its one of those processes where everything has to go in in a particular order otherwise it is take it all out and go again.....  

[neglectedtorana]

Great work Justin,
You're making it look easy even though it must be full of constant challenges/hurdles.

The way you are working calmly through it says it will be a great end result, I would need a much bigger hammer than the one in the foot well

Have fun,

[Doubledip]

little bit more of an update... bee trying to finish off all the little bits and pieces to do with the dash install..

 

first had to modify the gear shifter by moving it back . in doing so it lowered it but that was no problem as the Momo gear know needed a fatter shaft to screw into. machined up a screw on sleeve and now i have regained the height along with having a tight fit with the gear knob

 

 

 

then had to make up thew clutch switch setup for the VE ECU to understand what is happening for both starting (saftey) and cruise control

 

 

when mounting it had to make sure the position of the switch/pedal could be learnt into the ECU. I use a particular tuning software for the Holdens and this was used to check

 

 

All mounted up

 

 

 

 

cause the ends of the dash were now exposed made up some metal covers (which will be trimmed in leather) to finish of the ends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

next on the list was to modify the factory VE window switch. It has in the centre the mirror adjusting part and i am not running the electric mirrors. Decided to mount the push button start button in there so the switch was pulled apart and modified accordingly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an overall shot of the console .. starting to come together now... wiring it up shouldn't be too far away now... 

 

 

 

 

the started on the rear door... mounting in the power window regulator and getting it to work correctly ... then figuring out where and how to mount the internal VE rear door handles to keep with the modern internal loom and also housing the window switch

 

 

 

 

 

[SmacT]

Factor 10 Awesome. Looking forward to the bodywork section, now, as it seems you're pretty handy in that department too. :-)

[bullitA9X]

Mate this is an absolute awesome build your doing its a work of art!! Nothing more i can say as you said you will have all the modern cons in a old torana the best of both worlds....ah and i thought building my sons hatch is a big job lol....

[Redzone]

Individually Constructed Vehicle? Mad props! Love everything you've done so far.

Individually Constructed Vehicle? Mad props! Love everything you've done so far.

[MARKL]

Very nice. Each to there own I figure, do what you want (I would probably draw the line at an A9X or L34). It is an interesting concept, I love it and you appear to be executing it really well, performance will be awesome with modern car manners and reliability. I can't wait to see the finished result.

 

Cheers

Edited by MARKL, 31 January 2016 - 03:47 PM.

[Doubledip]

been a while since updates but work has slowly been progressing on my torana...

 

made new door trim cards and then modified the VE arm rests to sit flat.... more work will be done onthe door trims as in making them more modern and with more detail but a general idea is below

 

 

 

 

 

pulled apart, and cleaned and reconditioned my power steer rack ready for the modifications to the K frame

 

 

 

 

modified the torana boot lock to have a boot popper... and made a cover for it...   the boot will be trimmed along with the cover when finished

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had the tunnel welded up and also the Plenumn chamber cover for the VE HVAC box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ordered the oiling system so we can get to fitting it to the inner guard area.. Moroso oil accumulator, remote oil filter mount and oil cooler

 

 

 

 

Lastly mounted the electric power steer pump .. using the bumper mount bracket 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Heath]

Bloody hell. 

 

I don't actually like the concept of what you are doing with this car, but the way you are doing it is AWESOME.

 

Fantastic workmanship.

[Doubledip]

Well its been a few weeks since the last update.. have still been steadily moving along

 

Installed the electric handbrake ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

made a bracket for the clutch reservoir from malwood and mounted it.. sits under the cluster...

 

 

 

 

 

 

started to make the infill panels for the smoothing of the engine bay chassis rails...

 

 

 

 

 

 

mounted the heat ex-changer pump onto the same bumper bracket as the electric power steer pump

 

 

 

 

 

welded in the rust replacement panels for the bonnet hinges

 

 

 

 

 

repaired the front apron

 

 

 

 

 

welded in the strengthening plates etc.. in to the parcel shelf for the rear seat belts in the parcel shelf along with removing the rust (still not finished yet)

 

 

 

 

 

The finally installed the rear coil overs

 

 

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[SmacT]

Feeling so lame right now... Ha ha - luv it.

[Doubledip]

No need to feel lame. Sometimes I look at others threads and think the same. It all
Takes time. It's been a year to the day since I started this project and I look at it and it's still a bare she'll and I wonder where all the time has been spent. But then I look at the photos and realise what has been done so far and can see ...

[Heath]

More awesome work. Very nice