984 replies to this topic

[sibhs]

I cant see anything to actually compress the spring?

 

Cheers

 

Rob

Hi Rob,

I've welded a bit of 6mm rod to the reo bar to compress spring. 

Issue is I just used normal wire so it doesn't spring back after a couple of uses. I just spread it out every time i need too.

 

Marty

[308 Sunbird]

You deserved the luck of the nose missing the brace Marty.

That's one very cleaver setup- well done.

[Rockoz]

It was very rare back in the day to see an LC or LJ without a dent in the nose.

 

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[Shiney005]

I don't want to be the negative one, but I don't think modern brick pillars are very strong. My brother's next door neighbor backed his car out with the back door open and it brought down the garage on top of him. It didn't even fold the door back.  It also looks like you have used big self tappers into wall plugs rather than Dynabolts.

Just keep an eye out for cracks Marty. We don't want to see you injured mate. 

[sibhs]

I don't want to be the negative one, but I don't think modern brick pillars are very strong. My brother's next door neighbor backed his car out with the back door open and it brought down the garage on top of him. It didn't even fold the door back.  It also looks like you have used big self tappers into wall plugs rather than Dynabolts.

Just keep an eye out for cracks Marty. We don't want to see you injured mate. 

Hi Laurie,

I'm working on most of the force pushing down on the pillar, but always keeping an eye out for any movement in the structure. The bolts are those threaded ones for concrete and brick. First time I've used them and presume they will hold and then easy to remove and patch holes.

 

Cheers

Marty

[lctriples]

Hey Marty, i know not related to this thread, but was wondering what front springs are in your LJ (ie: how many mm's lower than standard) i need to drop front of mine and like how the Tangerine Dream sits. Great work on sal's car by the way, cheers paul

[sibhs]

Hey Marty, i know not related to this thread, but was wondering what front springs are in your LJ (ie: how many mm's lower than standard) i need to drop front of mine and like how the Tangerine Dream sits. Great work on sal's car by the way, cheers paul

Hi Paul,

When I first built the LJ I put the GTR springs from Kings, they're said to be 50mm lower than standard. I felt it looked too high in the front so ordered a custom pair of springs from Kings another 20mm lower. It does sit really nice now but I doubt it would pass the pits.

The custom springs didn't cost much more than the off the shelf GTR springs.

 

Marty

[grumpy xu1]

Any chance of a good side shot Marty with the springs fitted ? I'm not a fan of tall springs.

[sibhs]

Hey Gary, I don't seem to take many side shots, I think it's the worst angle for the little Torana.

 

I've got a couple here that can give you an idea and I'm taking it for a drive tomorrow so I'll try then if required.

 

Marty

 

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[sibhs]

Time to get some of this crap off the bottom. Grabbed some of my used strip discs and started using them up first and keeping the good ones for last. 

 

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Marty

[lctriples]

Marty thanks for the info on front springs, i might leave it as is now for rwc, then start trying different ride heights as 70mm lower than standard sounds scary. What is the ride like, is it really harsh compared to 50mm lower?, thanks again for help paul.

[Mitchyboy]

Top work Marty.
Thats hard work with the strip discs underneath.
I found with mine it was just pushing all the old paint and undergaurd spray around.
That why I gave up and got it blasted.
You don't plan to sandblast the bottom?


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[sibhs]

Top work Marty.
Thats hard work with the strip discs underneath.
I found with mine it was just pushing all the old paint and undergaurd spray around.
That why I gave up and got it blasted.
You don't plan to sandblast the bottom?


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

Hi Mitch, I find the strip disc very good but I've been over it all with a chisel first to get the thick crud off. Once I've cut out the remaining rust areas I'm going to lock myself away and sand blast the bits that are left. Sand blasting is a shite of a job so the less I have to do the better. Also if you can get rid of most of the crap you have less dirt/dust in the sand when you re-use it. Otherwise It doesn't take long before you're dust blasting!

Marty thanks for the info on front springs, i might leave it as is now for rwc, then start trying different ride heights as 70mm lower than standard sounds scary. What is the ride like, is it really harsh compared to 50mm lower?, thanks again for help paul.

