deankdx

28 August 2017

drove home 35km without issue Woo! 

resisted the urge to do anything that would incur a fine or worse.. cruised along the highway at 100 happily.. beat a mitsubitshit lancer in an exhaust note competition... well, it wasn't a competition, but it was the only other car with any sort of exhaust note on the road i saw today.

next stop.. pedders check and alignment soon (if it passes), seats and carpet out for rust patch.. need to get some dry ice for the body deadener on the floor.
stereo install also soon.  6x9s,  4" speakers and a MP3 deck. 

still torn between registering fully or just club rego.. 

27 August 2017

1600 didn't break traction in the rain... on the first drive..

drop a skid bro.. it could now.. i tuned it..(no parts purchased.. yep, a redneck dyno tune)

first off took it to the car wash with Dave and i reckon the diesel would give it a good run, that's how slow it was. washed the engine and underside, dried the dissy cap and leads and drove back.. 

so, where we left off last time.. backfired when revved...

checked the points, looked new.. gap looked "fine" so i didn't bother looking for feeler gauges

set the timing to the she'll be right zone.. turned out Dave actually has a working timing light and when checked, it was near enough to spot on(was retarded...= much gutless)still backfired on big revs. carby next

i bought a "reco" carby a while back, well by reco... it had a kit through it.. "ran rich" this is the one the secondaries couldn't have opened due to the lever being all wrong.. fixed that part, stuck it on today after cutting up one of my good spanners to make it happening.. idles like it has a cam in it, black smoke.. ran rich lots . not sure why... didn't like it but it revved better = get the old one and take a look

i was pressing the secondary throttle open and felt the air leak out of the diaphragm AH HA!! fix that by swapping the other one over.. refitted the original carby.. it idled a bit worse than before and even with mixture adjustment wasn't as smooth.. meh, the all important big rev confirmed it was fixed otherwise..

second test drive.. WOOO!!! thing hammers in first and second, no idea what revs it pulls but sounds like 6000 ish at least.. 3rd is a bit gutless, but it would chop the diesel gemini easily now(cammed 2 litre should be even more impressive)

i'm going to try get a video of it in car soon.. sounds good, definitely is fun now..

24 August 2017

bit more homework done during the week

haven't gone for the second drive yet, considered it today but busy sorting out junk and looking for parts..

i finally found the 4th hub cap, seller had 6 sle wheels and 2 caps(one cracked) so i bought 1 wheel and both caps for $30 and that chapter is closed..

i painted the caps with silver paint and cotton bud, they are a bit too silver but i expect them to fade. 

finally found the horn ring for the boss kit also, not sold on this wheel yet, but i also have a full lighter coloured wood one i could fit with chrome spokes

same for the console.. i will be fitting black carpet(because its near new and free. came in the rusty wreck)
last time i was at Dave's i pulled the rocker cover off that was leaking like a sieve and thought it wasn't clamping down enough.. so went to bash the sides down(appeared bent from overtightening) rocker cover is strong.. not likely bent.. 
so i put washers under the mounting nuts as they seemed to be bottoming out, and layed a bead of liquid weld(silastic) over the cork gasket and nipped it up.. engine wash and check is planned for Saturday. (i have a new rubber gasket, but keeping it for the 2 litre engine. )

17 August 2017

FIRST DRIVE STORY
wish i had a phone mount for the first drive video... no pics taken today but i got an unreg permit and went round the block to bed the brakes in/shake down test literally over the speedhumps(pedders shocks are very good)

the "reco" calipers i fitted were obviously not as good as you'd expect, the left one stuck on.. i suspected this might happen as the pads were a prick to get in due to the pistons not going back as far(easily) as the other side.. with new pads and rotor as thick as new i gave it the benefit of the doubt.. 

first lap of the block i could smell the brakes, and next it was pulling to the right due to the left being hot.(brake fade).. stuff that.. back home, swapped the old caliper on.. ..fitted easily.. well, as easily as changing a caliper on gravel driveway and the rain coming while bleeding the brakes again.

took it out again a bit later, gave it a bit of a thrash seeing the brakes were more confidence inspiring, brakes seem fine now. (under the speed limit) but some revs in first and second.. its loud, doubt its legal.. i remember the ad saying HOT DOG EXHAUST, NICE AND LOUD.. it has a muffler and hot dog and extractors, it's louder than i expected.

