teza40

Would you be able to show us a picture of how you did the tailgate gas sturts as I have a KE38 wagon and wish to do the same with mine. Thanks

Wow been a long time since i was last here, kinda pleased to announce that Emma now has the ke38 in her posesion as of a few months ago.Due to mechanical trouble with the vs commodore she had purchased (now wrecking it out lol). The old panel van is still going well and the body work is holding up good considering - not got around to finishing the paint job properly, might never happen tho it would look better.After all the fun n hassle i had with the auto`s for it, it is not too bad to drive. Emma still has some frustrating moments with the ke38 and when she does it is a phone call to dear old dad and the cry of HELLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP lol.. Glad to say i did a good enough job for a 35 year old corolla to keep kicking along doing daily duties.

Hey Matty, Hell yes it was a good turn out on the night, apparently close to 340 cars and a couple thousand people there. Also yes it was great to catch up with you and have a chat in general.....man I'm still jealous of that litle shed ha ha ha .... I had my trusty but shitty at night time pics lil digital camera on the night... The Ke38 van was the only corolla there on the night and i am most likely the only person that took a pic of it ha ha, as i have looked at other pics put up on old skool cars n street machines facebook page...but hey it was there wether people liked it or laughed at it ;) Cheers teza40

Spotted this arvo on Gympie rd Strathpine and drove alongside also, ke36 wagon in mustard colour wearing original qld black n white plates and a young lass driving it on her green P`s. I was in the daughters ke38 panel van, which I'm enjoying due to Emma being impaitent( for me to get running right) and buying the x father in laws commodore to drive :(. Would have made a neat photo driving side by side and a rare moment to have both together by chance on the road :) Teza40

Ok so i got busy today for just over an hour and made a new left inside door lock for the ke38 van, due to the fact i broke the plastic one last week... Is still in the making process and yes needs to be detailed to look better, tho the objective was i was having trouble locating original replacement and nup I'm not going to pay a small fortune for one... So being the somewhat clever fella i am....i made this out of some C section metal i had lying around... Enjoy the pics Terry

Yep B.L.Z.BUB sometimes cars and troubles are just like that in life hey, although i put a hell of alot of time and effort into this ke38 and by rights it should be trouble free. I know with old cars, they always throw ya a wobbly more often than not...the trick is to know your stuff and be able to work it out in the end for minimal dollar outlay :).. Do what you can with what you can at the time! in the end it is a passion that drives us to do it :) Tho now the carby is sorted i hope for now, i have time to find the weber with manual choke for right dollars,as i have plans to rebuild the original engine from the ke38 one day. Will be a slightly warmed up build when i do... Tho be they as they do...sometimes plans don't go to what you wish either ha ha ha ...

Cranky female...aint the half of it Lol....Carbonboy cheers for the kidos man....love the way you put that :)...awsome mate! Had me laughin hard when i read it :)

Well 2 - 3 weeks have passed since i gave the ke38 van over to Emma, what a painful time it has been for her and more so me having to run south side to sort it out. So van is back at my place and have just fitted a brand new (purchased from Phils rotaries Lawnton,this week) 5k Aisian carb without all the dash pot and heat strip crap on it. Yeah i was and still am looking for a weber 32/36 with manual choke, but got desperate too sort his unhappy n troublesome running rolla out...try dealing with one frustrated, has no clue on cars 18 year old female when car isnt running right or driving nice and stalling heaps when stopping.....i can get around it with many years of knowladge etc....Emma not so.. So with every 4k carb i put on this engine...being full of fine dirt n crap and just plain worn out after 30 plus years...pulled out the credit card when i found on evil bay that phils had this carb..to try n get me out of the shite and car running nice again... After a bit of mucking about today...ta daaaaaaaaaa success so far :) Meant to be a coldish morning this sunday 22nd April.....so car is left outsside over night to see how it behaves when i fire it up in the morning...fingers crossed.. Had to swap carb tops too keep manual choke set up on the new carb..rather than drill out the new carb top,swapped over the new plunger and seal along with the power valve stem n spring...also had too change fuel solenoid as the new carb was running the twin wires and i need the single.With all bolted up and eventually fired up and idling nice etc...tested it for stalling when put in drive or reverse with foot on brake,awsome a win on that it kept idle etc. Ok so for a short drive down the street and back and mmm bugger problems...loss of power and stall when pull up, took me a while to figure it out, good old float level...adjusted the float level up to get more in the fuel bowl and presto a few drives around the block all was good again... In the meantime with all the hassles i was having with the speedo not working, i changed over to a instrument cluster that suited the speedo cable end to stay where it should and not slip off backwards under the dash..but in doing so the temp gauge and fule gauge now don't read correctly...swapped over temp gauges from orignal cluster and didnt make a difference. Between the two cluster there are some small differences, so when i get the original cluster for the ke38 back from Emma, will swap back it`s original temp gauge and swap the speedo heads which will mean drilling two new holes to suit and hopefully all will work fine again. On the plus side of life, i scored a third (spare) gmh auto box/torque convertor and speedo cable for $15 from evil bay the other week...not long removed from a daily driver to make way for a manual conversion by the sellers son... Cheers Teza40

Thanks Chris...tho lately i think this ke38 will be death of me...hasnt been playing nicely since i gave it over too Emma...

