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I've never loved the factory rear drum brakes; I could never adjust them properly so the handbrake would work, but not drag. So I decided to do something about and do it for basically nothing. I was given some EL Falcon single-piston callipers, rotors and backing plates years ago. The backing plates were drilled out to the 240z bolt pattern, but I still had the rotors to drill. I didn't want to drive all around the place looking for a friendly engineer so I cad'd up a template with the Ford and Datsun stud pattern, taped it to the rotor, centre punched and drilled. Came out radical. Started bolting everything up. The EL Falcon backing plate & rotor work perfectly with the backspacing from the 240z hub face, so the calliper simply bolts to the Falcon backing plate as normal. Then I pinched some longer flexible brake lines from Pick-a-part and made a bracket for the line. Neat! The handbrake bracket required some fiddle to bring it closer to the drum lever. Piece of piss.

Been sharing these around a bit. Looking forward to a drive in the sun and a spin of the back wheels.

You can't just say "build space stuff" then bugger off. SPACE STUFF!!

This will probably be my last interesting post for a while. Will be moving to California in a month to build space stuff. Visa came through today after months of paperwork!So good! So making parts will slow down, but hopefully CAD work will speed up! Anyway, these are spring hangers and a trunion hanger CNCd from 4140. Having a mill in your shed is key to building shiny stuff!

I've always been one to have a project or two on the go. Then there's the ones still in the "planning stage" i.e. they only exist in your imagination. Well there's nothing like a deadline you cannot negotiate an extension on (Christmas), and kids would have to be the toughest of all the negotiators to deal with! So when I foolishly thought out loud 3 days before Christmas about an idea I had - that may or may not work??? ...well the pressure to deliver was all on! So: String line and inclinometer dusted off Holes dug, posts in, concrete mixed and poured. Guy wires, main cable tensioned and clamped (that sentence sounded flippant-ly easy... this was a challenge) I had three bits of wire rope. The longest was 50m, so this became the bit between the two posts. I then machined up a connecting rod for each side, that hooks up to the guy wires. Complicated solution...but it enabled me to get the longest span with the free wire rope I was given. Its designed to slip, so tension remains the same in all components. I used basic trigonometry to calculate the forces involved. But if my theory is true, then it should all be good. So I'd call it a success. Now 4 months old and still working well Kj

So ages ago I picked up a cheap shitty chinese quad bike with whole 50cc 2 smoke power house. Tbh it was fairly shagged but everything was there. Tyres where hard as rock and cracked, petrol tank was broken and everything generally bent or broken. I managed so start and run it for a minute while petrol pissed out of the tank and all over the motor so that was promising / dodgy. I told my boy (then 4) that he could pull it apart and we'll build a go kart one day. So in less than a day he had the motor out, wheels off and all axils, suspension, wiring and faring fully stripped. Many months later a mate offered me an old shopping trolley that was laying around his house, mentioned it to my boy and he liked the idea so got my ass into gear and pulled all the bits out of hiding for him to set up as he saw fit to build. The mock up.

The rear axil needed widening by about 250mm so cut it and pressed it into a piece of pipe, Drilled a hole and plug welded each end. Came out fairly straight too so thats a win. Made a basic rectangle chassis. Chucked in an extra bar to brace the steering off, however once all welded it didn't need it. Also dialed in about 15 degrees of castor to aid turning and skids with the solid rear axil. I tested it down hill a couple times like this and seemed to work well. Flat tyres and all.

Finished! Bit of machining porn for you!

I've loved to piss and moan about how I think these are annoying and a stupid idea. But after having a driveshaft fail at 80ish kph on the weekend, Oh boy am I glad I had these loops fitted! My brake and fuel lines would have taken a hammering if not for these - They are a good idea, even in my case where all factory parts were used within factory power levels.

Heater works sweet now. We have been using this relentlessly for weekends and day trips, fuck it is sweet. It is warm, comfortable and spacious for the four of us. I did build a new dismantlable bed at the front, the fold down side one was a pain, and now we use that area for clothes/thermette storage. This works a lot better on all counts. I added some LED lighting strip. This is under the gutter and is completely invisible until you turn it on, then it is like the sun has come up, that is if the sun was a spectral type O and a long thin shape. I got a flat, so I decided to smash some matty B on there while the wheels were off, looks sweet I reckon. COF due this week, hopefully nothing major has gone wrong. The dude at the testing station said he was looking forward to seeing the finished build, so hopefully he is the one who checks it as we already have a special relationship. I got this off a dude for a ridiculously small amount of money, it is an Eberspacher D1LC diesel heater. The current version of these sells for around 2k as a kit, and I am way too tight to spend that sort of money, trust me it was cheap. It has no glow plug so that is coming from the UK, when i am satisfied it will run I will install the beast.

