Vintage Grumble

@johnnyfive better book landSAR for the weekend, probably going to need them, lololololols.

It makes me feel loved.

So this thing is still in a million bits, I'm still in the process of painting. All the bolt on bits are done, just have to finish and paint the frame. I wasn't happy with the battery tray thing, so going to redo that with a box of some kind. Story time: So a long time ago I got plans for one of these, I started collecting parts, but when I realised the cost and time involved in building one, I canned the idea. I had already purchased a second hand set of front callipers/discs/stubs from one, but the guy kept the hubs. Recently Edge products in OZ had a sale on, so I ordered the missing hubs, so I now have the compete set up. So sometime in the future I will make new front arms and put these bad boys on. I'd like to put flasher shocks on all round too, but they are spendy. Ages ago I also got a nice set of alloy rims and tyres from a racing ATV off trademe, they were listed retardedly so got them super cheap. And in a stroke of luck, the front rims are the correct PCD for the new braked hubs, neat. The back rims don't fit on the current hubs, but I've started collecting parts to make an independent suspension set up for the rear, so will make new hubs to suit when the time comes. Other than that, I've drilled some big ass holes in the 12mm plate at the back, to try shed some weight, and make it look racey. I also got offered an absolute abomination of a go kart for a box of beers, so got it against my better judgement. Its based on a kawasaki quad with a weird name that I can't remember, has front discs even. I'll probably just keep the front suspension and steering, rear axle and all the wheels, and bin the rest as its super grot. Plan is to make a simple two seater for the wife n kid to blast round in. Probably 13hp lifan with cvt set up or something. It has a 2 or 300cc honda atv engine on it, chain drive with low range, if anyone's interested? Regards, VG.

I cant wait to see Bort with a clip board, listing each member of the ride and the applicable sharn next to their name.

Chaps are assless by definition ain't they?

Oh boy oh boy, that looks neat.

Blardy honkies. Its the tino rangatiratanga flag. I don't own a copy of it though.

I'd be veeeeerrrrry surprised if they bothered to seal that road? Its common round these parts just to seal patches in front of buildings to cut down on dust, so that might be whats planned?

@johnnyfive how many people have registered for this fine event?

Stink. Oh well, I guess Bort will feel a little safer now.

I got a new chain and fork seals, shits getting real.

He can teach her about sperm oils uses in the great outdoors.

Nice.

A customer told me about a lake up on a hill, that you can hire a row boat in, and go for a row around. Romantic.

Genuine Lexus part: $70.00 at discount rate. "Genuine" part from ebay: $54.00 Exactly the same part as above, but not in "Genuine" lexus plastic bag, from ebay: $19.17. Thanks Taiwan!!

I've owned Larry for just under 2 years, and the first part has just broken. A sad, sad day indeed. RIP plastic shifter gate cover.

Yeh, can get SG iron or solid steel ones too, which I'll look at if it's an issue.

Yeh I could back-to-back them, but I'm fairly sure they are grunty enough as is. I'm certain it got damaged when the shaft broke.

Yeh boss, once it's all done that can be arranged. I have to make the seat adjustable actually, as its set up for me now, a lot of peeps can't get near the peddlers. I'm not saying yo short, you just reminded me. I have no idea to be honest, I'm just rolling with what it had. I may have to look at another set up if it fails. I've been told tollock bushes are pretty good.

Yeh nah yeh, so after that ^ I got a bit of 4140 CG shaft, had some keys chucked in it for a box, and slapped it back in. Keys are tiiiight and everything fits much snugger due to shaft being correct size, so that's tops. I cut the keys a bit longer, so everything had a key under its total length for strength, and I went for internal threads on the ends as its way easier to do. Once it was back together, we took it back to the beach again, to finish off testing. It was running much better (put tape restrictor back in) and we thrashed around in it for hours with no dramas. I didn't get video of it, but i'm blown away by what it can get up, considering it has no articulation in the rear. It was strolling up stuff that decent 4wd's couldn't get up. I tried to keep the vid short, and not totally mind numbingly boring. You can't really tell in the video, but the road is bumpy as all heck, quite pleased how well the suspension works for how shit it is/road bike shocks and pivoting on bolts. I accidentally drove it through a few small streams on the beach, so washed it down when I got it home. While pushing it back into the shed I discovered one of the back axle bearing housings was broken, I think it may have been damaged when the axle broke, as its on the side that got wrenched around when we were towing it off the beach. By reviewing the footage, I worked out it broke on the last run of the day, so didn't do any real damage, thankfully. Hows that serenity? I decided if the suspension and steering didn't break after all that testing, it was probably good enough, so stripped the whhhooollllleeeee thing down for painting. So now i'm going to clean up some welds, cut out some weight, and then paint it. Regards, VG.

So I had a short list of things to sort after the last test. First was to make a more permanent restrictor, before the tape went through the carbs. I did lots of math to work out the area, and made a stainless restrictor, but just fitted it temporarily in case it was wrong. Turns out it doesn't work as good as the tape, so will try again. I also redid the top of the brake pedal, to try get more swing/feel. Seems to be a bit better/good enough. Did a bit more of the wiring/cleaned a bit of it up, and mounted the magic boxes. I'm waiting on some components to arrive from China so I can finish this and the dash. Speaking of dash, I started making a new one, with new switches and shit. Waiting on new warning lights to show up. This is the same shape as the hood. I also made a new front panel. It's made of thicker steel than before, with more bars and more mounts, so should be nice and strong. I also fixed a few other bits and bobs, and adjust a few other items. In testing today I discovered the sprocket is still coming loose, I think it's because the axle was welded together under the sprocket (it broke years ago because there was no center bearing) and is slightly undersized, and the key ways are a bit flogged out. I was going to re-key the axle and sprocket a size bigger to see if it would stop it coming loose, but while doing beach donuts, it snapped the axle. So I'll just make a new axle from scratch out of 4140 center-less ground. Luckily I purchased a 4wd last week, and I sighted this very occurrence as my reason for needing one. We managed to drag the offroader back to the trailer with a jammed rear wheel. My fucking sweet rig, Broken, Aftermath, Shitty vid of today's efforts: Regards, VG.

Damn that things sweet. Dat engine, Dat tank, Daaaammmmmnnnnn.

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