Well I thought it was time for a bit of an update!

I've pulled down the motor, and it's pretty sound, the bores are good all measure round and on size at .060 over with no lip , the crank is in good nick, although it has been ground .030 on the mains, and .020 on the rod journals.
the cam and lifters are like new, it's got a Melling high volume oil pump, double row timing chain and sprockets are like new.

some pics......
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So I went out and spent some bucks on ebay us, I bought a re-ring kit, new balancer (because someone had decided a FBH was the right method of installation and removal for harmonic balancers!)
Electronic dizzy, high volume mechanical fuel pump and rod, a chrome dipstick, and some dress-up bits

Finned sump.JPGFinned dust cover.JPGFinned trans sump.JPG
all that and a new hone, cost me $ 510.99 Australian Dollars..............I keep having to check I've got that right, it just seems too bloody cheap!!!



I'm also on to a set of the original finned rocker covers, the air cleaner, and an alternator bracket, for cheap, but I don't have them yet, so I won't count my chickens, just yet!
The heads are away now being serviced, and should be back next week.

So it's all coming along nicely, and the budget is still looking good... I'll get the motor back together, then I'll rip apart the trans and make sure it's all good too.

I'll update the running cost when I know how much it's going to cost to get it all over here, which I won't know 'till my mate receives all the stuff.

In the mean time I'm on to a EL XR6 Borg Warner 3.45:1 LSD for $300, they're basically the same width as an HQ diff (actually about 20mm narrower) with disc brakes etc, plus they're tough as nails, and about a quarter of the price of a VL turbo diff, that is exactly the same thing! I'll have the axles re-drilled, and weld on the spring hangers, then all I need is a finned cover for it to go with the other finned bits!
I've got a couple of other jobs to finish up before I start the body work on the ute, when I get close to starting that, I'll start to organise the interior as well.

Cheers, Scotty.