Leadfoot Time - Part 1 The fleet for the weekend All set for Racing Me and Rod at the themed warm up party Lined up for Day 1's racing First Run - Done Getting the hang of it now End of Day 1 - Cool photo opportunity Brothers Reunited . Alan Mann Racing made the original car for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , Gen11 Below

No photos just quick update. Was doing some little maintenance things on the car. One of which involved fixing 4 leaks in the intake system. Once that was done, the car wouldn't run or idle or anything anymore. Went through so many different things trying to fix (injectors, CAS, replacing AFM, fuel pressure/fuel pump) turns out the guy I bought the motor off gave me the wrong AFM. (I bought one with the same part number) $40 later I had the right one and it runs primo. Replaced rear springs with 5kg rears. Looks like I had 8's in it which is why it was so hard riding. and big news; Cert booked for next week. nearly 7 years and it's almost legal.

Look what I found ...............

Engine out and need to tidy up the engine bay. The wiring and hoses need to be sorted out as someone and done some dodgy wiring. Also still on the hunt for another engine.

Managed to get a bit more done over the past week in between work and other projects. On Saturday removed the old rubber spring bushes from the good leaf springs, replacing them with nolathane bushes since the whole front end has already been done in nolathane. The rear bushes basically fell out but the fronts were in there so well they required fire so there's now a nice burnt rubber patch on the grass at the workshop! Last night I got stuck back into removing the saggy old springs to install the good ones back in, replace the shackle bushes in the rear with nolathanes and swapping out the old tired rear shocks in favour of some Monroe replacements. Finished the passengers side and decided to leave the drivers for another night, All going well I should receive my lowering blocks today and can finish and road test when I get home!

Cooley. Swapped seat over after work. Was a tad gay on my own. But done. Feels heaps better driving around, not so big and gay. Plus niki got me a sweeet brown Mexican blanket for my birthday, so that will make its way in there, once some mods are made for seat belts. So yea. It is now, nats ready. Next on the list, getting the van ready for camping duties, which pretty much just means, clear out crap not needed for the weekend lol. Fantastic.

After swapping in my new axle I was getting hella shakes around 70kph, so on Sunday I went in search of the cause and found I had two twisted side axles Butts. I'm not 100% sure if it's the cause but it can't be good and I'm not gonna piss about with it. So now I'm gonna convert to CVs and rear disc brakes while I'm at it. I have a plan for the discs but not so much for the CVs, I'm gonna track down some OEM side axles that're compatible with my diff and then some short axles and will have to make an adapter for my companion flanges. Here's a few radical photos MichaelJFox took from the drag day:

After taking this thing to the Taupo track and driving my brother-in-law's super sweet '69 911T, I realised it needs a bit of love. The track day went well buuuuuut, it's just kinda annoying to drive; it needs some finishing. I done a list: Install LSD Come up with a better front diff mount Convert from drums to disk brakes in the rear Seal filler neck Get alternator serviced (yet again) Move alternator to the left side of engine for better cooling Find more exhaust clearance Add some heat shielding to the firewall/tunnel to keep cabin temps sane Install carpet underlay So, today I removed the R180 VLSD, it's a Subaru thing and waaaay back on post numero ono I made the mistake of installing it. It puts the "slip" in LSD. So I have a some other CLSD thing which I'll get Steelie Gears to setup for me, I just have to source some 27 spline stub axles to suit Datsun half shafts (about $500USD, which is actually a lot cheaper than what it took to get the VLSD to work). While it's out I'm gonna change the way the front diff mount works. The factory setup sucks because it allows the nose of the diff to lift when you put the foot down and the whole car starts shaking because of the hinky uni-joint angles. It probably makes sense to convert to disks at the same time. I'm sure it's just me but drums seem awfully difficult to maintain and keep adjusted. I think I have all the bits I need to make this happen except some custom calliper bracket thing I'll have to make. These pics for fred are from when the car was in NZPC last year:

HUZZAH! I've gotten my speedo working. Basically I stripped the guts out of the stock speedo and put two stepper motors inside, put a hall sensor next to a diff flange, then I made some electronic thingys to measure the speed picked up by the sensor and move the motors in the speedo. Like so... This is the motor I used for the odometer This is the type of motor I used for the needle This is not my car but I basically did the same thing as this, sensor picks up the capscrews as they fly past the sensor: My hack circuit board: The processor is a PIC16F628A and it has two ld239 motor divers (one for each of the motors). The sensor is a Honeywell 1GT101DC. It all works pretty well. I was a shocked as you! Today I also bought some smaller tires, R888 245/45/16, clearance is touch and go with the flares, fingers crossed.

