Project Rallyuterusodore [Archive]

rowdytoot

12-10-08, 11:07 AM

Well I've finally bitten the bullet and started this project...

So last May I had a little bingle in my VS ute, and couldn't be stuffed fixing it, but always had in my mind that I'd like to rally it, just had to get around to it...

So over the last few weeks I've been doing a little bit of motivating myself, by reading up on stuff, and perving at pp's build photos..

So I picked up a set of 15 inch alloys from my mate Brendan for 250 bucks with decent tyres for doing skids..

So last weekend I did a bit of panel beating so the front guard almost fits on it fine again.

yesterday I wacked a new battery in it and changed the coolant, and engine oil. Fired 1st go, and and did a nice big oversteery burnout down the street...

Last night I won this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180295399805

once i cash in the rego + CTP on the white car, I reckon it will have cost me maybe 200 bucks tops.. I'll then strip it of all the panels, motor, diff, wiring loom, seats etc, and bung the bits I don't want on ebay or give them to Lawrence at Speeds, in exchange for stuff I do need, and wave by by to the shell.

Todays jobs are : remove tow bar from ute, do some futher work on the front guard.

Before November the 18th I'll make an aluminium alloy sump guard and take it in a khanacross to work out what it's like on dirt, and then work the suspension out from there!

msmola2002

12-10-08, 11:18 AM

Awesome. skidz shall be had!!!! you'll leave the stereo in for acca dacca powered events? You will be needing a flanno driving suit too.

By the way that ebay ad is worse to read than the msy site. zee goggles...

Coffin

12-10-08, 11:20 AM

Mmmmmm uterus

Euroboost

12-10-08, 02:57 PM

You inspired by Kobold's ute of doom?

That ebay ad looks like a kid wrote it!

rowdytoot

12-10-08, 04:14 PM

well I figure it can't hurt if PJ and I drum up a bit of Holden v Ford shit next year.....

rowdytoot

12-10-08, 06:56 PM

oh and smola- I'm thinking about putting a sezza in the tray, with some water proof speakers or somerthing... I need weight over the rear, and tyres won't fit between the cage bars.

http://www.rowdyrallysport.com/stuff/photos/IMGP1046.JPG

http://www.rowdyrallysport.com/stuff/photos/IMGP1047.JPG

the 4th 'friend' I came across today, 7th so far...

http://www.rowdyrallysport.com/stuff/photos/IMGP1058.JPG

Swill

12-10-08, 09:31 PM

Sing out if you need to know anything about what breaks and what doesnt. Whilst yours is 10 years newer its won't be much different under the skin and I've broken everthing :D

rowdytoot

12-10-08, 10:30 PM

Sounds like you're volunteering there Stevie :D

shall be in touch

Euroboost

16-10-08, 04:57 PM

Quick question, why buy the sedan? The only thing it has over the ute would be the speedo, if it really is a BT1 pack, and you don't look at that!

Take a VERY close look at the headgaskets and cooling system, my VS always ran hot and ended up blowing a gasket and killing the waterpump. I'd also replace the sump since they go brittle after awhile. I can't remember if they changed rear control arms, I've got a set of upper and lower arms, standard, off a VK with Nolathane bushes in the shed if you or Swill want them.

Oh yeah, in case you didn't know, the headlights don't seem to mind 80/130w in the main lights and 100w in the inners. I also found the nostrills did nothing for cooling, mine were blocked by my Oscars.

Euroboost

16-10-08, 05:04 PM

Another thing, and this goes for all Commodore runners, if you run steelies watch which ones you use. Apparently midway through VS production they changed the center thickness on wheels for utes, taxi, police and wagons. And VT on they added extra welds on the heavy duty wheels, there is a different part number.

rowdytoot

16-10-08, 05:26 PM

Euroboost-
It's called planning ahead :D

I need a new RF guard, bumper cover, and minor stuff for the ute.

I figure I can get a set of spare struts, radiator, LH front guard, bonnet, headlights, PS steering, K frame, control arms, motor, and another set of 15 inch alloys for almost nothing by the time I cash in the rego. Plus all the little things. I also need a set of seat runners for the maloo seats that are currently in the ute, and this will have them!