on the way back i saw an older lady out of her car taking a video of behind me... (so as to not have me run into her if i was a terrorist? ) which she then aimed at me as i drove past and video'd the rear also. no number plates, but i have a permit on the windscreen so other than being loud i can't see what she'd do with the video other than send it to ACA for hooning footage.. 
This hoon was seen driving with no rego in my street with loud exhaust and terrorising the neighbourhood? 

i made it backfire with some revs on board.. so before i drive it home 35km i'll take a look at the leads, cap and rotor and points and need to fix a bad rocker cover leak and also will wash the engine and surrounding area so when i swap the engine soon i won't need as much hand cleaner ... well, that's the plan anyway..

congratulations if you read all that... for you're reward i'll link you a video of a fast gemini..(aka not mine)

14 August 2017

bit of homework before heading over to Dave's this arvo.. 
new wheel bearings in the rotors i bought a while back. 

hoping to get new pads and reco calipers fitted today.. should be easy... lol.. famous last words.

brakes are done, one of the antisqueel strips came off the back of one pad.. have the paint on stuff if it does rattle/squeel. 

test drive time midweek i think.. daylight time.. so i can see anything that might need looking at.. 

12 August 2017

chipping away at the little things..
had another session on the gemini today..
fitted a new radiator cap, a washer jet from the rusty wreck and new wiper blades. all working fine. 

still need to do the front brakes other than the floor rust. test drive after that.

carpet is still wet/ or wet again on front floor.. will need to do some more investigating there. 

had to fit 2 tailshaft bolts and adjust the handbrake cable, so while under the car, was ideal to fit the rear pedders shocks to replace the 1981 GM versions that are no doubt original.

also glued on the bumpette with silastic, will probably run a bolt or self tapper through it just in case .

all locks working now, removed the sculls head door lock knobs it had to fit originals from the rusty wreck

fitted the correct window winders, i think they are small more for the proximity to the dash than anything else.. 

few issues with the door trim vinyl, grinder cuts? haven't considered how to fix that.. maybe a glue on patch. suspect previous bodger used a grinder to cut off door handles as they didn't know how the jesus clip held the handle on(jesus where did that go)

4 August 2017

squeezed in another arvo session today..

fitted the stock radiator and fan, gives me some homework to make a thermo fan fit the alloy radiator.

fitted the rear bumper and gave it the kick and twist to make it sit right. plugged in the number plate light and it worked first go.

unclipped the left door lock rod from the central locking motor and hooked it to the door lock.. works like new. 

also let the magic smoke out of some wire under the dash.. pretty sure its due to the dodgy twist n tape stereo install.. haven't got that far yet.

looks like a car again.. and getting close to being able to get a permit and go for a drive. .can't wait.

2 August 2017

had another arvo session today, got the parkers working.. just a fuse luckily.

fitted the tail lights, loom was just tucked under the floor so it was an easy process to feed it through the access panels and wire to the lights.

checked the demister even and even half of it still works..amazing.

also removed the shithouse window winders, got the door trim off and removed the door lock to be repaired/re keyed spare one etc.. had been bypassed with a central locking motor due to a broken lever part  but the wires were cut off in the door hinge area due to a poor path chosen to run them through.

next visit i'll sand some bog on the rear quarter, fit the rear bumper and swap the radiator so i can fit a normal fan.

still have to swap the front brakes over, and find out why the handbrake light doesn't work. and swap in the rear shocks also.

running out of urgent things to fix 

1st August 2017
 

today i had the opportunity to head over and have another go at the gemini. 

about 90mins before it got dark, just enough time to fit a bumper, straighten it .. fit a stone tray, straighten it also, fit headlights(left one sits a bit cockeyed.. might redrill mounting holes or try another bucket) and fit the grille(zipties) 

how do you straighten a gemini bumper? brute force.. wrapped a rag on the bottom edge and braced My foot against the front wheel and pulled with the might of 2 tractors idling..  bent back easy.. i had to remove the bumperette pad before it fell off due to rust.. will probably bolt it on with coach bolts, and the other for ocd people(and added security)

parkers not working, i did test the lights work at home.. that's no doubt why the instrument lights didn't work in the cluster.. pays not to go ripping stuff apart before checking further.

i had to swap one indicator housing over on the bumper due to the globe holder being full of rust. .. all went to plan otherwise.(used another ford mud guard bolt for the stone tray because longer.. ) 

next visit i'll be fitting the rear bumper, same process.. bend it into shape etc 
i want the tail lights fitted also, but i suspect i may need to remove the petrol tank to access the wiring.

