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SINGLE CAB KOMBI UTE V8 BUILDUP

Started by dirtbag , Feb 02 2011 10:00 AM

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225 replies to this topic

#51 _mick74lh_

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 05:52 PM

Yeah those plastic bags and corn cobs are a pissa! Looking forward to see what you come up with on this one. Would it be possible to engineer and rego one of these with a mid mount V8? Is it just that the engineering process would be too long/involved/expensive and the owner doesn't want that?

There are a couple of major reasons for not chasing the mid mount set up. The main one is rego. To go mid mount would mean the whole rear part of the chassis would need to be removed and converted to a live rear axle or IRS of some sort with a diff e.g BMW, commodore etc. Qld rego wont allow those sorts of modifications as suspension mods are a big no no. I wasn't even allowed to fit a bolt in 4 link kit from the states into the 68 firebird.

The other main reason is with the rear mount engine, the radiator can go in the middle of the car, out of sight. If the motor was in the middle, the radiator would have to go out the front, and that's just not an option.

I'm thinking about tossing the iron 350 idea and going with an LS1 instead, so if anyone knows of one for sale with computer and loom let me know. I wont need a gearbox, so I don't need to go the expense of getting one with a T56. I've seen them with computer, loom and auto for around the $2500 mark, so something like that would be perfect.

Fair enough. So is Queensland particularly anal about that sort of thing? Not allowing you to fit a bolt in four link kit to a car is pretty rude of them.

I reckon the LS1 is a great idea. They're so cheap to buy and easy to hot up now and they're a bit lighter than an iron block. Go for it!

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#52 _eh-buddy_

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 05:54 PM

tim i had a mate who put a 265 hemi out off a charger in a kombi ute in the late 70's and he told me that the motor was mid mounted with what he called the gearbox flop?? im not sure what he meant or how it was done but i am thinking that he flipped the gearbox over but either way it wouldnt be able to be registered now

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#53 _BAILLIE_

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 09:07 PM

There are loop-holes for everything.

You could probably get it tagged as an ICV ? But that would cost huge dollars i am guessing? I don't know.

It would be classed as a light vehicle yeh?

http://www.tmr.qld.g...ehiclesicvs.pdf

A person may wish to "individualise" a monocoque body shell from a
production passenger car with significant modifications - for example,
complete driveline and suspension replacement from different vehicles.
However, the vehicle is considered a modified production vehicle, not an
ICV.

So maybe not ICV, just a lowly modified pro vehicle.

That sounds much more casual : )

Whatever the case, a mid-mount makes much more sense than a chunky V8 right at the back. The thing would wheelstand taking off in 4th !!

Could mount the radiator at the back, or in the tray, or on the roof, or under the cab, or make a custom spoiler type piece that houses all of the fins and tanks etc.

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#54 _BAILLIE_

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Posted 31 March 2011 - 09:07 PM

(oops, double post.)

Edited by BAILLIE, 31 March 2011 - 09:10 PM.

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#55 dirtbag

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Name:Tim
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Car:1995 V8 2wd hilux, LH torana ute, 1970 Volksrod, MK1 2 door escort, CJ6 Jeep, VX commodore wagon.
Joined: 29-December 09

Posted 05 April 2011 - 07:56 PM

Well I did a bit more chopping today.

Posted Image

Here's a nice pile of crap : )

Posted Image

Even the bits that are left need some rust repairs.

Posted Image

The battery tray is a common rust spot for kombis so no surprises here. A lot of the engine bay will be removed as I don't need all the tin work that the air cooled motor needed.

Posted Image

Today I also bought all the steel to rebuild the rear end.

I bought two 8 metre lengths of 75x50 RHS with 2mm wall, three 8 metre lengths of 25x50 RHS with 2mm wall and four 1200x2400 sheets of 1.6mm zinc sheeting. Not cheap!

I had the steel mob cut the lengths in half for me. Easier to transport.

Posted Image

I might have to bite the bullet soon and get a plasma cutter, as it will be worth it's weight in gold on these rusty beasts : )

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#56 _niterida_

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 09:02 PM

I might have to bite the bullet soon and get a plasma cutter, as it will be worth it's weight in gold on these rusty beasts : )

The amount you SHOULD be charging for these works of art would mean you could buy a plasma cutter that IS gold :-)

Also looking at that frame between the cab and the rear siwng arm tube I just can't help but thinking it would be soooo much cooler with the V8 mounted in there and just running a 'normal' box and very short tailshaft to a normal diff.

