M_C

The gearbox was making some unhappy noises before the Gumboot so I took it pretty easy on the weekend. Take offs were modest, rpm kept below 5,000 and clutch work gentle. But even so 1,000kms didn’t do it many favours so a health check was booked with some trepidation… The good news is the gearbox seems ok and the noises are due to the adapter of the input shaft flogging out a little. Luckily the end of the crank seems to have got away with it. Bearing still need final check once cleaned and the synchros are a touch worn. Noticed the flywheel is more flex plate size than flywheel…

The Gumboot part 4. I internalised a really complicated situation debating the merits of a beer at the famous pub, but as it was on 10am and 500kms of spanking back roads were called the beer had to wait. And just when I thought the roads couldn’t get any better, the rest of the day was absolutely superb. Is was spent pretty much like this. With boost back and over the halfway point I was running faster and Very happy to be pacing Shaneo’s firm “pressing on” pace on the back roads, defined as driving not aggressively, but one notch below maximum attack. I wish I could hear what this convoy sounded like from the road side, but was having far too much fun driving to try and organise a drive by. Route book clues took us out for an Escort invasion of Stratford before more linking with SH3 a rather oblique way. Another scenic gathering. The roads were this good mate! (Check he co driver’s expression…) Atypical pose, boys checking the engine is still there, girl on the phone… Shaneo’s exhaust was feeling the strain. But don’t worry, Man your wheels look mint. Big Thanks to my Great Grandad Messenger who surveyed the pass on SH3 between Uruti and Ahititi. (yes I needed a large scale map to look those towns up) The road was so good they named the mountain after him! This was a must stop for me so yet another Escort photo opportunity. Run! More escorts are coming. Na, Doug is lost again… Jeff spotted trying to lighten the load. Girl is on the phone again! The pause before the next Most Excellent of Excellent roads. Jeff you dipped out here when you missed the turn. I thought I had staged this shot to miss the moderns, but there is the corner of a hot subie peeking out. He seemed pretty happy to shadow behind the little Escorts as we pressed on through these stages… And what driving roads they were! And then it was almost over. A quick pit stop in Pirongia, before a nice last little back road squirt and time for the finish in Joes Garage Hamilton. Rolling into the Tron was a shock to the system after 2 full on days of quiet back roads! Traffic, uggg. Escort boys were one of the early crews into the pub, shattered but sooooooooooooo happy. Geisha honourably filthy in the finish line car park. Massive thanks to the Gumboot crew for putting on such a weekend! It will live on as Legend. See you at the next run 28 Feb, 01 Mar 2015!

The Gumboot part 3. Chipmunk containment effort #1 was not successful, but did not stop us enjoying some truly Epic roads. A stop at an virtually abandoned town somewhere in the back blocks between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui was a chance for try #2. Who would have thought it would be that hard to put an intercooler pipe back on. After getting laughed at in Taumarunui for trying to buy a longer pipe to replace the slightly short intercooler with I managed to get some basic hose camps. Then noticed a fellow competitor had a minor indiscretion on an optional gravel stage. Pretty sure that wheel was more centred earlier in the day… Then we headed out to the Forgotten Highway and started to run out of words to describe how Awesome the driving was. Only on getting home did I notice how few photos my co driver took while on the move. Maybe his attention was elsewhere on self-preservation, anyway, quite a dereliction of duties. Arriving at the overnight service park on Ohura we were buzzing. This was a mostly converted prison in an almost abandoned town literally in the middle of nowhere. Attempt #3 was followed finally by successful attempt #4 to keep boost blow off chipmunks contained. Thankfully my service was in the shadow of the orange wheeled golf surgery. Andy arrived in Bumblebee with an engine running poorly so we all gathered round and helped out, but made worse until it gave up all together, got sulky and refused to start… (Sorry Andy) The count got to 6 tool boxes and 26 people trying to help out. I blame the engine sulk on the dark and alcohol… This is one of the few publishable photos from after sunset. In the weak light of the early foggy dawn Bumblee was brought back to life! Cunning artist to the right timed his run to fix her to perfection with maximum appreciation from Andy. Bumblbee escaped the low loader and lived to drive home again. Unlike Mikeys Starlet that had popped a valve spring and collected at the unusual hour of 2.15am. And it got better! My boost was Back! Oh God Yeah! And 500kms of spanking roads to go! But first a slightly creepy spot for the morning briefing at an abandoned Ford garage after a hearty truckers hangover cure breakfast. Cue photo opportunity. (Nice shot by Elliot above) Briefing time. More people and cars than Ohura sees in a week. Minor traffic jam on the way out of town. I am sure the farmer moving his sheep was a bit surprised to see a car, let alone this many. The only shot I have of the gravel section before my navigator went quiet and just held on… Such fun once past some slow cars. Climbing into the morning mist One of my favourite iconic shots of the trip. But where re all the people…? Ah, there they are. Spot the Aucklanders crowding the coffee machine after the instant brew from the overnight services. Next edition, pressing on.

