carbonboy

It might just be me as I don't watch much TV anymore. But, since digital came in, there's more channels but it doesnt seem like there's actually more choice on what to watch? Its either kids stuff, movies my grandma would've watched, ugly British city-people buying a country property or another *insert celebrity chef here* cooking show. Just keep pumping out the fodder on the main channels & throw repeats on the rest seems to be the plan...

So, who succumbed to gorging themselves on chocolate this year? I managed to avoid it, I think its because I kinda forget when Easter is as $h1ts for sale in early February. Funny, I'd kinda gotten the impression Easter was based on some dude dying & his body going awol... :hmm:

We WILL remember them...

The way I figure it is, its survival training. If you can survive walking home from the train station at 1am on a Saturday by yourself & still have your wallet, phone & smokes, you're ready for just about anything! :lolcry: Wonder how he's doing up in Craigie? *sends PM*

There's your problem....:laff: The majority of panle/paint shops around this area are the insurance work only types, the remains are small operators that can be a hit & miss affair in regards to quality of work. There was only the one place I could've recommended you go to, unfortunately the owner has since closed the business due to retirement. Worst case scenario - wire brush, power drill, rust converter & pressure pack primer?

Never mind the size, its the colour thats a worry! :wink:

This video strangely echoes my own thoughts...I ROFL'd. The Astras with Opel badges are okay though, at least they're being honest about what they are!

Try the "Engine Conversions" Forum here on RollaClub & the FAQ/Wiki section can be quite useful as well. :y: Small piece of advice: NEVER rely on heresay/this bloke says... assume its BS until you confirm facts for yourself. You can save a lot of heartache/money this way.

Well this conversation just dropped to a whole new level...

Just as a heads up for guys/girls with lowered cars, the road that leads to the cafe/carpark at Brimbank Park has quite a few speedhumps along it that are poorly marked. Nothing too serious, just a heads up to avoid accidental sump scrapings. :wink: I'm less than 10min from this one so I'll be there for sure, might take the dog chasing rabbits if the council hasnt been baiting recently! Should be at the Templestowe meet, avoiding Bulleen Road in the process. :yes:

Managed to get some tacks laid down & some small bits welded properly. Couldnt go much further than this as things needed a little tweaking due to minor heat distortion & it was a bit late for hammer/dolly work! Blew a few small holes at first, but these were easliy filled. 1.4mm filler rod FTW! View from the outside, some areas of good penetration, some not so good. Will do a run around the outside later to make sure its all sound. Nothing attracts pussy like a guy working on a 'rolla...except one holding the cat food box! Will finish in the daylight hours, maybe even get a start on that sunroof hole... :yes: I have the bit I need cut out & ready to go, just wanted to hone the skills on a section not as easily seen as the roof. :blush: Before anyone asks, NO, I did not cut this out of Blue Things roof. :laff: I cut it from her former bonnet which I warped the sides of making the mould for the carbon item. Nothing goes to waste here!

This afternoon I decided to bite the bullet & put my newly acquired welding skills into practice. The first step was to get a rough idea of how much metal had rusted beyond redemption. A little bit of 'exploration' grinding later. After grinding, I noticed these two patches...It appears someone had beaten me to this at some stage of its life. Underneath, rust bubbling around all over the place on the bottom. Hatch ventilation version 1.0 :wink: The guilty (rusty) party. Edges cleaned up with a grinder, paint removed from weld areas & thorough wash with wax & grease remover. Then I took the piece I cut out to my other TC & traced the outline of the piece, adding 5mm all around to allow for trimming. Shown here is the fully hectik shield I set up to prevent damage to items in the car from sparks generated during the cutting process. Oh bugger, now I have a big hole in my storage room... Problem solved! This outta keep the bugs out. The next step was to go back to the build & test fit the new piece. It was a simple matter of placing it inside the wheel tub, line up & scribe a cut line. A few minutes work with a set of tin-snips (thankyou roofing component of my apprenticeship!) & this is how it sat. Literally... I think I got lucky & it fitted so nicely it just sat there for me. I didnt trust it to stay there though, so it was braced with jackstands underneath, a welding magnet & a clamp until I could tack it into place. Yes, I'm using Oxygen/Acetylene, not a MIG welder. I like the oxy (cheap & does the job), what can I say? :yes:

Oooh, 1UZFE! :cool: Sure as hell smoother & quieter than the usual 350 Chev (which is more useful serving as the anchor) & not a stinking diseasal. Paint the ex-fisheries boat in desert camouflage...that'll turn heads :wink: Or shiploads of chrome!

