107 replies to this topic

[El_Freddo]

Can you get new seals for this thing anymore? Or at least an aftermarket one?

Currently I can still get new seals for just about everything. Once the rear wheel bearing stock runs out I’ll be in trouble foe both the brumby and the L series. If I have trouble sourcing stuff for the EJ22 I’ll probably look at swapping to the EJ251 or a turbo setup, but that’s a bit OTT for what I need in this vehicle.

What am i looking at here with the hub setup?

Ah there it is... so, L series rear swing arm, EJ backing plate (modified for the three bolt L series mounting), sandwich plate originally made by Bratgeebah (Ausubaru fella and good friend of mine) with a custom hub based on the XT6 from the US (also originally made for the kit by Bratgeebah, this set modified again by Dfyol, also from Ausubaru) - basically an EJ hub and bolt pattern with the splines of the EA rear stub axle. This allows me to run bigger brakes and the 5x100 stud pattern, opening up many rim options which should also open up different options for offroad tyres. I have a set of Audi 15 inch “pepper pots” waiting to have new rubber fitted then mounted to Ruby Scoo. Should be awesome once it’s all done.

I still have a couple of things to sort out - 1) reaming the ball joint mount to 10 degree taper (EA is 7 degrees) and 2) what front drive shaft to use - it looks like an off the shelf option with an EJ shaft but it seems that no one can confirm or deny this actually works. Time will tell...

All of this will give me better brakes over the EA turbo 4 wheel disc setup I have at the moment. All other EA powered vehicles came with rear drums. It will also go from 4x140 stud pattern (Uber hard to find rims for) to the much more common 5x100 - and open up all EJ brake combinations. I’ll be running factory RS with the vented rear discs - so essentially Gen1 turbo spec. It should be more than I need!

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Last post JUL21. OCT21-ish Ruby a Scoo was loaded up with all of her project parts and trailered to M&Ds to live under a tarp as we worked out where wed be moving to (landlord wanted vacant possession for sale).

Fast forward almost three and a half years of living under said tarp and the tarp is pretty knackered. Ruby Scoos paint didnt fair too well but overall things look better than I was expecting.

Best bit was the start up. Fresh battery, jerrycan of new fuel, gave her a kick with the key (after turning the engine over by hand a tiny bit) and she fired up no worries. That was last night in the space of about 15 minutes. Lost daylight after that. She drove out of the paddock to the driveway on one almost completely flat tyre.

This morning tyres were pumped up, windscreen washed, fired up and let to reach thermo fan operation temp. Then we went for a drive! Brakes are woeful due to surface rust, but something is there working so that was good. Everything except the taco and cruise control work so Im pretty stoked!



Got an exhaust leak, some small vibrations (not worried about those) and a head unit that only wants to work when it wants to but wont play music

Now to drive her the hour and a half home. Shell be right!

Cheers

Bennie

[allpaw4]

Good to see it lives again!

Also amazed that it took that little amount of effort to get it going after that sort of duration!

[El_Freddo]

Hey Ben, I wasn’t expecting a fight as it was running when parked. I dare say it probably would’ve had a crack on the old fuel but I though adding 20L of some fresh stuff was beneficial and would be better for the engine anyway…

The drive home today was flawless really. Cruised well, pulled up hills etc. Weird driving without a tacho and I reverted to using my GPS speedo on the phone as 100km/h didn’t feel like 100km/h!! Too slow was the sensation even though I cruise in the brumby often enough. Between driving the Pajeros, the brumby and my sister’s Liberty it was interesting that my internal speedo felt we were going slower than the speedo was saying, even though it was correct… I managed to get the stez to fire up and play the CD that was in it so that was a bonus! Had a Florence and the Machine album in there, ceremonials if I recall correctly.

Things to sort out:
- work out why the cruise won’t engage. Could be the cable jumped out of the holder bracket near the throttle body.
- exhaust - got a small leak that fires up under load, not noticeable at cruise. Also have it touching the body at the rear so it makes some interesting rumbling sounds when off throttle.
- work out why the rear windows won’t operate at all (electric)
- sort out the camber on the rear left. Very cock-eyed atm!
- tidy her up in general and prep her for Subinats25. Will need a mate to drive it as I want to take the brumby too…
- sort out the shifter knuckle - the garden hose bush I made in 2016 before leaving WA for home is good and all but I want a bit more precision and predictability
- sort out the exhaust to have the Subi burble it used to have (currently runs EJ201/251 almost UEL extractors)


Got a five stud conversion in the wing’s too. All the bit plus the rims I want to run are in the back.

That all for now other than MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Install immobilisers to your pride and joy(s)!! Or at the very least a hidden kill switch!

Ruby Scoo was the victim of an attempted theft last night. Police report made - as did another neighbour who had their car broken into a rummaged through. I’m now waiting to see what the local police do before I touch anything.

Two things worked in my favour - firstly, Ruby Sports a discreet immobiliser. No flashy light to say I’m immobilised! The best bit is, and this is the second thing that worked in my favour, Ruby Scoo borrowed Redback Brumby’s battery to drive home from storage at M&D’s. So there was no battery to begin with.

The would be thief was “very respectful” as they used a screw driver to remove the cowling from the steering column to access and remove the ignition switch from the back of the key barrel. After nothing happened when they used the ignition switch I think they flicked every switch on the dashboard hoping one was a kill switch - only to come up with nothing. They popped the bonnet to assumably look for a battery switch/disconnect only to find no battery - at which point I suspect the endeavour was abandoned and they moved on, leaving the driver’s door open - the only thing that alerted me to someone tampering with my vehicle.

Apparently CDs or my 20yo headunit wasn’t good enough for them either - both were left with the CD having been removed from the glovebox and left on the passenger seat.

This is the second time cars were targeted for theft or their valuables stored in the vehicles. Last year a neighbour had their VE Commo stolen by using the car keys the thieves got from breaking into the house while they slept. That was taken from their driveway.

Ruby Scoo was parked on the street. Basil, the Gen3 RX Liberty was parked beside Ruby Scoo and seems untouched. I would’ve thought Basil was the better pick of the two vehicles - less conspicuous of the two and a pot load faster! Also happens to be full of fuel too…

Get those immobilisers and kill switches sorted! Or if you’re lucky enough to have a shed get them locked up in there or off the street at least - still no guarantee they won’t be touched, just less likely from opportunistic f’wits.

Cheers

Bennie

[duncanm]

Wow - sure sounds like a targeted theft attempt - why else would someone spend so much time trying to steal an old L series?

[El_Freddo]

Turns out not targeted - they just wanted wheels to drive. There was another mate’s car at the other end of the street that was another attempted theft, and they busted the screw driver in the ignition barrel! Then on top of that they hit up another vehicle at the local mechanic’s but I’m unsure if they did some petty theft or was an attempt vehicle theft.

The local police are already on to them. Apparently they’re on some very clear CCTV footage and being that they’re not smart ppl they may have stayed at the local caravan park. That could be wrong but either way, the police are on to the thieves (seems that there were two of them from what I understand - that or the police are good at not saying “the male” or “the female” in convos.

Anyway, Ruby Scoo and our neighbour’s cars are all still here which is the main thing.

Time to get some cameras to keep an eye on our (not so) sleepy little town (anymore).

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

And it turns out those pricks buggered my ignition barrel.

Not happy. Ruby Scoo now stuck out on the street until I sort out a work around. Thinking is to pull the steering column and remove the steering lock/ignition barrel and reinstall the column. Then I’ll be able to drive her across the street and into our back yard where it’s only real threat is a fire coming through town. Hoping that doesn’t happen!

Cheers

Bennie