Silverbullets' resto: Engine, gearbox, suspension

[Silverbullet]

After reading through the thread, two words came to mind.. Holly crap. Holly crap. Puts what we have done to shame. Very nice work. Holly crap.

That is a truly humbling thing to read, coming from one of the Subie boys But I couldn't possibly agree that it puts your work to shame! The cars you guys built and documented on this forum were literally the sole inspiration for this project, to see the effort and craftsmanship you guys put in gave me something to aspire to And this car even has some genuine Subie boys parts in it (windscreen corner patch panel and overhead console) so does that make our cars related as well?

Rick it doesn't put what the subie boys did to shame - I'm sure Silverbullet got a lot of inspiration from reading your build threads when they were thriving!

SB: have you had time to modify that wiring with the shield to see if it makes a difference?

Cheers

Bennie

Too right, although my threads are a bit more rambling (spam spam spam) I can't seem to explain something without writing a novel about it.

Also, I haven't had a chance to touch anything since the weekend, with everything else I do in my 4.5 hours of free time after work It's all I've been thinking about while I'm at work though

[Silverbullet]

I know it's not engine related but, some amazing genuine parts goodness came my way today So the rear windscreen glass will be going in soon as well, which leaves me with only 1 window rubber I don't have. Probably going to have to go the custom made route.

[El_Freddo]

Where'd you source that neat package from SB??

Good find!

Cheers

Bennie

[Silverbullet]

Where'd you source that neat package from SB??

Good find!

Cheers

Bennie

Japan stock

Also, couldn't resist coming in to post this, it's not running just yet but this is a huge step. I re-did some of the EDIS module wiring and bingo If it wasn't for that error in the wiring diagram I followed it would have worked first time

You'll have to excuse the spaghetti looking mess at the end; it really isn't as bad as it looks trust me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4amgbqS ... e=youtu.be

[Silverbullet]

:twisted::twisted::mrgreen::mrgreen:
IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVE!!!

From now on it's all hands on deck, all out sprint to the finish line so I can drive this thing !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YGQLhp ... e=youtu.be

[Proton mouse]

Yay!!! Well done Sam. I was like that with my Brumby after 7 years off the road, so I feel the excitement with you!!

[Silverbullet]

A little more progress; solved one of my main concerns/sticking points with the cooling system - the heater pipe that runs under the manifold. The old one had rusted to oblivion and I don't have the gear to braze one up myself, so got a friend to do it at his workshop. It is copper pipe with a brass 6mm barb sticking up, and the original steel bracket cut off the old rusty one and brazed onto the pipe. Gave it a clean up with a wire wheel and it looks a million bucks! Also the hole in the manifold where the old heater return pipe used to be (now a 5/8" BSP threaded hole) got a similar dealie - a brass plug with a piece of copper pipe brazed on makes for a nice place to run a rubber hose up to.

Also added another fuse block to my already fuse/breaker laden engine bay This one is a MIDI fuse for the alternator line - 125A to start with. I love this little system, cable lugs get bolted directly to the fuse so nothing in between that can fail before the fuse. And if I ever need to change the rating of this fuse, MIDI fuses go from 80A I think up to 300A or so Easy to swap. Only downside to all the work I've done to my wiring is now I have about 6 different kinds of fuse in the system which isn't really good. Just have to keep a box tucked away somewhere with every kind of spare I might need.

One other thing, I sent my L series 2 piece tailshaft off to be assessed, I've got the word back that a custom single piece tailshaft is very do-able So expect to see that some time soon as well.





You'll have to ignore the un-used, mis-placed rivnut behind the MIDI fuse!

[steptoe]

If you can afford a single piece tailshaft it may eliminate untidy flat bar sitting underneath, avoids trying to line things up. I went single after a long time, the tube diameter was a little bigger and found lost fifth gear while in motion - a lump of weld was hitting on the shift lever as I went for fifth and got this knuck, knuck noise and feel trying to shift. Thought I'd blown the box with my EA82Mongrel !

Sexy pics Sam, and um what is positive crankcase ventilation ?

[Bantum]

Might want to run a pipe bead flare on the ends of the water lines to stop 'em coming off ... :




Almost ready to go now - Got much left to do ?

Cheers, Bantum ...

[Silverbullet]

That's a nice bit of kit there Bantum Don't think I'll shell out though for 3 pipe ends I've been assured with a neat fitting rubber hose, clean pipe and a good hose clamp they will not leak with just straight pipe. If they do, an easy way to get a rib is to solder a piece of thick wire around the end so I'll probably try that. As for what's left to do...toying with the idea of throwing a milk crate in there to sit on for a blat up and down the street when my tailshaft comes back Have to hook up and fill the brake system still. There's not much left to do in the engine bay now, after this it is 100% interior which I think will be fiddly and time consuming.