31 July 2017

i came across a similar wagon to how mine should look on google at some point, its what made me think of changing the grille to the TF type for a different look.

it even has a bent up bumper etc.. wheels are filthy though. i could live with that ride height also

31 July 2017

 

continuing on with the "homework" (car is at Dave's) 

My daily diesel gemini has a volt gauge and oil pressure gauge mounted in a fascia in the console by someone. home made alloy plate and i do get some peace of mind knowing what the voltage is doing, it's been a good diagnosis of battery issues or alt issues in the past(reading higher can mean battery lead off or regulator issue, lower  can be belt off or alt wire broken etc..)

so, what gauges do you choose? 

tacho, because a big clock in the main cluster is useful for timing how long you've been stuck in traffic.. so the tacho is less important.

Volt gauge, reasons above..

and oil pressure, just to see how rattly the engine from the rusty panel van is on a measurable device

i still have to put the chinese gear boot on, its a tight fit, but should look standard when done and in. 

i tried silver or black fascia, and silver seemed to work better surprisingly.

the black console i am trying to sell, its growing on me though

..

30 July 2017

another day of progress today.. nothing tangible though

i bled the brakes without jacking the car up just to get it moving again.. tested the cluster, clock working, all globes worked.. plugged it in, all gauges and lights come on.. went to see how it looked all lit up NO ILLUMINATION LIGHTS WTF! .. need to investigate further.

took some more stuff back for homework. next episode i will be looking to put the lights, grille, bumper etc back on. getting sick of seeing it looking like a POS.

Devil is in the Detailing.. 

worth the effort, stone tray was purple, i bought for $20 already pretty straight., light rub with 400 paper, grey undercoat.. no sanding because lazy.. general red paint base coat because colour match is expensive. one coat of colour match marenello red.. done.

9 minutes ago, CUL8R said:

Im pretty sure there's a guy Darren in Australia that gets NOS hinges made in the Philippines or something. He has about 3 gemini's from memory - he used to have a Gypsy Gemini Van that he restored..

I used some brass doll house hinges from Bunnings on my petrol flap with some araldite way back when..

 

 

you are correct, Thanks for the mention. at the time he didn't have them, I've bought some parts from "Darren Gypsy" before he's also got a gemini page called JUST GEMINIS on facebook. 

i did see a welded hinge for this fuel flap, but i still haven't bothered making one(not a fan of the plastic, needs a safety strap if so just in case) there's a guy making full fibreglass door with inbuilt metal hinge also (i think Lachlan Hope, not 100% sure but those facebook groups are awesome for help, parts and sharing knowledge.

29 July 2017
 

had an arvo/evening session on the gemini today(Friday) 

what size are the wheel nuts.. next few pics will tell the story

email i just sent Stanley tools below
Hi Stanley tools, 
do you sell the breaker bar and socket separate from the set. (got no reply) as i accidentally sent it to scrap metal.(scrapper said he didn't see it on the wreck so some kid could have picked it up walking to school even?) 

pic of the wreck with the breaker bar resting on the gaurd lip

what i did do is finish off fitting the new brake hoses to the front. and then set about swapping the steering rack (supposed reco) and the sway bar links from the wreck(black nolathane stuff, better than perished rubber)

set up for the next session, bleed brakes after fitting reco calipers and new pads hopefully..

here's a pic of My home made hinge out of strong wire.. too strong to bend neatly..

one of those, expectation Vs reality moments..

21 July 2017

had an arvo session on the gemini wagon today, fitting the brake line under the car in the dark isn't fun, but probably helped because it would have been a prick of an idea at the best of the time.

got the diff hose and lines sorted finally, even if the replacement nut is longer than the other one(looks a bit odd)

started on the front hose, but was over it by the time i got one out, couldn't see well enough once it got darker outside. thats another day job.

took some stuff back for homework.. should be some more updates if i can get anything done over the next few days

awesome petrol cap now fitted.. i'll take a pic of the bodgy hinge i made soon

brake lines at rear done.. darkness, not ideal for good photos

21 July 2021

some of the quality wiring from this project.. this is from the CD player it came with. all joins were twist n tape.. but why you need 3 joins in the one wire i don't know..

funnily enough, this deck didn't work in the car.. wonder why? tested it out today works well, but why the hell do they need to be such a pain in the ass to set up

someone probably suggested, hey pioneer, too many buttons n shit, i cant work it out.. make less buttons.
result, no radio preset buttons googled for a while, need to tune a radio station, press the list button then select a pre-set number you want and click the volume dial.. this will probably help me remember when i fit it to the daily. no idea how to adjust anything but Bass either i mustn't be asian, could just be the over 40s dementia kicking in?
(can hear the comments, just buy a new one.. pfft.. no. I'm sure this unit will still run the CD stacker in the boot of the diesel sedan oooohhhh fancy)