The Gumboot part 2 From Cambridge the roads quickly became epic flowing deserted roads through places I didn’t know existed. Top marks for the Gumboot crew for scouting these out and creating the mission packs to follow the clues. Proof for female rally entrants! Pleasing to see a quarter or so of entrants were the fairer sex. Regular stops for clues made for good chances to re-gather crews and general sledging. Andy in the weeds after being stuck in the mud. A lack of chipmunks under the bonnet and concerns on the unhealthy gearbox noises kept my pace to a quick tour. Still enjoying the roads I regrouped with the boys in Te Kuiti. What the hell is on my boot! Another gathering for sucking of jungle juice before hitting the back roads again. No no no Doug, you put petrol there, not piss in it Rolling out to hunt more back roads Another clue stop Stunning weather for a strop on epic roads with your mates Lack of chipmunk chuckles from under the bonnet was not ideal for pressing on and further investigations revealed the cause. Hmmmm plenty boost escape route here I thinks… Which quickly lead to some of this To be continued…

Any more escort stuff worth saving? 5spds?

My little Geisha girl sends her apologies for what was to be the first visit, her gearbox is feeling poorly and is off to the doctor this Friday as Pre-Leadfoot run takes priority. Why is the gearbox poorly you may ask? Well let me just leave this pic here with the suggestion to look up Gumboot Rally...

Gumboot episode one In the beginning there was darkness, and the boys deliberated, then the Gumboot was declared. Share the secret deserted flowing back roads was the call, convoy runs and overnight gathering before more epic roads to be run the next day. This cannot be refused was the answer. Lines in sand are to be drawn, deadlines set and provided suitable motivation for car fettling. Focus on critical items and resist distraction. And the day dawned early and clear Rolling south of the Bombay border Ready for tarmac storming Or running from SWAT… Strange I didn’t see them after this… First stop was Cambridge with is crazy thick weekend traffic. Heath scared a few kids with his costume so we were looking forward to getting out into the quiet roads after group shot complete with random part of car. Some moderns were also allowed to take part in Gumboot out of pity. Or in Heath’s case so he could bring his beautiful wife. (And his real car is waiting a heart transplant.)

Geisha honourably filthy after honourably completing 1,000kms for Awesomely Epic Gumboot. Bed time now, I am shattered...

Critical to do list is almost done. Spend a bit of time chasing ghosts in the wiring with very odd tail light behaviour. Thank You #1 goes to the good guys at AutoLights in Sydenham CHC who had a Mk2 tail light in stock. Ironically I ended up using the original one as the odd behaviour was cured with a better earth, new connection replacing double tail light plug and a bit of love. New WOF + Rego plus list of details completed. When installing new TCA and swap bar bushes she ended up madly toe out and drove like a cross eyed drunk. Thank You #2 for the boys at Autolign on Carbine Rd AKL for a proper set up. The gearbox is making some worrying noises and has me a little concerned. Hope it makes the trip... Accessory socket refused to work today so added to the minor details. I think I may been the GPS out on the Gumboot back roads.

Gossip time, BMAC has a turbo conversion for this wagon under way for the OldSchool Dec13 Drags... I couldn't resist a little comparison as his turbo ended up in my garage to go down to him with the wagon. Mini Me, meet your Daddy... Why is the actuator as big as the turbo...? Looking forward to seeing how the force fed cross flow goes!

ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy when she kicked into life quickly for the first time in 5 months and all good = BigSmile! Cautious celebratory circuit around the block was successful. Had forgotten how loud the blow off valve is from inside the car and how slightly intimidating it is to drive. Proof of life; car is actually outside garage and on her feet instead of axle stands. Now onto the list of details...

