OUR VIDEOS GALLERY MEMBER SPONSORSHIP VENDOR SPONSORSHIP

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: The Madigan that wasn't - THANK YOU Brunswick Diesels

  1. #1
    Patrol God
    PeeBee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Melbourne South east
    Posts
    5,086
    Thanks
    4,888
    Thanked 5,221 Times in 2,897 Posts
    Mentioned
    198 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    The Madigan that wasn't - THANK YOU Brunswick Diesels

    Well, the first 3 days getting from Melb into the centre were clipped with normal beestings like loose exhaust system, clips vibrating off, all related to the never end9ing corrugations. A mis navigation by the trip lead had us driving 600klm past the turn off to Mt dare Station - no i was brain dead and a passenger in effect at this point, so just blindly following. Anyway by the time the error was admitted we were too far past the point of turning, so ended up heading to Mt dare via Kulgera inside the NT. Car was running fine, apart from the mentioned stuff, then as we truned into the access track to the Clavert Centre - geographical Centre of the country, things went tits up.
    I pushed on down the 12klm track, pulling up at the flagpole to find my engine had converted itself into a concrete mixer.
    I assumed it was the loose exhaust, and sure enough, another hour under the car and everything tight again.

    Next morning, fired up and started back to the main road to head to Mt Dare then onto the Madigan, and the growling was back with a vengenace, popped the bonnet and noise from rear bearimng area of s/c. Limped into Mt Dare - 200klm away then my trip ended. My travelling companions were bid farewell and i waited for the flatbed from Kulgera to come and get me. Inspection of the s/c next day found collapsed rear needle brgs, no lubication grease evident and the rotor shafts blue in colour. Housing scoured beyond repir and the rotors rooted. This was Sunday morning. Monday I rang Bullet Supercharging and bought a new complete unit and had it express delivered to Kulgera Roadhouse on the following friday. It was a shitful experience I can assure you.

    S/C arrived at 2pm, had it fitted by 4pm, car running, had a squeal that turned out being low powersteering fluid level, easily fixed with more fluid, which was the only stuff not avail to buy in the roadhouse. Back to the recovery business, got 300ml of the gold juice and was back on the road by 10am next day.

    Car runs like a dream, does not get hot, responsive and I would say was the complete package until the s/c debacle. Examination and discussion with Bullet revealed the unit was a composition of different model components and cobbled together by Brunswick Diesels and sold to me as a new kit unit - these guys really did another number on me, glad they are now done and dusted. Anway, met up with my fellow travellers in Broken Hill, heading down to a brilliant campsite we found on the Murray about 100k from Mildura, settled onto the 300m sandy beach ready for a 4 day kill carp and cans activity, then my nephew contacted their father to say the family dog was gravely ill and he must come home. Anyway we all departed the site reluctantly, and the dog simply has developed diabetes, wasnt terminal, over reaction but it is what it is.

    Back to the crossing by the other guys, horrendous, 45 degC plus, hot powdery sand, billions of flies, no other people on the track at all from Mt Date to Birdsville, via the Madigan to Camp 16, then down Hay River track, over Big Red and into Birdsvilee, then onto Innaminka as a thunderstorm system shut all the roads except Cordillo Down access rod, then onto Broken Hill.

    Lastly I took out the Birdsville recovery insurance and had RACV Total Care cover. The Birdsville guys were contacted as soon as it was apparent I was not doing the crossing. Tehy have been great - no refund but a credit for 2 yrs instead - who knows I might get back there, but better than nothing. RACV were spectacular also, you should not travel without the Total Care Package, its the ultimate back to civilisation cover in my view.

    So from a touring perspective, Oct is far too late in the season for this area of travel, I wasnt initially concerned as we dont get the hot weather at the mine until Dec - March, but central area is savage. My brother has an FJ Cruiser and it used 140l for the crossing - petrol, the other guy has an old turbo diesel pathfinder and he used 100L.
    Last edited by PeeBee; 23rd October 2024 at 06:19 PM.

