Vintage Grumble

Cheers for the heads up, it seems to be all gravy at the moment. I put a new thermostat in it because it wouldnt heat up, but think the gauge/sender is a bit bung, as the fan comes on at about 1/3rd temp. Last day at job today, so will be using this from tomorrow onwards, doing around 400km a week, hope its sweet, because I dont have a back up car at the mo.

shit yeh, things chur, very nice.

Yeh, is a bit stink I only got to do 1.5 events in it, it went a lot better than I thought it would. The missus came back from the first run and asked how she did, I said I was surprised she drove so sedatly (as shes a bloody good driver), and that she should be able to go quite a bit faster is she felt comfortable, then she went out and went hard. The lap before she hung it out and drifted round the corner with the rear of the car just missing the wall, so I thought she may have gone a bit slower the next time, but she didnt It was her first time driving the car and her first time driving on dirt tho.

Yeh, thought it would come in handy, will make things a lot simpler also, rather than having a belt drive primary and tensioner. Also having the clutch/gears means I should be able to push start it, saving me from having to make a starter of some sort.

Small up date, just purchased an 80 year old three speed (turned out to be 4spd) suicide shift gearbox with dry clutch,

Haha, yeh, not sure if cars a write off or not yet, will let ya know if I part it out. And rehims are said to be 4kg each, which aint to bad really for the cost.

^ I did a bit of research to make sure they were fo reals, thats what they looked like in their younger days, "Bridgestone Super R.A.P" racing wheels.

I've got adjustable sway bars and panhard rod on my 86, and they all seem ok, they are pretty basic, but seem well made. Top hats are also pretty simple, so not much to go wrong with them really?

Bit of an update on this, went to a track day, went really well for a basically standard car on budget tires, and had no problems all day, so well pleased with it really. Then me and the other half went to Waihi beach for an autocross, was a bit of fun, but the wife got a bit brave and went into hardcore mode, I sorta missed the impact, but it was fairly decent, its worse than it looks, Theres a bit of a kink in the chassis rail, and the front cross member and engine cross member have both moved, so may be a fair bit of work to sort it out, but luckly the radiator poped out of its mounts and was ok, so I drove it home from Waihi to Whakatane like this. I also purchased these off TM, They aint pretty, but they are magnesium so pretty light. Will slap some semi slicks I have on them. HUGE thanks to Cam for picking them up, and to Gaz and his uncle for hauling them up here from welly for me, you guys are fair dinkum bloody rippers!

Starlet is red, thus it is faster.

Looks phucking ace, bra.

Shit me, the hell cutter of lunches, may I ask why you need said shortblock so badly?

Talk about cutting ones lunch I'm ken as a ben TBH, mate of mine is coming down here from aucks next weekend, may see if he can collect, where abouts is it/are you in aucks?

Swap motors? Mr Waimaks just dropped in, and it turns out the pistons he had are 0.50 over size SS80/SS80G2 Fronte B-8 ones, so they are from an earlier car, but theres a good chance they could be the same pistons? Is there anyway I can find out if they are the same other than pulling my motor to bits? The pistons John gave me are "12111-78402-050" and I was quoted 1st over size "12111-78403-10"

My swift had oval pistons/piston knock, and went for years with no trouble, but this thing is a bit nasty. I just priced up rebuilding it, and parts alone are $1150, so that aint gonna happen, have asked a wrecker to have a look round for a motor. Anyone know of a F8B laying around? Or a place that would stock after market engine parts for an Alto?

Sweet, thanks for that. Yeh, I wont be doing any machining myself, will pay an engine builder to do that. I'm pretty sure this motor would have never been rebuilt before, so first over size will hopefully do. Guess i'll find out when I open it up.

Sup, if you have a motor that gets a bit of piston rattle/knock from the middle of the rev range up, blows a bit of smoke/uses oil, its more than likely you would need to go to an over size piston rather than just change the rings rite? I'm guessing if it was just worn rings, you would not get the rattle, so the pistons must be ovalized? I assume you have to pull the motor down and measure the bore, and that will tell you how far over size you have to go? Have never rebuilt a worn engine before, so not sure on the process/whats the norm.

Neat, more pics/vids of races please.

I better look after mine then.

Shit son, looking good, so shiney. They look good in white, will suit wheels nicely also.

I'm not sure if you will be able to pick them up Monday? Chap said anytime after 5pm on Tuesday, cant see why he cant just leave them round the back of his house or something tho? I'm in no huge hurry for them, so dont put yourself out boss.

Haha, oh well, I better PM Gaz, so you're able to get them to Gaz before the weekend? Churs.

Cheers for the offer chap, but I think Campylgiardia is going to give them to Keltic, who is coming to Ohope on Wednesday, so it should all work out swimmingly. The awesomeness of the OSGC freight system blows my mind tbh. Much love all round.

I know there's one on a car in Orini, just outside of Ngaruawahia.. I can't really get there myself to get it, but I could get contact details for you? As far as I know the flanges are the same bolt pattern. Cheers man, I think I will have a go at the flip N spin and see what happens, if its not going to work i've only wasted an hour, then i'll look into a different axle. Haha, ok, I wont try, but it did cross my mind. I am going to try this on the AE101 tho.

+1 for what colour. Yeh i'm so sick of body work also, hate it.