Banjo

Hey Killar, You mean, something like this ? Cheers Banjo

Hi Pete, Me either, but I've done it to most small cars I've owned. 1. Generally larger tyres have a wider tread, & therefore more contact/grip/traction with the road ? 2. Generally larger tyres are greater in diameter, so slightly less revs required to cruise at the same speed ? 3. Generally larger tyres produce a greater track width, with better & safer handling ? 4. Generally larger tyres on small cars, results in lower weight on the tread, & less wear/longer life ? 5. Generally larger tyres create a more pleasant looking vehicle ? Take this late 1950s early 1960s Ford Anglia 105E Piddly little 510 x 13 inch wheels. I've seen wheels bigger than that, on a wheel barrow. I know, because I used to own one once. I put 640 x 14 Holden wheels on it, & the 640 x 14 Holden tyres were cheaper than I could buy the 510 x 13 tyres. Lower it a bit, & then the car became a different animal. Green one looks scared . . . . . . The Red one looks like it could take on anything. Mind you, if that's not to your liking, you could make the wheels & tyres just a little bit bigger. Cheers Banjo

Yes R.I.P. ! (Rust In Peace) dear olde KE55 Coupe. Not as shiny as yours ! When I stripped it for parts, I then cut the body up, & the rear end floor & wheel arches, went to someone up on the Sunny Coast, who was wanted to "Tubb" his rear end for enormously wide rear tyres. It was when I cut through those quarter rear panels, I realised how much the pillarless design, relied on that area for strength & rigidity. Toyota, in their wisdom, added maybe 3-4 extra layers of steel sheet between inner & outer areas, for increased strength, for the pillarless design. Trouble was, they were raw mild steel, with no paint or prep. on them at all; & when moisture got in, around that large rear glass rubber, it got into that raw steel, & the result was a disaster. I never even took a photo of the rust, it was so appalling, but totally hidden & lurking. The other thing a lot of people don't realise about modern car body resign; is how much the rigidity of the body, relies on those two big sheets of glass in the windscreen & rear window. I once saw a car, (a Toyota Crown) literally break in half, because the owner, drove around on dirt roads, for a month, whilst awaiting a new rear glass, to arrive from overseas. Cheers Banjo

That looks beautiful ! Great job. Makes me very nostalgic for my olde KE55 Coupe, that went to Corolla Heaven, with Cancer, in the rear window quarters. Actually, mine was red also, & I put two guages just behind the gearstick, as you have. Best Rolla I ever had ! Cheers Banjo

Hi Joe, Welcome aboard ! Check this thread on this forum out. https://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/37596-ke2-steering-box-removal/ Cheers Banjo

Hi Dean, Lovely pics ! Nothing like an olde Rolla; nose down, in full flight. Had a 79 2 door KE55 coupe, once, & was such a good car, with a 5K in it. Nostalgia setting in, just looking at your pics. Cheers Keith

Well, Well, Well ! Episode 34 of Project Binky is here, & now it is getting interesting. You have to be amazed at the "attention to detail", in this build. Can't wait until Episode 35, when believe it or not; the Celica engine is going in, & they are going to START IT. Project Binky - Episode 34 Enjoy ! Cheers Banjo

You are "having a ball", me thinks ! Best you put a little warning sign up in the IGA carpark, before Josh's Mum heads that way ! I'll bet the mornings are getting a bit coolish down in Blayney, at this time of the year. ( I note you've got your "flanny" shirt on). Have Fun ! Banjo

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise you only had two (2) little ones, "Flow & Frank". It appears you are so involved with your mechanical beast, that you have forgotten how to spell your children's names. Fuel & Tank; well I never . . . You really must give them some of your time, & take them on a picnic this weekend. P.S. May I suggest Langley Park, might be very suitable.

Good morning ! Although your car looks great, I must draw to your attention, to something I believe you have completely overlooked in "the build". The rear wheel arches have been "tubbed" so far, that the rear seat will not fit in at all, & you will be not able to take your little children with you; when you & your wife go on weekend picnics, to a local or distant park, or playground !

Well, apparently the three got together 3 years ago, & the inevitable question arose, of "when will the Binky project be finished ?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YETxfPytXfc And if you like this chat show, then there is always this . . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZr7plOW6UI then, of course, if that is not "your cup of tea" (no pun intended), you could simply switch to this . . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgBQSn9A4yk

Ed China's workshop Diaries OK, if you watched & liked Episode 1, then here is Episode 2, released in the past 4 days, I believe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xlm3oJZU5A P.S. Can't wait until Ed catches up with the Project Blinky pair.