Otherwise you're talking 100 bucks for a good bumper cover, 50 for a guard, etc etc.. 200 bucks for 4 alloys etc etc etc...

oh and drop me a PM re the control arms. I don't think they changed either and if they did I'll just pass them to Swill

Swill

16-10-08, 09:50 PM

AlexinPerth

17-10-08, 02:44 PM

This thing should be ridiculous fun on gravel. I like the idea of some tunes in the back, should be a crowd favourite!

I still think that the silvia/200sx idea was better, but this is waaaaay cheaper.

Alex.

MIZ RX3

17-10-08, 03:25 PM

Rowds, I got dibs on the POwer steering Well and the lines. My bommodore needs them, then i can sell the heap - to you maybe?

Euroboost

17-10-08, 10:08 PM

Don't think Ill need or use the arms as mine are custom jobbies with rose joints. But it would be worth comparing them to mine as they are a weak spot in the commodore rally car.

Don't use steelies eva,they don't last long, mags are only $25 a throw

EuroBoost who are you in real life?

Ian.
Was a member of the BMSC until 2000, mainly as a controlie. I had the noisy green 121 Metro with the Cibies, that I rolled, and the orange 323 that shit it's self at the 2000 Braidwood rally.

Tripper

17-10-08, 10:23 PM

I still think that the silvia/200sx idea was better, but this is waaaaay cheaper.

Alex.

agree with the silvia rally car even keeping it a sr20 non turbo would of been fun, but part wise eg panels would of been expensive,

Rowdytoot any reason why the ute and not the sedan ?

Coffin

17-10-08, 10:26 PM

The ute has a currently running motor, and a new lsd in it, and 5sp manual .... and the fact that its sat out in our front yard for 12 months

Tripper

17-10-08, 10:37 PM

hairy muff then.

get back to banging the GF

Euroboost

18-10-08, 06:36 AM

Also, not many people a running utes so it's different.

Bogan

18-10-08, 08:06 AM

I've got some rear arms in the shed, and a complete diff assembly, and some other bits of shit, that can be yours really cheap. Might need a couple of bits and pieces for Tracy's car too, they'll probably be not required on a rally car (or might not fit in your ute). We should talk.

Also have some lows (or they might even be super lows) for tarmac spec if you're interested. Or maybe for Stace?

Zac

18-10-08, 08:12 AM

Progresspicsoremptythreat

rowdytoot

19-10-08, 01:18 PM

zac- get fucked :D I only got the spare car here last night, and I've been home for about 30 minutes since! And we've moving house a few weeks , so I'm not sure whether to start pulling shit apart now or wait til we're all moved, then use the week off over chrimbo to go nuts and strip both cars.. It will happen :D

Boges- already have 2 sets of front lows, a set of rear lows, and a spare diff. What do you need for traces car?

Stace- no worries, and no I now have 2 commodores, and I don't need a 3rd.

Spac has dibs on the A/C compressor etc..

Tripper; what damo said, plus cage will be easier in the ute, since the rear stays are in the open, but getting a lexan rear window made is going to be fun. The fuel tank is in a better location in the ute too, and it's lighter.

I took Spacs trailer back to his place this morning, and came home in the Nav through Wee jasper way, down mountain creek road- sooo much fun in a 2 tonne 4wd. The gemini couldn't have kept up, and the commodore will be heaps faster :D

Euroboost

19-10-08, 02:16 PM

Rear window shouldn't be that hard, ask Kobold where he got his done. I think there is a plastic mob in Wollongong st in the same complex that Capital Steering is in, they might be able to do something.

rowdytoot

19-10-08, 03:21 PM

cool, that's a little way away though, gotta the thing stripped, caged and 1/2 reassembled 1st!

Swill

19-10-08, 10:21 PM

Ian.
Was a member of the BMSC until 2000, mainly as a controlie. I had the noisy green 121 Metro with the Cibies, that I rolled, and the orange 323 that shit it's self at the 2000 Braidwood rally.

Yeah right. I'd know your face then. I think I may have a picture of one those cars in action as I was taking a few snaps at the Braidwood rally about then

Rowds. Where you guys moving to this time?

rowdytoot

19-10-08, 10:53 PM

Swill hopefully just up the road to Kaleen. Our landlord has been posted back to cntbra and wants his house back... he did offer us his investment prop in gungalin, but it's too small and too far out..

rowdytoot

05-11-08, 05:59 AM

OK so we're mostly kinda moved into the new place now.

