Toddski

Well - Thomo and I didn't bend our cars - but we both had minor offs... Almost wasn't allowed to race (which would have handed Thomo a 3rd place trophy) due to play in steering rack end and tie-rod on drivers side. After stern talking too and agreeing to get it fixed before next meet (don't forget the quote Thomo) I was allowed to race. Phew! Previous best for me in the Rolla was a 57.44. First run had me pretty close to that time, second run I beat it by about .2 of a second (even though I very nearly put the car off at the last corner when I was a little too late on the brakes - trying to be a bit more aggressive). 3rd run saw me hit my goal of a 56 second run - a 56.33. 4th run was a little slower but still a 56 second run. Last run was a shocker as I tried to enter the track too fast and almost understeered into the embankment. Saved it just in time and completed the run but the time was way off. Never got to see Thomo run as he was in the queue behind me. But the times were good considering it was his first meet and he was racing the bitsa KE55. Thomo and I got beaten in class by a Gemini (Martin is getting around in 52-53 seconds and is a bloody good racer) and an MX5 (which I had pegged until the 4th run when he pulled out a 55 second run). I came third and Thomo fourth - with my Corolla driven by a mate coming in 5th (he only got in two runs before he had to go take his son to a footy game) and another Corolla came in 6th - young bloke in an AE82 single cam who did pretty good times for the car and his first time out. A great day and a lot of fun. Think Thomo is hooked - and you have no excuse now Brett - we'll expect you out there next meet. Cheers, Todd

Another big thanks to Steve - for letting me swipe a heap of parts from one of his wrecks and for making sure I wasn't stuck under said wreck... Hopefully now that I have spares for the hillclimb car they'll just sit under the house and take up space.

Hi Thomo, After chat the other day, found this for you - think it came of the Twincam.info forum - visual guide to identifying 4age based on cam covers. Will you be around Sat arvo - will try to drop by if you are and grab some bits of that Seca if OK. Cheers, Todd

Well, I was intending to turn up to the next meeting - and Jan 30 works for me - so this lazy lazy member would show. Won't be in a Corolla though - mine is out on loan. Will be back in my hands before next hillclimb though (Feb 25) - better be as I need to adjust the rear sway bar. Will be trying to make it to more meetings this year - at the very least so I can pester Thomo for advice. :) As for the paid membership - I'm also a paid member of the local Triumph Club and the local hillclimb club. I don't attend their meetings very often either. Lots of different reasons - mostly lame - but in general terms enjoy my evenings with our (very young) kids and usually crash not long after they go to bed. Getting old. Cheers, Todd

"Most absent member" maybe? 8-) Cool, thanks to all. Sorry I couldn't make it - usual family commitments... Will have to make a special effort to get to next meeting to collect. Cheers, Todd

Cheers guys! Yeah, I'll have to swipe the camera in future. Always when I don't have the camera something ken awesome shows up. This time an amazing hand built special along the lines of an old monoposto F1 car with a Jag V12 in the back. Looked fantastic, sounded better. Didn't get to see it race as I was in the queue for my next run - and it biffed the tyre wall just past the start line after his first run and that was game over (didn't look like major damage but some bent suspension). Plenty of other great looking cars as well. Some photos from previous outings here if anyone wants a look. And what can happen if it all goes wrong. Luckily Fletcher walked away (met him at a previous SDMA Hillclimb) - this happened the weekend before at Bathurst.

Got a 57.49 so beat my best - just. Came 2nd of 3 in Type/Class - I think 38 of 43 overall. Had fun, that's the main thing. No photos as wife had the camera (kids were visiting their Nan).

Thomo mate - I can only half imagine what it feels like to be sans family - I know I'd be f**king devastated. I'm loathe to go spouting advice as it always ends up sounding trite but... On those blacks days in between just focus on how many hours until you can see the kids again. I don't care what all the new age hippies say - kids need a Dad and you'll always be their father. Glad you vented - didn't like reading it - but its better out there then bottled up. Gotta say though - only met you a few times and you seem like one of the genuine good guys - but your hobbies ain't real conducive to meeting the ladies. Maybe you need to take dancing lessons or join a poodle club (ducks for cover as Thomo throws gearbox at head)... Cheers, Todd

Guilty as charged. All excuses lame so none offered. Remembered to check site after spotting Rolla Boys super low yellow beast going up Monaro Hwy this morning - I was heading other way in the family car doing the kiddie run to Royalla...

Hi All, If anyone wants to get their motorsport fix this weekend head out to the hillclimb track at Fairbairn Park on Sutton Rd on Sunday as SDMA are holding their final event for the year. I'd post a link to their website but it is broken... Kicks off about 9:30am and finishes about 3:00pm. I'll be there trying to beat my best time (57.98) and testing out the new larger rear sway bar (and cut down rear bump stops - made a difference already). You'll see me, I have the big RollaClub sticker on the back of my white twin cam. Cheers, Todd

Having now finally seen the car "in the metal" I can honestly say - sweeeeeeet. Then again, Thomo's nanna-looking KE30 sleeper is shaping up very nicely too - really like the old school looks. Starts scouring Ebay & classifieds for a KE30... :)

Where would the fun be if it all went together first go... Looking forward to seeing it on the track. Has the wiring been sorted finally? Remind me - did the AE82 engine donor have any wheels? Might have to come and pick through the remains and make an offer on a few bits...

