EK-2106

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:31 pm

long story but here is a progress pic

first

then

now

Nekro63 · Post by **Nekro63** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:10 am

What are all those bits you've used?? Look different!

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:47 pm

the ute already had a hr crossmember in it when i bought it. but that one has been replaced in favour of another one with rack and pinion setup.

more pics to follow tonight.

better get back in the garage ....

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:49 pm

looks to me like a torana steering rack cut down and fitted onto the front of the crossmember - ala rod hadfield style.

looks like the swaybar got an upgrade too

Nekro63 · Post by **Nekro63** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:21 pm

Cool. Whattya doing with the HR front end???

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:43 pm

not sure yet. might save it for the next project

it is already setup for a red, with the engine mounts moved back.
will need a full reco of ball joints etc just to be safe.

it is complete minus springs and shocks.

if you want it pm me with your price

cheers
patrick

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:50 pm

as sammy said its a crs modified hr crossmember with torana r&p

put this subframe back on today and began to install the chassis kit.

if you have ever installed one of these you will know that they are a bitch, they just dont fit 100%. the underside of the car is dead stock and hasnt been tampered with, but yet the kit does not go straight it.

so now i will get out my cutting wheel, and cut off the floor x braces and start again with something that fits. going to do this because they are 45 years old and there is the possibility (read probability) of rust in them.

forgot to take a pic of the iron oxide mine i uncovered, will do it and post up.

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:44 pm

yeah i had alot of problems with my chassis rail kit as my cross braces had been repaired, i ended up cutting the U at the front of the rail and made it a bigger U shape so it fit over, but other than that it was pretty good!

i've also had to re-do the gearbox mount as the engineer didn't like the plate sticking out the front of it, mine is now probably twice as strong and sticks out no where near as far .... also i moved the bolt holes 45mm forward from where they were to make the crossmember sit closer to the mount on the gearbox.

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:10 am

well i got the new floor cross braces...and guess what? they arent the same dimensions as the original ones...

ill work that out (sooner rather than) later...

went on a nice leisurely drive up to castlemaine the other week to change over the steering columns, so now i have a steering wheel back on the ute!

um..what else...

bought a diff

...going to post a question in the right section now

happy new year everyone!

EK283 · Post by **EK283** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:59 am

Hi guys,
The castlemaine kits are very good in my opinion I have fitted them with almost no mods in the past. The floor x members can be tight but most of the time you have to replace them anyway. In NSW you must also use crush tubes where the bolts go through ( easier to replace the whole lot ). Patrick you are right the aftermarket x braces are wider most made to slide over the existing but I didnt do it that way just replaced the lot.
I have also cut the U shape out and widened it to suit.
Sammy dito to the gearbox member originally I was going to use a T400 but now using a T700 which is slightly longer.
The body work on my car is almost finished so the rails will be welded in place shortly.
The kits are supposed to give the ek body 70% more strength than the early commodores ( remember the ones that split in 2 in a sideways accident!)
Regards Greg

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:57 pm

just got back from the kustom nats.

very inspiring.

im either going to get some x braces folded up the the orignal dimensions or modify the U bit on the chassis kit. will go to an engineering joint with this shortly.

this looks very interesting...

http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/ya ... 1166007115

but it cost 5k to get done.

picking up new hubs tomorrow and fitting bigger brakes on the front.

will post pics as soon as this has happened.

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:13 pm

i just realised how long it has been since posting
everyone else has been doing such fantastic work on their cars and ive barely moved...
here is the front end back from the powdercoaters

went to rares and bought everything new again
just waiting on the bump stops and then ill put it back together

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:25 pm

Hmm, very nice!

Keep the progress pic's coming.

Regards, Smooth

WINDOWLESS_61 · Post by **WINDOWLESS_61** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:27 pm

The powder coating looks great will you be getting anything else done like Prop shaft or rear axle ? Would make it look a treat underneath if all done.
Suppose cost would be a factor.
How much was it for front end to be blasted and powder coated ?

ipg · Post by **ipg** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:42 pm

the cross cost $400 to be blasted and coated
it then cost another $400 or so to buy everything new for the front end from rares:
ball joints x 4
pivot arm kit x 2
lower bushes x 4
spring insulators x 4
wheel bearing kit x 2
subframe mounting rubbers kit

springs and shocks set me back another $300