173 replies to this topic

[Doubledip]

My Dad had a few days free this week so spent some time on the Torana... Now has a Torana column but with VE indicator stalk and wiper stalk  

 

 

[Bigfella237]

Major improvement over the Torana blinker switch there Justin, does that mean you're going with the full BCM/SW-Can/GMLan system? (That will be an endless amount of fun!)

 

But I'm still waiting to hear if the HVAC fits?!

 

BTW, I assume that column, not having an ignition "lock" as such, no longer complies with ADR 25, which goes into great detail about types of locks and keys and anti-theft devices etc.?

 

I was of the belief that the car still had to comply with all of its original ADRs?

[Doubledip]

yes will still have steering lock   theres more than one way to skin a cat.... along with yes  car is running full VE (minus airbags and abs/esp)  

 

so think of it this way it is a VE with a Torana body   - and trust me .. this will be fully engineered... before i bought the car and engine the engineer was consulted with and as i move along he knows exactly whats going in and which way i am going.... its not the normal build of listening to what others say can work and wont work and then rock up at his door step and say pass me... cause i know this just wont work... have had 2 other cars engineered before so know the effort etc.. you need to go to

 

also this is not a dig at you etc.. just explaining my process as everyone who sees the car says "oh this wont pass... or you need to do this... or this is the only way"

 

i want the knowledge of knowing that i can cruise down the road and the car not only be safe for me and my family but pass legally and if i get a defect that it can easily be driven down and removed

[wot179]

Impressive.

[Bigfella237]

 ~ also this is not a dig at you etc.. just explaining my process as everyone who sees the car says "oh this wont pass... or you need to do this... or this is the only way" ~

 

No problem at all, I wasn't having a go or anything, I'm just really interested in pushing the engineering envelope myself (and you're certainly doing some pushing with LoHla)!

 

I get that you're all over the engineering side of things, I was just looking for more information than "my engineer says it's okay" because, as we all know, (to paraphrase Sol from the old Castrol ads) 'engineers ain't engineers'.

 

Sounds like you're lucky to have found one who's prepared to think outside the box.

[orangeLJ]

Thankyou!

For doing something about the column.

So many of the retro-mod dash swaps leave the standard column shrouds. Looks so out of place once finished.

Pretty amazing build. Well done.

[Doubledip]

Thankyou!

For doing something about the column.

So many of the retro-mod dash swaps leave the standard column shrouds. Looks so out of place once finished.

Pretty amazing build. Well done.

 

yes well i think along the same lines as you orangeLJ...  looks out of place when there is a gaping big hole round the column 

 

 

 

Started fabricating up the tunnel cover ... we did just enough so can start on the HVAC install .....  also welded in all the top VE seat mounts/brackets - will do the underneath another time

 

 

 

Made the VE brake pedal potentiometer/switch bracket (same will need to be done to the clutch pedal when installed)

 

 

 

Coil bracket made up for the drivers rear coil to clear the booster

 

[BIG KEV]

G'day Justin
Do you have any other pics of the mod to the coil bracket
I am just playing with this as we speak
Cheers Kevin

[Doubledip]

G'day Justin
Do you have any other pics of the mod to the coil bracket
I am just playing with this as we speak
Cheers Kevin

 

the under side of the coil bracket

 

 

[Doubledip]

Back from holidays so decided to purchase a Mal Wood underdash clutch master/pedal asm.

 

test fitted

 

 

then modified it to have a VE pedal pad

 

 

 

then made a bracket asm for the VE Accelerator pedal and bolted all in

 

 

 

 

[Doubledip]

another challenge faced was incorporating a switch into the car for the electric handbrake setup. Decided to go with a VF unit

 

 

Managed to get hold off a mate who lives in the US a RH side blanking plate (which is where an aussie's handbrake goes) 

 

 

 

Made up an alloy plate to fit the handbrake switch

 

 

 

all fitted now ready for trimming

 

 

 

[Doubledip]

Biggest job to date was trying to get the HVAC unit to fit having the AC Evaporator still in the factory spot along with heater core and having dual zone, front demist and face vents... if it didn't fit it would have been onto another plan of making the controls fit an aftermarket unit.. but persistence pays off and all in they with a custom top duct made to route both face and front demist through the top of the unit.

 

 

HVAC modified from single zone to dual zone and then cut down to fit into Torana

 

 

 

 

Unit in now and brackets all made

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Doubledip]

yep I know that many true torana people will hate this build all the way to their grave... and I am fine with that.. I am 43 and have loved Toranas since I remember Brocky driving them round Bathurst (I was 6) and have owned 2 Hatchbacks before... first was a build to resemble a A9X cause I love them.. the second took a similar but not his far turn to modern (efi engine power windows walkinshaw wheels)... this one though is made to suit me and I know others are fine with it as well...   I just didn't want a plain jane build cause I know when I go to car shows (toranafest was a perfect example) I just walk past all the stock looking ones cause they just don't stand out... its cruel to say but its very hard to see how much hard work would have gone into them as they all look the same and are just different colours, any way that's my opinion.. and everyone is allowed theirs ...

 

and thanks for the praise... keeps me and my dad off the streets on weekends  

[Ice]

Keep going cant wait to see the finished product i for one love your idea
always good to be different look at Bomber

[Doubledip]

Keep going cant wait to see the finished product i for one love your idea
always good to be different look at Bomber

 

Thanks Ice...   you and me both LOL... its progressing along nicely now.. the HVAC prob took a good 2 weeks to nut out the most of it.. the console is the next step and will be a fairly intricate piece to the puzzle as it has to house a lot of different parts for this to all work...

 

Absolutely love this!!

Absolutely love this!!

 

Thanks Barry... as I said .. I know there are some out there that like the idea

[cameron]

Curious as to what it aprox will weigh at rego time?

 

Cameron

[Doubledip]

Would have no idea and not worried at all. Weight is going to worry it with an LSA engine anyway
At a guess be round the 1400 mark maybe over a little

[bob2s]

As Justin wrote "weight is not a worry with the LSA", may even delay the onset  of burning rubber smell  !     

[cameron]

Fair enough I thought maybe you had a target weight for rego. Looking at your photos you do very nice work. Having seen lots of LS based Torana its tough work to get it right. No doubt with 6.2l supercharged it will go a lot better than my 308.

 

Cameron

Edited by cameron, 17 January 2016 - 11:57 AM.