Leroy the EK Ute

[FJWALLY]

As always you can get lost in the current ADR rules etc but the basics is this

Tubeless tyres are designed to run "Without tubes" Therefore if you put a tube in them they no longer conform to ADR requirements and are hence illegal - does that mean they are unsafe? I'll leave that to you to make that call.

I worked as a tyre fitter for a while and repaired/replaced everything from small vehicle tyres to mining equipment tyres and you see a lot of stuff that makes your hair curl with what people do to get by - Ive done it myself with 4x4 tyres to get out of a sticky situation where there really wasn't any other choice but if I had a choice the tyres and wheels are the thing that connect you to the road so they need to be mickey mouse in my view.

Running tubes in early Holden rims isn't legal any more?
First I've heard of it.
Tyre places have always advised me to run tubes in pre-HD 13x4.5 rims, because they didn't have the safety lip.

Rob

[thebrotherj]

I won’t swap in the 3:08 diff I scored just yet then Joe.

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nah, swap it in! It’ll be fun watching you hunt me down at the top of the quarter mile!


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[thebrotherj]

. . . it's not all that far from suburban Sydney to Willunga. In fact, a very pleasant drive as I remember.
If you're going to have the ute drag, tell me, and I'll buy tickets.
Why not a hill-climb? I'll even volunteer as support crew.

Rob

Damn, I stay off the forum for a few days, and next thing I know you pair have organised a ute drag race. Count me in (don't tell Grace ).

If you are still short on wheels Joe let me now - I've got a few spares here in good nick (came with the FB when I bought it).

Cheers,
Harv

A four abreast, handicap race on a runway? I reckon you and I would leave first (and prob still tie for last)...

Thanks Harv, Rob sorted me out for wheel rims this evening. I’ve got four solid ones now and one that’s only a little bit sketchy, that’ll find a home under the tray


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[Errol62]

I won’t swap in the 3:08 diff I scored just yet then Joe.

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nah, swap it in! It’ll be fun watching you hunt me down at the top of the quarter mile!


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After I pick up the fragments of grey motor gear box


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[Harv]

A four abreast, handicap race on a runway? I reckon you and I would leave first (and prob still tie for last)...

Grace's ute felt like a slug once I got in on the road. Figured the timing must have been waaaay out. Ended up being the new carpet and underlay was stopping the go-pedal getting full travel. A little bending, and it now drives like a rocket.

Maybe we can commission the new Eastern Creek airport runway with an early Holden four-abreast meet

Cheers,
Harv

[Errol62]

I am bidding for Sellicks Beach at low tide. Roughly half way (very roughly) between Sydney and SW WA and just down the road from me.


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[Harv]

Sellicks? Eldred would be proud .

They have been beach racing at Crowdy Head, just north of Taree NSW for the last few years. They hold the run at Easter. It's on my to-do list.

Cheers,
Harv

[thebrotherj]

My wheel situation is sorted now.



Wound up with three 1961 stamped rims (two from Leroy, one from The HOF) and a 1964 rim donated by Rob, from an EH of unknown origin... and an interloper HR rim that I think was from The HOF also, which I will use as the spare.

This one from Leroy had quite a story to tell when I sanded it back:



Pittwater Green original, then a bright orange... matte black and finally Royal Blue. Old Bill sure had fun trying out different looks.

They all came up great after a bunch of wire-wheeling, two grades of wet & dry sandpapering... a good wash, wax & grease remover, rust convertor where needed, then finally satin black VHT wheel paint. Plus some heat baking at each step



Three rims is the load limit on the old IKEA drying rack, I can now confirm. My neighbours sure heard about it too.



As the HR rim (above) is relegated to spare duties only, I’m gonna leave it white under a coat of clear. That way it’s easy to spot. My local Tyrepower are getting in four of the cool tyres I’ve been eyeing off, and will chuck on a cheapie for the spare at a later date once I get the car running. I’ll drive Leroy to them and make sure we get a tyre that fits inside the spare wheel door!

Joe


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[Errol62]

Tyres in 13” are getting hard to find tall enough to suit it seems. Nankang make a C25 175 light truck tyre, effectively an 80 profile, for a 608mm rolling diameter.


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[Errol62]

Maxxis 185 80 R13. Available with white bands I believe. 185 is probably pushing it on stock 4 1/2” rims.


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[thebrotherj]

Maxxis 185 80 R13. Available with white bands I believe. 185 is probably pushing it on stock 4 1/2” rims.


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All will be revealed by the weekend, hopefully...


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[FJWALLY]

Sumitomo also do a 185/80-13 with a white stripe but they definitely wont fit in the spare door.
There must be a US brand that makes one?
Interested to see what you get Leroy - going to the shop to resolve my spare storage today

[thebrotherj]

Got my HEI distributor, control unit and Scorcher coil in tonight and set it up as directed. I’ll be damned if it didn’t fire on the first kick

I pulled the plugs, both to make it easier to turn the motor by hand to locate TDC, but also to open the gaps up a bit. They’re at 0.8mm currently, I pulled that figure out as a bit of a guess, old HEI dizzy SAAB 900i’s ran something like 0.7mm from memory. See how it goes.

A coupla pics:







Can’t tell how it’s running yet, I’m also pretty convinced the float level is high... the carb is leaking from the top gasket and it seems super rich. Hope the needle & seat are working ok? Or maybe my Lithuanian fuel pump is just hyperactive? Will investigate when I have wheels on and can take it outside.

I’m not 100% certain the HEI module is gonna live on the inner guard permanently, I was just too impatient to extend the wires and stick it under the dash, or wherever. Ease of access is on my mind also - in case it plays up while I’m running the motor in and ironing out tuning.
Ten bucks says I never move it

Cable tied the dizzy wiring to the vacuum advance pod, they were going to be prone to vibration fatigue at the sharp turn they make to go into the dizzy, as the heat shrink ends a little prematurely. Managed to plumb the vacuum line to do a loop under the pod also, so there’s clear access to the dip stick, and while that photo makes the shift linkage look real close, there’s actually a heap of room.

Picking up my new tyres in the morning. Word is they all spun up pretty straight, we’ll see how many wheel weights they needed to balance though eh...

Cheers, Joe


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[In the Shed]

Looking very tidy Joe. My Ute is running 185’s x 70 on my stock rims but not for the spare. That one I think is 155 from memory. Whatever it is it just fits. Can’t wait to see pics of your ute wearing new rubber and on the the road!

Regards
Stephen

[EK283]

Looking good Joe,

Your heater idea for the wheels is a cracker !!!

With all the power of the grey I dare say your hard to get tyres will last a long time (just Joking)

Regards Greg