So I welded the basket on so it took up less space in the workshop. Had a play around with some spare bike parts and scrap steel and came up with this simple foot brake setup. Sorry for the shit pic but hope you can make sense of it. Originally tacked the pedal in and tested it in the back yard, Tightened up the cable, tested again then proceeded to forget it was only tacked in place. Cue 11pm test down a step Dunedin street with hard / slippery rear tyres. Luckily I chickened out of doing the whole street length and tried pulling into the driveway sideways to wash off some speed. Once in the drive the tacks broke and the letter box stopped me. I avoided certain death and just smashed my knees into the handle bars. Letter box and trolley survived unscathed.

Chucked the basket on to see how it sits. That's an ex Carisbrook seat so a bit of Dunedin nostalgia right there.

Just read this thread. All I keep saying is Wow!!! That is all......................

Haha. I work here www.rocketlabusa.com and will be doing bigger better stuff in the US. Bigger better space stuff.

No flash roll bar like yours but full side intrusion cage. And a handy handle for pushing so little miss 3 can learn the whole steering around obstacles concept.

Awesome! Should be nice and safe too

Guards Rolled Stage 1.

In turangi

Nah it has a teeny single barrel thing on it It is quite good on gas round town

I'm keen on cable bay. But I don't know whats there? I'd guess there are at least picnic tables. Otherwise we might have to rough it... maybe take folding chairs etc etc. Or rely on Dylans mobile bbq and entertainment facilities

If i get the z31 back from compliance in time and iron out any bugs ill be down for this

I topped up tonight and the combination of big carb and small tank means ~250-300 kms to a tank. I'll be stopping a lot for peace of mind. Gauge is dodgy so I've got a can in the boot with 5 litres in. Fun times.

Yeah im keen on bowls again.. I wonder if they have closed up for the year? Could try a different club but that one was lush plus its a great drive to get there. Hell.. racing over Takaka hill to go to lawn bowls. That's living right there!!! What about cable bay or somewhere else for a meet? Oh also we found a good meet spot- Kaka point at Kaiterteri. Good parking, lush views and picnic tables. Heaps of space to throw a frisbee or go for a swim at breaker bay. Or go further afield and do a run over to Collingwood for lunch? And when? After Easter for nest meet?

Got the windows all out, took forever to get all the tacky windscreen sealnt off. The plastic trim that goes inside the rubber is shot. There was no way to save it, it was far to brittle. I will need to find some new stuff. Also got the car all masked up, and engine out

Success! (ish) Flat50acres is now merely a flatspot. The rest must be down to fuelling. Put the timing light on it, idle set at 10 BTDC. Drives well, idle is a bit crap. I've spotted a rebuild kit for low $ on Ebay for the Solex carb.

Today is the day when after nearly 3 months on axle stands in the garage, the wheels are back on! Much excite. The painfully slow brake rebuild is finished. The daughters helped me bleed the brakes (they are finally tall enough to push the pedal). Once bleeding was complete I got number 2 daughter to put both feet on the brake pedal and hold it down to check for leaks of which there were 2. I managed to stop the leaks by nipping up some fittings. Actually by doing them up quite a bit more tight than I'm comfortable with... I felt brave enough to drive it to the servo to pump up the tyres. The car looks quite non-derelict so I don't think I'd get pulled over unless I was doing something stupid. The brakes feel really good. Got treated to a wash too!

Nothing too exciting going on with this. just working my way through all the stuff in the way, to get the extra up travel. Driver side engine mount got chopped off and new one made higher up to clear the top link. Alternator had to go as well. will use a fwd bracket to move it up. a new inlet on the water pump should make it work with the rwd pump. Last thing giving me drama is one of the steering links and the the sump. if can get another 30mm clearance between the 2, this will be max up travel on bumpstops. kinda lost count but got around 3 inch more up travel than the leaves other than that just been welding... bottom chassis link mounts are on for good. i forgot to drill the lightweight hole in this one. Crossmember was way too much to weld with tig, and was to lazy to drive an hour to my old boys to use mig. Arc it was. still got a little work to go on it

Apologies for the big gap in my posts - I've had some computer issues Pukekohe Test Day before the Leadfoot Festival Bit of Incar Taking some funny race lines Spin Time on the last session of the day

Hi all, New progress since last on here; I just bought a universal fuel pump to replace the mechanical Chrysler one she had as stock. Getting on with this build has been an interesting challenge; mostly due to my inexperience, the distance I have to drive out in the desert to where I store the car and the fact I work nights but I'm really keen to get her moving under her own power before I have to help my father move his stuff up to Oregon- once I get it sucking petrol from the tank like it's meant to I'm focusing on brakes next! Played with the electrics and half do work (Low beam lights, wipers, air con and the driver's side window) while the clock, radio antennae, radio, horn ring and turn signals are all taking a nap. Found that somebody disconnected the black ground wire on the L side horn *Has one hooter on each side of the engine bay behind the grille* so I wired it back up, put a little tape around it and... still no toot. Wish me luck haha >to be continued...

