292 replies to this topic

[Tiny]

Well done Mate! THat looks bloody brilliant!

Hope that rust came from the exhaust pipes rather than the engine itself though

What fans are they? and who was the mechanic who cut that rail! they need to be shot!! (DONT name them!!)

Looking good mate, as usual done to your high standards!

Cheers!

[dattoman]

Some pretty sheetmetal rocker covers would look great on that

[MRLXSS]

looking good mate!! Would have been great to start the motor up and actually get her to kick straight over!!

[fatslr]

Awsome to hear it is running i bet the neighbours are stoked its great to keep an eye on all the projects going on and sense the feeling of joy when hurdles are crossed well done

Garth

[lxsstorana]

Thanks for the comments guys.

TINY - The mechanic who butchered the car (before I bought it) is no longer in business and you "wonder why".

The twin thermo's I bought came from Sydney Competition Warehouse in Harris Park (near Parramatta) in Sydney. Only cost $165 and they are very easy to fit to Torana's and HQ's. They are the only ones I could find for a reasonable price and quality that will do the job.

The rust and crap that came out of the exhausts was purely from the exhaust pipes being 9 years old and not being used(thank god, oil was nice and clean to, no metal fragments). Didn't even blow much smoke even though I put a bit of oil down the spark plug holes and let it sit 3 or 4 days. Turned it over by hand and then a day later cranked it over with no spark plugs and then fired it up today.

Happy with the repairs so far and much prefer the black radiator. I'm removing all the gold and chrome (bling) stuff that I can to make the motor look like it belongs.

Mick.

[Tiny]

Well done Mick!

All the right stuff was done by the sounds and it paid off!

WIll be awesome to see this weapon out at the dawn cruise

[lxsstorana]

Well after nearly 10 years of standing still in a garage we finally have movement.

Took the SS for a drive today and did about 20 klms (if driving around the block about 10 times counts).

Probably drove the neighbour�s crazy but bad luck.

The motor is very willing and wants to go. Diff and gearbox seem good. The clutch was interesting when engaging (sounded like someone rubbing sandpaper) but soon went away. Probably surface rust on the flywheel.

Brakes aren�t real good as I can�t get enough pressure to lock them up and there is too much pedal travel. Have bled them 2 times but I think its time to overhaul the booster and master cylinder as they haven�t been used for a long time (everything else is new)

Have checked so many things but I forgot to check the shock absorbers. The rear is probably ok but the front is gone. It bounces like a kid on a trampoline (easy fix though).

Have spend a lot of time sorting out the problems of an unfinished project and it has taken me a lot more time than I would have imagined.

Need to fix a few other gremlins but I�m slowly winning.

Hopefully win finish off the interior this week and then get stuck into the other bits and pieces.

Here�s some photo�s,

Regards Mick.

Finally out of the garage and on the road. Sits nice and low.


Nice deep dish gts modified wheels - 15 x 10 rears and 15 x 8 fronts.


Interior need abit of work but I've got a seat.

[RIM-010]

Holy shit! That looks awesome! Love the stance and the wheels

Great work so far, Mick, I look forward to seeing it complete

Tim

[MRLXSS]

SWEET! Nothing like a tough flared Torry with a nice lowered stance!

[lxsstorana]

Very nice progress so far. Gee your lucky (jokes, see other thread)

My Dad says the same thing.

Thanks for the comments.

Fixed the suspension today and put in some new shocks so I can cross that off the list.

Going to pick up a few more parts today and on the weekend and then will get stuck into the brakes next week.

Cheers Mick.

Edited by lxsstorana, 18 December 2008 - 10:41 AM.

[LS1LX]

Looking good there matey, maybe some chrome bumpers and once that interior is sorted you will be surprised how nice the car will look.

Top effort!

[DanWA]

Bloody mint mate!!!

[lxsstorana]

Well its been a little while since I updated this thread as things have been going slowly especially over Christmas and January.

Have made some progress but it always seems like one step forward and two back. I know they say torana's are tough little cars but this thing is really putting up a fight (but I'm slowly winning now).

Have finished the rewire and only have to install the new petrol gauge sender unit in the tank. Everything else is done (thank god). The speedo now works after getting the speedo gear drive to fit a tremec. Temperature gauge now works after trialling the 3rd temperature sender unit.

Have finished restoring the top section of the dash and installed it back into the car. Now have an original SS ashtray again thanks to 'ass308'. Also picked up a silver dash facia panel off Chris but ended up using my original after attempting some plastic welding. Turned out really well and you can't tell from the front. Here's a some of photo's.

Sick of looking at this



Replacement panel and plastic welding from rear of dash


Repainted SS dash and accessories


Installed in car


I will finish the interior next week (I know I said that in December) but this time I mean it. Just re-installing the old interior and trying to get the car 100% complete before stripping it down later in the year.

Still having some problems with the brakes. Can't get them to lock up and have too much pedal travel which I don't like. Have changed everything except the brake booster and master cylinder, so I have bought a new master cylinder (up grading to 1 inch from 15/16ths) and have had the brake booster reconditioned and upgraded to put out alot more pressure. Pretty confident this will get the car to stop very quickly.

On a related issue, the idiot who put the old brake booster in completely sealed it to the fire wall with house hold silicone. I couldn't get the booster off after removing the 4 nuts and the rod. So I had to remove the bonnet and use a chisel and hammer and then a crow bar (unbelieveable) wasn't happy about that but it came off in the end. Here's a couple of photo's of that exercise.

Firewall behind brake booster


New master cylinder and upgraded brake booster


Been doing lots of other little things under the car and plan to get new suspension next week after finishing the brakes.

That's all for now,

Cheers Mick.

[lxsstorana]

Thanks Lee. I'll be at the April 2009 get together for sure, and yes the glove box attracts some attention.

Should have the car pretty well sorted out in the next two weeks and then plan to put a few kilometres on it.

Regards Mick.

[lxsstorana]

it all takes time ah mick. its getting there slowly just like mine.

You're right Graham.

I thought I'd have it back together and running well before Christmas but every job takes alot longer than you anticipate.

I'm sure plenty of other members have had this problem. Anyway a few months late doesn't really matter.

Mick.

[lxsstorana]

Spent a couple of days on the hatch this week and made abit more progress.

Finished off the brakes (upgraded and rebuilt brake booster fitted a new 1 inch brake master cylinder). They feel good in the garage and I'm very confident the car will now stop quickly but it's been too wet in Sydney to test drive it. Will test it out next week after getting the new suspension fitted.

Also finished the interior, (finally) bar a few minor things. Whilst I wouldn't have picked these colours it is growing on me. The former owner had the interior retrimmed in 1988 and picked the colours. Very 1980's but I told him I would put the car back together before I changed it.

Here's a few photo's

Regards Mick.

Hatch - boot area




Rear seats



Fronts seats and console

[76lxhatch]

Also finished the interior, (finally) bar a few minor things. Whilst I wouldn't have picked these colours it is growing on me. The former owner had the interior retrimmed in 1988 and picked the colours. Very 1980's but I told him I would put the car back together before I changed it.

Mine's very similar except brighter red, better than straight black I reckon