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In a shameless effort to increase my post count I have started this build thread. Thanks to all of you for the terriffic information posted on this forum, it has really helped me to look after my car and make modifications to it to suit my needs. Below is a photo of my ute the day after I brought her home last May (and Honey my dog).
Last edited by clawrence; 23rd November 2014 at 12:29 AM.
The first thing I had to sort out was an easy way to get in and out of the tray. I've just turned 50 and don't seem to have the spring I used to 30 years ago. So I found a top bloke at "Allbend" in Wangara who made me up some stainless steel side steps the same diameter as the ali tube on my tray headboard. A couple of bolts to hold them in place and I was leaping in and out of the tray like a youngster.
Last edited by clawrence; 23rd November 2014 at 12:30 AM.
Next on the list was a toolbox to keep my stuff in. I looked around but couldn't find one the dimensions that I wanted. So I drew up a plan and had a place in Osbourne park make one up for me. It fitted across the tray perfectly, with the lid at the height of the tray sides.
I sorted out the spare with a bloody big lock, an aluminium disk, some threaded rod and a hex coupling as a spacer in the headboard of the tray. It turned out well so I did the left side also to give me a peg for rope, that can be easily converted to holding another spare if I wish.
While the missus wasn't watching - MUDFLAPS !! lol
While the missus wasn't watching I brought a pair of RM Williams mud flaps. You can take the boy out of the country ... but you can't take the country out of the boy....
After collecting the bits and pieces I needed from the wreckers over a couple of months I finally converted my left hand side passenger seat from a bucket to a bench. At last my daughter and wife could both fit in the ute with me at the same time (not sure that was such a good idea now that I think of it lol).
To keep everything legal (and insurable) I had the ute checked over by an engineer, put the mod plate on the firewall and took her over the pits. No problems.
Of course the trim did not match up, so a set of sheepskin seat covers solved that problem. Comfy !!!!
Went to the 4WD Show at McCallum Park, ended up coming home with a fuel manager from United Fuel Injection (I had wanted one for months, just couldn't afford it - but then figured I couldn't afford the repair bill from a bad fill of diesel which would be more expensive).
Installed it on the left hand side of the engine bay, where most people put their dual battery set up, because as if I put a dual battery in that will go under the tray. I also had it facing the front so I could see the sight glass easily. Ran the fuel lines behind the intercooler and put them in an insulated sleeve along the firewall to stop them getting too hot.
Last edited by clawrence; 23rd November 2014 at 12:35 AM.
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