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UC Hatch converting to LX Panels


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#1 _hatcher_

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Posted 23 August 2008 - 10:39 PM

Hi there everyone.
First of all, I'll introduce myself and give a little background.

My name is Dave,
I'm a 32 years young,
I'm a Sparky by trade,
I work part time with a very knowledgable Mechanic doing conversions, ie retrofitting later model gear into earlier model cars.
I tune nearly every model engine that was released in a commodore (VN V6 up to VE 6L )
I can modify the memcal (or PCM) to switch off the security so later model PCM's work in early model cars.
I have painted several cars (tought myself and listened to/watched spray painters)
Ive owned more cars over time than I have had years on this planet (6 of which were Toranas)!
My very first car was a LH 173 bench seat, 3 on the tree pov pack white Torana.
My latest car that I am currently driving is a VY SS with a cammed/modified motor (tuned by me ofcourse!)

So, I have just purchased Torana number 7, UC Hatchback.
My plans are to change the exterior to look like a LX but keep the interior UC. I will be painting it black and will be keeping it flareless.
When this is complete, I will drive it around for a while with the current 6 and trimatic. When I get bored with that (it won't take long) I will pull it off the road again and do an injected 8 conversion (either a 5l or the LS1 out of the SS)


I have lots of photo's but how do I add them to post??

Cheers,
Dave.

#2 _hatcher_

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Posted 23 August 2008 - 11:30 PM

So, here are some photo's of when I picked it up:













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Those taillights won't last long!!




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Some lovely Cancer:





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Reasonably straight:





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Hinge plate has rusted through:Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

#3 _hatcher_

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 12:22 AM

I was going to remove the entire back panel but it was more involved than I wanted to get.
I decided I was going to just cut out around where the new tail light inserts were going.
So out cam the 5 inch grinder and a 1mm cutting disc!




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I found a smashed sedan that had a reasonable rear on it, so I cut it's bum off and took it home
I cut out what I wanted and used it to trace how far into the quarter I had to cut
Mig welded in place and oxy/tig welded the rest.
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Side shot showing how far into the quarter I went


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I then used the buff with 40 grit paper on it to remove the paint (also a wire wheel to get into tight areas).
I ground the welds down with a flap disk on the 5 inch grinder
I then sprayed a 2-pak primer which is Zinc rich to seal the metal.
Used a little filler then sealed with primer again after it was sanded.
Putty/filler is fine to use as long as you don't over use it and you can seal it well (eg 2-pac primer either side of it)
This picture shows a non finished repair to the quater, lot more work to go on it yet.

Posted Image


I have more photo's that I will post later.

Cheers,
Dave.

#4 FastEHHolden

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 09:37 AM

Well done...god knows that car needs some luvin'......keep up the good work.

#5 _hatcher_

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 12:12 PM

Well done...god knows that car needs some luvin'......keep up the good work.



Needs a lot of luvin' !

Cheers mate.

#6 MRLXSS

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 01:01 PM

Top stuff mate! Can't wait to see this build evolve! Should be fantastic! Welcome to the forums mate!

#7 _MRNOS_

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 01:10 PM

Guy on the Qld torana site has done the uc to lx conversion, looks much better than the UC setup http://www.qtcc.org.....php?f=11&t=124

#8 _hatcher_

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 02:41 PM

Top stuff mate! Can't wait to see this build evolve! Should be fantastic! Welcome to the forums mate!



Cheers!

#9 _hatcher_

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 02:46 PM

Guy on the Qld torana site has done the uc to lx conversion, looks much better than the UC setup http://www.qtcc.org.....php?f=11&t=124



Can you access the thread without joining the forum?
Even when I registered it said I had to wait for a moderator to enable my account :(

#10 GML-31

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 06:51 PM

for those without access to Qld site

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donor car

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#11 RIM-010

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 07:03 PM

What was wrong with the donor? Looks like a pretty well done swap though.

Tim

#12 _hatcher_

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 07:13 PM

What was wrong with the donor? Looks like a pretty well done swap though.

Tim



Probably was a 4 door

#13 RIM-010

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Posted 24 August 2008 - 07:18 PM

Yup, so it is. At a glance, for some reason, the donor looked like a hatch... Obviously not though.

Tim

#14 _hatcher_

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 08:13 PM

Bit more of an update, you can see in the photo below that the inner guard on a UC steps down (inside red circle), this is not on an LX/LH. On of the reasons why LX panels don't just "bolt on"


Attached File  Picture_047.JPG   86.25K   218 downloads

I 'unstitched' the nose cone/radiator support panel off of the donor LX

Attached File  Picture_051.JPG   69.04K   146 downloads


Here is a photo of two lower channel corners for the hatch rubber. The one on the left is a Rare Spares item and because the only had one in stock, had to make the one shown on the right. Made it from two pieces of folded steel, then took it around to my mates place and we gave it a curve by using shrinker/stretcher machine, then stitch welded the two pieces together. It turned out pretty good I thought!



