Nominal

I think I have a drawing that shows dimensions somewhere. Will have a look in the weekend. I was going to use this setup in my Minor (even pulled the suspension from an HC and stored it for a few years). The biggest issue IIRC was the need to have high chassis rails (the beam mounts below the viva body) which are ugly/intrusive. I finally sold it to someone who crashed their lotus 7 clone, and needed new parts.

When's the IH powered Go Kart going to be finished??

Heh, I say the yellow and blue car heading down the road too, and wondered. I can confirm that even with 390 cubes, the Merc is really hopeless at skids. Good night, nice to get back to daylight savings/fine weather.

Any suggestions on a good takeaway place nearby?

Might as well plan to replace all of them.

Have you looked at www.autospeed.com? There's a lot of stuff there, and I think it is all free to access now. It could use a better system for finding content, I use google with the site:autospeed.com parameter. e.g. http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&A=2934

It's a pity really, that the regular versions are dodgy, as they look really sweet! Another option is these Radir's - one piece aluminium so not problems there. I'd have a set if I had the bux.

Here's a pic of the back of one my 'Astros'. I don't run them anymore.

I suggest you trim down your bump stops some, or they will get smashed off the inner guard. Known problem with lowered Minors.

I'm even an NSRA member, but will be offshore that weekend, dangit.

I have the same radio at home. Actually plugged it in and tested it out the other day, first time for a few years. IIRC I did the cosmetic restore thing about (mumble) years ago.

4-post can be useful for project work. Being able to just drop the chassis on the rails and lift it up/down for brake line routing etc was handy. Also dropped the engine + box in while it was like this - you couldn't do this on a two post without risking dropping it through imbalance. Suspension work is more of a hassle - need to jack up the car off the lift deck and then block it up (I use a plank between each side for this). Space to work on suspension/sills a bit of a hassle though.

Well, obviously you need to make sure you have enough clear height to allow the lift to work. Measure a typical car height, and add that to the proposed lift height. My shed is 3.3m at the front, sloping down to 3m at the back and is only just high enough - I can't run the lift to full height with a normal car on it - OK with convertibles though. I agree that a 2-post if the best choice for working on regular cars. I have a 4-post because it was available used at the right price, and it is way better than no lift, and good for project building. I have it anchored into the standard 100mm reinforced floor. Vertical loading only with a 4-post though. Three phase power may be needed, depending on what you buy. It's useful for lathes and stuff anyway. There are heaps of discussion on t'web about lift installs. Try garagejournal.com.

There is a Hell Pizza a bit further along Mana Esplanade. It's off the road fronting a carpark. I haven't been there for some time, but IIRC it wasn't very large inside.

How could you resist?

There is on listed at P-a-P in Chch 29-07-2013 Alto Model No F8B 4 Door Hatch - 1986 - Red - Petrol - Automatic 850cc

A better option, but Alexandra is a long way from anywhere aye?

Start shopping for a parts car stat. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/suzuki/alto/auction-626248392.htm

You will be needing a new differential unit as well, as it is sure to be rooted.

I've got an air grinder (chinese style) and I don't find it overly fabulous. Might be the stones, or the fact that grinding steel is a slow process. For electric, I think a flexible shaft grinder would be the way to go. DuMore is the 'classic' brand (I kick myself for missing bidding on a couple at Dunbar Sloane last year) but there are knock-off version available.

Good thing about metal, if you balls it up it can usually be fixed with a welder and new metal. How about a pic of the crown for reference/comment?

Nice ride. Going slow is cool!

Another few months - another dead EFI pump. For some reason they die after sitting unused in a part-full petrol tank. So, quick escape from work, racing change into old jeans, and up to pick-a-part in Wingate. Only to find that every modern Nissan (like post-1992) has a plastic pump carrier that is different to the bolt-in one I build my fuel tank around. In the end I pulled the pump unit from a dead Skyline and lashed-up a mounting inside the old carrier I had. So, it runs again, and I can move it off my lift when I get the front wheel back on. Before I do that I need to get some dimensions on the front suspension so I can draw it up for TAC approval. 6th Form Tech Drawing skills will be called on finally!

Good plan!

Convertible. The sedans have the breezeway window - like an anglebox. We bought it in Indiana and drove it a bit there before shipping home. Pretty much been a driver since then. I also keep my bonnet down. Probably saw you at the BH!