EK Wagon

[6000SUX]

did you get your front end picked up?

Should be picked up tomorrow. It turns out a friend I know from rallying lives 2 minutes away!

[chartreusehj]

cool.

[6000SUX]

Some more progress was made today. The "new" HR front end arrived today. Fuck me it's a huge improvement over what was in there. The welding is really nice and some thought has been put into the rack mounts and engine mounts.



Those engine mounts look better!



And the outrigger is in one piece and doesn't look like it will snap in half...



Mmmmmmm..... shiney!



The front end also came with HQ stubs which will give it a one inch drop at the front, as well as a pair of rebuilt HQ Girlock calipers. The Hoppers Stoppers website says that I can use the HQ stub axles, Girlock calipers on an HR front end with HR steering arms. I have to get a pair of undrilled DBA HQ rotors and then drill them for early Holden stud pattern and it should all bolt together.

[GTV]

isn't hq early holden (hz was later IIRC)? I briefly had a hz kingy - great big old armchair of a thing that handled surprisingly well (RTS)

[6000SUX]

isn't hq early holden (hz was later IIRC)? I briefly had a hz kingy - great big old armchair of a thing that handled surprisingly well (RTS)

The stud pattern changed with the HQ. Early Holdens are 5 x 4.25" PCD and HQ's on are 5 x 4.75" PCD.

[GTV]

righto - I thought the later onewas metric per the commodore, so must have my wires crossed

[6000SUX]

Another update...

The collapsible steering column arrived. It looks like a pretty nice job and means I won't get speared through the chest if I have an accident.



I was thinking about painting the honey pot but thought I might see what it was like if i polished it instead. I think it looks pretty good. I'll pain the rest of the column that is currently in red oxide primer.



I also got the new spring brackets for the Volvo diff conversion cut out on the mill and folded up.

[9triton]

[QUOTE=6000SUX;841705096]Another update...

nice column- is that the alien retro columns one ?

wonder if he dabbles in early falcons -they need a collapsible when going V8 now. ill give him a call when im back in oz

[6000SUX]

[QUOTE=9triton;841705350]

Another update...

nice column- is that the alien retro columns one ?

wonder if he dabbles in early falcons -they need a collapsible when going V8 now. ill give him a call when im back in oz

Spot on. It's from George Windus at Alien Retro Columns. He does early Falcons and Mustangs so I reckon he can help you. The columns end up costing a bit more than you think by the end. You need to send him your original column plus the collapsible donor column, and then I needed 2 uni joints, an intermediate shaft, a new firewall plate and break away column to dash mount. Chuck in freight both ways and it becomes a $1k job.

[piss98]

I want friends like yours with mills and skills. How much beer to weld in subframe connectors? :p

Coming along nicely Glen, any engine news?

[6000SUX]

I want friends like yours with mills and skills. How much beer to weld in subframe connectors? :p

Coming along nicely Glen, any engine news?

I'm sure they could do it for you but my EK lives on their hoist at the moment! The main fabricator at that work shop also builds hot rods. His name is Brent. Hit him up on his Facebook page and tell him you know me. I'm sure he could help you out. https://www.facebook.com/pages/TopFa...966585?fref=ts

Here's his latest rod...



The engine hasn't actually been touched yet! I need to test fit it with the proposed turbo so we can work out the piping, and then I'll get into the rebuild properly. I sort of got side tracked..... it started out as a simple engine rebuild and it has morphed into something much bigger and far more complicated!

[piss98]

Fancy that (becoming more than planned) :D.

Thanks mate, I will get them here and see if he can help (looking at his work I get this feeling welding a couple of metal bars in won't trouble him if he's willing!) :D

[6000SUX]

Diff is now in. I've just tacked the brackets on so I can check the nose angle once the engine and gearbox are test fitted.


I also fitted the new HQ front rotors and calipers. Hopefully it will stop a bit better!


The Volvo axles have been welded and refaced, and are just waiting to be redrilled for HQ stud pattern. I can then sort out the measurements for the new wheels and get it on the ground and rolling again.

[piss98]

Boosted brakes?

[6000SUX]

Boosted brakes?

Yes boosted.

I'm not using a vacuum booster though as they are a pain to fit into an EK due to the close proximity of the bonnet hinge. I'm using a Hydroboost from a 2003 Mustang. It's a hydraulic brake booster that uses pressure from the power steering pump instead of vacuum. It's a lot smaller in foot print than a vacuum booster so it should fit pretty nicely. It cost $200 landed here and included a master cylinder, pro portioning valve, power steering reservoir and a few other lines and stuff.

They look like this when installed.