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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:20 am
by Errol62
I see you’ve got the steering box brace in too Joe. What gauge do you reckon the stainless is?
From memory the blue motors run 0.9mm plug gap with hei.
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:28 pm
by thebrotherj
In the Shed wrote: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
Sweet, thanks for this. I might chuck my Mitsubishi Mirage spare in there and see if it fits! It’s about that size...
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:34 pm
by thebrotherj
EK283 wrote: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
Haha yup! I’m hoping forever, or thereabouts
Also: I have been pottering around on 1 point on my licence for a year and half now, Grey-spec speed limiting is just my cup of tea, for now anyway
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:35 pm
by thebrotherj
Errol62 wrote:I see you’ve got the steering box brace in too Joe. What gauge do you reckon the stainless is?
From memory the blue motors run 0.9mm plug gap with hei.
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I’ll measure this when I get home later (forgot to just now sorry). Also it ain’t stainless, I just fine sanded and clear coated it.
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:39 am
by In the Shed
Joe
Did you get your tres sorted?
Stephen
Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:31 pm
by Errol62
Yeah cmon joe. Suspense is killing us mate.
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:44 pm
by thebrotherj
In the Shed wrote:Joe
Did you get your tres sorted?
Stephen
I sure did!
So I had been trying to get my hands on a set of the Sumitomos that Wally was talking about (see above) cos they’re quite cheap and I had a set on my old HR Prem a while back, which drove quite well. And I also reckon they have a better tread pattern than the only other readily available white band option - the Maxxis. But there seems to be supply issues with the Sunni’s. So I went with the more expensive Maxxis after all!
They still look pretty great I reckon.
Before and after scrubbing the blue coating off:
You’ll notice my bonnet bar is missing - it will be the last thing I fit to the car. I’m 6’2” and I got sick of smacking my head on the bastard! I am also yet to paint the sills, not to mention the rear quarters. Had a chat to the panel shop near me and we’re prob gonna do a cheapie tidy up and a closed-door lick of paint down the track a bit.
I wanna get the rear ride height lower too, but will sort that out after rego.
Looks pretty cool though!
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:49 pm
by thebrotherj
Errol62 wrote:Yeah cmon joe. Suspense is killing us mate.
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Ha! There ya go Clay.
A side note - so I ran it down the lane shortly before taking these photos, was about to go for a more adventurous spin further down into the suburb, but guess who came round the corner?? The bloody Po Po. Couldn’t believe it.
Rather than passing me, they parked across the lane and started asking me a million questions. Bloody hell, I only just talked my way out of the double whammy fine: driving an unregistered and (therefore) uninsured vehicle. They were real jerks, especially about the lack of seatbelts... but I explained my out of it. Pheeeew!!
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:01 pm
by Errol62
Mate you are so lucky!
Tyres look very nice indeed. I like the blue look.
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:18 pm
by thebrotherj
Errol62 wrote:Mate you are so lucky!
Tyres look very nice indeed. I like the blue look.
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Yeah I did too for about 5 minutes, but it’s a bit of a novelty look, if you ask me. Belongs on VL Commodores with 20” rims and rubber band sidewalls haha
I’ve always loved black steelies matched with white bands, and it works especially well against the bright blue.
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:24 pm
by WayneXG95
So how good is this and your all ready to go to the Nationals next year?
Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1048842261931969/
And you can download the forms in the Nationals Thread!!!!
We need more utes

Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:33 pm
by thebrotherj
Yeah I’m thinking about it! I won’t know until a bit closer to the date, but is very doable.
Thanks for the prompt
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Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:07 am
by Patrick_R
Joe,
This is another post I have been following closely.
What a top job you have been doing.
My son is also a muso, and he is good with his hands as well.
You have done an amazing job, and love all the pics.
Great work.
Ric.
Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:16 am
by thebrotherj
Patrick_R wrote:Joe,
This is another post I have been following closely.
What a top job you have been doing.
My son is also a muso, and he is good with his hands as well.
You have done an amazing job, and love all the pics.
Great work.
Ric.
That’s very nice of you to say Ric. Glad my ‘artistry’ has an appreciative audience hahah
I’m caught between wishing I had the patience and skill set to build a showy car and just doing what I know. Which is tidying up old warhorses into competent drivers that don’t break down every month. They were built to be driven after all right?
Good stuff about your boy, always nurture that passion in the kid. No matter how many bad life decisions it may lead him too..

Make sure he finds a flexible day job that *actually* pays well, if he ain’t already making the big bucks in music! But it’s a vocation that leads you to some weird and wonderful places, not to mention the best bunch of friends you can have on your side, if my experience is anything to go by.
Anyway, I’m rambling. Thanks again!
Joe
Re: Leroy the EK Ute
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:06 am
by Patrick_R
One thing you don't do Joe is ramble.
Always a good read, and people learn from you, so that's a good thing.
What you are saying makes a lot od sense, a good work horse to me is so much better than a show car.
I love originality.
My Roller has won a few originality awards, but will never win a show & shine because of its originality.
Id rather a time capsule if it was available than a full re do, no matter how tired the time capsule is.
My son works in the same field as me (truck manufacture & sales) and he does regular gigs as well.
His job is pretty steady and he does ok, but his love is music, it keeps him sane.
Yes, as you mentioned there has been some (very) bad choices along the way, but he seems to be coming out the other end pretty good.
He loves the old cars, loves driving them & working on them, so that keeps me happy.
Please don't hold it against him but he is a bass player

LOL