G61 - 001194 - in SA

[G60michael]

Nice! Too bad it doesn't still have the soft top.

He obviously doesn't know that I got another one Gruntys got 1 on her and the other is stored nicely in the house

[Johnny Roadkill]

Hi all,

thanks for the photos Swerve, and thanks to all for the comments and encouragement - camping this weekend, a week away later next month, but apart from that it's Patrol time !

I'm gonna be up front here, so those of you who are into fastidious, by the parts book restorations can click the "x" at the top right of your screen now...

OK, so why did I jump at a G61, when I have G60's in the yard with a nice collection of parts already ? Well, truth is I want a base for a long term project, and I've been thinking about this since I started looking at 60 Patrols - I'm not the sort of guy who likes to pull a diff out, clean it up and rebuild it with new bearings all the right endplays and tolerances, paint it up...and then ditch it later because I want to fit an MQ diff with disk brakes, a different ratio and a locker. Sure, I'm getting waaay ahead of myself here - there's so much to do to both of my project Patrols before that even appears on the radar, but I'm sure you get my point - the G61 is the perfect base for what I want to be driving at some point in the future. It has all the old-school charisma of the 60 Patrol, but can be upgraded to improve its capabilities WITHOUT modifying things too far. I like bolt-on mods, I'm not a fan of cutting cars up or drilling so many holes in them they resemble a pasta strainer, and the G61 should allow me to build the vehicle I want without ruining it by making irreversible changes to the chassis and body. As for the soft-top, it's just not practical for my purposes - I need to be able to lock it up, and with all due respect this G61 is in need of work - on pretty much everything - so I'm not making a sow's ear out of a silk purse in my opinion. The original motor is gone, and while a P motor is a perfectly sound option it's already a big step away from "matching numbers", so to me this is a perfect base for what I want to build.

Engine ? Well, the P motor is likely to get the nod to get it all running and rego'd, but I do like the look of dsh4's SD33 - and it's from the right era too. An SD33T / 5-speed combo would be a good option, but I've got lots of ideas to sift through in my head before I get to that ( like a P40, or an L28/E/T, or a TB42E, or - if my lottery numbers come up - a VH41/5-sp auto from a Leopard front-cut ).

Enough dreaming, need to concentrate on getting the '74 right, and then restoring the chassis and body on this G61 - focus, man, FOCUS !

cheers,
D

[Swerve]

Sounds like a plan.

My only advice which is based on myself and watching others over the years is.

Just get the thing driveable and registered as is (Which will still take alot of work) and then start your mods.

[Johnny Roadkill]

Sounds like a plan.

My only advice which is based on myself and watching others over the years is.

Just get the thing driveable and registered as is (Which will still take alot of work) and then start your mods.

Thanks Swerve, couldn't agree more - the second target point in my Patrol-Land is a running and rego'd G61 with what parts I already have ( first one is a gremlin-free '74 G60 ).

I'm acutely aware of the human condition and the tendency to pull something apart and then lose focus...

cheers,
D

[Esteban]

I'm gonna be up front here, so those of you who are into fastidious, by the parts book restorations can click the "x" at the top right of your screen now...
D

[RiverPatrol]

I'm gonna be up front here, so those of you who are into fastidious, by the parts book restorations can click the "x" at the top right of your screen now...
D

[Eddy]

Eddie got distracted a long time ago.

sure did, but at least he got to actually drive a G61 for some time. Drove it to work every day (120kms round trip) for several months. Ya can count the people who've done that in Australia on one hand

If not for the combination of a crook knee and a cracked block I would more'n likely still be driving it ... damn it was cool!

[Johnny Roadkill]

Eddie got distracted a long time ago.

sure did, but at least he got to actually drive a G61 for some time. Drove it to work every day (120kms round trip) for several months. Ya can count the people who've done that in Australia on one hand

If not for the combination of a crook knee and a cracked block I would more'n likely still be driving it ... damn it was cool!

...and it will be cool again - watch this space !

cheers,
D

[Eddy]

...and it will be cool again - watch this space !
D

[Swerve]

Come on update, or you buying more Patrols