22 replies to this topic

[Potta]

Hi Guys,

I've decided to rebuild my 1970 LC. This was my second ever car which I've had since I was 19, and it has a lot of sentimental value.

I don't want to rebuild it as a show car or a tyre shredder. I'm hoping to use the current running gear and fix up the rust and get a half decent paint job and drive it as it was built to be driven.

I've recently moved it undercover after being in the weather for about 6 years with the intention of bringing it back to life but I'm finding there may be a few problems with the body. She is straight as they come with no dents except a couple on the rear beaver panel, but I'll need to replace some bits that are pretty badly rusted.

These include;

Both Sills
Front Beaver Panel (is that what its called?)
One rear 1/4 panel
The front quarters both need a tidy up at the bottom
Both front floorpans
Rear wheel arches

All of that I can handle, but unfortunately my gutters have filled up with leaves and there is rust in both of the back pillars. See Pics.

My question is, can this be fixed and how easily/cheaply?

And in your opinion, is it worth rebuilding this car or looking for another body that isn't full of rust?

I know some of you will say get a 2 door, but its hard to find one since everyone is hell bent on whacking v8's in them and/or wrapping them around something.


Wheel Arch


Front Beaver panel (if thats what its called)


Hole in the left hand rear door pillar - Is this a showstopper???



Drivers floorpan - At least I can see the chassis rail is in good nick as is the speedo cable which I replaced when I bought the car.

Your thoughts are most welcome. Thanks guys.

I have always wanted to build a car but never have, so this is where I'm starting. Most of the cutting/welding etc would have to be done by someone else and I have limited funds, so any hints, tips or ideas would be most welcome.

Thanks

[Ice]

Imho that is going to gobble up some big $ if you cant do the work your self rust is one of my biggest turn offs when it comes to toranas.

[Potta]

Anyone else have an opinion on this?

Would anyone buy this body as a project car? Not looking to sell it, but if you found this would you think it was suitable?

I guess that's how I have to look at it.

I'm starting to think I need to find another body, but its easier said than done....and she is so straight (but rusty).

[Potta]

I'm in the Perth suburbs Billywest.

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

I'm thinking I'll try to do it myself and see how I go.

I'll start on the floor and go from there. Worst case scenario it'll cost me a few bucks for new floorpans but I'll get some practice welding.

Then again, I might rip out the running gear and rebuild it all, so when I have a good body, either by buying it or fixing mine up, I can whack it in.

Either way I've gotta strip her so that's where I'm starting. Wish me luck.

[TerrA LX]

My question is, can this be fixed and how easily/cheaply?

And in your opinion, is it worth rebuilding this car or looking for another body that isn't full of rust?


I have always wanted to build a car but never have, so this is where I'm starting. Most of the cutting/welding etc would have to be done by someone else and I have limited funds, so any hints, tips or ideas would be most welcome.

Thanks

Hi and welcome,
Firstly, I know we all have to start somewhere and as you say, the hard parts (cutting/welding) would have to be done by someone else so I would suggest that it being a 4door garden variety Torana I would search for a better one as the rust you can see will have eaten further into the body warranting more that just simple rust repairs.
Cheers T.

[Potta]

Hoping to rip out the carpet tonight and see how much of a floor I've got.

Pics to follow....

I may be looking for a shell if anyone's got one....

[Potta]

I saw an ad on the telly the other day for Eric Bana's doco about his car, The Beast.

Someone said to him, that his car is such a big part of his life, so much so that it is a part of who he is and an important part of his history, so he had to bring it back to life.

I felt like they were talking to me!!

I've had this car for 13 years now, and had many offers to sell it, but the thought of letting it go never really came into my mind.

So, regardless of cost and time involved, Orange Juice will rise again!! But most likely as a dark blue beast.

I don't wanna go the V8 route with this car because I want to enjoy it how I remember it, so here's the plan for now.

Repair all rust
Paint in Midnight Blue (Maybe yellow......maybe orange... )
Rebuild my 186 and probably get it bored out to 192. It already has a lumpy cam so will probably leave that as it is.
Stick with the 350 holley for now.
Already got 4 on the floor, so leave that as is unless I can get a 5 speed somewhere.
It WILL have flutes, but no spoiler.
It may have a stripe or two across the top. Not sure if I'll go for the GTR style stripe or the GTS style thick stripes down the middle.