  2. The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to PeeBee For This Useful Post:

    AB (24th October 2024), Bidja (29th October 2024), BrazilianY60 (24th October 2024), Cremulator (24th October 2024), jack (25th October 2024), jff45 (24th October 2024), mudski (24th October 2024), pearcey (24th October 2024), Plasnart (23rd October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  3. #2
    Patrol God mudnut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    SW Vic.
    Posts
    7,966
    Thanks
    10,849
    Thanked 5,535 Times in 3,243 Posts
    Mentioned
    81 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    Bloody hell, Phil. You certainly don't do things by halves!
    My advice is: not to follow my advice.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to mudnut For This Useful Post:

    PeeBee (24th October 2024)

  5. #3
    Patrol God
    PeeBee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Melbourne South east
    Posts
    5,086
    Thanks
    4,888
    Thanked 5,221 Times in 2,897 Posts
    Mentioned
    198 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by mudnut View Post
    Bloody hell, Phil. You certainly don't do things by halves!
    Craig, pretty disappointing but the stuff I configured all performed well, which is a miracle in itself. I have now completed my 'shakedown trip' I guess, heading back to the exhaust guys next week to get them to resolve the 3 brackets of poor design and realign a flange so if it every comes apart and loses its nuts and bolts, ita an easier task to retrofit in 40 deg heat in the dirt and flies.

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to PeeBee For This Useful Post:

    mudnut (24th October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  7. #4
    Breadmaker Shaker Plasnart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Vic
    Posts
    1,424
    Thanks
    6,821
    Thanked 7,289 Times in 3,530 Posts
    Mentioned
    110 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    Holy shit Phil, the trials and tribulations you go through are absolutely unbelievable! I’m glad you’re home safe and the vehicle is now in good running order. Fair dinkum that is a shakedown trip for all shakedowns. But then being forced to leave your small pocket of solitude on the Murray early, after all of that, is surely just an uncalled-for gut punch. Really looking forward to you reporting back one day after a great trip up over and across whatever next you plan to do.

  8. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Plasnart For This Useful Post:

    BrazilianY60 (24th October 2024), PeeBee (23rd October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  9. #5
    Patrol God
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,646
    Thanks
    5,756
    Thanked 6,161 Times in 3,167 Posts
    Mentioned
    176 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    Holy Dickens Phil.
    If that ordeal, run-up-the-road, 2000km+ was your shake down trip...
    What's in store for the actual trip?!

    At least the Charger issues were found and sorted out.
    2005 TD42TI

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Hodge For This Useful Post:

    PeeBee (23rd October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  11. #6
    Patrol God
    PeeBee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Melbourne South east
    Posts
    5,086
    Thanks
    4,888
    Thanked 5,221 Times in 2,897 Posts
    Mentioned
    198 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    It sure has been a ride this engine conversion journey. Couple more bee stings to come no doubt.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to PeeBee For This Useful Post:

    Stropp (26th October 2024)

  13. #7
    The master farter mudski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Eltham North
    Posts
    15,757
    Thanks
    8,811
    Thanked 11,505 Times in 6,528 Posts
    Mentioned
    472 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    Your a tough man Phil. If this were me, i would have set the car alight on the side of the track and just drank beers while watching.

  14. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to mudski For This Useful Post:

    BrazilianY60 (24th October 2024), Hodge (24th October 2024), PeeBee (24th October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  15. #8
    Legendary jay see's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,427
    Thanks
    4,620
    Thanked 3,962 Times in 2,090 Posts
    Mentioned
    50 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by mudski View Post
    Your a tough man Phil. If this were me, i would have set the car alight on the side of the track and just drank beers while watching.
    Bullshit you won't be drinking beer, you would crack open a fine bottle of red or jack..

    Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
    12/97 GEE YOU
    4.5lt Gas blower. Lots of mods to come.....all in good time.

  16. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to jay see For This Useful Post:

    mudski (29th October 2024), PeeBee (24th October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  17. #9
    The master farter mudski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Eltham North
    Posts
    15,757
    Thanks
    8,811
    Thanked 11,505 Times in 6,528 Posts
    Mentioned
    472 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by jay see View Post
    Bullshit you won't be drinking beer, you would crack open a fine bottle of red or jack..

    Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
    Ahh yes that would be true. More likely a nice 3K bottle of Pappy Van Winkles in celebration though.

  18. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mudski For This Useful Post:

    jay see (25th October 2024), Stropp (26th October 2024)

  19. #10
    Patrol God Stropp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Posts
    6,521
    Thanks
    9,692
    Thanked 4,864 Times in 2,551 Posts
    Mentioned
    35 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Bugger mate , but look on the bride side only 9 1/2 yrs till the next 10yr Simpson trip for NP forum by then it should be fully sorted.
    2003 gu3 td42tdi sold 😞 bloody gvm towing crap. Bt50 3500kg gvm.

  20. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Stropp For This Useful Post:

    AB (26th October 2024), BrazilianY60 (26th October 2024), PeeBee (26th October 2024)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •