Bluebear01

My oldest was super excited, he's done quite a bit on it over the last 2 years. Stoked to finally get it moving! There is still quite a bit to do before it's on the road, but the motivation is very helpful!

Something I've been looking forward to for a year, putting the front back together. Luckily my two boys didn't go and loose all my bolts, and lots of pictures makes it so easy. The paint turned out nice too which is a bonus. Now the front is all bolted up the fuse box & wiring can go in, then I'll figure out the ECU wiring.

I've got new neighbors moving in soon, might be making a good/bad first impression depending on their tastes. Maybe I should hook up the exhaust first...

I've gone front to back replacing all the old low pressure fuel hoses. I chopped the engine bay fuel lines a foot shorter to tidy it up, and I found a nice spot underneath for the filter. The fuel tank pickup hole is tiny at 45mm, but I've managed to fit the new electric pump to the pickup and squeeze it through. I've ordered a bulkhead terminal for power, then it's just pump wiring and the fuel system is sorted...

Thanks for watching!

Coming up to 2 years since I got this engine, I'm hoping I can get it moving under it's own power this month. The engine is bolted in for the last time now and the gearbox crossmember is all sorted. The lengthened driveshaft fits beautifully, the clutch is bleed up and the pedal feels great! 

Next up is finishing paint on the front fenders & radiator support so I can put the dog box back together & rewire the engine bay. Getting painfully close to making some noise!

I've had to tweak the L/H manifold to get past the clutch slave, just rotated the flange by 90 degrees. I also made up the new clutch hard line.

Engine mounts are done and bolted on for the last time.

The new flywheel/clutch/bell housing combo had a weird issue where the thrust bearing would just about fall off the nose of the gearbox before the clutch was disengaged. I guess I could have spaced out the flywheel but I didn't like the reduced starter teeth engagement, so I ended up having the nose lengthened by 10mm by my local engineer. He made a nice job where the extension is pressed in another 10mm inside from the join, I feel much better about it now. I've just got to finish adjusting the pivot ball length & slave cylinder angle, then the whole lump should be ready to bolt in!

Haven’t done much over summer, but I have just about finished the mounts. I’ve had to give the engine a small tilt away from the steering box, I’m hoping any torque twist will be under 10mm, that’s about all the gap I’ve got. 

I’m getting the driveshaft lengthened by 110mm next week, it looks like the A series auto has the same yoke as the W55. 

What a slack guy! I've been pretty busy over Christmas, but got a chance to put a few hours into this lately. We finished pulling the nose to bits and sent the panels away for a bit of love. Next step is getting the body off so I can fit this thing in my garage and crane out the engine.

The radiator really fought us coming out, it's away getting a re-core priced up.

And the rear brakes are also getting rebuilt. Once that's done we should be able to push it by hand, prob for the first time in 20 years!

I cleaned up my W55 in preparation for bits coming from NZAD. The aluminum that was covered in oil from the old 21R came up like new! I can't believe something designed for a 4cyl can happily take an 8.

Then I tracked the courier like a hawk for this!

The casting looks really nice, super happy with it. The kit from NZAD came with bellhousing, flywheel & clutch kit.

I just needed to cut the ring gear off my flexi plate, heat it up & drop it on.

Happy days. Measurements show the shifter lining up nicely with the factory floor hole. The bell allows for the fork to exit either side which will he helpful. Hopefully I'll sit this on the engine & drop it in this weekend. Then I'll know how close everything is going to be!

This old girl is an ex-military truck that has been in the family of a good friend of mine for a solid chunk of last century. It's only recently been pulled out from under the Macrocarpa it's called home for a few decades. The loose plan at this stage is to get it mechanically back to new, but keep it looking like it is now. 

Over the last few months I rebuilt the front brakes, replaced the wheel bearings & had the master cylinder re-sleeved.

Today was a beaut day for getting more done. So many seized bolts though! Got both guards off & the steering linkages straightened/cleaned up. The front is back on the ground, next I'll tackle the rear brakes & fuel tank. It hasn't run in a bit, but does turn over by hand. I'll get the engine out for a look over after I get the body off.

I do like the rat-rod look. We won't be going that way, but I can see the appeal. Anyone here play with these old things? Anything I should look out for? Cheers!