NosFEratu

[pedro]

G'day Kathi, hadn't noticed your update, the little van is looking great , I didn't realise how close it was to being finished or how good a job you and John were doing (not enough progress pics), I see the dead animal theme has also been expanded to include the interior now .
                               Pedro

[NosFEratu]

Thanks Pedro - the only thing stopping the progress now is the T700 column change........ John's so stoked that he's constantly playing with it - the column change that is! 

[pedro]

.. John's so stoked that he's constantly playing with it - the column change that is!

 

If my wagon was that close to being finished I'd be out there playing with it all the time too.
        Pedro

[FCV08]

Hey Kathi

Steering wheel looks fab.

How did the resto on it?

Cheers

Craig

[FCV08]

Gidday Kathi

Let me write that question again 

Who did the resto on the Steering Wheel?

Regards

Craig

[NosFEratu]

Hi Craig

Yeah, we're pretty happy with it! 

PearlCraft Steering Wheels in Bega, NSW.  http://www.pearlcraft.com.au/ 

They did a fantastic job on the two wheels for our cars.  These days I'd say around $650 - $700 if your steering wheel is in reasonable condition.  A little more if it's pretty bad and needs a lot of work done before it can be pearled.  Not cheap - but - you see it, and feel it, every time you hop in the car. 

IMHO - worth every cent! 

Kathi 

[NosFEratu]

yeah yeah I know - slack on the updates.  Should be having first test run on the weekend   



And just for those that I know can't get enough of the zebra!

[pedro]

Looking good under the bonnet Kathi and John , maybe you should have done the zebra orange and black to go with the theme , and it would also hide the sick better when Jack and i get in there at Orange 
                 Pedro

[Paul In Ireland]

A pair of pink fluffy dice would be perfect to finish off according to my eldest daughter....

[Ed]

Progress looks great Kathi and John.

How many Zebras were slaughtered for that interior?

I used a similar brake booster set up to that.. very effective.

Cheers

Ed

[DN2168]

John & Kathi the van looks great. Hope the test run goes without a hitch & looking forward to seeing the van at Orange.

Dean.

[GOA350]

Looking good Kathi & John
                                  I'm looking forward to seeing it in the flesh and catching up.

[NosFEratu]

Thanks guys - but Paul, pink fluffy dice?  OMG how gauche!   

Ed - HK bracket, LH Torana booster, HZ Master all courtesy of U-Pull-It.... one of the cheapest things on the car! Around $30 

[NosFEratu]

well, a lot can happen in a week! just look at all the posts on the forum this last week and I feel bad for not having made comment on too many - so if anyone thinks they've been snubbed by me, please accept my apologies. 

So, the little van was set to run last Saturday night - shook like a wet puppy tryin' to dry itself when it started up and then purred like our cat getting a tummy rub!  Popped it into gear for the "in the garage limited movement test" - nothing!    Spent Sunday and Monday (public holiday here) checking, double checking and triple checking absolutely everything.  Consulted a good friend who's a mechanic and according to him it should've worked just fine - oil was being sucked up and down so it proved the torque converter was working and there was pressure but it just wouldn't engage.  John took Wednesday off to get it to the trans guys to see if they could work it out.  Well, it appears that when the trans was imported from the US some 10+ years ago it was "fitted" with a Buick converter which, while they do fit, they're not a perfect match.  So the convertor has been modified for a new input shaft and we picked it up last night so.......... it's first test drive was last night - and - it was over 20k from Blackwood to Woodcroft in peak hour traffic!    Had a second test drive this afternoon and it's getting better with each little tweak.  Booked in to get the exhaust completed on Monday and then few more good test drives before Orange. 

But, now for the worst part of the whole adventure this last week








I broke two nails on the van so they've all been cut off!   

[EffCee]

Great to see that the little van is finally up and running. I can't wait to catch with you both again, not many more sleeps now until Orange

Keith

[DN2168]

OH NO, not the achilles nails!!!!!!!!!

Dean.

[smithy]

careful dean,
you dont know who you messing with here.
kathi has some remarkable powers and a desire to adorn her vehicles with sections of deceased fauna

[FC427]

Nice work John It should purr on the open road  Kathi let me now express my sympathy for your pain in loosing a much loved nail or two  .....FC427...

[NosFEratu]

Thank you Dean for warning Dean of his potentially fatal mistake in making light of a FEmale breaking a nail! 

Thank you Mark - I appreciate your show of sympathy.  The worst part is that I'd just treated myself to 3 new nail polishes cos they were looking so good!  Now I won't even have good paint on my nails at Nationals to make up for the van's! 

[smithy]

my pleasure kathi, its the least i can do for a FC owner
and re the nails for the nats, im sure with jonny boy's skills he could knock up a nice stainless steel set for you

on second thoughts, in the interest of public safety ( namely jack, myself, keith, mark and the others cowering in wait of the henchmen)
its probably not such a good idea