Clay’s Wedgewood Blue FB Ute

[Errol62]

Still got to paint firewall, fish oil subframe and re-do the front engine mounts Glen. Lots of family time coming up with the years end. I can see me having it rolling by new year then got to do the rear around the tank and spare wheel opening. Paint dash, instal trim and glass, front guards, finish indicators and tidy up tray area and she is all go. One year in February so there is a goal.
Cheers
Clay


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[Errol62]

Big blow in Adelaide last night. The front window I removed from the ute and placed reverently on the camper trailer with sundry other bits. Just noticed it got blown off. This is why I love zone toughened screens.


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[ardiesse]

Yep. It's raining firewood here. No broken roof tiles (yet), and all the cars in Sydney metro are red. Good thing your windscreen didn't break.

Rob

[Errol62]

I’ve only got three spare ones rob


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[59wagon]

....and all the cars in Sydney metro are red.

I was wondering what you meant there Rob, then about 5 minutes after I read this I saw on the news about the dust storm - pretty crazy.

Cheers,

John

[Errol62]

Not much done. Bit of a frustrating afternoon. I was trying to install this temperature idiot light sensor in the 179 cylinder head but couldn’t get the thread to start. It seemed like the sensor was a little too big and therefore fouling on the casting above no 5 exhaust port. I need a beer!


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[Harv]

Only worry when you end the day backwards (broke more stuff or found more problems than you fixed)... had a few of those

Cheers,
Harv

[Errol62]

Quite right thanks Harv. I’ll probably fit it to the thermostat housing which currently has a rubber blank on a hose connector. I did manage to clean up the gearbox inspection cover and another rear engine mount subframe bracket. I found a rear engine mount to replace the broken one, but sheared off the moulded in mounting stud trying to remove it from its gearbox plate. Anyway I found another with the correct side plate attached and cleaned that up ready to fit to the passenger side of the bellhousing. I’ll probably use up some of that cheap black aerosol on these bits. I’m still procrastinating over revising the front engine mounts.


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[Errol62]

Dummying the engine in to redo the front mounts. Replaced the passenger side gearbox mount wit one from my stash. I cut off and trimmed down the old mounts. There is still a heap of clearance to the splash trays so might trim off a bit more.


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[EK283]

The lower the better mate,

You know the centre of gravity helps heaps when you throw it into a corner at high speed !!!

Regards Greg.

[ardiesse]

Centre of gravity, yes, but . . .
if you sit the motor down too low at the front, the gearbox rear extension housing will hit the number 1 body crossmember every time you drive over a bump. I speak from experience here.

As a guide, maybe you could attach a harmonic balancer puller, and get the crankshaft centreline aligned with the little semicircular cutaway in the front subframe tie member.

Rob

[Errol62]

Thanks Greg and Rob
Current issue is that the extension housing fouls on the handbrake bracket. Hence the need to lower at the front. The rear mounts are original due to using original trans. Previously I have had issues fouling the splash plates and from memory the sway bar gets close as well, specially if a fat one.

I like your idea Rob. I will get it close to original as I can while still clearing at the front.

At this point I am wondering whether anyone has ever tried adapting the grey motor front engine plate and using original mounts although I dare say the rear mounts taking most of the torque wouldn’t be up to the big block 186 .

Called in on the trimmer this afternoon. He can’t get anything resembling the original horizontal grain currently in the car so decided to go with a Daley’s coarse Roebuck style which is a repro of HT HQ pattern. It is a mid blue, slightly darker than the faded original. As I can’t be bothered sourcing random star from the USA we are going with the creme grid star pattern for the head lining. Trimmer will fit the lining. I did my sedan but that was a refit of original lining with some repairs. I better get a hurry on and get the dash pad painted and front back on.


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[Errol62]

Happy with the engine position now.Driver side front corner of the sump/timing cover clears the splash pan by 10mm. Welded in mounts.Once again my welding is not the tidiest, but they sure aren’t going anywhere. Sometimes I just can’t see where I’m welding properly and end up resorting to the old farmers method, take aim, shut eyes and squeeze. Guess I need to clean my lens. Being outside doesn’t help as I get reflection behind the mask and sunlight sets off the auto darkening. Anyway they are a lot better than they were.


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[Errol62]

Looking at that last photo, I might try and clearance the driver side brake tube a bit better. Just need to refit passenger side tube, paint splash trays and fisolene inside subframe. Oh and I’ve got some grommets to go in the holes in the front, Rosco style.


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[59wagon]

Still making progress mate. Keep plugging away