Moving the cars turned into much hilarity.

Decided to drive the white commodore the 6 km between houses almost make it 1/2 way before the engine went bang in a big way, leaving a 400 metre trail of oil on gininderra drive... oops.

nabbed a car trailer from Spence shops( knowing I had 2 other cars to trailer across the 6 km) and, after dragging the gemini around to the new place no dramas, proceeded to attempt to winch and push white commodore onto the trailer, only to have the winch hook bend to the point where it detached.. so the car rolled back off the trailer and attempted to squash Coffin and Pete. We looked confused for a while then I decided to see if the car would start- lo and behold it started for just long enough to get it on the trailer!... but wouldn't go again when it came time to take it off the trailer. Trailer was now covered in an oil slick full of metal as well.

Moved the commodore ute last and decided that they easiest way to get the last couch to the new place was to put in the tray of the commodore and put the ute on the trailer... looked quite funny..

Once we're all settled in by the end of the week, I'll start stripping the cars on the weekend.

MIZ RX3

05-11-08, 06:30 AM

Decided to drive the white commodore the 6 km between houses almost make it 1/2 way before the engine went bang in a big way, leaving a 400 metre trail of oil on gininderra drive... oops.

Welcome to the Commodore Killing Club. You've earnt your Membership. Damo tells me it did what mine did when piston + block = no going no where. Well Done!

rowdytoot

05-11-08, 06:33 AM

I'm going to go around tonight and see if I can try and start it again.. teehehehe....

Lobster

06-11-08, 09:50 PM

Man those seat covers in the sedan are sweet as.
You should use those in the new super commodore.

Kaleen?!?! Holy crap! You are getting closer to me now!

Swill

07-11-08, 08:11 AM

*cough* install V8 *cough*

MIZ RX3

07-11-08, 08:14 AM

Man those seat covers in the sedan are sweet as.
You should use those in the new super commodore.

Kaleen?!?! Holy crap! You are getting closer to me now!

Yeah, closer to me to.. Within stumbling distance from Trino!

*cough* install V8 *cough*

*cough* needs power steering junk *cough* and stockies *cough*

Bogan

07-11-08, 08:51 AM

15" stockies? Have spares. Minimal $$s.

And a diff casing and rear calipers and lines and some other crap that is just taking up space in the shed.

*cough*

MIZ RX3

07-11-08, 08:57 AM

*cough* will take off yours hands *cough*

Bogan

07-11-08, 09:00 AM

*ahem* also have lowered King springs. Some other pieces of shit including hand brake cable. Want dollars for the wheels and springs but all else is free unless Rowdyhomo wants to give me a carton for the diff and arms *cough*.

*hoick*

*pituuo*

Ahh that's better.

MIZ RX3

07-11-08, 09:13 AM

Hehe ^^ i was trying to figure out how to spell the spit sound, but i gave up! :)

Def def interested! PM me with what you got and how much you want. ( ineed a handbrake cable !!)

Euroboost

07-11-08, 05:23 PM

*cough* still have the rear control arms with nolathane bushes waiting here*cough*

18-11-08, 03:55 PM

Cool - look forward to seeing some of this

http://www.gorallying.com.au/results/saxon2000/pics/saxon2.jpg

Did you ever get in touch with the fellow who bought my old car? You will have a ton of fun and surprise a lot of people in it, believe you me. If you want any spring rates/ideas etc from our experience, don't hesitate to ask!

Coffin

18-11-08, 04:07 PM

PP there will be!

The commodore farm grew over the weekend as I bought a VR ute 5sp to get me around until I get a new job .. which then will in turn be another spares car and shell

rowdytoot

18-11-08, 04:46 PM

Paul- yeah I did - it was in bits, and stuff, and I decided better of the idea at the time, but I figured I have to build a car myself at some stage.. :D

Euroboost- yup, you're over in QBN yeah?? I'll be making some rounds to pick some stuff up on the weekend - down to Raymonds place at tharwa, so I may as well honk over to QBN as well.

