rb drifter

Stopped in a steel masters this morning, 12x bumper bolts with nuts for $6.20 bloody top service and prices. 

Got rained off so shifted the ute to work so I can use welder, pit etc

Got bumper brackets and end caps fitted. Chucked two rivnuts in for number plate to mount to and fitted it using those sweet wish accessories everyone loves. 

Time to sort a bumper for it. The original one off ute is well rusted but I pulled one of a ute that's been in a padock for years that is still very usable but had no brackets and is slightly bent.

So in an attempt to remove the brackets I now need to buy new bumper bolts before i continue any further.... no surprises there really 

Straightening the bent one will be easy as and will swap over the end caps too.

We will begin this with "work sucks"  because I end up doing 15 hour days consecutively but would much rather be in the shed.

 But working gets me money to spend on this so i keep going back....

Somehow In between adulting and sleep therapy I have achieved very little progress

Front end is complete again, new tie rods, balljoints, bushes etc. Rear end has l300 bumpstops as my cut ones would let tyres rub. Broke the bank and bought new tyres 185/60r14 goodrides and we have dropped it back on the ground 

Ordered new front shocks, gearbox mount, waterpump and bosskit so playing waiting game again. 

definitely getting nervous about getting this ready for beach hop as its basically 3 weeks away and I still have alot to do.....

Bit off topic but this is what narrows down my workspace in the shed, currently used as storage it's my 82 lancer gsl that I've owned since I was 18. It's the car that's waiting for me to get this ute legal so it can have some attention.... 

Used to have a project thread for it but it's gone these days. Has currently donated some engine parts etc to getting this ute done which is how it has sneaked into this thread 

Painted the escudo springs oxide primer "just cause" 

Managed to get abit more done two days in a row!

Just some small things, steam cleaned and painted my brake drums and lower arms. Fitted new balljoints and bushes to lower arms and bolted those pups back in.

Tested a different spring, suzuki escudo springs I cut to be captive but they're slightly softer then the original L200 springs. 

And lastly I put the new swaybar links in! 

Nothing too spectacular but it's all the little things thatll make it fly through a wof check hopefully 

Stayed up way past my bedtime to get some rear brakes sorted. New shoes and cylinders, drums are still mint but will paint them just because....

Also installed the brake lines on diff, realised I'll need a longer rubber hose for chassis to diff being L300 diff in a L200 theres slight difference. And forgot to get a new bleed screw so will sort that asap

Difference in the steering racks is where the shaft bolts on. Obviously this one is a power steering one and the yellow Ferrari is non p/s 

Maybe I can use parts to rebuild mine even....

Not a great update but I picked up a later model mirage for parts. I was really hoping the steering rack was the same but appears to be rather different. Also wanted to see what hubs I can swap on for better brakes and so those stupid bolts dont fowl on my 14x7s so I have acquired evo 3 hubs by the looks. 

Just realized I only have a before pic so will dump more pics when I remember to take them

Have been struggling to find time to work on this project with work getting quite busy but good things have happened...

My parts from rock auto have arrived

Now just need to pull finger and get this doneburgers 

Only real progress I've made is purchasing steel brake line for diff and bumpstops from pick a part. One of my lower arms had a stripped nut for where the shock bolts on so removed and welded a new one on. And apart from that I've done bugger all

this is the guard clearance, not a lot but maybe I trim another set of bumpstops so that the tyre never hits the guard? 

So no big progress, just ordered a whole bunch of parts I need off rockauto, then ordered my brake parts locally so I can return if they're wrong. 

Also have a mate that works at repco so checked the availability of castor rod bushes online and they had 20% off or something so $85 ish, decided I'll go in and see what price I could get them for, mate wasn't there but other guy told me $110...... I just told him that's ridiculous and walked out. Went back today and my mate sold them to me for $45, goes to show how much mark up nz business are doing and why most of us buy from overseas instead... 

Also test fitted a 185/60 on a 14x7 to see gaurd clearance, not 100% sold on it yet. Definitely will need a different ratio for diff. Perhaps 175/65 would be better? 

Also scored 3 of those wheels above for $40 but unfortunately they're slotted so if anyone knows of any for sale message me

Feel free to discuss how I should get a walking stick, always wear a robe and slippers, and start every conversation with "back in my day...." 

Okay so this is my nana spec mirage that I daily drive, only things not factory is the seat covers, stereo and window tints

She runs the big block 1.2 liter power house with a race shift kitted 3 speed automatic transmission. 

Doesn't like going over 80kph but that's just a safety feature to keep your license 

Currently on the hunt for a steering rack if theres any around?  

Costs roughly $60 to fill from empty and that last me two weeks sometimes, cheaper than driving my bt50. 

Would look sweet lowered on some 13s or 14s but other than that I'll just drive the shit out of it

discuss nana's skid hack here:

name: linden

location: a shithole called whangarei 

cars I own: 1982 lancer, 1982 mirage, 1982 L200, 2017 mazda bt50 

mods: they're all in different states of project life

pics 

how I found out about old school: actually an old member that's been absent for too long so all my project threads got the cut

anything else to add:  I clearly have a mitsi problem 

Yeah something I keep forgetting about but since I'm gunna part out my 4wd one I'll pull that one out for ya 

Cheers mate, I had one years ago with a starion motor and it loved the right jandal. Always regret selling it so had to build another 

I had contemplated putting flares on and cutting the tray. but then couldn't bring myself to do that I like the factory body lines. Would rather get the diff shortened to match the original L200 width and everything should be good then. But it's not too much of an issue for now

So with the wider diff I've had trouble getting wheels to fit, my mate has lent me some 14x7 pro stars which fit but the 215/70 tyres will be replaced with 185/60 tyres. Eventually I'll get diff shortened so I can fit 14x8s but that's out of budget currently. 

Also was always planning on running air shocks in rear but beach hop is getting closer and my goal is to drive there legally kinda so pinched some good condition monroe shocks out of the 4wd parts vehicle for the mean time. 

Did a few little bits like fill up diff oil, new shock bushes, fill gearbox oil, spray undercoat under the gaurds. All the little things that are kinda important. 

Forgot to add earlier that the motor I had in this I swapped into my lancer, so I took the old lancer motor, (4g63 sohc) did a gasket set, another head, and valve grind etc.  And got it to start as of yesterday but will not stay running so my guess is its something to do with ignition circuit. Will leave that to my mate josh to investigate as I'm no good with electrical shit but it started which is chuuurrrrr

Decided to make my own doorcards using Mexican blanket style material, ados glue, a stapler, and some m6 bolts/ rivnuts off wish and MDF packing sheets I get for free from work.

Turned out okay, this ute ain't no show pony so it's good enough. 

Also test fitted the dirt scooter as that's the whole reason I'm building this ute

Yeah man just made my first purchase off rock auto today, sooo much cheaper than local stores!  Ordered almost every bush, tie rod and balljoints for front end.