Attached File  Picture_053.JPG   71.49K   94 downloads


I am now in the process of bare metalling the rear quarters, I have found a couple of repairs I didn't know it had, Doh!
I'm not doing the repairs in any particular order, I get bored with working on one section all the time and start working elsewhere!

Cheers for now,
Dave.

#15 _studricho_

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 09:00 PM

Great progress so far champ. Welcome to the forum.

#16 _hatcher_

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 09:23 PM

Great progress so far champ. Welcome to the forum.


Thanx

#17 _hatcher_

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Posted 31 August 2008 - 05:25 PM

Well done a bit more to the hatch this week.
I removed the front panels and unstitched the rad support panel.
Put the LX front panel in place and temp held it there with Vice Grips
I hung the lx guards on the inner guard panels and placed the nose cone on aswell.
With the guards and nosecone in place, it helps me to align the radiator support panel to where it should be before I weld it up.

You can see the different profile between the UC inner guard and the LX guard in the photo.
Attached File  Picture_057.JPG   85.22K   274 downloads


Attached File  Picture_058.JPG   106.95K   245 downloads

#18 lxsstorana

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Posted 01 September 2008 - 04:08 PM

Great work and quick progress :clap:

Welcome to hatchback heaven. :spoton:

Regards Mick.

#19 _hatcher_

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Posted 01 September 2008 - 08:28 PM

Great work and quick progress :clap:

Welcome to hatchback heaven. :spoton:

Regards Mick.


Cheers for that
I spend a couple of hours on it each night, it is going a little quicker than expected.

I got offered a 5lt injected motor and auto trans out of a VS fully dressed with loom and computer tonight, $1500! Looks like I have found my driveline


Cheers,

Dave.

#20 LX2DR

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Posted 01 September 2008 - 08:47 PM

Welcome to hatchback heaven. :spoton:

Regards Mick.


"Oh" i thought it was the "Torana Republic" :rockon:

Doesn't matter all works for me :spoton:

#21 _hatcher_

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Posted 04 September 2008 - 09:42 PM

Just an update, I have started to attack the roof area where the hinges for the hatch attatch (well where they use to attatch!)
I removed the inner skin to see what I was up against, and well, as you can see in the pictures, its not pretty!
I might have sourced another hatch that I can cut this section out of to repair mine. I will find out on the weekend.


Attached File  Picture_061.JPG   66.06K   142 downloads



Attached File  Picture_062.JPG   63.35K   123 downloads


It hard to tell in the photo, but this rusted support is zinc coated. Didn't help it though!


I have come to a bit of a standstill with working on the front panels, I need a bumper to help me line things up properly and to make the box sections for it to mount to.

Can anybody help me to find a front bar???

Condition of chrome doesnt have to be good as I am colour coding the bar and minor dents aren't a problem either. I have a spare nosecone to trade if that helps.

Cheers,

Dave.

#22 _hatcher_

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Posted 05 September 2008 - 08:08 PM

I found a bar at a local wrecker today!!!
Not bad condition and was $70, Wohoo!!!!
Now I can align the nosecone support panel.

Getting the drivers door glass tomorrow, and that completes the collection of parts needed.

#23 _Leakey_

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Posted 06 September 2008 - 10:30 AM

I'm comming over from Sydney this Christmas for 9 days with the family. (we're all ex-pat Adelaidians.)

If you're about at Christmas time, I'd love to pop over and see the car. - oh and meet you too!! LOL

This is a great thread. Top work too, very inspirational.

- Leakey

#24 _hatcher_

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Posted 06 September 2008 - 05:39 PM

I'm comming over from Sydney this Christmas for 9 days with the family. (we're all ex-pat Adelaidians.)

If you're about at Christmas time, I'd love to pop over and see the car. - oh and meet you too!! LOL

This is a great thread. Top work too, very inspirational.

- Leakey


I'll be around, you are more than welcome to come and have a look.
I appreciate yours and other peoples comments, cheers!
I didn't know how interested people would be in what I am doing.
I'm more than willing to keep showing progress as long as I know that people are showing interest and/or people gain from my experience.

Cheers,

Dave.

#25 _UNVSM8_

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Posted 06 September 2008 - 06:34 PM

i'm listening :D




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