Phoenix, The Real Rockin' Rolla.

[emptycoffin]

Well first off...

 

What a piece of shit :P

 

I took this car off'v the hands of a bloke at work for a slab of beer due to my kingswood's 202 crapping out and my utter laziness and at the time, poverty.

 

When I got her she had been run over by a dual steer cement truck and due to not being able to open the door the bloke who owned it took a pickaxe to the door for some stupid reason. (See: Overzealous anger) After two years of not being able to close his window he decided the old girl belonged at the tip to which I yelled abuse and offered him a slab of beer for it. A few words later he accepted and I took ownership of the '80 Ke-55 Coupe.

 

 

After I'd replaced the bonnet and front quarter.

 

Now I love old cars and can't stand new ones. I was just going to drive this into the ground until I got the Kingswood going again but over the last couple of weeks she's been growing on me. She's fun, manual and loves being driven hard. (Seriously... Every time she gets driven hard she behaves... If I'm nice she drives like shit afterward)

Does no bumper make my ass look big?

 

So I started replacing panels and cleaning her up and I realised something. The Japanese make goddamn awesome cars. Having pulled the kingswood apart almost every bolt requires all of my bodyweight to crack whereas this little girl (and the one at center road I'm making use of) just comes apart with minimal fuss... I honestly couldn't believe it.

 

Some little bastard stole the fuel cap the day I got it.

 

So what's to be done on it?

 

Well I got a door from center road today but don't have the time to fit it till the weekend. Got that done today. Needs more work, though.

 

Need to replace the seats they're torn up something fierce. The ones at center road look alright. Might get the re-upholstered to look nice :3

Engine is tired, need to find someone knowledgeable in this respect. Dire need of a tune/service and my mechanical knowledge caps at "spark plugs go in here"

 

Springs/Shocks. What are some nice LEGAL new options I can chase? Is it really just easiest to go to pedders and say "I want it this low and this hard?" and hope to god he knows you're not making a pass at him?

 

Brakes: It's leaking a little fluid in the rear system somewhere. Fronts: easiest to just fit some decent pads?

 

RWC. Previous owner is starting to get nervous about it still being in his name. Paranoid idiot doesn't seem to realise that the receipt of sale proves it's mine now. /sigh at him making a fuss at work after only 3 weeks.

 

Wheels and rubber. I'd rather not roll guards but will get them done if needed. What's a nice looking wheel that'll compliment the later rat rod styling?

Panel by panel resto. Will end up a nice coat of matt black but can't afford to have it off the road for too long. Will be sending it in panel by panel to a mate.

 

Rust: Rear wheelarch (as usual) If I can find a car without the rusted wheel arches is it best to cut them out to put into mine? Someone suggested this but hey, I'm no panel beater.

 

That's really about it. This is going to be my daily and it's a nice little thing to drive.

 

 

The coke can adds at least 10 extra killer wasps.

 

Edit: I know... It's a Ke-55. It's 4am! Leave me alone!

Edited October 21, 2010 by emptycoffin

[Evan G]

lowering - $50 compressed springs from "browns spring works", can lower it as much as you want. i went 2" sits perfect with 14's. with the rears you can flip the spring eyes witch will lower it on its RING! and still be legal on 14" (112mm off the exhaust). new shocks allround and get your sturts bent for some camber. then youll have a machine!

[Undertaker_is_the_best]

good basis for a project that will be a awsome little beast when you finish doing stuff to it

[jackbyo]

mate you've got a great car there. looks like the rear panels aren't damaged which is the main thing, the boot, doors, fenders and bonnet can all be replaced.

I would definitely consider welding in new metal on the wheel arches... I just sanded and bogged mine a few months ago and it's already creeping back... it's worth doing proper first time especially if you've got a mate who will do it.

 

for wheels theres a few options... To me, nothing says rat rod like dirty stockies, but even better are jelly beans or 12 slotters.

ive got performance challengers on my '80 coupe which i think look great, as do bathurst globes.

