160 replies to this topic

[yel327]

746 - Manual - So are you saying this is about as early as you can get in a HZ without it being a HX? that's pretty cool...

 

Sam - I've had one of the Davies Craig controllers before, it was great and the more I look around I think it's the best option. I liked that I could control the trigger temps. The one I had before was on a Toyota V8 which they like to run a little hotter so it was good to be able to raise the trigger temp so the fans weren't running all the time. 

In the end I was able to tune it pretty much spot on so that on a hot summers day, in traffic the fans kicked in after sitting stopped for about 10-20 seconds. Then once I was moving again they turned off. The idea being you basically want the temp gauge to sit at 1 third and the fans running as rarely as possible to achieve that.

 

I think I've just talked myself into it

 

In volume production terms it is early - you can tell that by the chassis number. Pagewood pilots were built on 11th and 12th of July 1977 but they were all Statesman as Pagewood was the only plant that did Statesman bodies. The bulk of Pilots were Elizabeth and built in July also with a few in June and August. Yours was completed as a stock order on 6/9/77, it looks like the first volume HZ's at Pagewood (and Acacia Ridge) were completed on 1/9/77. It wasn't actually delivered until November 1977, but there are cars built with PSN's around yours that weren't delivered until mid 1978. Yours was a bog stock HZ Kingswood or Kingswood SL.

[SmacT]

746 - Manual - So are you saying this is about as early as you can get in a HZ without it being a HX? that's pretty cool...

 

Sam - I've had one of the Davies Craig controllers before, it was great and the more I look around I think it's the best option. I liked that I could control the trigger temps. The one I had before was on a Toyota V8 which they like to run a little hotter so it was good to be able to raise the trigger temp so the fans weren't running all the time. 

In the end I was able to tune it pretty much spot on so that on a hot summers day, in traffic the fans kicked in after sitting stopped for about 10-20 seconds. Then once I was moving again they turned off. The idea being you basically want the temp gauge to sit at 1 third and the fans running as rarely as possible to achieve that.

 

I think I've just talked myself into it

 

Ha ha - yeah, and often the car temp gauge reads a little different to the fan sensor, etc, so being able to set it right is such a bonus. It removed all the hassle for me (had it in a VK) and let me put the controller in the engine bay. For my Torana, the controller is in the glovebox, so when I start driving it, I can set it up as you say, to keep the temp gauge where it should be! I am using AU fans too. Apparently the SPal controller is good too, but I have only used the Davies Craig and really like it, particularly for the price! It's one of the few bits of kit that just bolts on and works ...

[AbsynthHatch]

Are there any advantage using the BA fans over the AU?
Was there much trimming required?

[Redslur]

Ford Mondeo ones fit HQ/Torana radiators perfectly with very little mods and flow 4000CFM. Fitted a few sets now and those cars never got anywhere near being hot.

[SmacT]

I looked for Mondeo fans for that reason, but they were really exxy! AUs need some work, but so cheap. I was looking in covid times though.

[SHEEL]

The Shroud design changes slightly between EF-EL, AU and BA/BF. I've used a few different variants on different cars over the years. They always need trimming to suit the car you are putting them into.

 

I think the BA/BF shroud looks the slickest.

 

I got mine for $40 from a self serve wrecker. Doesn't get much cheaper!! Mine were actually out of a GT-P so they are more fancy! 

 

...ok, that's a lie, they are the same as a base model, lol. 

[FLY_LX]

Updates

Im loving this Kinga. its so Smooooooth

[AbsynthHatch]

The BA/BF fans do have the smoothest shroud & look real neat.

I really like this build as it resonates closely to me.

My very first car was a HZ Kingswood in Carribbean Terquoise, which looks very similar.

Beautiful colour & very classy.

[SHEEL]

couple more little updates

 

Got the Power steering all finished up and it works beautifully, I also realised I hadn't taken any pics of the headlining which I'm not really 100% happy with just yet. I'm going to try to gently heat and stretch it around the C pillars to get it a bit smoother. It's generally pretty good everywhere else.

I've still not glued it at the front windscreen so it's not stretched at the front at all... 

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[76lxhatch]

I also realised I hadn't taken any pics of the headlining which I'm not really 100% happy with just yet. I'm going to try to gently heat and stretch it around the C pillars to get it a bit smoother. It's generally pretty good everywhere else.
I've still not glued it at the front windscreen so it's not stretched at the front at all...

Are the sedans different to the utes? There's normally a barbed plate at the front, you push the headlining between it and the roof with a blunt flat scraper and the material catches, no glue required and adds tension. A guy who used to install them on the assembly line told me they used to swing on them to get tension at the glued sides too, although the factory material is a little more robust.

[SHEEL]

Yeh the rear screen is that same too. I've not removed the rear window at all during the whole build because I knew I could get away with leaving it in for this very reason. I just cleaned up that plate / trim and reinstalled it. it seemed to have glue before so I used the glue and the little barbs.