Ruby Scoo’s epic build, ten years and counting...

[El_Freddo]

Bennie don't listen to Lord Blowie Catcher, it wasn't Russia. For some reason my clutch was shipped to Germany, USPS got it well and truely wrong.

Russia/Germany, either way it wasn't to you!

Now, lets not turn my build thread into a lengthy conversation about nothing inparticular like yours is Toonga Funny reading though, just not what I'm after in here

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Thermo fans arrived yesterday

Today I picked up a second set of jack stands - found them at half price from super cheap at $20 - screw stand type... I was stoked as I was looking for a pair for about $30 but had concluded that I wouldn't find any, not in lakes at least.

So I've got the wiring for the extra thermos - pics of them to come when I find the camera. I will say that they're small, there's three of them and they're thin. Hopefully with all three running they'll pull some serious cooling air through the radiator. I got three small ones so that I can move them around the parts that come close on the front of the EJ... Can't wait to fit them up!

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

SHE'S ALIVE!!!

The cam belt arrived monday at work, I got it at 11pm just after knocking off Five minutes after arriving home I had it installed and she fired up after a couple of rotations. Not having coolant or a radiator for that matter I shut her down and went to bed.

After a solid day's work on re-adjusting the cam timing, fitting the thermo fans and getting the coolant etc sorted I ran her this afternoon up to temperature, sorted a small wiring issue then went to work.

Got home from work, dinner, a dawson's episode (yes I know, sad but true!) then back out to it to mount the bumper and roo bar, put it back on all four, clean the clutter from the engine bay then see if these thermo fans do a good job by running up to temp. Once the thermos kicked in they were only on for a little more than thirty seconds. Good effort I reckon since its a "good drinking weather" night and the three core radiator is a large one to quickly pull heat from - well it used to be.

I then took her for a spin up and down the street. All's well up the front, just the rear bearings to do now I've almost, finally, finished my dual battery setup too.

Pics possibly in two weeks - got a lot coming up I'm sorry!

Ah yeah, also found that my TPS's cover has gone walk about!

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Ruby Scoo's running very well. Now sporting her "big boots" for the Robe trip.

That's all good but I found out that the new front inner boot that I replace due to a small, tiny split has now completely torn itself apart and thrown the CV grease everywhere Going to run on it for the trip, pack a spare and hope for the best.

Now for the 4wd trip we've all been waiting for

Cheers

Bennie

[chuckles]

Hey Bennie, been away for awhile cause life`s what happens to you while ur busy making other plans , anyway just thought i`d drop a line say hello , you blokes on ausubaru are the salt of the earth. iam in the area next day or so Bennie so if you like we can catch up let me no if its convenient for you otherwise no probs mate. cheers

[Barry1956]

chuckles,
Bennie is living down Bairnsdale way these days mate, only moved recently, I think. (Thought I'd post, as he has been away touring, not sure if he's back yet.)

[El_Freddo]

Yeah Chuckles I'm in Lakes Entrance now. If you're down this way and want to catch up I'd be more than happy to between!

update: Ruby needs new drive shafts up front I reckon due to the EJ and possibly all the trips up Mt Hotham last year... 18 months - I was hoping for two and a half years...

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Today I got some rear springs sorted on a 2nd hand set of 4wd shocks from a vortex from centre rd wreckers. The springs were from a honda civic's front end. Here's the before and after:





The ride is much firmer and getting used to the new height in the rear end will probably take a little while. As for the reason for this - better load carrying in the rear.

Here's the thread that got this all started and the thread that got me on to the honda front springs - I didn't bother with the 4runner shock as we decided it would reduce the available travel of the swing arm more than the swing arm does itself already...

I would still like a pneumatic rear setup to see what can be achieved but I think I'm dreaming about finding a good set!

I've also got a little package that should be on its way by friday. Will post pics when I get them in a couple of weeks (landing in benders, I'll pick them up from there )

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Ok I can't hold it in - the package contains these little babies:



Pretty excited as I've wanted standard offset rims with the big rubber for ages - hated the way the desert rats stuck out the side of the guards and didn't want flares. This will look much more natural on Ruby Scoo

Cheers

Bennie

[Venom]

Score! Spotted those on Ebay and thought of your car Bennie. No more wheels hanging from the gaurds is a definite releif, doesn't look as tough though.