Jonno - I always was going to go the single piece route since I didn't like the idea of flat bar bolted under my carpet and wasn't confident in making some subie boys spec crossmember. The tailshaft expert said 3" diameter minimum...I think he's got big ideas about how much power is going to be going through that shaft but there's no kill like overkill and there's heaps of room down there.
Also, PCV is still there, all those other plugs you see are for the omitted EGR system.

[Silverbullet]

And here it is Just a little teaser of my custom single piece shaft that arrived today. Rebuild-able new uni's, 3 inch pipe, balanced and ready to go.

Not a very good pic, couldn't get it all in. That should be going into the car tomorrow

[steptoe]

what measures did you use centre of uni to centre of uni ? Not same as a two piece shaft ?

[Silverbullet]

Jonno, used mounting face of rear diff flange to middle of the oil seal at gearbox end for measurement. It can be plus or minus 5mm so tape measure end clamped to the diff flange and Mk. 1 eyeball from underneath at the other end was good enough. Turns out the 2 piece one was the perfect length, so I sent it in as a sample, told him not to send it back In a first for me, getting this done was all done entirely over the phone and through couriers; The place was an hour away from my work and I finish at 5 so no way I could get there and meet the guy face to face. When it was done, asked them to stick a courier sticker on it send it back to my work place and add it to my bill, paid over the phone and it turned up 2 hours later...I should do it this way more often

Just installed it and this shaft is absolutely perfect, really happy with it and glad I spent the money. Sometimes I'd rather spend the money to get something done professionally (and done right!) than fiddle about with it myself and possibly stuff it up. E.g the paint job and carbies. From the start I didn't want to drill holes in my floor so this was the best way to me.

For those interested this whole thing cost $550.



You'll have to excuse the range selection rod dangling in the breeze

[steptoe]

I was thinking if one went of the L Series tail shaft and copied its length and not allow for the assumed kink at the centre bearing it should be a smidge shorter .....
I have flat bar centre bearing mount and it looks a bit rough

[Silverbullet]

All quiet on the resto front lately?!? Can't believe the tailshaft was so long ago.

This week I got my ass into gear and got some parts off for reconditioning; Alternator/A/C bracketry is being blasted and coated as we speak, got a set of P/S hoses re-made/as new at the hydraulics joint, bought a new induction motor so I can fix my compressor finally and also bought a new alternator (90A from Nissan VG30E Maxima) pictured below. I'm liking the look of this new alt, looks like it should be a straightforward install if all the bolt holes line up nicely. Just 2 wires to worry about; charge light and sense wire (12v switched with IGN I think)



Also, would anyone happen to have any MY power steering hoses they don't want lying around? Sadly the hydraulics place has to cannibalize the old ones to make the new ones. Which leaves me with one otherwise complete P/S set without any hoses

[TOONGA]

Alternator looks good I take it you are going to put a V pulley on it ... unless I missed the section where you have a ribbed section on your crank pulley.

Just did a search on line for MY power steering hoses ... no luck.

TOONGA

[Silverbullet]

Alternator looks good I take it you are going to put a V pulley on it ...
TOONGA

Yes

If I ever see an incomplete P/S set at a wreckers (it does happen) I will nab the hoses, doesn't matter what condition they're in just as long as the fittings at each end are ok.

[Silverbullet]

Power steering system is complete All hooked up ready to go, just need some fluid now. I haven't found a solution to the steering knuckle/uni extension yet, once that is sorted I'll be able to test the system. I haven't got my A/C/alt bracket back from the sand blasters yet, hopefully next weekend though I can install the alt and A/C compressor for the last time Feels like things are coming together now, not much more work to do under the hood!

Also got my compressor working again, installing that motor was a pretty fiddly job.

P/S hoses re-made, better than new!

[AusTas75]

looking good

[Silverbullet]

Today was a cold day so the paint on my A/C/alternator bracket didn't dry fast enough, but that will all be going on tomorrow.

So today with the help of the indispensable rivnuts I found a neat little spot for this



Drove the work van the other week with a DIY cruise kit in it and decided I had to have this on the wagon Was surprised how well it worked, and how it kept correct speed up hills etc. Someone I know just happened to be offering an old kit of theirs (used) for free so that's all the reason I needed.