 

I just got a petrol cap sent to me by a member called ke20rolla who had something going in the 'vehicles wrecking' section... check out that whole for sale section and you'll find good deals on rolla stuff. I'm fairly sure the petrol caps were the same for most rollas so you should be sweet. otherwise there are some aftermarket on ebay from thailand or somewhere

 

i'm picking up some new seats this weekend so i'll be selling mine. They are in great condition, have a look in my ride thread in my sig

even though the seats are the same for the 4 door, only the coupe seats fold forward so they can be hard to track down. reupholstering is another option but tends to be expensive

i'll let you know when i put up the sale

 

edit: just realised you're in melb. i'd be happy to ship to whomever if they sort it out prior... will let you know

Edited October 21, 2010 by jackbyo

[emptycoffin]

I think I'll just get the once from the wreckers and get these re-upholstered at a later stage. Nice black seats are always a winner.

 

Snuck in a door fitting today, missing a few things and interior shit needs to be changed over but it's finally nice to have a door that isn't held in by a bolt and a window that actually closes all the way.

 

Have pulled the center console out to fit a shitty old stereo I have lying around. Will post pics to ask what wire is what tomorrow some time

 

Evan. From what I've read flipping springs is illegal. might just get them reset and do it properly.I don't mind spending a little coin to have the thing proper.

 

Oh some help, please. I have -no- idea how to know if wheels will fit the '55. Any help in descriptions is most appreciated. Also if you know anyone selling Jelly Beans that'd be ace. I love their look.

 

Edit: Oh also. How do I get that venty thing off? http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs449.ash2/72264_1690663511666_1390094966_1820004_556870_n.jpg bottom right corner of pic. there's one at the wreckers but I couldn't figure out how to get it off without doing it the Croydon way.

 

Edeeet: Also, anyone bored, out of work or feel like working on it? Need a good old fashioned tune and I'm keen to learn as much as I can. Will pay in cash or beer.

 

Also, anyone know anyone in melbourne who knows how to: reupholster or is good with suspension then pass me their number.

Edited October 21, 2010 by emptycoffin

[SLO-030]

Keep up the good work and she'll be done in no time!

 

Do i spy that it has aircon too?

[emptycoffin]

You did. I have a sneaking suspicion it still works, too. Will confirm tonight.

[emptycoffin]

It f@$king works =\

 

Not 100% but it blew out distinctly cold air in hot weather.

 

I am pleased.

 

Changed the plugs and put a new air filter in today. Runs better.

[Sloth]

but I couldn't figure out how to get it off without doing it the Croydon way.

 

As someone who originally comes from Mooroolbark I lol'd pretty hard at that. Pretty sweet looking car, should be a good project

 

Couple of tips:

• Make sure the console is bolted down well (some bastard smashed my windows and instead of taking out the stereo just reefed out the entire console :( and I couldn't find another).
  
• Respray the vinyl on the doors and roof and the various plastic trim with black vinyl spray; it can make the car look heaps better if you want to get away from the cream look (the cream isn't too bad, but mine was originally baby blue).
  
• If you are planning to keep the car for a while and want to keep with the black theme, you can get a set of moulded carpets relatively cheap (I got mine new from a place in dandy for about $130, granted that was about 5 or 6 years ago :S).
  
• When I first got the AE86 I was going to put new leather recaros in, but when I realised I was looking at 3k+ per seat I had to abandon that idea. Just keep hunting around for seats that suit you, the car etc. For my KE55 I installed a fixed back Sparco racing seat that I bought off some dude I met in the Basey Maccas carpark after midnight...
  
• I originally picked up my 55 from the wreckers on Canterbury road (7 years ago when it was run by the old guy... John I think his name was) but it's now a Ford/Holden wreckers and doesn't have many parts. Pinch a Part up the road (Montrose) also has slim pickings for 55 parts, so you might need to hunt around to find decent parts.
  

[emptycoffin]

The Croydon way is better than the Mooroolbark way. At least I can't get my '55 pregnant at 16 and live off'v baby '55 welfare.

 

Seriously, mang thanks heaps for the tips. Black Vinyl spray is looking pretty good.

 

Also: Car is insured against theft so I assume I'd be covered for that (Yes... I actually insured it).

[jackbyo]

I'm also curious how to get those venty pieces off without damaging anything

 

chjeers

[Evan G]

bumpers are waiting for youuu

[_FNQ_rolla_]

I'm glad that you saved this old girl and by the looks of it I think she will scrub up alright in your hands.

 

All the best with her

[emptycoffin]

bumpers are waiting for youuu

 

Friggen work, mang. Will confirm solid times on tuesday.

[emptycoffin]

Not this weekend. Copped a bad weekend shift (ten hours on a sunday as well as a charter on saturday for 8 hours.