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#57 dirtbag

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 09:08 PM

Yeah the mid mount idea is amusing, but the rego hassles are insane and it would mean the radiator would have to go out the front which looks like crap. I think it will be cool even with the motor in the rear. Plus the middle section makes for a nice radiator chamber.

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#58 _niterida_

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 09:12 PM

Yeah the mid mount idea is amusing, but the rego hassles are insane

I sort of did this to my CF Bedford van and the WA rego authorities had no hesitation in passing it. The motor was moved to between and slightly to the rear of the seats, but I guess the suspension was left alone so that helped.
And it was like 20yrs ago so I guess they've cracked down on a lot of things since then :-(

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#59 dirtbag

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 09:16 PM

Yeah, it's the suspension mods that are the main problem, not the engine position itself. The whole rear suspension and diff arrangement would need to be removed and replaced, and Qld rego doesn't like that. Not on a post 1948 car anyway.

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#60 _wblje_

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 09:20 PM

now this is getting good. steel tube, cut back combi. its going to get interesting now. looking forward to this.

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#61 _niterida_

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 10:00 PM

Yeah, it's the suspension mods that are the main problem, not the engine position itself. The whole rear suspension and diff arrangement would need to be removed and replaced, and Qld rego doesn't like that. Not on a post 1948 car anyway.

If you can find a set up that you can mount without modifying the actual suspension then it should breeze through. ie; maybe a HQ tonner diff and leaf springs and make up mounts to keep everything in exactly the same position it would be in under the HQ - c'mon you know you want to :-)

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#62 dirtbag

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 12:32 AM

Yeah, it's the suspension mods that are the main problem, not the engine position itself. The whole rear suspension and diff arrangement would need to be removed and replaced, and Qld rego doesn't like that. Not on a post 1948 car anyway.

If you can find a set up that you can mount without modifying the actual suspension then it should breeze through. ie; maybe a HQ tonner diff and leaf springs and make up mounts to keep everything in exactly the same position it would be in under the HQ - c'mon you know you want to :-)

The problem with that, is to fit the rear end from a tonner, with live axle and leaf springs i'd have to cut all the kombi suspension out.

The kombi uses torsion bar IRS with the torsion bars running across the car, leaving no room for a tail shaft.

The big tube thingy is the housing for the torsion bars. You can also see coming off the tube are the inner mounts for the trailing arms. This is the stuff that isn't allowed to be removed.

Posted Image

At the end of the day it's going to be an awesome car, no matter where the motor is : )

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#63 ReplicarSLR

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 10:08 AM

Something like this hey?

Attached Files

Kombi2.jpg 58.12K 3 downloads

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#64 Potta

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 11:40 AM

Looks like she's running a bit rich.

Looking forward to seeing this develop Tim.

Great work as always. Posted Image

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#65 _L32M20_

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 06:25 PM

Something like this hey?

wicked man! got any more pics?always wondered bout a mid engined v8 kombi...

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#66 dirtbag

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 07:06 PM

Here's some more pics Jimmy.

Posted Image

I love the flowers on the dash. I assume they stand for something, but it's still amusing.

Posted Image

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#67 Potta

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 07:18 PM

I think the flowers are a VW thing....

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#68 fenz

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 07:29 PM

Wow that thing is awsome.....serious engineering to get that all to work..

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#69 Potta

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 07:30 PM

I think its probably a reference to the hippy culture and flower power.

Just an educated guess.

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#70 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 07:34 PM

So awesome.

Cheers.

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#71 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 08:22 PM

I think the flower vase was first fitted to the new beetle as a marketing gimmick. The current model beetle still has the vase.

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#72 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 06 April 2011 - 08:31 PM

Think your right Andy, recall a relative that purchased a new beetle (distant relative...) a few years ago belting on about that.

Engine is in the wrong spot so i wasnt paying much attention.

Cheers.

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#73 _L32M20_

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Posted 07 April 2011 - 12:54 PM

its called a BLUMENVASE an option on the type 1 volkswagen. very cool tim, youll have to tell me some more vw sites to look at .been givin the old avd site a floggin! great pics by the way.

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#74 _L32M20_

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Posted 07 April 2011 - 12:57 PM

i vunder vot iz in der esky?

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#75 dirtbag

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Posted 07 April 2011 - 06:23 PM

Well I finally bit the bullet and bought a plasma cutter. It's a 40 amp single phase jobbie.

Posted Image