NikolaiM Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Project is nearing the first stage of completion, thought I'd give it a post here (bored on Sunday!) Will start this in chronological order. --- Very end of October last year... So I bought a 1974 British Hillman Avenger from a GP Forums user, got it for a steal at $2000 with a new (used) clutch just installed along with a gearbox clean and general underbody clean, as well as some rust repair already complete. So this is it when I got it, took it straight for a wash as it was filthy. As you can see, it's pretty straight which is great. Still original paint and original pinstripe. The old bags, the big bus driver steering wheel... And sitting at home with it's buddy - The_Jim's KE35. Went to rip everything out - especially all the old rotten carpet, and find the cause of the leak (getting ready for dynamat, sound deading behind the dash, new carpet etc) Back seats out Back tray, ready for replacement, as well as new Sony 6x9's. Bloody heater! Seems like the heater tap (just behind this) was causing a huge amount of water to leak into the cabin. Bypassed for now. --- Original Engine Bay: Avenger Forum Meet: Fixing some leaks.... Don't have the photo, but from factory there is a big piece of foam glued to this piece of metal. God knows why someone decided that was a good idea. So I took it off, and great news! Rust! For those who don't know, straight through these rust holes is where the cold air intake is for the heater, if there's no heater, it goes straight through to the floor ---- New exhaust, courtesy of Mr Muffler, Onehunga. ---- Decided to take it to ByGone Autos in Beach Haven (AKL, North Shore) and put in an SR20DE. Yes, it's non turbo - I feel like I should learn to properly drive it first, then it's a very simple repower to go to the DET, as well as not wanting to deal with all the turbo pains just now. Look ma! No trans-tunnel chopping involved! Got some wheels... 225/50/15: Rear : 15/8 205/50:15: Front : 15/7 Oh hello... 3.7 Hilux diff. This coming Tuesday (22nd May) it's off to an auto-sparkie in Titirangi - will post up a heap of photos on Tuesday. The car is ready to start, so once wired it'll be driving. However, it'll only be on old crappy wheels as my rear guards need some loving!!! I'm borrowing a mates guard roller this coming Saturday and hopefully it should work out fine - any tips on using it properly? This is what I need to deal with... Test fitting, yes the tread is the wrong way! Exhausts line up! Such a ridiculous conversion in terms of everything fitting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikolaiM Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 Heaps more photos to come. The air-intake is through the guard in the wheel arch, and a divider has been made to keep it clean of any crap coming off the wheels into the pod filter - so it's a legit cold air intake. The original pedal-box was modified to suit, didn't use a new pedal box. Using a giant Nissan(?) Forklift Radiator Front Brakes are Volvo 4 pot calipers with BMW vented rotors. Rear brakes are S13 standard with boring pads, also BMW rotors, non-vented. (Photos stolen from Richard - RPM Photography as we have the exact same front-brakes - done by the same mechanic!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikolaiM Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 Bad quality audio. But as you can hear... noisy tappets I guess the previous owner gave it a hard life. It's also hard to hear - but it has a problem at warm idle. Basically, dead cold start = idles at 1000RPM, no problems. Once it's warm though, it idles between 700RPM - 1000RPM, never stable, always bouncing around. I feel like the TPS is a bit buggered, maybe the spring?, or perhaps something not quite right with the accelerator pedal linkage as a tiny tap on the pedal will send it to 1500RPM straight away, and the pedal is super touchy. If anyone is keen to have a look (In the Epsom area) and to give it a proper tune, super keen with beers etc. The other problems are that although we cut out a lot of the front-inner guard, there's still a little bit more to do as occasionally I still get rub in the front. Off to a panel-beater this week to get the rear guards sorted out, as can only fit old crappy Nankangs on it for now Lowered the front a bit too, looks boss _b Plans are: #1 - Sort out rear-guards to get rear wheels on. #2 - Sort out warm idle/pedal issues #3 - Speedo cluster (from an auto Bluebird) not reading past 30km/h, wildy inaccurate anyway, replace with a proper manual SR20DE-something cluster - check speed sender? #4 - Fuel sender not sending anything (unfortunate as it was out of the same car the engine was from) #5 - Sort out dash, headlight & number plate switches, wiper switch and fluid pump #6 - dynamat & carpet #7 - New seats & seatbelts (eg set of front & rear Recaros from a Golf or similar, modified to suit) #8 - Dodgy warrant + rego until I go for cert #9 - Trackday!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikolaiM Posted June 16, 2012 Author Share Posted June 16, 2012 Rear guards had to be pumped out quite a reasonable amount, with lots of paint cracking etc so we've sprayed that over with some semi-matched paint; didn't put much effort into it as I will be going for a full panel and paint at the end of the year/early next year anway. However, it looks really good and staunch, they managed to do it without breaking the seam welds between the two skins. Have also mounted bullet mirrors in the middle of the fenders. Also, if anyone is keen to tune my SR20DE (See: suspected dodgy AFM/TPS and distributor needs a reset, running rich/rough idle) in a month when I'm back from work-related overseas trip, will pay $$$. Central Auckland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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