100 replies to this topic

[Scuba-Roo]

Finally bought this thing and im keen as to get into it. It used to belong to my old man and he bought it in the mid to early 80's i believe. Since 2011 its sat in the back yard crying out for some love. It wasnt till i started taking photos of old car shows that i started to appreciate it. Not mention realise what condition it was in.




Currently its got a red 253 v8, extractors to a 2.5" single exhuast, toyota celica 5spd box, and izuzu truck clutch. Runs on LPG and petrol.

It's got the premier front end with air craft landing lights, full GTS dash, and if i recall correctly mazda 626 seats.

Plan is to replace the driveline with an EFI 5L from and early commodore and swap the gearbox too.

Monaro front lip/spoiler thingy, GTS fluted guards,
Full respray, maybe a better looking tray some cool wheels and get some colour code going with the interior. Ultimately i want a cool cruiser that has a bit of go, reliable and will tow a skid/track car/wakeboat

But first on the list is to get this thing blue slipped and rego'd and drive the thing!

And i might be going to inspect this on friday.



I guess the bonnet pins are a bit of a give away.. 308 with the efi heads and 5spd manual. Hope it checks out alright

Taken me long enough to get a car that in my books is worth sinking some cash and time into

[Morgan]

Super cool!!

Premier front end looks the goods. Can't wait to see the progress.

What's the rust situation like?

[skillionaire]

Hi,

Is that a Jacuzzi?

Cheers,
Nik

[Scuba-Roo]

Its had a few rust repairs over the years. Their is a couple bits of surface rust starting to appear, nothing major from what i can see. I doubt/hopw i'll be getting the welder out thats for sure

Its a spa. Ute trays make great storage

[allpaw4]

Very nice. My old man used to have one, warm 308 with yella terra heads, a bit of work done, GTS front rather than premier, and it went like the clappers. He knew how to drive it too, went past many a car on the way home through the adelaide hills with it.

Look forward to seeing this thread grow...

[Alex]

Nothing but love for the old kingas

[RX25SE]

Old Holden..........pffft.

Mild interest shown.

[Scuba-Roo]

Haha Jase, i think this theead will be mostly picking your brain

[Scuba-Roo]

Like are these a decent copy?
http://www.rarespare...product=GMH1015

The GTS mirrors are about the same price from rare spares as they are from kingswood country, which would you reccomend? Or are they both pretty much the same!

[Scuba-Roo]

Picked up the commy yesterday, its rough as, but should be good as i only want the engine and gearbox. and it sounds wicked! pacemaker extractors into a cat and single 2.5" pipe all the way to the rear.

Loaded the tonner up onto my mates car float today and took it to his dads shed. Drove it over the pit and had a look under the cab and theirs a fair bit more rust there than i first thought. Sucks a doodle.

So at this stage the plan of attack is to strip is down and get the cab down to bare metal and see what exactly needs doing, fix as much as i can myself, and then send the rest of to the body shop, and have it done there and then resprayed etc.

Since im going that far it looks like this has turned into a pretty big restoration straight of the bat.

[Adam]

It always does

[CRUISN]

Look forward to updates. Got a soft spot for this series. Been there..... Spent a shit load of time and money on my first car.

[aekOne]

nice bonnet pins

[Adam]

Seriously low amount of pics in this thread, for someone who owns a camera.

[Scuba-Roo]

Haha, taking lots of photos of the car doesnt doesnt change its progress. Ive only washed it then trailed it to my mates place where it is now.

I'm in the process of moving out of home aswell. So i wanna get that sorted before i start stripping the ute.

And im pretty flat out rslc natio and brothers birthday this weekend, mates wedding next weekend, easter and a few week outage/shutdown going on at work then too (6days 10hr shifts)

But then the pictures will start. Mainly so i can remember how it all goes back together

[Adam]

Awesome!

Love restorations!


Zip lock bags and a texta!

[Scuba-Roo]

QT engine number in the commy. Bit weird but i guess it'll make rego easier seeing as though its for a HQ-HZ.

Attn Jase:
Wiring loom, should i send the original loom in the Tonner and the hacked up EFI loom to Al and get him make up a fresh loom?

Or would i be better going for a painless loom or the cae/4blok looms?

Orr give it a go myself?

Not that i need it tomorrow but i cant stop thinking about it.

[Grant]

Should hit up Iain on facey Mark, he'll have alot of answers I reckon
Although he may still be on his honeymoon so he may not reply for a bit.

[R-Y]

Love these things, my uncle has a fully restored one in black with the tray back. Will try and get you some pictures for some inspiration but put it this way, if he ever sells it ill be buying it no questions.

Also If you need any advice along the way he is your man. Has restored 2 of them as well as 2 statesmen station wagon and his current project is a statesman sedan. Ill try and get some more info on the black one tonner as well.

Look forward to seeing progress on this.

[Scuba-Roo]

finally got stuck into it tonight. didnt know what parts to remove first so we decided to start at the front and work our way back.

and this is what i ended up with
















My good mate hard at work



The engine harness is a bit different to a suby


hopefully this week we can get the engine and gearbox out, and come close to lifting the cab off.

I'ma try pick up the panels next time im there strip the doors at home and 'hopefully' get some of the panels to the blasters next week.

http://www.bicarb.com.au/index1.htm

Definitely gonna have my welder out for a few little rust spots, but i dont think it will be that bad.