Thanks guys, I'll add those to the list of wheels to watch for on forums/Ebay. What a filthy day Sunday was weather wise! Still, I had heaps of fun, and got into the 57 sec bracket which was my aim (best time so far in the Rolla of 57.98). Only had one wettish run - rain was so variable. Some other drivers had pretty major moments but no-one bent anything as far as I know. A couple of people commented that my car has a lot of body roll. Guess those KYBs and Lovell's springs weren't the best choice. Unfortunately stuck with them for now - maybe have to control body roll a bit with sway bars? Anyway, fun day and nothing else broken.

4 x 100 with I think +39 offset. Lots of FWD cars have this PCD, and I think early MX5 wheels will fit as well. Picked up the car this morning, so all systems go for Sunday. Just need to give the engine bay a good clean to get rid of the rest of that stinking CV grease...

Yep, I'd still like a 4AGE powered KE70/AE71... And I'm still resisting the temptation for another project... So I'll stick to the AE82 for now - Thomo reckons it'll be ready for pick up this arvo, so it'll be thrashed around the track on Sunday after all. Wonder what I can break then... :D Anybody coming along on Sunday come say g'day to the bloke in the White Rolla with the RollaClub sticker and the lighter wallet. :) And if anyone has a line on some cheap 15x6 (or 6.5)" rims to suit the Rolla available locally I'd love to hear from them, looking to get some track day Falken's to save the road tyres. Not too fussed on looks, etc - prefer something light like factory alloys not bling. Cheers, Todd

Would love a KE20 - that'd make a great little hillclimber I reckon. Then again, a KE30 has 4 doors - and I may end up with a spare 4AGE... No, must stop evil thoughts. :D

Hi All, If anyone noticed a rather forlorn looking Corolla with the bonnet up on Pialligo Ave this morning - that was me. Going through the roundabout at the airport there was an almighty bang, then clang clang clang. Figured the dodgy passenger side CV had finally gone. Was surprised to see it was the drivers side - the shaft has seperated from the gearbox output shaft flange. Luckily reasonably low speed so not too much damage from the looks of it - could get away with new shaft or possibly also need new gearbox output shaft. Anyway, car has been towed to the RollaClub ACT workshop of choice (Pharley's) and Thomo is going to take a look at it for me. Be kind Thomo. 8-) Guess I was lucky it happened today walking distance from work - car normally only gets used to run the kids out to the grandparents in Royalla on Thursdays - that would have been a pain in the butt. The annoying thing is I'd just put the entry forms in for this Sunday's hillclimb - somehow don't think it'll get fixed in time. Guess I'll have to go to the QBN swap meet instead to get my car fix this weekend. Cheers, Todd

Hi All, Can anyone give me a definitive answer on whether the CV shafts fitted to an AE92 Twin Cam are the same as those fitted to an AE82 Twin Cam? Need new shafts and there are some AE92 ones on Ebay now. Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers, Todd

Just under $68 I think.

Big thanks to all who have replied - enough info there, should be able to manage it. Sourced most of the bits now, just need to get hold of some new hoses. As an aside - had a bit of a gotcha with getting the thermo fan switch. Repco had the AE82 TC listed with a twin prong switch and the single cam listed with the single prong. My car is a pretty original unplayed with 87 TC - it had a single prong switch. Luckily they had got both in... Cheers, Todd

Not a bad plan either... Thanks!

Hi All, It has been a very very long time since I've had to back flush a coolant system, and wanted to get some advice on how to do it on my AE82 Twin Cam. Had an overheating issue (found to be a dead thermo fan switch - thanks to Thomo - who if you're reading please check your PM) so figure while I'm replacing the fan switch I might as well replace the thermostat and radiator cap, flush the coolant and put in new coolant so I have a known quantity. Any advice appreciated. Cheers, Todd

Took it to Steve (Thomo) - it's on my way home and I figured it was a good excuse to say gday and have a chat. Turned out the fan switch in the thermostat housing was kerf@$ked. Thanks again Steve for your help. I know where the Rolla is going for all future work... And thanks for the help and suggestions too Geoff. Damn good forum/Club this one.

Thanks for the advice. Will have to double check water usage - didn't seem to losing anymore than what it dumped out the overflow. Think I might have worked out the problem - the fans on the radiator are not working. Car got warm in traffic at the airport, temp gauge was still high when I parked (but not quite to panic point) popped the bonnet and no fans. The overflow bottle was pretty full on Sunday when the problem started, so I'd say it just spat out the excess due to hotter water. Hopefully just a fuse on the fan, will have to work out where it is. Or could the fans not working be because all the water has gone - will have to double check that, water level looked OK this morning. Why are cheap cars never cheap? :D

Might have to come have a look at the Excel seat... Good excuse to see the rally car anyway. Will miss the khana - probably duck out to the QBN swap meet instead (that and the fact that two days of motorsport will see me in the doghouse). Some photos of the Rolla in "race" guise... A visit to Thomo looks to be on the cards - the car was occasionally blowing coolant out the overflow bottle overflow pipe - a bit of investigation shows it may be either a BHG pressurising the coolant system or a lazy radiator cap. At least a quick check for exhaust gas in the coolant system can confirm or deny...