Craig's GU ute

[clawrence]

Hi All

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).

[clawrence]

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.

[clawrence]

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.

[clawrence]

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.

[clawrence]

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....

[clawrence]

Fathers Day came around and as I had been going on and on about an LED Lightbar my missus decided to shut me up with a 100W Narva...

[clawrence]

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 !!!!

[clawrence]

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.

[Bob]

Keep the Pics coming mate.
My wife loves your Dog

[Stropp]

Nice ute mate and an informative post count booster lol :Yahoo!:

[DX grunt]

Fantastic GUte.

Rossco

[(AUST)Mod]

Which engineer did you use for the seating capacity increase?

[clawrence]

For the seating capacity engineering I used
Endracon
6 Brighton Mews
Hillarys
Then took my car along with the paperwork and new compliance plate provided by Endracon to Dept of Transport in Osborne park for the inspection

[d.n.blewitt]

Nice post mate, I'm looking to change my bucket out for a bench to have the extra seat for a kid.

May got to the same joint I did for the engineering cert.

I'm not sure on what I need parts wise yet. Thinking the bench from a DX, middle seat belt lap sash and gearstick surround. Believe I need to change the hand break as wel but not sure on that yet. Anything else I'm missing?

[clawrence]

Hi

Yep, that list what I used. Dx Bench Seat, Dx Gear lever surround (including boot), Dx Handbrake boot & plastic surround to affix to floor, Dx Centre seatbelt (both male & female), Dx bolts for seat & seatbelt.

The torque settings for the seat & seatbelt bolts are in the workshop manual.

There are a couple of good threads on the forum on how others have done it.

Regards

[d.n.blewitt]

Cheers, started searching wreckers for parts so hoping I'll have all parts n be able to install by mid jan.

Thanks again mate

[Cuppa]

Good stuff Craig, have only just caught up with your thread. Seems you are making some neat & sensible mods. Will have to now google United Fuel injection’s Fuel Manager.

[pasbogdan]

Fathers Day came around and as I had been going on and on about an LED Lightbar my missus decided to shut me up with a 100W Narva...
My missus hates the fact i showed her what you got and i want too...