Well its been quite a while since i last posted an update, so this one might be a big one
On the exhaust side of things, i have gotten both exhausts down to the cat converter flanges welded on and also o2 sensor fittings have been installed in both pipes just before the cats.
I have fitted the pre pump, surge tank and main pump and have the fuel system pretty much all sorted now, its atleast at a stage where it runs the engine fine - mainly just needs wiring setup properly.
There is also a small pump under the floor near the fuel tank which feeds the surge tank.
i also pierced the filler neck of the fuel tank to fit a return fuel line, it runs nicely under the tray from the surge tank to this fitting without any mods, its like they were made for it
I have had to re-design the gearbox crossmember to keep the engineer happy, so that has been completed and should be alot stronger than previously.
from this:
to this:
The thing you can't see is the original plate in the top pic has been cut down and fitted into a channel along the top of the square tube and also into the new piece at the front.
I have been looking into options for tail light fittings to see if i can use a more modern light fitting, or get new versions of what the FB uses.
I have been playing with a VL Commodore V8 radiator which seems to fit well and has been roughly mounted in place, i have also aquired a VS Commodore thermo fan which will be used but will need a custom bracket to fit in the small space that is available. Either way its all working and cooling the engine as it should.
You can see here there is a piece of tube below the radiator, i fitted this with original commodore bushes and welded it between the subframe rails. It also has close to 1 inch clearance at the front of it to allow tranny and engine oil cooler lines to come up through it.
I've finally had some time to get stuck into the Commodore handbrake conversion. It is now fully welded into the floor.
I have also made the brackets for the VR Commodore drivers seat to mount to the ute floor, i'll worry about the passenger seat later, i want to take the finished drivers side and show the engineer to make sure hes happy with it all before i go any further.
this pic almost shows the handbrake better than the seat bracket
standard VR Commodore seat runners, with little spacers removed from them, brackets should hopefully easily exceed engineer requirements.
Outer mounts use original floor mounts, inners needed custom holes drilled and reinforement plates underneath.
and lastly just for Malcolm, here some pics of the oil filter setup.
This one uses 2 x standard falcon filters.
the other thing i think that gives me an issue is that i have made my own engine mounts and im pretty sure my engine sits back further than the CRS mounts allow for so its on a fatter part of the subframe member where the filter hits. It would fit on but can't be removed at all
for half a years progress really its not alot, so much else has been happening i just haven't been able to spend alot of time on it. Here i am almost the end of the first week on holidays and i haven't spent a minute on it yet!
