sleeektoy

Finally bunged it back in the hole. Carbs to have a birthday, extractors to be stripped/coated and driveshaft needs shortening +10,000 other small things

DECODING Frame number should be stamped on the opposite side of the firewall to this tag to confirm the number matches this tag. MODEL - TA22 model - R (right hand drive) - M (5 speed) - MM (LT trim/exterior) 2T - single carb 1600cc 218165 built November 1974 Colour 337 = orangey-brown - TRIM - ZD22 Vinyl/PVC all in black Trans - 5F1 - T50 Gearbox, Axle T292 - T-series 6.7" crown wheel with 4.100 ratio open diff. Plant - A41 - Tsutsumi Plant TMC

Chassis fully assembled - with help from my 10 yo nephew who loves hanging out in the shed. Both chassis and body fit with millimetres to spare. onto the bodywork now...

Engine mostly assembled - water pump, alternator, and flywheel/clutch still to sort. Headers might get an acid dip and repaint too. trial of a Kameari 2T-GEU cam chain tensioner in this 18R-GEU head also happening

Front end back together and on the ground.. back to work now so progress will slow up

So... a little yarn at @sheepers place about his motor build and also borrowing a large valve spring compressor from him inspired some work on the motor for this. It has sat a long time and nothing was done - the gear drive became a "too hard basket" and i got put off trying to get it sorted. So it has a chain put back in there for now. There were valve to piston clearance issues with cam timing and some light touching happened. Big end bearings are now replaced, cam lifter buckets replaced and valves checked for bentness found to be ok. So in a "roadkill garage" style fix(found on youtube), an old stainless valve was fashioned into a rough as guts cutter and piston cutout reshaping has been done. Result is a nice reshaping of the cutouts slightly bigger at the same time - the engine has been blinged up to go into the nice clean engine bay

Chassis all painted in 2K black And reassembly started with the front engine cross member with new hand-cut rubber insert and plated bolts.

Overdue update - Body spaced off the chassis then the chassis removed completely then stripped everything off the chassis and epotec primed it Also acid dipped the wheels and straightened them up + painted them and some 155/80 R12 tyres fitted

are good used parts not an option? https://www.farmtrader.co.nz/detail/jcb-3c-111-380286

Cheers, Compliance I hope wont be too bad. Mechanically and WoF items are all good, just the body/chassis to sort. There's a few in Japan, Aussie and Thailand i have seen. Probably only a couple of dozen or so spread around the world. 800cc earlier ones seem rarer and 2 door sedans rarer still as i've only spotted 2 of these. Utes and convertibles most common. I know painting it is a shame for the patina - but it really is on that cusp of going bad with rust. I think exposing it to the elements will accelerate the fact it needs painting anyway. Still on the fence about it

Alternator got sorted thanks to Nick the sparky and his dad. So... the quest for compliance begins.. Main issue is the "rust" which is mostly cosmetic but proving that means stripping off the patina'd paint and proving its not structural. Radiator support panel = mint spare wheel well + patches in the sides of the floor = mint Rear window sill - was dubious about this but = mint And the only rust hole in the entire car so far is this one along the boot lip The shitty thing is the chassis needs a good cleaning - so it is coming off the body and getting a proper blast and paint - work in progress...

I fixed a couple of fuel leaks and a brake leak. Brake check in the video. Popping is the carb running a little lean without the filter. Alternator Voltage is way way too high at 17v so wont run it too much until that's sorted.

It only took 46 years to happen... Tools dropping off the front was a until I realised what it was.

I got something kinky made last week for it, and fitted it this weekend Generally copied from what remained of the original - went with a big-bore inch and a half!!! Downpipe with mega flange jiggery pokery in here to clear the crossmember, handbrake cables and floor Oldschool hanger strap used More dogleg over the diff and out the bum Not too bad i recon for the 1st ever exhaust system I've done myself. Bendy kinky stuff done by the local east Auckland Mr Muffler who was superb to deal with and charged next to nothing for it.

Cheers, I did see that. Probably wont get that one though. This also popped up on facebook - I cant imagine 17 people being dragged along in this!!

Water pump.. all clean and new I have to say that Gil from Waikato Engine reconditioners was awesome to deal with on this water pump - highly recommended and promptly fitted

Like just about every other part on this car .. the water pump seal is made of unobtainium. So a small mod to the impeller and its now got a much more common seal. Oh and a picture of some fine hooters Freshly painted

cheers - it has been a major uphill battle to find parts or alternatives. I was lucky to have a yarn to muzzas just before it closed for good - Alan from Omni Engineering in Wigram, Christchurch has purchased all the new kit from there and is continuing pump reconditioning. An alternative he said is Waikato Engine reconditioners in St Andrews Hamilton.

I put a thing in a hole! It took a lot of convincing but got there in the end I was debating what to do with the water pump - but the bearing sounds a bit sketchy so it will be sent off for a rebuild.. all new engine and radiator - don't want it ruined.

Getting there..

Found this article a good read. Explains things well. https://www.drivelife.co.nz/2022/03/dead-rego-how-hard-can-it-be/

Head's back - headgasket is a little longer to be made Head Before. Head After.

The Big Block is back pushing a whopping 877cc over the factory 797cc. It's also now high compression 9.7:1 vs 9.0:1 I have assembled some of it but awaiting a couple more parts incl the head plus custom head gasket.

Primed, painted and fitted

Hardboard cut today. Fits well.