Nominal

I've got a factory service manual here if you need anything from that. My experience in getting computer alignment setups to work on the Mercury was a bit similar - clamps don't fit inside arches, can't roll it forwards and back enough, etc etc. The printer did work OK though.

Bring back string/tape measure/spirit levels!

Happy to loan out my SWR meter.

Low mount on Oxford. Bad for SWR for sure. This is a new 1.3m GME whip and base.

2 hours ago, Steelies said:

so i currently have a whip at about half that length, what would that be called?

1/8 wave eh.

Just get an old fishing rod and go for it.

(Says google)

May not be perfect SWR but probably good enough.

Try this one

/better wagon stories

52 minutes ago, Beaver said:

That sounds like a lot of effort. But you’re probably right/I’ll just keep ignoring the problem. I pulled off the access panel in the boot to access the pickup but it didn’t look like what I was expecting so got scared and put it all back together.

Yeah, why fix it now when you can break down in the middle of nowhere in the winter on the way to Hanmer.

There is a Karrier fire engine FS in Wellington on trademe for cheapish - 6.5k.

"This classic 1962 Karrier Gamecock fire appliance is in need of some love!"

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=1624688386

Wow, what a hack!

Amazing work as usual and a good catch on the airbag sensors. One of the plastic arms on mine broke early on, I think because of too much drop in the front suspension when it was on a 2-post lift with everything hanging. IIRC I just lengthened the link piece a bit to handle it.

8 hours ago, cletus said:

burst proof door catches

Are those common bear claw latches (e.g. sold at Magoos) OK for this?

@vivaspeed

Had a chev logo and V6 badge on the back. Also a pair of earmuffs hanging on the seat back.

/potato pic 

Basically, protection against the morans who go to picklepart.

22 minutes ago, ajg193 said:

I thought all fuel tanks have a drain bung in the bottom or do new cars not?

Many cars don't.

Any of these in NZ? (FS on ebay)

Couldn't you have fitted it in the back of the Safari?

43 minutes ago, Positive Ape said:

Its an age thing with me. 

I remember when i was sub 25 i used to resent older people turning up to anything i was at. God knows why, what a dick etc but thats how i was.

now im 43 i dont want to be that old dude. 

 

What we are saying is that there is plenty of OLD in oldschool.co.ng

2 minutes ago, Positive Ape said:

Its an age thing with me. 

I remember when i was sub 25 i used to resent older people turning up to anything i was at. God knows why, what a dick etc but thats how i was.

now im 43 i dont want to be that old dude. 

 

I wouldn't worry about that. 

Something that has always annoyed me is the way the lack of clearance for the top hat of the coilovers - it means they don't sit square and the spring is bent in an arc.

So, extracted the spring/shock from one side (it's been assembled so long that the chrome is looking tatty)

Cut off the old upper mount tabs and fabbed some new., longer ones.

Set up so that the shock is the droop limit, rather than the ball joints

Had to re-wire the switch onto the TIG torch as the foot pedal isn't much use with a car on the floor.

Partly welded one side, the will have to wait until the body is off to weld fully.

Have to take the arms off and take measurements for the cert drawing, then do the other side as well.

3 hours ago, Seedy Al said:

Well this page is pretty shit so far lol

I've been to the last three Nats, one by myself, one with my wife, and the last one with wife + 18yo son. Have also camped at Wagnats, and been to Hanmer once. I don't think I would have gone to a Nats straight up, but got there via Welly meets and Wagnats.

I like the basic structure - it suits me and probably doesn't need much change. The socialising opportunities are important and I don't think that more organised activities are necessary within the main Nats timeframe. Something like a track on the day before would be fine though. 

Having a lot of gear in the wagon on the way in to Nats was what put me off the grass track this year - I did have a hoon last year which was fun. 

The bunk accommodation is a bit of a limitation, particularly when with a +1/+2 I think. It's probably more suitable for singles, but I totally understand why it is present - provides a good cheap overall option and is usually connected to a site that we can take over completely.  If there were other options somewhat nearby (motel/commercial camp ground cabins) that would be good.

The public show is good too, and an opportunity to get some other cars to perv at.

The recent events have been fairly rule-bound but it's going to be hard to find a location that lets a free-for-all go on unless you go to a private paddock and sleep in tents/wagons/vans/one the ground (/wagnats)

I'm involved somewhat in a rodding group that does a similar National event and finding suitable venues is a hassle. They used to be much more raucous (I hear) years back but have got older and a bit tamer. Also more of a clique thing going on where one group barely talk to the other groups. Now the event is more likely based around a camping ground/community clubrooms with accommodation left to the attendees to sort out. This year we are going to Camp Wainui (the one in Wainuiomata) which does have bunkroom accomodation so it will be interesting to see how that goes.

Took this oil-burner to Nats.

I really wanted to be able to lock the doors to keep my junk inside while parked in towns etc. The drivers door lock barrel seemed to be well seized up, and the passenger front door was missing a spring for the locking lever. Back doors were OK.

We stopped at Horopito on the way home from the Beach Hop and had a hunt around. Nothing much good in the yard

But I found this rather amazing lock that looks like NOS (the one on the right) in a box of door locks in the upstairs storage area. Bought it for $40.

There's a lot going on inside these locks with multiple levers and springs. The new one didn't come with a key, so I dropped it off at a locksmith before Nats. Didn't get it back before we left so....

We headed off south on the Ferry at Easter for a family love tour.

Stayed right by the Blenheim substation. Good 50Hz hum.

Did a bit of touring around Marlborough, including the HVDC link lines

If you make longer shackles that look factory and get them dirty I'm sure no-one would notice.

You can re-arch the springs yourself if you are keen.