Oh so I gave up on selling the wagon. Mate has offered swap jobs on upholstery for rust work and getting my wagon to wof stage. So with out further notice I chucked it on a trailer and sent took it to his place to work on. So the next day he sent me a snap chat of it running quite nice. The plan was to sell it to help out the future me and Beth. But I mentioned to Beth I didn't want to sell it (she knew this already and didn't want me to sell it either and wanted to see it used) this is why I got down on one knee. Any way back on track I said that maybe we could sell her golf and her use my Subaru and she's ment to be getting a work car so hopefully all falls into plan and we get a Wof on it over the next 6 months. She agreed.

One we spotted in Miami few yeas back. Full hydro set up

She's on the ground and goes. Well kinda goes. Not that bad for 22 days including this morning

Out with the old....

The Strip down begins

Ready for its transplant

12a bridge port acquired Let the fun begin

soooooo i went on a long drive 1100kms to be exact (or around that any way) minus about 130 od kms short of what i wanted to drive but probaly about 40kms i shouldnt have done haha kinda went a bit like this drove threw desert road while it was snowing. was snowing quite a lot. had a ball. was at lest 2 inches on the road as we where driving threw. we made it to bizzos house just on midnight. spun some yarns and patted his doggy!! next morning we went to the ferry with them and i dropped some rims off. went and waited for our ferry got on a boat IM ON A MOTHER FUCKEN BOAT BITCHES!!!! oh i broke down just outa hamilton little black wire fell off. while i was fixing that i noticed my air in take joiner was broken. when i got to bizzos place i jumped on my friend face book and hit up the world of vw owners, turns out dude in nelson had one and yea went to his place. rad much tanks to him i was able to fix it at shanes place (sidewayssickness) guys a gc and has a cool work shop yea thats me fixing my vw again old jeffy took a rad photo of us cruising got sloshed with good people shaz looks a bit crazy with her drinking glasses on and bottle caps in her eyes woke up with sweet views in st anards bizzo chucked on goats rad glasses vw goes pretty hunitz it was at this point we decided we should turn around cause our cars where to low and our road wasnt good jeffy taking sweet photos of us been scared for our dare life FT my swag pillow case from my child hood we made it to hanmer!!!!!!!!!! we got drunk and the next morning i thought id go into town sort out breaky my vw thought different thanks vw. so while i pondered on my life and why i own a volkswagen i got to laugh at these guys roll there guards turns out engine seized. wahoooooo wtf vw so un seized it and then seized it again. wahoooo time to go on a trailer!!! screw you vw so yea dane was nice enough to bring one and we vw fitted on it perfect got drunk for another night and then hogan and his lovely other half gave me a nice ride home in a reliable car. was so comfy and had power was also quite. dont know why they would want it. sounds like a silly thing to have. any way this then happened this morning i spoke to hogan and he said yea no probs. no probs was he would chuck in on a pellet and send it up to tron for me to rebuild. said hes busy a few sats so kinda just see how it goes. so i thought shit chris (bornloser) is a GC! and he works nights wonder if he can send it. gave him a message and he said yea man could do that wednesday!!! fuck yea sick as aids!!!!!! so yeah engine rebuild is on the go. great car. sweet yarns making great friends and even better story's to tell in my older days, oldschool.co.ng is rad!!! for ever thing else there is master card. thank you all for helping me out so far!

Got to work on doing the springs and shocks today, went with cut standards all round, cut one side of the cobra rears and the coil diameter was quite a bit thicker than standard coil. turns out by the time id cut to fit the short shocks it was so rigid because of such little weight in these cars that it hardly compressed more than 10-15mm when it was on the ground haha. so cut the standard rears to the same height and it slammed it down nicely. got a bit over-excited with the fronts and ended up cutting too much off... took it for a whip round the block and aside from the horrid sounds of mudguards scraping the ground the entire time, it was actually mighty comfortable, new shocks working a treat! thankfully i still have the cobra fronts to play around with to get the ride height mint.

So I've ticked two pretty big things of ma list and I'm stoked with the result. I've finally got a good LSD in and the front diff mount is heaps better. This was the old front mount, it has some rubber between the two steel plates. But when you out your foot down the nose of the diff lifts as the rubber stretches, the angle of the driveshaft changes and the uni joints start hella shaking. So I made a jig CHOP Put some tube in there that was the right ID for some poly bushes. All ready to go back in I also had to get some fancy stub axles from the states which are 27 spline but have the Datsun bolt pattern. 27 Spline means I can run lots of more modern Nissan and Subaru diffs. So now i'm just like pulling 11's all round town....

OH WOULD YOU JUST STOP IT!! Stokedness is on MAXIMUM.