[Dann]

awsum mate looking good
how the springs treating you??
i'm thinking of doing the spring thing too just have to see

[RSR 555]

Ok I can't hold it in - the package contains these little babies:



Pretty excited as I've wanted standard offset rims with the big rubber for ages - hated the way the desert rats stuck out the side of the guards and didn't want flares. This will look much more natural on Ruby Scoo

Cheers

Bennie

I bet you couldn't I'd be the same if I had me a set of them beauties. Must have pics of them on Ruby Scoo

[El_Freddo]

No more wheels hanging from the gaurds is a definite releif, doesn't look as tough though.

You're right Venom - she'll look tougher than before

how the springs treating you??
i'm thinking of doing the spring thing too just have to see

Good. At speed unloaded it kind of rides like a VT commodore - firm but smooth enough to still be comfortable. The other half prefers this ride over the old springs. Haven't had a decent load in it yet so I don't know how she'll go - but its looking a lot better than the old springs!

I bet you couldn't I'd be the same if I had me a set of them beauties. Must have pics of them on Ruby Scoo

Will do once I get them from benders... Which is an issue as I was hoping they would be coming down in the back of Sunnie the Brumby tomorrow, but my sister inlaw loves her stupid swifty too much and can't drive a manual to save her life - so no new tyres just yet... I'm hoping for some time off next week to do a special trip to pick these beauties up

I'll be sure to get a pic up asap once they're on! They won't stay on for long though, just a couple of pics - got the 23's to wear out first + the snow tyres will be going on soon for Hotham. I'm not going to run the 27's full time until I've got the AWD gearbox in and the front wheels pushed forward to where they should be...

Cheers

Bennie

[ScubyRoo]

Wholly crap dude, that is some serious back-end-off-the-ground action! Departure angle? What departure angle? muahahha

Thank god you are putting bigger wheels in to feel that gaping hole, looks a little bit odd with the 13s imho.

Siiiiiic tyres

[Alex]

good tyres...i had ONE as a spare for wanky wagon.

let it down to 6psi once and it was fine. Did a good skid too if i remember correctly

[El_Freddo]

good tyres...i had ONE as a spare for wanky wagon.

Have you still got it?? I'd like a sixth rim for two spares...

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

Got some pics for ya

From this:



To this:









Love these rims and its a shame they don't make them anymore! They really compliment the L's shape better than I could ever imagine - and the 27's tuck neatly under the guards which is what I was after.

Now to get the gearbox sorted so that I have the proper ratios to drive these things. I'm feeling VERY tall once again!

I'm thinking of sorting out a set of adjustable radius rods sooner rather than later then sourcing some new chains to run these tyres in the snow for the winter season - no swapping off the 23's to head into the bush... Plans - we'll see where they head!

Cheers

Bennie

[El_Freddo]

So had a great day yesterday (and this is not a an add for those dodgy vehicles) - I finally got around to refitting Ruby Scoo with her floor lining. Feels like a new subi now. And a better sound from the exhaust when in the driver's seat - I wasn't expecting that.

Anyway, here's the before and after: - before I put the floor lining in but after I took all the seats out and cleaned/vacuumed everything...



After the install:





Pretty stoked with that ^

So had a win there then a loss on the way to work last night... Barely running late at the time I took a right at an intersection then noticed a dumped blue plume of smoke from the back of Ruby Scoo.

Brain went into over drive to work out what it could be, then stopped - check oil pressure! Zero on my little guage. Bingo, worked out what it was - blown oil line to the pressure gauge. I shut off the engine and pulled over to check out the problem.

I don't have a pic yet as I've not been out to fix it, but the problem was the oil line that comes from the T piece on top of the engine came off for reasons currently unknown - thus a jet of oil was squirted over the top of the driver's side engine bank and on to the fire wall and the hot exhaust... fun fun.

On the way back to her after work there was a 100+ metre trail of oil down the road - and I'm not talking about a little line, its like someone had a half metre wide paint brush that had gone nuts for that distance...

More pics to come of the T piece and mess of the oil everywhere.

Cheers

Bennie

PS Here's another pic of the rims for a comparison - I can't stop looking at Ruby Scoo with these boots on (pity I have to take them off this weekend):

[ScubyRoo]

PS Here's another pic of the rims for a comparison - I can't stop looking at Ruby Scoo with these boots on (pity I have to take them off this weekend):

Now that folks, is what a 4wd is supposed to look like! Great work Bennie, you must have sore cheeks from grinning so much every time you look at Ruby

[El_Freddo]

Now that folks, is what a 4wd is supposed to look like! Great work Bennie, you must have sore cheeks from grinning so much every time you look at Ruby

Thanks mate. I know I'm not the first, but am pretty proud of her - and I'm pretty much done with the smiling at the moment. Just super keen to get her offroad! Cobaw here I come*

Cheers

Bennie

* Once the move from Lake is complete later this week