MATURITY of one`s sense and sensibility whilst behind the wheel of their much loved piece of shit or very well engineered and slick looking Automobile is what is required to survive!!!!!!!!!!!! That maturity in one does not come easily or overnight, Believe me ( I'm 47 years old) and these days i take it fairly easy on the roads of brisbane or anywhere for that matter. Tho since the day i got my P`s here in Qld and bought my VJ charger, i was and would have been classed as a HOON no matter what i did right or wrong by the police...I lost 3 points out of 4 on my P`s for failing apparently to stop at a T intersection in the early 80`s at southport spit area.... To me at the time that was bullshit as i had been stopped for ages at the intersection...along comes an over zealous bike copper- see`s young bloke in valiant charger....result busted for bullshit..i wore it as it was my first time booked for anything... i learnt to survive the next 10 months on one point in that very car...and no i wasnt an ANGEL behind the wheel every time i drove it.. Yes i have over the years been fined for burnouts/wheel spin, speeding/racing etc..Mostly in Adelaide my home town..The game has now changed ( i have not read the legislation personally)...times are different - cars are different to that mentioned valiant charger..they are lighter they have more power to weight and the gearing to get the power at any throttle range. Drive sensibly - drive defensively when required, yes there are a shite load of dopey mother f*&*er`s out there on the roads with no idea what they are doing just getting from A to B in there boring mass produced cars. Modified cars i have had in my time (wolf in sheeps clothing) is always the best option..hide what you have on the bulk of occassions... i also once had a 340 CL Charger...was painted one colour (emerald green) had a nice set of globlines on it with 245 yokahama 352`s on the back..so what you say!!! Well under the cut down xc cobra bonnet scoop was poking out the bonnet a fully polished alloy street scoop a top the holley carb and the torker 340 manifold nestled between 360J heads with a mopar purple mild camshaft.....still here you say so what big deal... Well the big deal was, when the cut down xc cobra scoop was on the bonnet and driving as one should and obeying the rules...never drew attention to myself with the law...sure it had a nice v8 burble etc..looked like a hoons car of sorts...but never an issue..Plant the foot n do burnouts and speed well i was screwed if caught and was caught a few times.... ONCE A HOON, ALWAYS A HOON....is how it is seen by the law enforcement....and a car that screams hoon will always be targeted by the law enforcement...Sure i like leary out there paint jobs...flames - grahpics - multi colours etc for paint work...that in itself makes a car individual and that is what our hobby/sport is based on..being different... Am i a hoon cos my car stands out because of a custom paint job...in my eyes I'm not, to most of the jo blow road users....maybe I'm not either....but everyone has their own thoughts and ideas...and as soon as you lay some rubber in a noticeable leary painted car....there goes all doubt... Comes down to MATURITY and SENSIBILTY on our roads, grow up...behave...and keep your ride looking neat n tidy without it looking hideously over the top in modifications to the naked eye, you might survive unscathed by the law or a serious accident or worse death... want to let off steam in your ride...go to willowbank and run at a test n tune or something... The days of showing or proving your tough on the street (as i have done many years ago) ARE OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers Terry

Hey mate...bummer on your mig....i will be out today..taking the ke38 to Emma. how does sunday sound for ya... i have a gasless mig trade tools brand.. Ring me before 11 am if you get this post reply in time..I'm at strathpine Qld Terry 0405766651 Cheers

AWWWWWWWWWWW Man......definately feeling the KE38 appreciation with those words :) Thankyou muchly Chris....

Thankyou muchly also :) Yes altezzaclub :)...my nan loves the colour on her old car..her words were it suits it. silver is a nice colour also..but to me this car now stands out..plus well it is a girls car but i would still own it in this colour..wild violet for the world mate :). A couple litres more sprayed over it and clear lacquer-cut n polish and it will look even better..still small things to do to it in the interior dept.. All in good time and Emma can come visit me to get those things done ....lol... I better stop enjoying it and hand it over to her now....ha ha ha

Thankyou muchly :)...sure hope it stays in the family alot longer now.

Took the Ke38 van for it`s first drive up the bruce highway to Cabboolture on thursday, first time it has hit 100 km/h in over 2 years...lol.... it felt good and drove nice...going to miss this old girl for everyday driving... Is a different car driveability wise now with the auto in it...yes less powerful on take off and getting up to highway speed takes longer....the car will suit Emma I'm sure and she wont be able to hoon it...lol.. Dropped in and finally caught up with the lady(who is nearing 90 years of age) and owned the ke38 for near on 25 years and was gracious enough to pass it onto me back in 2007 when she hung up the keys and stopped driving. Emma will be the 3rd generation of my family to own and drive this rare lil jap machine :) My nan was thrilled to see the make over of her old car.....loved it... the pic included speaks volumes...2 goals in my life achieved....... Cheers Teza40

