Another EK Ute on SA Roads

[In the Shed]

Hi Folks
Time to tidy up the back of the Ute. I had picked up a load of compost a while ago and after it sat in the back for a week it started to damage my timber floor by taking the gloss off. So I have decided to repolish the floor and cargo strips. Before I do that I am going to repaint the panels and sides / tailgate. Have got the KBS paint to try.

Stephen

[In the Shed]

Stripping & scraping the crappy paint ....

[In the Shed]

Working my way cleaning off the old paint above the floor and below.

[In the Shed]

Found the drain tube was rusted off underneath so flared a piece of 5/16" copper and soldered it in with some silver solder. Should be all good now.

Regard
Stephen

[Errol62]

Fiddly job getting all that jam off Stephen. How are your knees?


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[rosco]

One of the mongrel jobs, Stephen.... and to think, I painted so much of that blasted stuff on myself... grrrr - never again.

Love your drain concept.... I did the same with the little '77 Corona I have.. drilled out the dog leg bends in the lower corners of both front and rear windscreens... and fitted drainage tubes... I ran hoses down to under the car - so that when I washed it, I could see if water was running out... if not, time to unblock them.

I have a very strong philosophy.... if water can get in, it needs a way to get out.... gravity will usually do enough if drain ports are provided, but in some cases - they need a little hand... I made up an "airflow" draught type arrangement under my battery box - a tube with an angled end which enters the airflow under the vehicle..... it "draws" anything in the battery box out when the vehicle is at speed..... got the idea from a grey motor crankcase breather pipe....

Pix if requested.

frats,
Rosco

[In the Shed]

Hi folks,

Been a bit slack in not uploading some further pics of my ute after tidying up the tray. Did some repairs to the side panels with my oxy set as I don't have a mig welder (yet).

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Used the KBS chassis coating kit in satin black which worked out good. Also repolished the timber and the aluminium strips as well.

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Also tidied up the remote control for my electric winch that is mounted under the parcel shelf. Used a trailer connection to keep it tidy.

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The winch makes it a breeze to load the bike on my own although don't really need it for the lightweight jap stuff mainly the heavy British stuff

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Regards
Stephen

[Errol62]

Nice work Stephen. Those little trailer plugs in cast alloy look great. Jap bike?!

FB ute driver, EK van project

[In the Shed]

Nice work Stephen. Those little trailer plugs in cast alloy look great. Jap bike?!

FB ute driver, EK van project

Yep Clay, a neat little Yamaha with a few modern features that I'm not use to! Mind you it is now 25 yrs old but has only travelled 6600 kms in that time.
S

[In the Shed]

After driving the ute for the past 8+ yrs with no handbrake decided to pull the wheels and have a look. Passenger side looked ok.

Passenger side all OK

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Drivers side a different story. All I found was this screw, dunno where that came from but hex nipple (as per passenger side) no where to be found?

Drivers side

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Made up a brass nipple and silver soldered it on. That won't come off anytime soon. I can now dispense with the block of wood that I have been carrying around as my wheel chock (aka handbrake).

All sorted

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Stephen

[Blacky]

Isn't it funny how you will put up with a niggling problem like that for years only to find its a simple fix

[Errol62]

Must be a reproduction cable I think with the brass hex end Stephen. You’re a better solderer than me I’m sure. I’d say the originals have a swaged heavy alloy ball on the end. My retrocables fb hr one had cylindrical swaged stops.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[In the Shed]

Yes that was my thought Clay, a repro cable. Probably why it failed!

Blacky
Yes, got another couple issues to fix........... one day

[In the Shed]

A good friend at work asked me if I could take her youngest lad to his year 6 graduation in the ute? Seems he thinks the old ute is "cool", so I was happy to pick him up and run him to the graduation venue. There was a big crowd at the drop off point so he was pretty chuffed.

Stephen

[In the Shed]

On the way home I took the opportunity to take a couple pics at a small servo from yesteryear that has recently closed. There are very few of these little servos around as they have all given way to large corporations that sell hot dogs, groceries, coffee and sometimes petrol. Hopefully the new owner does not demo the garage as I reckon it is a great piece of local history.

Stephen