103 replies to this topic

[redtorana#3]

So, the purchase of this car was all so quick I took a gamble on many things. I didn't even know exactly what I was getting as pictures and communication were not exactly as I would have liked. One saving grace was that my brother in law's brother knew the guy selling it and went and caught up and inspected it for me. He reported that it was straight with minimal rust. Even that was a bit of a screw up as I got busy and didn't get to talk to them while they were at the car or get to give any indication of pictures I would have liked ETC.

Advertised as a 77 but described by the owner as a Plus 4 so making it an earlier year LH I was all a bit confused as to what it was until today when it arrived. (A week late because of truck break down and bushfires across the Eire Highway)

So it is a 77 car LX8UH69 making it a Sunbird I'm pretty sure. L16, M40, GU8. This is my third 77 Torana LOL.

Initially thinking it was a Plus 4 I thought it was Absinth Yellow covered over by Mandarin Red as you will see in one of the pictures but the tags say it is in fact a Mandarin Red car with Chamois with black vinyl.

Inspecting it today I was really happy with it's condition. I basically want to do a minimal restoration to get it back on the road and just drive it. I'll keep you informed. Until then here are a few pictures and I'll post some links to some vids as I get them done.

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[RoyalPlum76SS]

Congrats! Judging by the pics it looks like the old girl has pretty good bones.

Hopefully the pull down for resto wont reveal anything too nasty.

Will be great to see the progress reports, they're always good for motivation to get stuck into mine more!

Best of luck

John

[yel327]

That'll clean up OK if you don't want a show pony. A good buff, a bit of paint especially re-do the black on the bonnet/cowl and surrounds and some chrome bars and it should be decent. Interior looks like maybe carpet and the front seats need new inserts?

 

See if a paintless dent place can pop that dent out on the rear door for you, the one of the nose might be a bit harder and would probably need paint.

 

Before you start it, drain the oil and filter and prime the pump. If it has been sitting with fuel pull the tank out and clean it, maybe run a Por-15 or KBS sealing kit through it. Quadrajet will probably do with a $350 refresh too.

[SmacT]

How exciting is a new project? I said mine was just going to be a basic resto and drive it, that was in 2008, but anyway - looks fun ahead!

[Heath]

Awesome! Looks like great bones for a toughie.

 

Mild resto sounds perfect. Keep it simple and get it driving.

[redtorana#3]

How exciting is a new project? I said mine was just going to be a basic resto and drive it, that was in 2008, but anyway - looks fun ahead!

Very exciting but not heading down your path mate. I hope haha.

Awesome! Looks like great bones for a toughie.

 

Mild resto sounds perfect. Keep it simple and get it driving.

With a digital dash Heath.

[Shiney005]

Looks good Brad.  What box is between the 308 and the 9 inch?

[Heath]

With a digital dash Heath.

Rude not to!

[FLY_LX]

nice. good score.

[redtorana#3]

Looks good Brad.  What box is between the 308 and the 9 inch?

Trimatic but will be swapped out for an M21 or a T5

Rude not to!

Heath did you get my email? If not can you please let me know here and I'll try again.

[Heath]

Sorry mate I missed that last e-mail about the dash. Replying to you now mate. I've got one half-built you could snag if you wanted.

[redtorana#3]

Sorry mate I missed that last e-mail about the dash. Replying to you now mate. I've got one half-built you could snag if you wanted.

Done mate. Snagged LOL

[redtorana#3]

The Torana is in da house!!

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[Shiney005]

I don't know if they are still going, but I took a set of Hotwires to Mr Mag in Morley years ago and they did a fantastic job of refurbishing them. Got them looking like new.

[redtorana#3]

I don't know if they are still going, but I took a set of Hotwires to Mr Mag in Morley years ago and they did a fantastic job of refurbishing them. Got them looking like new.

Looks like they are still operating I'll check them out thanks mate. Mine could do with a bit of a tidy up LOL.

Cheers.

[redtorana#3]

Iv'e been doing lots of cleaning and assessing including removing the seats and carpet to check out the floors. They are awesome!!

There are quite a few little bits and pieces missing from the car so I have been ordering from where ever I can not worrying about originality too much. 

Seats are going to the trimmers tomorrow and a new carpet is to be ordered.

Iv'e gone with an M20 Aussie gearbox totally rebuilt and will be ordering a new 9" diff center as soon as I confirm the spline count. (yes I have researched and checked the end of the axle but the chamfered hole on the end could be either 28 or 31 spline)

So, having a great time and happy to say the new hoist arrived today so that will be up in a week. No stopping then.

 

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•  Hoist.jpg   122.28K   9 downloads

Edited by redtorana#3, 15 March 2024 - 07:02 PM.

[Heath]

Super awesome.

 

Those nice solid floors are begging for some decent insulation.

[redtorana#3]

Super awesome.

 

Those nice solid floors are begging for some decent insulation.

And those they shall have my friend.

[redtorana#3]

So, the hoist is installed (thanks Trev) and I have got the Torana up in the air, had a good look underneath and taken the tyres off LOL.

Works out that i have HQ stud pattern front and back.

Seats are at the upholsters, gearbox is being built and Heath is almost done with the instrument cluster. Got lots of stuff arriving for the build.

Great start. Next is, well, rip it apart.

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[Shiney005]

Can you take a picture of the floor through the front left door so I can see the chalk marks on the hump?

[redtorana#3]

Can you take a picture of the floor through the front left door so I can see the chalk marks on the hump?

Yep.

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[Shiney005]

I have seen 6 X written in chalk there before, but never seen B 8 S

[redtorana#3]

I have seen 6 X written in chalk there before, but never seen B 8 S

What cars had the 6 X Shiney? 

B 8 S, one for the gurus?

[Shiney005]

4 A9X on an A9X.  4 was the code for Flamenco Red I've been told.

 

 4 A9X. 4 is Flamenco paint code.jpg   45.23K   12 downloads

 

X9 or 6X on L34.

 

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[redtorana#3]

Finally made some progress after dealing with different crap and an op that laid me up for a while.

Got the K frame with the engine and gearbox out and getting ready for the four speed to be finished. I'm tidying things up as I go and treating anything that looks like rust.

My 'Minimal Restoration' list keeps on growing but I do have a plan and I of course must deal with stuff to a standard that will allow me to get it licenced.

Stuff that will last for a couple of years 'as is' will be left until I get to do the big restore. For now it is fix fukups and get it on the road.

Loving the condition of this car and have got a good start on it now. More stuff to acquire and lots of work to do.

 

If anyone is interested I post videos on Youtube under the title Torana Minimal Restoration. 

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