It isn't very green anymore...
But I'll start from the beginning.
The EK and I have had a love/hate relationship since March the 21st 2008. I was 15 years old, had 5g's and was looking to buy something classic, unique and something that needed a little lovin'.
I started saving for an old car when I was just 7 years old. I used to wash Mum and Dad's cars on the weekend for $5 each, and put away my pocket money in the piggy bank. As time progressed I eventually had saved a lot, which lead me to buy this old girl, bit too green for my liking but I wanted to learn how to do up an old car. So this became my project.
It had a 138 Grey motor backed up by a hydromatic which was very sloppy.
Torana disc brakes on the original king pin front end and a banjo diff with HR drums on the rear.
The car came with a lot of parts, free holes in the fuel tank (so if you over filled it you'd stink and be a bit off the planet when you reached your destination) aaaand a lot of rust.
The first part of the project was to ditch the tired old 138 Grey Motor and put in a 161 Red, I also changed it to an HR front end (but keeping the Torana discs). I did do some of the work myself, but not knowing anything about motors at the time I needed some assistance. That proved to be more difficult then I thought and this is where I learned that sometimes it is better to pay full price at a shop then simply getting help from your mates.
I drove it for quite a bit with the red motor, it got me too and from high school, although one day it decided to leak fuel all over the teacher's car-park (karma for parking there). The Summer I finished high school was a great one to remember, cruising to the beach with my girlfriend (at the time), going to car shows, cruising around with my mates... I even was interviewed outside of the popular Perth nightclub "The Deen" for a TV show that I missed.
Anyway after driving her around for a few years the EK was getting tired, more and more rust started to show, it made it out of the famous Perth hail storm with just a few dents, survived a netball post that fell on it and maybe even a few burnouts....
This is pretty much how she looked when I ripped it apart.
I started working in mining, made some money and decided a full rebuild was on order. When I first ripped it apart I was disheartened by the amount of rust in it. I had been driving a death trap since I was 15 and I didn't know whether the scrap it or rebuild it. I decided to do the noble thing and throw too much money at it.
Here are some photos of the build:
-All floor pans replaced and coated with rust protector.
-Lower rear 1/4's had a repro panels put in.
-Sills replaced (big thanks to John Gilbert for the driver's side one)
-Driver's rear door
-Boot lid
-Pillars made out of fibreglass all replaced with metal, holes in cowl area, gutter area all rusted and bogged cut out and replaced with metal.
-Rear window area
-This guard was pretty screwed, seemed like the EK had beed side swiped at some point.
Dave at Gas 78 Industries who I've known just as long as I've known some of you guys helped me out and did a great job with the panel and paint. It's &*#@ Vision Blue off a 2010 Fiesta.
So from here is where the real changes started to happen.
Had a VN Commonwhore diff shortened and stud pattern changed to HQ so I changed over the front rotors to HQ (already had drop stubs from Castlemain Rod Shop). Had to make room for a dual diaphragm booster and new master cylinder so with the help of Brodie, some modified hinges were fitted for my bonnet. Added some 15inch smoothie wheels with spider caps.
Took out the 161 Red and replaced it with a pretty mean, freshly rebuilt 202.
Sounds like it has a decent cam in it and a bit of head work. Bit of a mystery motor but no real issues with it yet.
Had the whole car re-wired and had windows put in afterwards.
Threw it on a trailer and took it to Brodie's house and with the help of Brodie, Leigh and Blacky we fitted exhaust and some twin carbs (400 something Holley was drowning the motor).
It was after this that I was having issues with vibrations, it went too and from a brake and diff shop trying to sort it out but in the end it just needed a gearbox rebuild.
Interior is slowly getting done as I drive it (booked for upholstery in the next month).
Had some whitewalls painted on just before it's grand unveiling at an FB/EK WA Car Club meeting.
I still have issues with the brakes squealing sometimes. Had a few fuel leaks (clamps not tight etc). Brackets on diff rubbing body rails, minor oil leak. I'm just figuring out the kinks and driving it.
Scares the shit out of me in traffic because as soon as it gets heavy temp goes up past 200 (despite reconditioned radiator with extra core added)
I'd like to make up some original looking side trim back down the side and as I said I'm getting the interior re-upholstered within the next month (sticking with bench seats).
For now I'm just enjoying driving around in it in my weeks off work. It gets a bit of attention and just today I passed the 'cop does a u-turn and follows you for a bit' test. When I look at it I still see all the imperfections but it's the random citizens admiring and asking questions in car parks or guys in roadwork crews giving me the thumbs up which makes it seem a little more worth it.
Over all it has taken about 3 years to get to this stage.
I'd like to thank these people in particular:
John Gilbert (Fantasy Customs)
Dave Cleary (GAS 78 Industries)
Rory Smith (Re-wiring)
Alan & Craig (Armadale Auto Parts)
Brodie and Leigh Mitchell
Blacky
AAA Brakes
Town & Country Transmissions
I'd also like to thank all my friends around the scene who have helped in some way over the years whether it be advice ora helping hand.
Cheers
Jay