13 July 2017
 

got a quick welding session in today before calling it a day.. weather not ideal and need to make sure i don't over do the upside down shit with My back .

rear quarter was a pain in the ass to weld, wind didn't help, even with the gasless wire.. nothing bog cant fix anyway.. no pics of that too ugly lol..

brake lines next session, and front brakes maybe .

apparently masking tape burns... who knew..

special shaped patch fitted like a glove..(A Bunnings gardening glove maybe?) 
in hindsight, i should have cut this off and made a new one, but then.. i might be still cutting looking for good metal.. its not too bad..

guards are back on permanently 2 falcon bolts on the drivers side.. removed the cluster to access this side.. cluster removal from a cracked dash is quite challenging. mounting tabs snagging on loose vinyl etc, needed to use two screw drivers and a bog applicator to pry it out

12 July 2017

no welding today... 

i did bent up my roll of brake line i had flared up yesterday.. what a prick of an idea(has about 20bends in it), it turned out about 7cm short.. hoping i can dodge one of the clips and still have it work.. otherwise back again to the brake mob for a join somewhere and longer section fitted.

what i did get done is fitted the pedders shocks to the front, removed the front bumper(took 5mins, was in the way of refitting the front guards) fitted the left guard.

bit more description with the pics below..
should be welding tomorrow if weather permits. otherwise, brake line if it fits(doesn't rain under the car)

the patch below is for the A pillar rust box area at the front. shaped it in cardboard perfectly.. then lost the cardboard.. made another that was quite inaccurate, had to refold the edge twice.. won't matter much, cant be seen for starters.

paint stripper consisted of 1mm cutting disc, because lazy.. (could also be seen as "keyed for paint/bog)

left side didn't have rust holes, so just got a rust converter, wire brush over the the seams, re applied seam sealer and painted in killrust black and the guard refitted..
the top bolt was a prick to get restarted*(under the dash through the A pillar) due to the gemini bolts being short... solution.. XF FALCON mudguard bolt, same thread but longer

8 July 2017

 today's update was ruined by poor planning and rain.. did get something done..

cut all the areas of rust out ready to weld using Daves grinder(cordless) then Dave used it and flattened the battery by the time i had made My cardboard patterns for rust patches.. i brought My grinder with Me but only with a flap disc... next time i'll bring my cutting discs.

i rust converted the affected areas, then it rained, washing my good work away..

it doesn't rain under the car, so i got under the back edge and wire brushed and sanded with the flap disc all the bodgy bog etc off.. silastic, seam sealer and bog.. there was some rust hidden, but it doesn't look bad considering the mess trying to hide it.. i'll take the petrol tank out soon for a better look/access to weld.

what i need to do next visit is remove the main rear brake line, goes all the way to the master cyl from diff hose. the front lines look fine, i may get them done when the motor comes out still.

rear quarter rust isn't too bad, i'll trim the back edge some more also. no rust on the left side

lower A pillar section cut out. very solid inside.

i decided not to cut this whole box off. i think a few patches will be plenty good.

the rusted to fuck bonnet is making good with rust repair patches.. i figured if it didn't rust in the center, must be impervious to rust?

the rusty pedders shocks worked fine, so they got a de flakey rust via the round file, then wire brush and rust converter. then painted red again..
good for another 4yrs parked in the sea

5 July 2017

parts car...

engine out..
torque tube removed(heard they can be broken)
panhard rod removed, might have better bushes than my wagon one
steering rack removed, mainly because it was simple, but has a nolathane coupling fitted.

 going going gone.. leaving the locked diff in, not legal, no idea if done any good or twisted axles.. cbf

shitbox gone..
 

had to pay $100 for someone to come get it..  gone are the days of free car removal when metal prices were reasonable..
if i had known i was going to have to pay $100.. i'd have left more on it and listed it on feebay for $20 or so.

1st July 2017
photobucket will have a lot of haters from this day forward.. (imgur.com used instead now)

anyway..
side cutters and 10 and 12mm spanner got a workout this arvo.. bloody cold outside, think around 6 degrees outside when we packed up.. i expect it will be just as cold when its time to lift the hoist for all the underside stuff in the morning.(down to 1deg at the moment..)

