365 weeks...

[DJ]

neat job

[fcwrangler]

Looks fantastic JB, hoping to get some time in the shed this weekend to finish the doors and fit the rolling stock.
Jim

[GOA350]

Looks awsome mate

[Rick 123]

So its been nearly a month already since I have been to the car and we... I should say Dino has ben running around trying to get the front shocks sorted to have the front wheels able to clear the guard.
Started out with the front springs which were coil bound as they were not strong enough to hold the weight of the new engine, and the shocks supplied with the front end not having enough travel to wind the car up far enough for the wheels to clear the guards.
The springs had 250lb written on them, but after getting them tested they came in at under 200lb.
The next lot of springs we got were 340lb but still not enough travel to raise the car enough, and in the process found that 1 of the Avo Pro shocks was leaking.
next step was to see if they could get reconditioned, and promptly found that no one was willing to touch the English brand. Except McDonald Bros. But the cost of reconditioning to a new pair was weighed up and decided to go with the QA1 shocks and set up with 400lb springs each side.
Credit goes to Dino here as he must have spent over 16 hours on the road running back and fourth between Bacchus Marsh, Hillside and Thomastown after each time he found that the set up was again wrong... All of this for what should have been a simple process!!
So end result is this... plus another month of dust on the car at the panel beaters.


So are these the shocks from Mcdonald bros,Im having the same problems with this same front end on my HR.

[JB]

No the front shocks came from a suspension guy... Can't remember the final strength of them. Is trial and error unfortunately.

[JB]

Started looking at the inside last week, made some brackets for the crossovers, put some Dynamat in, tidied up the wiring a little, removed the tv's from the seats, trimmed the guards to stop the tyres rubbing, and looked at starting the centre console.








So the speaker grill followed me back to Auckland to kick some ideas around.







More adjustments tomorrow

[NES304]

Skewz me sir, that's some mighty odd luggage there. Is it native Australian merchandise?
Good work JB.

[GM]

Instrument cluster looks very familiar...........................

[JB]

May have pinched the idea from somewhere..   ;D

[JB]

[NES304]

Looks good! Anything going in the radio blank?

[JB]

No mate, just to make it look pretty.  ;D

Just the bottom to go, I hate filing!!

[fcwrangler]

I know, I know

[JB]

Next was the air cond/heater unit, after just having finished fitting the wipers.



So after lots of swearing, pushing and prodding we managed to get all of this behind the glove box and tucked up under the dash... Gas pipes fitted, and the heater hoses on. Feeling pretty happy I went to get the wiring diagram and see if it worked. The wiring diagram also showed me that I needed to put in the thermostat wire... Crap! So after trying to find where it was meant to go I managed to tear a hole in a duct.
Out went the dummy and the toys out of the cot as about 5 hours work was wasted. Then I tore another duct removing the unit. Great day all up.
Sourced another duct and then took a day off to watchHawthorn beat Collingwood at the G.  ;D



So this is what was missing for anyone fitting vintage air to their car. I think there was a sticker here which had come off between the fabricator and the painter fiddling with it over the years.
Refitted it, which thankfully was a lot quicker than the first time.



All fitted up again with not much room left. Looking at the centre console, and finishing off the stereo next.

Cheers

[fe350chev]

I am really enjoying watching it go back together and the insights/reflection you give (and others) about what has previously been done and what's happening now.

[SC00P]

Wow!! Your giving Me some great things to copy  :) :) :) ;)

[JB]

Final lot of chrome back from Modern Plating and is faultless according to my brother... Finally got someone reliable.
So the doors can finally close properly.

[DJ]

They look very good. How does chrome plating work out on springs? Something I hadn't considered, assuming the flex would make it peal off.

[JB]

It's the first time that I have chromed springs before... So have 5 done now. The bonnet hinges and catch spring have been good so far, we will see over time

[JB]

Just got this back today, but after looking at the photos more closely I think the speaker grill needs more time in the nickel bath. Very happy with the look, just have to join the aluminum frame to the grill. Most likely with sikaflex.
So after this process, I can confirm that the cast alloy can not be welded or even braised, as the braising alloy I used on the aluminum gets treated like aluminium in the chroming process with regards to the acid they use on the preparation. The cast gets cleaned with another acid. I will find out which if people are interested when I take it back.
Cheers