Neils Frankenstein Ute

[FireKraka]

Got some time in the workshop this weekend first since we have been back from overseas.
had to extend the underfloor braces and then fit the gearbox tunnel loop


The loop is a V6 Conversions one this is the same as I used in my FC Sedan.


Started to fit the tunnel and just have it tek screwed to where I think it needs to be, whoever put the other tunnel in has really made it a harder as the messed with the floor quite a bit. It may not end up pretty but I will try to get it as good as I can with my limited skills.


Regards
Neil (FireKraka)

[FireKraka]

Well I've been making a bit of progress; I gave myself the nationals as a deadline to have it finished or at least on a trailer and then realised I had better pull my finger out sooooooooooooooo

I finished welding in the new tunnel it is not pretty but will do; it wasn't very easy to fit because of what had been done to the tunnel previously


Fitted my 3/4 chassis to help strengthen the floor


Started work on the repair to the passenger side inner sill it was only the piece from the B pillar back that was shot so used the piece below to do the repair which I thought came out ok


Crap inside as can be expected

The repair finished

Then tackled the outer sill; shaped it to fit first and held with vice grips to check

Then tacked ready to fully weld


Never thought I would be able to tackle thse sort of things by myself, now I have to move on to the passendger side which is basically the same condition.
Have to have the rolling shell to the panel and paint guy by January if I have any hope of getting it back before June and still have a lot to do.
Regards
Neil

[Blacky]

Get into it !!!

[FireKraka]

I think I should have re read before I submitted that post I've just noticed I said I had to move on to the passenger side when obviously I meant the drivers side
Regards
Neil

[FireKraka]

Also meant to mention that I have got my doors back from being repaired and modified to take one piece glass thanks to Trevor I have the template and will get the glass cut soon.

[Errol62]

Great progress Neil
I think I have found a place that makes a repair section for the ute/van lower skin between the b pillar and rear wheel arch if you're interested. I haven't got in touch with them yet. Place is called Retro Spares/Auto Cables.
Have you thought about how you will attach this section to the outer sill? I was thinking of welding it on prior to fitting the outer sill panel.
Cheers
Clay


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[Trev]

Your moving along nicely Neil, its good to have a goal to finish. I'll be watching and hope you make it.


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[CHOPPED]

looking good Neil
chopp it

[In the Shed]

Hey Neil,
Looking good, maybe put a BBQ on and get the club to have a working bee that should get it moving!
Regards
Stephen

[FireKraka]

Hi Guys thanks for the comments.
Clay I thought about putting that section in first but because I hadn't braced the cabin I was worried that if I cut that out and the sill pieces all at once I might create problems, the other side does not have to have the same repair so my issue is that I may have to lose the seem between the panel and the sill if so I will need to do the same on the other side, I've noticed on a couple of other utes that this is how you can tell that repair has been done if the seem exists or not; you are right I probably should have done it first

And I did buy the repair panels from those guys I think it was but they don't seem to have the slight curve from top to bottom and the end near the wheel well is not the same profile but I should be able to use some of it.

I think a BBQ and beers (after the work is done) wouild be a great idea Stephen I had better extract my digit and get my end of the work done first

Regards
Neil

[Errol62]

Thanks for the info Neil. You should try and keep the seam imho. Then again I'm all for removing the front guard seam.
Cheers
Clay


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[FireKraka]

Well another productive workshop session working on the passenger side sill.
Passenger side sill, welds cleaned up and put in primer (paint still drying that is why different shades)


Drivers side old sill had more cancer than the Passenger side so had to use a longer repair section; thanks to EKMart for the sections.




Inner Sill repair completed


Outer sill shaped and fully welded in


Took some photos of the swiss cheese of the floor pan behind the cabin divider in the ute tray section all the usual places and have decided to replace the whole section instead of patching bits and pieces. Both sides are in the same shape and an attempt had already been made to replace some by the previous owner.



Regards
FireKraka

[FireKraka]

Another weekend in the shed, I finished cleaning up the welds on the drivers side sill and then gave it a coat of primer.
Decided to move on to the fuel tank support; because i'm using a commodore tank with the intank fuel pump I needed to cut out some of the rear floor section, there had been a bad rust repair in one side anyway.
This is the new floor section


Because it is higher than the original tank height I rolled the back down to the wheel door which will be welded up anyway


Floor and tank support frame welded in just need to clean up the welds


Tank support frame inside ute area


A couple of small things to finish here, weld tank support inside in a couple of areas and then some capture nuts for the fuel tank support straps and then another thing ticked of the long list but much more to go.

Regards
Neil

[Errol62]

Good progress mate. That shape is familiar from another ute build recently on here.
Cheers
Clay


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[FireKraka]

Your right Clay plenty of guys have done the same it's about the best way to fit a commodore tank just make the frame to go around the flange area of the tank and then weld it into the modified floor it gives it plenty of strength only trouble is you have to cut the floor out and if you don't want to chop them up that much then you have to look at some other form of tank.

The commodore tank is a good mod it has the fuel pump in the tank as well as return line already there and fuel sender is part of the pump, it is relatively quite because it is in the tank, replacement parts are cheap and the pump pressure matches the engine without having to have regulators etc.

I also did this mod to my FC Sedan and remade the entire boot floor so that the tank sat under the floor and didn't loss any boot space.

Regards
Neil