Well, today was supposed to be rusty parts donor ready for scrap.. usual distractions and priorities meant it's close but not quite ready.(

i took the tailgate off due to the hinges being perfect .. pretty sure the the wagon ones have movement. might stash the tailgate

dash is stuck in eleventy million times stronger than a falcon one.. decided that i don't need to remove it not even for practice..

pedal box was simple..3 bolts..unclip brake and clutch cable and pin and brake switch.. done. 5min job.

heater core was the easiest i have ever heard of.. undo hoses.. 2 screws holding the cover on, and slide out the core.. (and move out of the way of the white tail spider that was in there)

external door handles are way advanced compared to XD.. have adjustment in the rod(might take a pic later.) still fail in similar ways.

pulled the fuel tank out mainly so it wouldn't be a fire risk if i start chopping with the grinder.. surprised it wasn't rusted through..

only took 2 pics, was on a mission to get as much done before dark

 next time you see surface rust.. and think its just surface rust.... give it a kick... just to be sure..(i was going to remove this door.. .not anymore)

pulling a car apart has to be the best way to figure out how stuff works or to be repaired.

28 June 2017
 

well..
rocked up this arvo for a quick garage session..

glad i paid part's donor value.. even still i don't think i'd want to use anything under the car. exhaust maybe... but not seeing value elsewhere.

pics speak for themselves

 

under the car is fucked.. ..rust is severe.

25 June 2017

well,
weekend has passed and there'd normally be an update on this but a few distractions interrupted progress..

well, at some point i mentioned i wanted a better bumper.. and other parts no doubt..

came across a gemini panel van that needed to be bought. has the style of bumper i wanted bit bent, but i'll roll with it.
 

bonnet is so rusted, i tied over it so the skin wouldn't peel off on the highway.. even latched down lol..

i got it going.. it was sold as not running, so a bit of a gamble.. been parked 4yrs roughly. bush mechanic for the win.. sanded the points, rotor button, and cranked it over for a while before resorting to the start ya bastard(has no choke assy in the carby) fired up and idled pretty soon after

this turned out to be super rusty, surprised it didn't fall in half on the hoist

video of the hope its still good "after a 4yr wake up call"  engine has a  2507 crow cam same as i got with the other parts engine, it idles with a slight lope that i initially thought was just running rough(no choke/4yrs of parked in the beach) seems good.

Dave claimed the steering wheel as payment for picking up this parts car from a couple of hours away. 

motor seemed healthy.. good chance i'll be doing a compression test next visit.. if good, its going in the red wagon as its a rodeo 2litre with a cortina 32/36 weber on it.

interior is mouldy. not much usable on it at first glance.. seat frame maybe for My daily if not twisted also.

16 June 2017

todays plan of brakes got postponed again due to stubborn mudguard bolts. the gemini must use the guards as a structural part of the car.. there'd be double the bolts than an X series holding them on. 2 of accessed behind the kick panel and under the dash.. (naturally the under dash ones were pricks, one had a rounded head Just barely good enough to undo with perfect alignment of the socket, and the other had the nut part come off the captive clip thing.. great..

painted most of the quarter panel .still rust on the very lowest part.

had a look at the tag after seeing the shifter area with pop riveted fill panel fitted. suspected it was an auto.. code says yes.. / M40 three speed 'Tri-Matic' (option)

rubbed the tailgate down for the last time, and primed over the metal and bog.. let it dry and then got one coat of red on before the can ran out of paint.... one more can will get the rest done.. good enough for now.

11 June 2017

bodge level.. expert?

the grille i got with this car was broken in the top sections..(hidden clips and impatient anger management people don't play well apparently)
they clip in with shitty little clips, but most people use Zip ties. i suspect the guy couldn't figure out how to either unclip it, or couldn't find the zip ties? and yanked it out breaking it.

i have a spare good condition TF grille, they look less awesome..(commodore fans might compare the TF grille to a VC commodore, and the TE grill is more like a VH commo(better)..

i glued it with araldyte, but it cracked still.. needed reinforcing.. so... here is the result.. concrete has wire reinforcing.. so.... bog with wire must be awesome?

if this holds up well and still fits everything(headlights etc) i'll leave it in.. otherwise i will have to fit the TF grille till i come across another TE one.

grille differences..
thought about painting the TF Grille black, as it might help improve the look.

grille update..
DONE! .. till it cracks.. then maybe fit the other after painting it black or finding a good one.

even fitted a NOS grille badge that came with the diesel gemini when i bought it..

headlights are clear lens/shaped reflector.. not sure i like the look yet, but i have been told they work well(not as good as stock looking H4 Hella/Narva i switched to later) the sealed beams they come with are better described as candles