Cheers buddy, if its any consolation the guy in my class I grabbed by the neck was the 16yr old. :lolcry: I was 22/23 when I completed it, I doubt I would have as a 16 year old. No sailing shots but when it hits the water there will be I promise! *drools* Mahogany... Most people seem to think a massive mega-motor cruiser (they're NOT yachts, a yacht/yot is a means of measuring wind speed & direction) is the way to impress. :no2: Get yourself even a little motor cruiser/runabout like this & you're in! I guess its because it doesnt scream "I've got WAY too much f-ing money!" Replica, schmeplica...save yourself mega-$$$, only the old seadog anorak-types can pick the difference. :wink:

Well, I'd like to introduce you to my projects shedmate... I believe its a 1972 Leyland Mini. No engine or gearbox but there's some major plans in place apparently so no issues there. I've finally gotten off my arse & scuffed back the primer on the drivers side sills & taken to them with body filler. The plan is to just smooth them out, not fill in completely or my trim wont clip back on. :wink: This bit down the A-pillar was a pain. Requiring the making of a custom scraper. It'll sand up alright.

Thankyou Mr Shades :cool: Mmmm...yummy! Is that a teak, mahogany or just-a-nice-varnish deck? I don't care, I like it, just curious. Just need to replace the two in the back with women in bikins & its a win! :y:

I hope family car = Aristo with 2JZGTE.... :wink: Congratulations on excellent choice of both automobile & fiancee. Jealous on both accounts :lolcry:

I ran out of fuel once on the Westgate Freeway outbound just after the Grieve Parade exit, pushed my AE82 to the Mobil servo on the Ring Road outbound. Got to the off-ramp for it & that's when the Vicroads guy shows up, offers to push & gets told to bugger off. I'd made it that far... :bash: >| :bash: Sorry for the off topic bit, loving the build by the way! :y:

:wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: Your car looks awesome man, inside & out! The front visor adds to the cool. :y:

Playing punch buggy with the missus hmm? Wonder who's winning that one... :hmm: Sweet ride, I agree with the twin cannons! :wink:

Thankyou dude, it would be well worth the effort if you do. Finish it & I'll race ya! :wink: Some of it, most of it... :rolls: :laff:. I initially wanted to go the clear varnish route as even though its pine & plywood, it would still look nice with the right coating. Problems were: varnish needs regular maintainence & I'm lazy-ish, I'd added carbon/fibreglass reinforcements & not all the joins were up to a standard that I wanted people to see as I was just learning as I went along. Then the creative side kicked in :wink: :yes: If I ever build another, it'll be a clear varnish finish with a small outboard. Problem is, I hate going fishing! I will be sure to have a name painted on her before the maiden journey, still not sure what it will be yet, thinking "SSBS". (Silly Sailing Boat Saga) Either way there will be a bottle of Passion Pop smashed over the bow once in the water & hopefully floating. (wrapped in plastic bags to catch the broken glass of course!)

No problems man, glad we passed on the correct information. :wink: My 2AC AE80 sat in my backyard for over 2 years while I drove my Twin Cam around. All it needed to fire was a charged battery, some new plugs & fresh fuel. To get it to pass RWC took a bit more work :laff:

You come to a TOYOTA forum with questions about a FORD, 'nuff said. I'm with LittleRedSpirit. :y:

Thanks man, umm I haven't actually put it in the water yet...in theory, yes. Cheers, it has been a few but I didnt keep a log so I can't say for sure. By the time we got through the theory/practice work of the course we'd used up about 16 of the 42 8hour days we had to build it & therefore pass the course. So there wasnt time to muck about. Thanks man, it was for the love! :y:

Unfortunately it hasnt been in the water even once yet :laff: Due to getting sidetracked on other projects it kinda just sat around for a while. Since having moved house I havent had the room for it so its currently sitting in storage in the garage at my parents place. Sad I know, but once the car's finished it'll be hauled out again.