Well frig me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! after getting the van rego`ed..it starts playing up!! After near on two weeks of me second guessing everything that was happening wrong and trying this n that, it came down to another carby...a dizzy with vac advance not working (nippon denso)...swapped to a bosch dizzy..and the final straw was a new manifold gasket and shit loads of exhaust cement to seal it up ( has extractors which are warped in places)... So got the running side of things sorted (nope it didnt jump teeth on the timing chain)...gave the nod for Emma to come up easter monday and get her car finally.... Bugger me dead she left without it...not happy young lady was she,tho did get to drive it for the first time :). Speedo wasnt working...i was blaming the cable, yet again i was fooled!...short story on the problem, the speedo drive unit that slots in the tail housing of the gmh trimatic.Well it had nothing to mesh into inside to read speed of main rear shaft....the clip had broke or let the gear come off the shaft and it slipped towards the rear of the shaft. Pics will show you what happened and hopefully other members will benefit from this knowladge Cheers Terry

Nahhhhhhhhhh man, all good i have spare engines and i will get this one sorted out! :thumbsup:

Hey Matty... Ok have had the rocker cover off and have set top dead centre with number one exhaust and intake valves sitting flat... So this morning stater motor replaced and back onto problem,attacking this time with determination to get it to fire where it should...number one cylinder rotor pointing towards and at top dead center.... lol... Battery is charging at moment......so a lil break time for me :) Many years ago a mate have a 318 v8 charger,had timing/running issues...put a reco dizzy in..still the same problem.So i went to his place and said ok lets do this....removed radiator..water pump..timing case cover..then just lifted timing chain off the cam sprocket towards front of engine without unbolting cam gear......yes chain stretched and jumping while running...so yes it is possible lol... Tho not jumping in just yet to puul timing case cover on engine in the car...did on a spare engine in the shed and found it had a chain tensioner so all should be good by rights inside.... Yep i hope i sort it soon too mate Cheers Terry

Hi, not usually stumped by timing/idle running issues.But this one has me beat big time. 4k in emmas van is now playing up more than i do lately,has poor to no idle. The thing i find strange is if i set it up top dead centre on zero degrees reading on crankshaft pulley ( for arguement sake) and dizzy installed so rotor points to number one at front of engine.....it wont for love or money fire up.. Tho if set up top dead centre on zero degrees reading on crankshaft pulley ( again for arguements sake) and dizzy installed with rotor pointing between cylinders two n three..the darn thing will fire.......beats me why!!!!! Have swapped distributors as of today and and had it running but none too well...have a feeling is more than just normal time it issuses...carby could be some of it also...anything 30 plus years has to be buggered eventually.. Pretty sure with all the cranking this poor starter motor has done in the last 3 days,it decided to over heat n fry itself this eveing...well seen smoke coming out from it with torch light lol... Anyone had a similar bad experience with dizzy set up in weird place to get engine to run and what was the fix... any suggestions/help much appreciated.. Emma not liking her car at moment :(

HA HA HA too funny Matty.....no the owner of this wicked (57 chev) machine could see......lol... :lol:

Many thanks altezzaclub and Clapped Out :) For those who require pics or it didnt happen he he he For your viewing pleasure...taken on my mobile phone....yes i obscured the rego plate and yes it is parked next to the dead ringer copy of the Running on empty black 57 chev 2 door...pretty sure it isnt the original movie car..but don't qoute me on it. Cheers n enjoy Teza40

Drum roll...............................KE38 panelvan.....is ....... Registered.... :) Time for me to enjoy the fruits of my labour,drive it for the week before handing it toEmma.. What a journey it has been.........thankyou all for watching the progress..and to all good luck with your projects. There is nearly no better feeling of satisfaction than when your project or pride of joy is done and registered :) Regards Terry

WITH A REBEL YELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boooooyaaaaahhhhh corolla finally has an auto in it that does what it should...shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd.... Started the job just before 11am road test by 5.45pm today....frustrating loss of time due to changing starter motors after i got motor n box back in and all ready to fire up, it was just clicking on the starter and frying the positive terminal....so swapped starters and same deal...Hhhmmmmm so backed off the bell housing bolts and starter motor bolts. Hit the key again and she fired up,still scratchin my head on that one,as i did them back up and the problem came back....along with a bit of time to set up the shifter again so all works right...ie reverse lights and safety switch.. Took on two road test and box shifts 1st to 2nd at approx 25 km/h, 2nd to 3rd at approx 50-55 km/h (that depends also if your up it a bit lol).Kickdown.....mmmmm sluggish,but manual shift back to 2nd from drive is ok.. So just a few little thing i want to do under the bonnet on sunday....check everything over also and monday morning it`s REGO TIME :) Cheers. Teza40

Thankyou, apart from it needing about 2 litres more of wild violet over it ( to even it out) and clear coat n cut/polish.It looks ok for a daily driver ! Will have too keep an eye out on up coming cruises and twist Emma`s arm to get along to one i think, first outing i hope will be the panel van nationals this easter at Caboolture show grounds ( easter sunday for the show day i think) Cheers