Quotes of the Week# Dave, maybe you'd like this one. There are currently 295 off 86GTs on Carsales.com.au. The bulk of them fall between $20K - $30K. The very few that are listed at less than $20K, either are olde (2013-2017) or have lots of klms on them. P.S. Hey Dave, I've just found one for you under $5k . . . . . . . . & it still drives well. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=452122952037071

For all of you who have been a fan of Ed China on Wheeler Dealers, Ed has launched his own utube channel, & Episode 1 can be viewed at . . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snL20nBCi04 So what's this got to do with Project Binky ? Apparently, in an upcoming episode, he meets up with those two mad Mini eccentrics on Project Blinky, & they get to share some stories. P.S. Actually, I bought his paperback "Grease Junkie", and it is a really good read. I've lent it to two other guys, & they both loved it also, so it's obviously not just me, that enjoys Ed's style. Cheers Banjo

Hey Pete, Maybe you'd warm to it, if it had a Ferrari engine in it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_QF_PGPQXk Sweet Dreams !

Appears Episode 33, where they paint the Mini, has been out for 2 months, & I hadn't picked it up. It took 9 weeks to paaaaaaaint ! Most painful episode yet. I reinforced what I've always known; that painting a car as not something for the novice. Although I nearly fell asleep watching it, there was one thing that caught my eye, & one that caught my ear. My eye couldn't work out why Tony the unbelievable painter, did not appear to be wearing any eye protection. (maybe he has disposable "contact lenses", which he discards regularly). I thought I heard the comment, "Don't know why we go to all this trouble when the car will probably wrapped around a tree in a few months !) Cheers Banjo

Hi Col, It's all yours ! I just registered it in your name, but you'll have to come up here to QLD. (COVID-19 allowing) so I can have a drive of it also.

Now that's not very Toyota-ish ! They must expect that sometimes it is going to depart the road; or need dragging back up onto a "tilt-tray" ? Maybe it is for when Colin takes it "bushwalking" ! Cheers Banjo

I admire your patience, which you need with body resto work. Not something you can rush. Great work ! The rain & moisture in the air here in Brisbane, of late; does not lend itself to achieving good paint finishes. I have a very soft spot for the Celica. I had never owned or driven one even; until I met my wife. She had an RA40 lift back, with that enormous rear "expanse of glass". I think it was a 21st birthday present from her Mum. Looked like this, & I think it was a 1979 model. We did a few interstate trips in it, together; & I fell in love with it. It was a great cruising car, & extremely reliable. It had lovely long legs ! I think the only thing that failed in it, in all those years was an electrical oil pressure sensor/switch, somewhere slightly north of Mildura, on a trip to Adelaide. We put so many klms on it, but were in rented accommodation, at the time, so couldn't really work on it too much. Only thing I recall, that was wrong with it, when we eventually sold it, was the timing chain tensioner, which was oil pressure operated. The chain used to slap a bit, & was very noisy when you first started it up. Cheers Banjo

Hi Ben, Remembered there was a discussion on this subject about 12 years ago. https://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/27658-replacement-seat-belts/ Have read through others thoughts, at that time. Cheers Banjo

Here is another collectable, with an incredible British car, of which the reading of the description, is a sheer delight. An Aston Martin DB4. James Bond, anyone ? https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1960-aston-martin-db4-series-ii-lightweight Having been to a couple "All British" cars shows over the years, & I can never get over how strong & devoted the British classic car market is ! Enjoy. Cheers Banjo

Believe initial 1000 off, sold at basically $ 40K, Next batch at basically, $ 45K. Third price hike was around $ 50K, with an extra $ 5-6K for the Rallye WRC version.

Ooooowh ! That will be fun, working with one of those fancy French autos. Pictures please as it progresses, as being a half cage, I guess, the Renault Megane is not stripped or gutted ? P.S. French cars are the quirkiest & most unusual cars I have ever driven or worked on. Learnt to drive decades ago, in a Citroen ID19 Godess, I think it was. Only car I've ever come across, where you have to remove the back mudguard to change the wheel ! Cheers Banjo

Well the Yaris GR did not sell, so I'm assuming it didn't reach the sellers reserve price. Anti-climax ! Cheers Banjo

The Yaris GR auction broke the $ 40K barrier this morning. Appears to be just two bidders battling it out. Only got a few hours to go. Will be interesting, to see how much it goes for ? Cheers Banjo