Either way, it'll be a unique car.

Wish me luck! This site is definitely providing me with plenty of inspiration.

[orangeLJ]

Good luck with it mate!

Its a massive job, but by the end, you will have learnt a shitload and if you stick with it till the end, you will have something you can say you built.

Id say look around for something that has been crashed, or is rusty in different spots to your car, then use it to hack the panels out of. Rares make some panels, but the fitment is often questionable, they can be used as a last resort though!

what sort of tools do you have/ have access to?

are you handy on the tools at all?

[Potta]

Thanks OrangeLJ.

I'll certainly have learnt a lot by the end of it.

I've got most of the tools to do the mechanical stuff but I haven't got any cutting/grinding/welding gear so I'll have to keep my eye out for stuff as I go along.

I've got no skills either, so it could get messy, but I've faced plenty of challenges that make this look like a cakewalk so wish me luck.

I've been fixing cars since I got my license, and have done some dodgy bog work on my Sigma, but that's about it.

I'm still gonna keep one eye open and an ear to the ground to try to find a better shell, so if I make a mess of this one it will have been a good learning experience at least. I'm not overly confident though because I've been searching every site, forum and paper I know of for a shell in WA for about a month and haven't come across one yet. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places?

My biggest challenge at the moment is finding the time!! I got an air compressor for Father's day so I pumped up the tyres on it and undid and did up a wheel nut with my rattle gun, but that's about it so far.

[Potta]

If I need to get another body I may as well get a good one right?? Aaaggh!!

I was under the impression the rares panels would be perfect!

Take back what I said yesterday, new plan.

1. Build shed
2. Strip car
3. Rebuild motor
4. Check out the diff and gearbox and make sure they're ok. Both are pretty fresh cause I broke em before. (finished em off at least)
5. Put the bits in a shell. Hopefully one I don't have to do much to.....

[Potta]

PM Sent

[Potta]

Thanks Gong, you're a legend. I'm sure I'll take you up on the offer of some advice at some point!!

Hopefully looking at a shell next week, hopefully it'll be all good, otherwise I'll keep looking.

I would REALLY like to bring the orange beast back, but realistically I think its gonna be too hard for me.

If I can get a half decent shell I'm laughing cause my running gear is (or at least was) good.

[Potta]

Turned the engine over by hand tonight just to make sure it isn't seized and it seemed ok.

I'd like to see if I can get it to run but need to give it a good flush first and replace the thermostat housing.

I took it off and got a bit of a surprise.





I guess I must have had some coolant in there before??? Can't remember, but I think the engine is going to need a good clean up.

Main thing is, the head looks ok where the housing bolts on, and I was able to turn the motor and the rockers were going up and down so that's a good start!!





Feeling a bit lost cause I don't know if I'll have a new shell or not and I can't pull it apart much until I have a shed

I've started a collection of 'spares' that are no good...so far it's every part I've looked at...




PS. Ignore the dates on the pics, I grabbed my son's camera and couldn't be bothered resetting the date on it (Too Hard)

[TerrA LX]

I never seen something in the cooling system like that before.

[Potta]

me either.

Its like some coolant has been trapped on top of the thermostat when I parked it, and as it has evaporated over the years it has left the powder behind.

Its a bit of a worry what else might be in there.

[Potta]

Hoping to get a new housing, flush her out, whack in a battery and fire her up on a carby full of fuel.

Not really for any purpose other than to hear her purr again....man I miss that sound....

They are awesome engines Billywest. I hardly ever did anything to it and it used to start first time every time, and I mean turn the key and as soon as the engine started spinning it would fire into life.

[Potta]

Just came across this looking for another post.

 

Forgot I'd started it.

 

This car is long gone now, I did end up getting a shell but it didn't have a chassis number so I couldn't have regoed it.

 

That is long gone too.

 

Just thought I'd bring this to the top to show guys starting out that you can work towards getting what you want.

 

I now have a biggish shed, 2 licensed Toranas (4 door will be for sale soon), and have got a lot of enjoyment out of the whole process.

 

So it goes to show, if you make a plan and stick to it you can get there.

 

Even if the plan gets altered slightly.

 

I wonder if I'll still have my GTR in another 6 years, I hope so.

 

I guess it will be a bit nicer by then too.

 

The big question is, will Gene's tunnel be fixed by then?