"CRATE" the GQ

[Crate]

Ok guys, I have had this for a while but have only just joined here so will post up a bit of a catch up!

This is the little beast that got me started on four wheel driving (and patrols)




Now for my current toy, partly because I wanted the extra space to do longer trips and partly because some flex would be nice once in a while..



The specs..
5L Injected V8
3 link + panhard Front
4 link + Panhard Rear
6 Point Cage
SAAS Racing Seats and 4 Point Harness's
35's (The Claws from the MQ)
Front and Rear Airlockers
Warn High Mount, Radio's (AM and UHF), CD Player
and all fully engineered for everything
Also came with dirt, dents, rust, stuffed bushes and really stuffed shocks

Some more Pics..



Why it needs drop out cones..



And for some reason steering stoppers too, (dw the gouge is no where near as deep as it looks)



And my really squashed/rusted roof gutter



So then the revamp started

All new bushes underneath
All new shocks
Dropping down from 5" to 3"
Steering Stoppers
Rear Drop out cones
New front bump stops
New pads and rotors in the front
Steering knuckle rebuild
New front doors
New sound deadener and vinyl throughout
New flares
The 35" MT Claws off the MQ (MTZ's on it are really only good for spares)
Knocking out dents cutting, out rust and a general touch up

The 1.75" Chromo hex bar links.. every link is made out of this stuff


New Bump stops (Pedders 80 Series Landcruiser Rear's $100 for the pair)


Diff out work in progress

[Crate]

Did some rust repairs..

Cutting out the rust..


Fitting the new section in..


Welded in..


Some more.. yeah welding isn't so good.. but im happy with it for my first crack at sheetmetal!


Then I used some rust converted and painted it all with acrylic cold gal..



Can see in this one where i patched up ALL the stupid holes in the floor.. now the water can only get in the doors
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Also started on the crushed and rusted roof gutters.. straightened and cleaned up here..

[Crate]

All new bushes in and linkages back in.
New shocks and steering dampener are here, rears installed.
Got some secondhand swivel hubs, and new stubs, nuts and cone washers for the high steer.. you can see why in the pics below..
Sound deadening all done inside.
Fixed up the chop and made some 100mm flares for the right hand rear.. only 3 to go :roll:
Ok so pictures of progress..

The links are all in now.. this is just after painting


The floor after some cold gal and chassis black..




The silver on the left is resomat.. and the right is waterproof underlay foam..


The welded on high steer arm.. covering up the sloppy king pin bearings..


You can see where the weld breaking took a big chunk out of the side.. so to be safe got new swivel hubs..


Guard chop all neat.. have 60mm to the nearest part of the guard on the front.. where my shocks bottom out with 35" MTZ's.. Should be able to fit 37's.. if ever necessary
8)

[Crate]

OK pics of links all in.. and shiny new bits.. including drop out cones







Guard chop is almost finished (3.5/4)
New grille parkers and tail lights on order should arrive this week
some random bits painted more to go..

Testing..

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Progress..





Flares that cover the bit between the outer and inner guard too..


Stone guard to replace that shitty bit of plastic in front of the rear wheel, and also on the bottom of the doors..


Oh and seats back in..

[Crate]

So then it was finished (or so I thought)



and bogged for the first time..


Here is a little vid of me saving some guys in a jeep Rolling Eyes (its better with the sound on)

http://youtu.be/Qrf3csKWcOI

Few things on the list to fix up as there always is.. including my first dint in the new paintwork! And perhaps an exhaust that isn't stupidly loud.. but mostly working on building my new carport shed to keep it in!

[Crate]

So after all that work getting it up to scratch suspension and body wise I got it out for a run twice and the engine rings decided to disappear and let oil be burnt! So after a 2 week engine rebuild it was ready for a Walhalla run:

[lucus30]

Sweet mate good build thread

[MudRunnerTD]

Nice build mate. Looking very good. Can I see some pics of the cage and the side rails please. Did you buy it with the cage and Engineers? Is it CCDA approved? Looking to maybe do a non approved cage in mine as I will never race.

Looking to do the side bars front and back in the coming months.

[Crate]

Nice build mate. Looking very good. Can I see some pics of the cage and the side rails please. Did you buy it with the cage and Engineers? Is it CCDA approved? Looking to maybe do a non approved cage in mine as I will never race.

Looking to do the side bars front and back in the coming months.

Yes mate its CCDA approved, here are some pics for you, if you want any other details just ask.