542 replies to this topic

[dirtbag]

Well I've done a few more pointless things to the old ute : )

 

 

I did a bit more in the tray.

 

 

 

 

 

I also replaced the bench seat I made with some racing seats. Doing that meant the centre console was too short, so I made a new rear piece, and also made a piece to go on the back wall between the seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a good wallet and keys storage area now : )

 

 

 

 

The back wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought the engine bay was so crap I should at least give it a 30 minute make over at 1am : )

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually I'll get this thing on it.

 

 

[Bullet]

Your a metal master Tim, awesome!

[dirtbag]

I love the shifter!! I bought it at the Blacktown Medieval Fair a few years ago when I was down there. It's got a proper bone and brass handle and it still amuses me when I look at it : )

 

[dirtbag]

The ute was giving me vertigo so I fixed that problem

 

 

 

[dirtbag]

I've always wanted to make a chain steering wheel, so when a mate gave me an old one from a burnt out car I figured it was time.

 

 

 

 

 

I used 316 stainless chain and TIG welded the links together. I made the diameter about 1" smaller than standard as stock GTS steering wheels feel like driving a bus.

 

 

 

 

I had to trim a little bit off the end of each spoke to suit the new diameter, but not by much.

 

 

 

I bought a rare spares blank horn button assembly and jobs done. It's surprisingly comfortable, and even in Qld summer it's never been too hot to touch. If anything it's cooler to touch than my old black sports wheel.

 

[dirtbag]

Paul T was kind enough to cut me out a pair of knuckle duster inspired inner door handles, as when I changed the interior to steel I didn't re use the old arm rests and my daughter had trouble pulling the door closed.

 

 

 

 

 

The old UC came back for a bit of work so I snapped a few pics of the two together.

 

 

 

 

[dirtbag]

The next thing I wanted to try was to make some old rusty rocker covers look half decent.

 

The chrome was knackered so I sanded them back and painted them black so they'd disappear into the back ground. I machined up some small bungs and tapped them before welding them to the covers so I can bolt the rocker cover cover on.

 

 

 

 

 

Then the radiator cap cover got the middle rib milled out, just because.

 

 

 

 

 

I had an idea for a quick bodgy engine bay makeover that didn't involve all the hours of cutting, welding and reshaping it takes to smooth a bay out properly as I just don't have that sort of time for my own cars.

 

So I made an engine bay cover similar to what the pro street cars from the late 80s and early 90s used to have, only mine isn't as pretty : )

 

 

 

 

I've still got to get some black foam for the top of the air box. I'm a bit of a procrastinator.

 

 

 

 

It's pretty ugly, but it amuses me enough for now, and I didn't have to cut or drill the engine bay at all to fit it, so I can just take it out and no one will know it was there : )

 

 

[turbo76lx]

Looks good Tim.

[BIG KEV]

Cool work Tim...love seeing your work

[mitchg]

So how much does this weigh now?

[dirtbag]

Still lighter than a sedan :-)

It weigh bridged at 1115 when it was first uted and I've added nearly 50kg with the steel and drop tank cover (fake drop tank hiding the Mitsubishi L300 fuel tank.

It's amazing how much weight it lost by losing the rear glass and door mechs/hinges etc. But having said that it's just a daily driver so weight means nothing to me.

Edited by dirtbag, 06 January 2015 - 10:24 AM.

[IMORAL]

Still lighter than a sedan :-)

It weigh bridged at 1115 when it was first uted and I've added nearly 50kg with the steel and drop tank cover (fake drop tank hiding the Mitsubishi L300 fuel tank.

It's amazing how much weight it lost by losing the rear glass and door mechs/hinges etc. But having said that it's just a daily driver so weight means nothing to me.

 

Far out!. My hatch went 1500kg when first on the road. I have added a bit more crap since then and took the alloy heads off and went back to cast. Hate to think what it would be now.

Thats very light.