'79 last of the line know you've got a patrol slow rebuild

[Esteban]

That is definitely one for the archives.

Worth of a calendar!

[dawkinsdisciple]

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Grandad has had the tray stripped off and dragged out so the chassis given a solid blast with the high pressure along with the engine bay. New oil filter, points and an oil change later and it is apparently running a lot better. The new clutch master and slave cylinders have also been sorted but not fitted. looking good and going good now.

Likewise, will start investigating a new timber tray for it, anything else just seems a bit... improper. Likewise, yep, the roo killer bar will stay on the front for at least the drive down. From QLD through NSW dawn and dusk will throw up some car killing monsters.

Much thanks to Dad for keeping keen on it on the other side of the continent. Work's a b*tch for trying to organise the trip up and down but patience at the moment as there's a trip to Japan first and up in the air after that.

A couple of quick questions;

I had a look at the bigger brake master cylinder sticky, cool, but didn't find much info on what's involved if you want to fit discs (mq/k?) to the front? I'm inclined at this point to go for adjusting as well as possible the existing (new) drums, take it easy and cross the fingers, thoughts?

Likewise, have a wad of other parts ready to go including new wheel cylinders with 4wdproducts, but have heard resleeving the original cylinders is a better idea. Again, thoughts?

Have also started the search to replace the split rims, what's the offset on the patrol rims and what's a popular replacement for them (have heard Mazda Bravo B2600 rims)?

Found this thread - http://www.60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2235 - but more tyre than rim talk.

Cheers fellas.

[RiverPatrol]

Great progress. Nice that you've got someone to help you with the mechanical stuff.

There isn't much info on fitting disc brakes because there isn't a standard way to make the modification. Each attempt is purely custom. There has been rumors that mq discs will swap over, but no one has ever done a write up on it, or shared the results. We didn't get mq in the States, so we can't try that mod.

Wheel cylinders are so cheap at 4wdproducts there's really no reason to resleave the old cylinders.

The offset of a wheel depends on the width of a wheel, as I recall. It's the backspacing that you need to look at. I think the Patrol wheel backspacing is 4.25". Toyota Landcruiser wheels will fit. So will later Patrol wheels.

[jawapro]

Likewise, will start investigating a new timber tray for it, anything else just seems a bit... improper.

If it's any use - you can have the tray from Sandy when you get back to Tassie.


(sorry - I don't have any photos from the back)

[dawkinsdisciple]

River: Huh. That explains that then. With the initial focus being to get it on the road, I might keep the drums for now and see how much I hate them first... Have been caught in the rip tide of moving the project down the road before getting it on the road first. As such, first thing's first.

Likewise, cheers, will keep the information in mind for the wheels.

Jawa, duuuuuuuude... I'll provisionally put my hand up for that one on the big but that I had planned on trying to get some sh*t down here from the north but the old tray can probably be cobbled back together for the needy there. Will see and let you know.

In other news, there was an issue with the clutch master so a replacement is being sourced and on the wheel cylinder front, will likely just go with the cylinders and drum lining package that 4wd products do then.

Thanks again fellas.

[dawkinsdisciple]

In penance for duplication of photos (only just realised), here's another one - nice contrast between average and above average condition!

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And the lack of any tow backhoe means... It's running well enough it moves under it's own power nicely now! Oil change and not much tweaking and off it went.

Brakes are still rubbish but next to be rebuilt. New linings, wheel cylinders and hopefully the should be slightly less rubbish. New wheel seals, rad hoses, brake master cylinder. Will probably get a carb rebuild kit too. 4wd products are putting their catalogue together, for which I am waiting for to throw a couple of other bits on to including some new wheel studs. Possibly some assorted bushes, tie rod ends and other perishables too. Oh, and engine mounts. Apparent gearbox mounts are ok but engine mounts are on the not side of great.

Dad's also on the lookout for new rims at which point, I'll see if I can stick some slightly bigger wheels on it (like an inch or two, I know these don't lift easily).

And on that, have heartily decided to keep it as stock as possible. For now.

[L60Boerne]

You guys down there have alot of great toys...too bad your toys roll on the wrong side for us...otherwise you could all retire off sending us your old vehicles.....

Anyway..we are learning from you and the rest of the world that is often better to rebuild what you than pay for a new rig. No matter what the cost to rebuild....it is much cheaper than new and much easier to fix on the trail.

Patrolling to Paradise,
L60Boerne

[dawkinsdisciple]

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Hah, true and not! I'm pretty sure at least half the Mark's boxes are already in the US of and the one box on the forum is incommunicado/a super plan for the member who owns it.

And yeh, we have some fun junk like the pooters (and a few generations of manual RWD GM and Ford v8 sedans, as above, my other car, twin turbo LS SS, alas the lineage of, soon to be killed thanks terrible modern gerlytruck world) and assorted other RHD jap mobiles but you guys get... everything else, of the diesel, fourby, dana driveline, f truck, chevy truck, small block, big block and most importnantly of course to reiterate, all manner of v8 sort!! I've watched too much dirt every day, road kill and other assorted motor trend to believe you guys don't get awesome stuff for a second!

And we get cruisers and patrols... More reliable sure but more noisy, coal rolling redneck antisocial fun? Not so unfortunately! And falcadores luckily. They're awesome. Shame the market, GM and Ford don't want them anymore.

[Johnny Roadkill]

Boosted V8 Commodore on snow covered roads ? Hope you left traction control on or that would have been some wild drive, lol !

Most fun drive ever for me was in those conditions at night in a 510 wagon...continuous oppy lock at 30km/h up and over the back of the mountain into Thredbo...arrived at Jindabyne wide-eyed and buzzing after 14 hours on the road.

Thanks for the pics, brought back some good memories.
D

[dawkinsdisciple]

Hah, full disclosure, the from the front pic (can see some skids as I'd just backed it up a bit!) was where I called it quits, can see the snow starting to get deeper and the behind pic was after reversing it back down the hill a hundred metres or so to do the Austin Powers 6 point turn!

Second time I'd driven in snow, rued laughing at the sign at the bottom of the hill warning that 2wd cars needed snow chains! Halfway up to Mt Dobson/Lake Mawson, snow intensified and at 4pm and with twilight descending, chickened out and about faced when it wouldn't drive straight up a straight road, with very steep drop offs and no room to turn around. Fun and eventually, slightly terrifying, if I'd continued, it probably would have made some great front page Qld plates/car in gully facebook or mercury coverage. Deciding I didn't want to fail the mercury test of Qlder looking like an idiot in snow, I stand by my decision!

Moral of the story, take the outback up there and/or get some snow chains or the patrol down here! With work scuppering end of year road trip plans, won't be this year but do plan on doing the Vic Alps/Thredbo run at some point. Mate's family lives in Gippsland and sent some awesome pics of the first snowfall there this year. Missed out last year, had to take the Hume due to time constraints but definitely on the list, just not in an old datsun (of the rwd variety!!)