Boges - I have enough rims to last me a lifetime at the moment, but cheers dude. Also have 3 cars worth of standard brakes, diffs, and stuff!

Paul in terms of guidance- spring & shock rates would be most appreciated- or at least some guidance. I suspect we're just going to start with bilstein shocks, rather than go all out for proflex, and the ballpark for spring rates seems to be about 200 lb/in according to chats I've had with Ian Menzies, and Wayne Bell on BMSC. Set the ride heights up with some rake to the rear, and run the low speed bump valving soft??

My plan for brakes at this stage is VT front discs and calipers, and if I can get them cheap enough HSV maloo 280 mm vented rear discs and matching calipers.

Otherwise I guess given the known fuel pump issues, probably plumb an external pump in, get a decent tank guard made.

Also Paul if you know any weak points that absolutely require special treatment/plating it would be appreciated- I'm guessing the panhard bar mount, and the rear control arms, and diff brackets, strut towers(which will beseam welded as part of the cage build) .

I think you mentioned to me waaay back that you had a massive sumpguard on yours- how did you mount it?? from my quick look, I guess off the front radiator support panel, to the back of the K frame, and then???

Euroboost

18-11-08, 06:19 PM

Iirc the factory sump gaurd went from the radiator support to the K frame, I belive there are holes ready for the mounting kit. I seem to recall a guy I worked with having to space his guard down as it sat awfully close to the alloy sump.
Of course a rally spec sump guard would be designed to cope with abuse, the factory one was really meant to stop the cops from belting the sump over guttters.

19-11-08, 08:17 AM

I will see what I can dig up in the way of cheat sheets etc - some are hand written in regards to suspension settings so will scan in when I can. I think I also have a stack of photos of the build somewhere - been 6 years since I sold mine! I can assure you though that it was the most fun and easy car to drive I have competed in :)

Build photos:

http://www.gorallying.com.au/thecar.html

We plated front rails and stitch welded from the strut towers to rear suspension points. Never really did any extra strengthening of the rear, never had a problem. We ran std wagon rear springs (I think) and changed the overload bushes/stop in the rear subframe to wagon ones - gives a *stack* more rear travel. Sump guard is not really seen in those pics but it was substantial. Yes, it does come very close to the alloy sump - we had some high density foam glued to the guard, just in case - never became an issue. You will see the fuel system is in under the rear tray as is battery and fire bomb. We welded washers to the bolts holding the tray down so it was quick to get in and cut it in half so we could get it out from between the cage. Will get some more photos up when I can.

Jim

19-11-08, 08:53 AM

Rowdy, I can give you the design for the caliper bracket to fit skyline 4 pot calipers for the front if you like.

19-11-08, 09:03 AM

Interestingly we ran std rear calipers with Pagid pads and VT front calipers, also with Pagids. Never had an issue with braking ability other than on bitumen where a *tad* more front bias would have been nice.

Jim

19-11-08, 09:12 AM

even the front runner circuit guys often still run the stock rear calipers! they seem to be a good thing.

RDA sell a vented and slotted rear rotor too which are fairly cheap and still use the stock caliper and pads.

Swill

19-11-08, 09:17 AM

I use standard VT rear set up on mine. Works alright but does get a bit hot

rowdytoot

22-11-08, 03:09 PM

fark I wrote a post the other night, but it clearly got swallowed by the interwebs ninja... :)

Paul -all info gladly received :D I've gotta give Ian Menzies a call in the next coupla days to have a chat cos he wants to pass on some info. Interesting that you didn't have to worry about the panhard mount- looks weak as piss to me.,probably more an issue for canberra style roads though.. ;) BTW- I've been perving at those build photos for a few years on and off :D

Jim- yeah I'm aware of the vented rears- I understand from my research that they are the same as the Maloo rears... so I'll definately be using them.. and the VT front end setup with good pads... I need to make sure can can get the brakes under 15 inch wheels though- not sure if the skyline calipers will fit?? but again...the more options the better :D

Had really good intentions of doing some work on the parts car today, but needed to change the discs on my Navara to the new ones DBA supplied to replace the one I separated the hat from the friction surface on, and do a bunch of tidying up around the new place so we can actually use our pergola area.

