Old Skool One Tonner ( race car)

Posted 25 October 2010 - 09:06 PM

Hi guys,
Ive met a lot of the Sydney members through the Drag days, for those who don't know me I'm "Mitchg's" Dad Jeff and I thought I would start a diary on my latest project.
Firstly I am an Industrial Arts Teacher and my specialty is Automotive, I am currently in the very fortunate position where my hobby is also my job. over the last year or so I have been rebuilding a One Tonner Cabin with my junior classes as a way to teach them the basics of rust repair, panel beating and spray painting.

Very recently through a chance meeting with South West Connect, a company who broker partnerships between schools and local businesses I have made contact with a lady called Jackie. Jackie was shown what we do in the school and was very enthusiastic about getting Automotive businesses involved. during the initial conversations I was asked what would be the ultimate project that we could do together? when I said I would like to build a race car with the students and race it with the students as pit crew I don't think I ever thought it was going to happen, but within 2 months Jackie has ensured that is what we are doing.

We currently have 3 sponsors and with the support of the school Principle have set up a new course and class starting in 2011.
The race car is to being built in the school by the students to race in Super Street at Sydney Dragway.
I want to use this diary as a way of letting the students, parents and of course existing and potential sponsors see what we are doing.


This was the start in 2008 I originally planned to repair the cab and then fit it to the one carrying it which was very rusty.


unfortunately this one had a lot more rust then I originally thought and required both sills, floors replaced and cowl repairs.




both sills inner and outer were replaced we fabricated our own.


doors and bonnet were panel-beaten, the doors had holes from truck mirrors and the passengers lock welded up.






cant remember how many patch panels were made but it was a lot.



the cabin now has all the rust repaired and everything inside and out was coated in KBS coating Rust Seal. it is now in etch primer and getting close to body work.





we are currently working on the chassis, it has been coated in Rust seal and will be sprayed in Black top.


this is the inspiration.

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Posted 25 October 2010 - 09:47 PM

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Posted 28 October 2010 - 03:28 AM

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Posted 28 October 2010 - 04:45 AM

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Posted 01 November 2010 - 09:29 PM

took some more pics today, this is where we are at the moment. front panels are being stripped by hand, chassis is now painted in KBS coatings "Top Coat" and the shell is etch primed. next on the list is welding up a few holes ( aerial etc) and getting everything etched. the doors and bonnet were done a while ago but I now dont want to run the mirrors i had planned originally so I will clear the holes there too.

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Posted 01 November 2010 - 11:18 PM

I have Jeff to thank for getting me in touch with IAME who enabled me to gain my A/C certificate, I really love what you are achieving with the kids, I wish we had this sort of support when I was at school.
A big well done Jeff and thank you for your help.
Cheers Terry.

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Posted 20 November 2010 - 06:48 PM

thanks for the support guys,things are still progressing, I have purchased and in the process of fitting the new suspension 90/10 shocks and king spring 6 cyl front springs, back has been lowered 1 1/2 inches with billet blocks (still not sure about the diff, 10 bolt at the moment). gas shocks, few bushes, a ball joint and rubbers.

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Posted 20 November 2010 - 07:53 PM

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Posted 22 February 2011 - 07:01 PM

Ive been on holidays so not a lot happened over xmas. I have picked up a few sponsers that will assist in training the students and assisting if we hit any problems. McGrath Holden donated a VT Commodore 5ltr 5 speed and initially I was contemplating using the engine and parting out the rest but when the figures were done they didnt really add up. So I am going back to the original plan of an LS engine, and we are fixing up the VT to sell and give us some capital. McGraths are investigating an engine for us so it looks promising, .
we are currently building the rollcage which sees the boys learning welding and fabrication, a slow but very vital part, as they will be building a tilting tray also.

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 07:12 PM

few more pics still finishing off the cage, and we are fabricating a new tray. we had a VT series 1 5lt 5 speed commodore donated. initially we were going to repair it and sell it whole. but it wasnt going to be financially viable so we are parting it out hoping the sum of the parts is greater than the whole car. money raised will go into the race car.

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 07:19 PM

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 09:58 PM

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 10:23 PM

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 10:42 PM

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Posted 10 April 2011 - 03:15 PM

we have completed a bit more of the fabrication and should soon be mating the cabin and the chassis together. the VT has basically been disassembled and soon I should have some liquid cash to buy some parts.




















The tray will be hinged at the rear to give access to fuel system and battery

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Posted 20 April 2011 - 09:34 PM

thats awesome mate,wish i could have done auto instead of plastics.

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Posted 21 April 2011 - 11:22 AM

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Posted 21 April 2011 - 12:59 PM

Sorry if i sound nanny, but if this thread is going to be used to showcase the good work being done, perhaps we should ALL refrain from using the nasty words.

If the car is going to be used for public drag racing, how cool would it be for someone like...... oh..... i dont know..... rares maybe, to come on board with some sponsorship?

Win/win

As an apprentice once myself, thanks for posting this thread.

*suscribed*

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Posted 22 April 2011 - 08:04 PM

Cheers guys, the seats are only in for positioning the intrusion bar. I have just picked up some Autotechnia seats and in the process of sitting them as low as possible as there is very little room even without the cage. We have been been setting up the tray using modified VT bonnet hinges for the pivot. next we need to mount the guards to the chassis.

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Posted 22 April 2011 - 10:37 PM

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Posted 28 April 2011 - 06:50 PM

a couple of pics of the now mounted seats, we had to fabricate mounts as low to the floor as possible trying to get helmet clearance.

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Posted 28 April 2011 - 07:02 PM

Everyone has been saying how awesome this must be for the students. Lets not forget the teacher. Must be close to the best job in the world. You get to modify/restore cars and you get tonnes of free labor.

Good Work!

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Posted 28 April 2011 - 10:06 PM

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Posted 03 May 2011 - 09:36 PM

Took the boys out to Sydney Dragway Nitro Champs on Friday. Firstly let me say that the amount of effort Mary Fabietti went to prior to the event, and to take the time to come and meet us, and walk us through the pits was above and beyond, especially on a busy first day. Mary arranged for us to meet with Kylie Tanner a fellow super street racer (winner of 2010 nitro champs) Murray Anderson and Ian Luff. all these people took the time to make the boys feel very much welcome and answer many many questions. Add to this as we were walking through the pits, a couple of Blown Outlaw guys invited us over while they started their cars and spent a lot of time showing the guys everything and more. possibly the highlight (for me anyway lol) was while showing them the Top Fuel cars, Santo came over and opened his pits to us. Talk about awesome.



we have also finished welding in the cage and a bit more work has gone into they tray.

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Posted 03 May 2011 - 09:41 PM

Thats awesome jeff that will get them inspired to get it down the track

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