After a little tiki tour of Auckland I arrived back home with the correct FWD water pump. Enjoyable last drive in BMAC's escort wagon as he wants it back. Bit sad to see it go but now I can actually walk into the garage without first having to pull two bikes and one car out. Besides Geisha should be (Has to be) going shortly... Supposedly super easy bolt back together had another little wrinkle waiting for me. Mr Alternator would not line up. Que mutterings about rebuilt engine mount. My new favourite tool was brought in to release some clearance. Can't believe I have lasted this long without and angle grinder in my life. Anticorrosion oil treatment spread in the engine bay looked a little flammable so wet rags employed. Assorted custom washers, spacers and general fiddling has engine ancillaries back where they should be. Only just noticed colour matched tools and beer holder when looking at pic. Slowly getting closer to engine start!

Cheers

Garage time was going well until I discovered a minor bit of trivia. Admiring my pleasingly perfect gasket goop lines around the water pump I noticed the pulley face was quite proud. Hmmmm, turns out there is at least two types of 4age water pumps and the one kindly donated from a mates spares is 10mm taller so the belt alignment is nogo. So a water pump hunting I will go tomorrow.

Hampton -just join an existing track day/event would be easy? Will be taking Geisha after GumBoot, Date to be decided.

It will be running by GumBoot...

Progress! A weekend of some garage time resulted in a pleasing portion of progress despite being side tracked for 3.5hours rebuilding the trailer. Much fussing and fettling has got the engine is back sitting on engine mounts, intake side of engine bolted back together and sprinkled with shiny new bolts. Sump now has some clearance from the steering rack although I will see if I can get a little more.

A middling modicum of mediocre mumblings to minute. Engine mount that had been super duper reinforced and rebuilt including 4mm plate over the top has been prepped. Needed to cut a hole in the new reinforcing plate so I can get the mounting nut back on... The turbo oil feed pipe had been weeping so I replaced it with a new shiny one. This tiny tumbling twist of terrible torture took a tortuous time to get right. Gumboot is getting closer and my withdrawal symptoms from driving getting worse. Daydreaming of driving her so much it tried to indicate in the hilux and turned the windscreen wipers on. Working through the detail and trying to get clearance between sump and cross member I pulled the gearbox tie mount bolt. Looks like it has kissed tarmac speed humps occasionally.

KEEN, assuming my car survives the Gumboot...

Funny way to get your escort complied for the road... More pics and details please to increase my jealousy. Driving and legal?

Attempting to wake sleeping beauty hit a little snag Super winged sump hid a dirty little secret. The wing interfered with the starter motor and some fettling with a persuader (Aka hammer) revealed 1/2" of bog covering a leaking seam! This car needs to drive to Leadfoot (Feb 2015) so join the chorus to give Doug peerpressuremotivation...

So my little geisha girl is not going to give up her bling bling shoes yet. My super bargain steels get 3 out of 5. According to NCEA makes that a pass, but not in by books. Dia good, width good, PCD good, but offset not so much and centre hole small. Ah well, I do actually like the bling and don't dislike them enough to pay lots to change them. A little light retail therapy. Right TCA needs replacing so might as do well do both and get some nolathane in too.

Progress has been made! And not just buying stuff, although there has been a little of that… BMAC has kindly welding up the intake plenum and fixed the engine mount. Now I just need to try and remember how it all goes back together after so long. Committed to GumBoot round 2 so better hurry up! A little bamboozled by some plumbing. See //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/44851-rwd-4age-water-works-advice-please/ Made up The List, it came to a page long and promptly got to work buying stuff that was not even on the list. I just could not resist these wheels and super bargain. They should do three things I hope. Actually be round unlike the silver ones from my Felicity my Green Mk1, fit over front brakes hopefully, look super awesome. Now you see bling bling modernity Now you don’t

I am bolting my little Geisha girl back together now the intake plenum and engine mount has been welding up courtesy of BMAC. (Cheers mate) I am a little bamboozled buy some plumbing I found. See red rectangle in pic. There is a large expensive looking braided hose coming from the back of the engine that has been plugged. And the back of the water pump housing that I am holding looks to have a corresponding outlet that is also plugged. Any ideas why they might be plugged? What does it do? Car run fine on the GumBoot with this set up. I didn't find it until removing intake plenum. Had rock steady water temp over many enthusiastic kms. Second question. There is a little gasket in the red oval at the top of the pic where the water rail bolts on. Is it possible to buy this? Where? Or do I need to cut one from sheet? Cheers