24-11-08, 10:28 AM

Have you driven Queensland style roads before? If anything was going to break things it would be Qld :) Only time we broke a g'box - 3rd gear thanks to a rutted/corrugated uphill section of one stage ...

24-11-08, 10:36 AM

Oh, forgot to mention, I tried to find where I had pics of the sump guard but I cannot find any :-/ It basically went from the front to past the gearbox mount - it was huge! Going on from my vague memory, we had it so you could drop it from the rear and it would swing down while still attached at the front. Went up under the front bar lip. Then mounted to the main cross member, custom member part way down and then rear gearbox member (I think).

If you contact Peter he may be able to get some pics for you - was well done and real easy to remove/re-attach if required. If there are any other areas of the car you want pics of ask and I will dig through what I have found.

Bogan

24-11-08, 10:36 AM

Make sure you reinforce the Watts Linkage dude. No one's said it yet and I'd hate to see you listed on the results as 'DNF - Crompton'.

Jim

24-11-08, 11:08 AM

that would be funny if it used a watts instead of a panhard rod :)

rowdy, nup, 16in is the smallest you can fit over the skyline calipers.

rowdytoot

24-11-08, 08:58 PM

Paul- awesome- thanks- will discuss at length with my cage/fabricator dude once I've had the time to pull the thing to pieces- looks like january is my best bet- have SFA free time between now and christmas...

Jim- I suspected so- no good to me then :(

Spammy

16-12-08, 10:58 PM

Update?

Coffin

16-12-08, 11:01 PM

Utes still in one piece, white car pretty much still in one piece.

Bit crazy time of year to start on it really

rowdytoot

17-12-08, 03:36 AM

hey murph,

time has been a little short recently.... work is pretty busy, and for the next month I'm acting in my bosses role, so things are going to be even more flat out..

I've got the week between christmas and NY off, so I'm hoping that I can get some serious time in then, and start getting things organised.

rowdytoot

23-12-08, 07:23 PM

so in a surprise turn of events,

Damo put the white sedan up on stands for me during the week (so he could get the 16 inch alloys for his VR ute), so on Sunday Scruffypete and I hooked in for a coupla hours, and now we have the fuel tank out, most of the dash out (including cop spec dash complete with calibration sticker). Tomorrow arvo I hope to get time to rip the diff out and rear suspension out. then over the next few days get the guards/bumper etc off and start working on dropping the engine/trans out by the end of the weekend. Next week I'll try and start on the black ute strip down to a rolling shell so it can go off and have a cage put in it.

Lobster

12-01-09, 02:10 PM

rowdytoot

12-01-09, 05:49 PM

yup, mythical cop chipped ECU will be going on ebay - just for shits and giggles.. :D

Lobster

18-01-09, 08:47 PM

You will need more weight towards the back of it.
Driving the Damo ute the other day and I unwittingly did a small skid because there was a little bit of gravel on the road.

You also need musical air horns and lots of spotlights on the roll bar.

rowdytoot

10-02-09, 11:36 AM

lobby- suspension set up and a decent LSD will take care of most of that action... oh and tyres with grip.. :D

progress on teh cunt car(excopVSsedan) has progressed to the point where all I have to do is drop the the trans, and then engine out on the K frame, and Scruffy needs to finish pulling the wiring out. Then it's uncle chop chop time.... should be all done by the weekend, and then I'll turn my attention to preping of the Damo ute and the lancer for Hampton. then I'll fix and sell the gemini.

The ute plan at is I'll be pulling all the interior out of my ute, and replacing the rack,P/S pump, clutch and adding a race seat.

Then I'll add a P/S cooler & start with round 1 of suspension set up & bash plates, once I've got that sorted, (and probably pissed around at wakefield and awaba and hampton later in the year) then I'll get it caged.

rowdytoot

22-02-09, 08:44 PM

teh remains of teh cunt car fell off the back of a navara during the week

today I hot wired the lancer for hampton weekend, just need the VR ute off lobby, change a front hub, and make some bash plates, and hampton is good to go.

then it's interior lightening time for the black ute, then some suspension work.

I suspect we'll run the black ute N/A if it gets out this year, then I'll wack in an L67 (super6) & add some fuckin whoosh & BOV....just to fuck with people!!