Get your RWC first and see how the car looks once settled. Just think of it as only 20mm lower than standard GTR XU-1. Standard sedan springs make a car look like a 4wd so 70mm lower than that is not much.

 

Marty

[grumpy xu1]

I think i would have definitely sand blasted the car, whilst it was on the 2 frames, would have made your job a lot easier mate.

[lctriples]

Cheers Marty, i think i have stolen and detracted enough of your LC thread with Spring talk, so with your LC, can you strip with wire wheel/s as they come in sifferent sizes, shapes ect to get in all the nooks and crannies!

[claysummers]

I love those strip discs. I use them on a variable speed polisher on low. Found the speed on the grinder tends to melt the discs. Blasting makes twice the mess.

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[sibhs]

I think i would have definitely sand blasted the car, whilst it was on the 2 frames, would have made your job a lot easier mate.

Hi Gary, so you reckon it'd be easier to lay upside down and sand blast before it goes on the rotisserie??

I will sand blast but trying to get as much paint and gunk off first.

 

Cheers Marty, i think i have stolen and detracted enough of your LC thread with Spring talk, so with your LC, can you strip with wire wheel/s as they come in sifferent sizes, shapes ect to get in all the nooks and crannies!

Yeah the thread was going sideways.  I forgot to say the ride is firm but not annoying. I think if I cut a bit off the bump stops it would help but it doesn't bother me. Wire wheels would get the hard to get bits but I've never used wire wheels with much success.

 

I love those strip discs. I use them on a variable speed polisher on low. Found the speed on the grinder tends to melt the discs. Blasting makes twice the mess.

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Your speaking my language there Clay.

Edited by sibhs, 13 December 2020 - 10:17 PM.

[Ice]

Keep going champ you love the good jobs don’t you Marty take my hat off to ya mate 

where do you buy that motivation stuff 

l need a frOck load of it 

[jd lj]

Keep going champ you love the good jobs don’t you Marty take my hat off to ya mate 
where do you buy that motivation stuff 
l need a frOck load of it 

Gene, you'll find the motivation is available at the shops in isle number 2 next to the elbow grease.

[grumpy xu1]

No mate, i probably would have taken it to the media blasters, with the big compressor ect, just to save a lot of time and pain. A couple of hours & they would have been done, then you can see where you're at & work out a plan of attack. Personally i think that sometimes you just have to do some things that way. To me, it would have been money well spent.

But yes, i would have used a scapper and some turps ect, to de gunk it first.

[sibhs]

No mate, i probably would have taken it to the media blasters, with the big compressor ect, just to save a lot of time and pain. A couple of hours & they would have been done, then you can see where you're at & work out a plan of attack. Personally i think that sometimes you just have to do some things that way. To me, it would have been money well spent.

But yes, i would have used a scapper and some turps ect, to de gunk it first.

I did plan on getting it professionally blasted but either being a scrooge or not wanting to let the car out of my sight got the better of me. 

 

Keep going champ you love the good jobs don’t you Marty take my hat off to ya mate 

where do you buy that motivation stuff 

l need a frOck load of it 

Thanks Gene! Slippery stuff that motivation, you find it then you lose it.

 

Marty

[sibhs]

Time to finish off the new sill replacement. Now this is the full Muscle Car Parts sill from Rare Spares which has the front bit that fits under the guard.  The front end fits really well but where it joins near the back of the door is a couple of mm out. I never finished it off because I didn't know what to do. Also had a couple of other restorers mention they had the same issue.

 

Well I've made it fit and I'm really happy with result. I just don't know how other restorers get around this issue, I haven't seen any one else split these down the guts to make them work? Am I doing something wrong?

 

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Marty

Edited by sibhs, 14 December 2020 - 10:39 PM.

[jd lj]

Marty,
I've heard of lots of the reproduction panels needing to be cut down there length to spread them or pull them together. So don't worry it seems like you're on the right track.

[sibhs]

The rear of sills are damaged. This side I've been able to repair.

 

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Marty

[sibhs]

The other side rear sill is a little worse off. I've cut out the rusty dented section and will sandblast inside before repairing this. So it'll stay this way for a while.

 

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Marty