What did you do to improve your soobie today

Wagonman · Post by **Wagonman** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:24 pm

Yeh mate, designed from scratch but i had the help of one of my dads contacts (laser cutter/fabricator) take my designs and templates to make the individual parts. Then i put it together. The chequer plate top is aluminium which sits over a "C" section facing rearwards. The stub axles and mounting brackets are welded to the back of the c section.

The arms are all mine

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 12:36 am

I flogged my Subi up on the 4wd trails around Shark Bay.

Found out the hard way while 60km/h is easy over flattish soft sand,
even 20km/h can be too fast for lumpy soft sand.

(a few rough sections there)

That said, Francis Peron National Park is a delightful place to go offroading.
There are a few short side trails that were too much for my 185/70R-14's @ 15psi,
thankfully I managed to do a 12 point turn in a tight space of VERY SOFT sand

so they could challenge the harder-core L Series or Brumby.
I would have appreciated new shockies, though the lumpiest sections still would have overwhelmed me.
Next time I will stop if I bloody have to, risk getting bogged, instead of coasting down to a better speed.

Casualties from Shark Bay:

-my radiator sprung at least two leaks;
it lives with 2-4 Litres of water top up each trip, (no more than 50-60kms) heater and fan turned on full.

-one of my lenses from my new Narva Ultra Compact Driving Lights cracked when I thought my spotties shook loose over a hard knock; turns out my front bumper is hanging down a bit, so i wasn't my lights.

-my distributor was having fits the last few days, from being "rained on" while driving; fixed with a can of silicone spray from SuperCheap.

I am putting in a new radiator when I get back to Bunbury.
I'm getting "mates rates" on a new core, plus some tips on how to install it.

Oddly, my fuel economy has improved dramatically since my radiator started to leak.

It likes running "3-5mm" hotter (Hot/Cold gauge) than it was before.

On my last fillup, I logged just under 9L/100 km, even with my new Yoko tyres (full tread; heavier) while before i sprung a leak, I was getting around 10.2L/100 km on my new tyres.

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:29 pm

Spent some time rubbing back a second hand alloy roll bar. It had some heavy gouges and scratches in it.
Bought a Royobi One orbital corner cat sander.
first rubbed the whole bar back with 120 grade to show up all imperfections.
Then rubbed the imperfections out with 80grit. This took some hrs, probably 4 hrs in total but I got a break between battery charges and I done it over a few days.
ATM rubbed the whole bar(am only 1/3 of the way though at this stage) back with 240 grit.
Also turned up and adaptor to take a cotton wheels on a 4inch grinder for buffing.
Photos show different stages. Far out there was some work rubbing out the scratches and gouges and the Royobi has earnt its keep.

Smash1911 · Post by **Smash1911** » Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:52 am

Decided to give the Brumby a wash today and got carried away. Ended up respraying the blackouts on the bullbar, gave it a cut and polish and rejuvenated the tonneau cover. Just need to respray the rims and she should look like new again!

alang · Post by **alang** » Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:48 am

Got some Purple Stuff thats the name of it and started doing the alloy bull bar to see how it will turn out with a polish. starting to look good. all so crawled under the ute to see why it not getting fuel surprise no pump but hoses have been connected so the twenty litres i put in the tank is still their. also fitted a guard mount UHF Ariel so now that Christmas is over i should be able to get stuck into getting her going and on the road as money and the accountant ( wife ) permits

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:38 pm

Purple Stuff hey? haha

Smash1911, the bullbar looks good.

revmax, sounds like a lotta work, cant wait to see finished job.

2nd Hand Yank, sounds like you had fun in Shark Bay. Hope your L recovers fully

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:05 am

Purple polish is meant to be pretty good.

Nice Brum Smash

Put some hrs in yesterday rubbing back guards, grill and inside of bonnet.
1 guard and grill painted, almost fininshed rubbing the other guard and will try to rub the top of the bonnet and finish off the other guard today. That is if I don't go to work to bast and paint another set of sunrasia rims.

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:48 am

yesterday fininshed off the bonnet and one guard.
today blasted 4 sunrasia rims and am in the process of undercoating them with etch primer then 2 pack white if the weather holds out.

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:29 am

Very very nice. When are you coming over for a consult on my to cars:)

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:41 am

Wagonman wrote:frikken heavy but the honda civic springs seem to be holding up their end. should be very interesting when its all loaded up next week.

I think you'll find that they'll sit where it used to with the old springs... I'm going to be looking into an airbag set up, maybe, time will tell as it will be a money thing as usual

revmax wrote:

Awesome revmax!!!

