Another EK Ute on SA Roads

[Errol62]

Happy outcome


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[In the Shed]

When I bought my Ute years ago it never had the spare wheel clamp. Having the rare factory high performance grey motor there is the real risk of the spare wheel flying out the back when taking off from the lights

Have a spare sedan wheel clamp which I had considered trying to modify but thought I’d have a go at knocking something up that might be similar to the original style as I didn’t fancy paying $300+ on flea bay for an original one. Started this a couple months ago but it stalled until I bought my MIG welder. So time to try and multi task in making this and fluffing around learning to do panel work all the time avoiding other jobs around the house that are probably a higher priority

Made up a cardboard template as below.

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Cut a piece of RHS steel (fence rail) 38mm x 25mm. My piece is 1.2mm, ideally a piece in the same dimension but 1.6mm would probably be better.

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Drilled a hole and finished the ends, then had a go at bending the piece into a curve using the vice. A hydraulic press would be better but I don’t have one. Used some pipe and a socket.

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The steel had a bit of a lobster back so use a formed block of timber to try and smooth the curve out, with some success. Used the anvil to flatten the side pieces.

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Made up a retaining bolt with a crush tube & spacers as well as tacking the side pieces where I had made a relief cut. Threw some paint on it and it looks like this.

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[In the Shed]

Finished job, holding (from memory) a 165 x 13” tyre.

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Stephen

[Blacky]

Nice work if you make a couple more I am sure Clay and myself would be happy to take them off your hands

[In the Shed]

Nice work if you make a couple more I am sure Clay and myself would be happy to take them off your hands

Yeah……. nah! Hoping this might inspire you to make your own, when you get back to full speed and complete a WHS audit of your shed

[Errol62]

I’ll take two, thanks mate!

165 is as wide as will fit through the door. If you cut the rear floor support away you can just get away with a 195 under the masonite board.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie