Axistr new project

**axistr** · 24-05-2019, 07:34 PM

I managed to get the rest of the interior in today. Took my time and the underlay and moulded carpet fitted perfect. Scuff plates and seats fitted, then the door trims. Ha Ha again had a few issues. The same company that supplied the seat covers also did the door trims. Last time I got them to make me some door trims for my SLR they supplied all the clips etc and all the holes were cut out. This time no clips, no holes cut out and they forgot to fit the weather strips. No big problem just took time, at least it didn't have to pull them apart and repair them first. Bloody hell I sound like a big winger, anyway they do look good.

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Just as I finished I had a local wildlife member turn up for a close inspection. He stood there for more than ten minutes just staring at the van. I got within two foot and took this photo but it didn't move, He even hopped under the van to look at the underside, I don't know what he found so interested but just hung around for ages checking it out.

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The finish line is getting close, I have to make a decision on the wheel soon, do a bit more engine tuning and drive it down for the rego inspection. Unfortunately I will have to put it up for sale soon but might have to take it to the drive in for old time sake first.

**Kiwivan** · 24-05-2019, 09:03 PM

Beautiful work

Cheers Kiwivan

**Valencia** · 24-05-2019, 09:18 PM

Looks great Lenny cant wait till i get to that stage but im thinking 2021 for me
Your not a whinger mate you just want shit done right the first time
i can fully relate to that 100 %

**Kiwivan** · 25-05-2019, 09:45 AM

Some projects I have had to do a couple of times because some tradies just don’t care.
But some are awesome.
For some it’s just a job not a passion.

Cheers Kiwivan

**axistr** · 29-05-2019, 07:06 PM

Tuning time. The heat tube to the auto choke had a crack in it so I braised it up when I did the engine overhaul, but I stuffed up and brass had run into the tube and blocked it. The choke wouldn't go all the way off. I don't think you can buy them anymore or trying to find a good secondhand one in good condition would be a big ask. Decided to make a new heat riser. I have heaps of 1/4" bundy tube and flair tool so thought I would have a go. Cut the old pipes off the old bracket that bolts to the inlet manifold and used the old nut. Flared one end of the pipe then bent the pipe in the middle around a 17mm die 180 degrees then put both ends back through the bracket/plate. Then bent the ends to the same angles as original. A bit tricky but worked out ok, then silver solder the tube to the plate.

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I had flat spots in the carby and generally wasn't happy with the way the quadrajet was working. decided to remove and strip it. The carby was reconditioned by a company that specialises in them but its been sitting around for a while and the overhaul was organised by my mate just before I purchased the van. I haven't done a quadrajet in the last twenty years and not a expert on them, but hay all carbys work on the same principals. when I stripped it I remembered how fiddly they are. Took me four hours checking and setting everything up. I found the primary jet part throttle settings was way out, and the secondary linkages were around the wrong way so they would have never opened. Had to resort to finding a sematic for the vacuum hoses on line. All sorted I put the carby back on. I also left out the plug in the top of the housing and made a mixture adjusting tool. Let it worm up and set the cold high idle step screw. Once at operating temperature set the timing and idle mixtures, then raised the engine speed to 3,000 rpm and set the part throttle mixture setting through the hole in the carby top. Reset idle speed and idle solenoid. Big, big difference. runs sweet. No rego so didn't take it out on the road but my driveway enabled me to get into third and 70kph so I think that's a good enough test.

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**Robbo** · 29-05-2019, 10:46 PM

Well done, not long now till rego.

**axistr** · 21-06-2019, 05:24 PM

I managed to track down four new 225/60R14 tyres and new wheel centre caps. Time to do some refurbishing work to the rims. Photo doesn't show how poor condition they are in. But I like the thought of saving around $1,600.00

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Started out by giving them a rub down with 400 grit sandpaper. Then a quick hand rub with scotch brite, and finished with Frits polishing cream and buffed them with a cotton ball buff tool attached to my cordless drill, repeated the drill buff step again and again.

Six hours later I got to the masking up stage on every bloody wire on all four rims. To make things more painful the local Auto paint shop only had 6mm wide thin tape and the front of the wires are 3.5mm so I had to cut off the excess, a real pain but worth it in the end. Wax and grease remover over all the spokes followed by etch primer then three coats of Saturn black paint. New tyres and centres turn up on Monday, so it should be roadworthy and ready for the blue slip next week.

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I decided to order a hockey stick strip kit from Stickthis which will take a few weeks for them to supply. I was hoping to take it to the all Holden day at clarendon in six weeks but it looks like I'm not going to make the deadline as I have heard the entries are already closed.

**axistr** · 02-07-2019, 08:18 PM

The new wheel centres turned up last week, fitted new boots all round so I can tick the wheels off the list of things to do. Hocky stick stripes ordered and hopefully turn up in the next few weeks. Taking it for a rego inspection tomorrow then I can drive it around and take it to the local exhaust centre to get a new duel exhaust made.

Wheels look and come up better than expected and look almost new. I'm glad I decided to keep with the Hotwires I reckon they suit the Sandmans.

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