Cheers

Bennie

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:26 pm

Thanks fellas. I am an amature or back yarder (first time) but are utalizeing our customers and work colegues for knowledge and know how.
There are some blemishes but I should be able to polish them out.
my spray booth consists of a 3x3 marque in the back yard. LOL
The sunrasias are coming along nicley to.
I will post some befor during and after shots soon.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:44 pm

Revmax, do you want to post some pics of the blemishes?
Depending on what they are like, you may not be able to polish them out.
Do you use wax and grease remover before painting?

Cheers Cam

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:50 pm

Cam. Yer mate wax n grease remover for sure. most of the blemishes are foreign particles from my back yard spray booth. I am thinking 1200 wet and dry then polish but I will consult with customers and work colegue who paint stuff for a living, before I do anything.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:03 pm

Yep 1200 should do it if it's just foreign particles.
Then a nice wax and polish should be great for it!

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:56 pm

They look awesome revmax, great job.

Remember you will always be your own harshest critic when it comes to your own work. I think you should be really proud of the job you've done, esp as you say its your 1st time!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:08 pm

2 pack in the back yard - alright, thought you had a booth and oven !

Wanna supply some details of what you used, like brand of unnercoat, top coat, how much in dollars and quantity - colour code for Brumby red ...please

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:49 pm

steptoe wrote:2 pack in the back yard - alright, thought you had a booth and oven !

Wanna supply some details of what you used, like brand of unnercoat, top coat, how much in dollars and quantity - colour code for Brumby red ...please

Yer sure. The 2pac primer and top coat are Valspar brand, it is sold an Industrial 2 pac and is pretty cheap. $140 for 4L of colour and primer ea and the hardner was about $38 for 1L ea. which will give a total of 5L each.
so it is $178 X2. The paint code is 946 Rio Red. I think, will check in a minute.
The real secret to a nice fininsh is in the rubbing of the undercoat. A small orbiting sander,orbits of no more than 1.6mm and use the white abrasive pads 240grit and BE patient. I should have used a 1/2 sheet sander on the bonnet instead if the old GMC corner cat sander I have. (mum bought it for me some 6 years ago and I have used it once for 2minuets since I have had it)
2pack is real bad for ya and breating aparatus is advised.
For the big dints I used a good quality boddy filler and for the small dints used spray filler. the spray filler needs good time to dry properly and I made the mistake of trying to rub it before it was set properly, it did rub but the surface texture was not consistent and had to put an extra layer of paint over these areas to try to blend it, it mostly worked and I am hoping the 1200 WnD will knock the tops off the blemish.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:53 pm

I improved my subie today by putting a nice big dent in the rear passenger door

:(Scraped a bollard going into a drive-thru

There was a paint scrape right in the middle of the door and I thought that was it, then I looked a bit lower and the black trim strip is squashed in, and below that there is a big crease...totally ruined my day that did. Don't really know what to do about it, I couldn't fix it myself so I guess a new door is in order unless I want to fork out for a panel beater or just leave it.
I haven't had a look from a distance so I don't know how noticeable it is, first time I've ever hit anything in any car and I just bought some paint to spruce the wheels up a bit and make it look nicer

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:07 pm

Silverbullet wrote:I improved my subie today by putting a nice big dent in the rear passenger door :(Scraped a bollard going into a drive-thru There was a paint scrape right in the middle of the door and I thought that was it, then I looked a bit lower and the black trim strip is squashed in, and below that there is a big crease...totally ruined my day that did. Don't really know what to do about it, I couldn't fix it myself so I guess a new door is in order unless I want to fork out for a panel beater or just leave it.
I haven't had a look from a distance so I don't know how noticeable it is, first time I've ever hit anything in any car and I just bought some paint to spruce the wheels up a bit and make it look nicer

AWW NOOOOO !
Wait till you find another door cause if you "Need' to fix it, it will cost ya.

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:31 pm

Silverbullet wrote:I improved my subie today by putting a nice big dent in the rear passenger door :(Scraped a bollard going into a drive-thru There was a paint scrape right in the middle of the door and I thought that was it, then I looked a bit lower and the black trim strip is squashed in, and below that there is a big crease...totally ruined my day that did. Don't really know what to do about it, I couldn't fix it myself so I guess a new door is in order unless I want to fork out for a panel beater or just leave it.
I haven't had a look from a distance so I don't know how noticeable it is, first time I've ever hit anything in any car and I just bought some paint to spruce the wheels up a bit and make it look nicer

Mate that is terrible news. I know how you feel, I've scraped along a 2' high brick fence as I backed down a friends driveway. Never even saw it till I heard it!

Hope its not as bad as it first appeared...