Ash 145 Report post Posted January 14, 2018 Today's photo dump. Big progress. I'm so excited!!! I finished the second rear engine mount. The front right mount is half done, awaiting alignment when the cradle is fitted. The front left mount will then be made too. I couldn't start it due to the bent left chassis rail on the Audi. And then as you can see, chassis is off the jig and the diff is fitted. It went on perfectly. It is sitting higher than expected at the moment as there is next to no weight in the chassis. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 14, 2018 1 Ridge Runner reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted January 14, 2018 Are you retired???? This must be taking some serious time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 14, 2018 Haha, I wish. I'm only 35, still a long way to go before I get to that point. It's not as much time as you think. Yes it has taken a lot of work but I've just been doing it here and there. I've also had the planning of this going through my mind for I think 2 years now. I have been doing this most afternoons instead of grabbing a cold beer. I'm amazed at how much I have been able to do instead of drinking a drop. That and a couple of other reasons is why I put the 69 aside and jumped into this project. I knew I'd see a lot of progress quickly and I needed that. The 69 wasn't giving me that kind of satisfaction. 1 bigmal reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RPM 1,190 Report post Posted January 14, 2018 The work looks spectacular Ash. Kudos. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAC390 327 Report post Posted January 14, 2018 Excellent work Ash. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks very much guys! I got the engine into place today. Still a lot to do but it fits in place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unilec 57 Report post Posted January 15, 2018 Wow, those calipers look huge and yet the disc clamping area looks so small. Making good progress by the way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks! They are 8 piston Brembo's. The rotors are 365mm diameter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vicfreg 773 Report post Posted January 15, 2018 Wow. Nice work Ash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 16, 2018 Thanks, Vic. You're making some great progress with yours too. I've been impressed with how neat your wiring is turning out. It looks great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vicfreg 773 Report post Posted January 16, 2018 I am pretty fussy about wiring. I've had too many cars with messed up wiring that took me a lot of time to repair/troubleshoot. Since I am starting from scratch with a bare car, figured I would do it the right way. Years ago, used to design power plant control systems, so optimization of wiring and such was part of the design process. Guess that carried over to my car hobby..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 16, 2018 Nothing worse than trouble shooting previous owners rat nests of wiring. I can see that you did it professionally before. Great work, it's paying off in the result you are producing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midlife 814 Report post Posted January 16, 2018 42 minutes ago, Vicfreg said: I am pretty fussy about wiring. I've had too many cars with messed up wiring that took me a lot of time to repair/troubleshoot. Since I am starting from scratch with a bare car, figured I would do it the right way. Years ago, used to design power plant control systems, so optimization of wiring and such was part of the design process. Guess that carried over to my car hobby..... A man after my own heart. However, I just love other folk's wiring messes, as it offers me work. I really like the forensic investigations as to why certain wires fail or why owners do what they do... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 17, 2018 Well I'm stoked to say the least. A bit more trimming and adjustment but I got it in place. I need to get some more steel to finish of the front mounts but otherwise it is in, bolted up and rolling. Woo Hoo!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigmal 225 Report post Posted January 17, 2018 You're a machine. When do you kick er in the guts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 17, 2018 Thanks, Mal! Probably a couple of months. I had a go at sitting the front end on today but it didn't exactly go to plan. I need to do some more head scratching to work this out. I can't start running wiring until the cab is in place. I can't get the cab in place until the front end is aligned to the wheels. And that is where I am stuck at the moment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SM69Mach 68 Report post Posted January 17, 2018 15 hours ago, Ash said: Well I'm stoked to say the least. A bit more trimming and adjustment but I got it in place. I need to get some more steel to finish of the front mounts but otherwise it is in, bolted up and rolling. Woo Hoo!! VROOM VROOM... LOVE IT!!!!! First saw this build on protouring.com and was amazed at the build and your ability. Probably my favorite build going on now. Just absolutely love it. Keep up the good work and can't wait for more updates. Quote Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 17, 2018 Cheers mate, thank you much. That's very kind of you!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 20, 2018 A few steps forward and a few back the last few days. It's out of the shed for the first time. I don't think much will happen now until after I take it to see the engineer in the first week of Feb. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SM69Mach 68 Report post Posted January 20, 2018 You have mentioned the engineer a couple of times and maybe I missed it, but I am guessing they confirm the work being done to make sure it is road worthy for this type of build and customization? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted January 20, 2018 The engineer basically signs off, at a cost, on everything to approve it is road legal. They approve not only the design but the construction and also that it meets all road rules and regulations. To what codes it has to meet, is dictated by the VIN. This build being the 1981 Bronco chassis VIN. I wish I could have used the 1950 VIN that is on the cab but the rules state it is the chassis VIN that is used. The codes are called ADR, Australian Design Rules. Which are what was set at that time when the vehicle was sold new. They can relate to safety requirements, noise, emissions, lights, wheels, brakes, everything. The newer the vehicle, the more ADR's there are. There's much more to it but any modification to a car in theory needs to be inspected and certified by an engineer before it is road legal. A gearbox change, change of wheel size, engine change (changing to a different engine to that what was fitted when the car was new), even a modification to the air intake is not allowed. The list goes on and on, but you can see just how little the authorities want people to modify their vehicles. On top of that, we here in NSW also have yearly road worthy inspections. Everything has to be up to spec and then we have the privilege of paying around $1000 a year, per car, to drive them. Talk about a nanny state, hey! I'm always blown away with how free some of the US states are around what you can do with cars. We wouldn't get away with a tiny percentage of the things you can do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwye0627 44 Report post Posted January 21, 2018 3 hours ago, Ash said: The engineer basically signs off, at a cost, on everything to approve it is road legal. They approve not only the design but the construction and also that it meets all road rules and regulations. To what codes it has to meet, is dictated by the VIN. This build being the 1981 Bronco chassis VIN. I wish I could have used the 1950 VIN that is on the cab but the rules state it is the chassis VIN that is used. The codes are called ADR, Australian Design Rules. Which are what was set at that time when the vehicle was sold new. They can relate to safety requirements, noise, emissions, lights, wheels, brakes, everything. The newer the vehicle, the more ADR's there are. There's much more to it but any modification to a car in theory needs to be inspected and certified by an engineer before it is road legal. A gearbox change, change of wheel size, engine change (changing to a different engine to that what was fitted when the car was new), even a modification to the air intake is not allowed. The list goes on and on, but you can see just how little the authorities want people to modify their vehicles. On top of that, we here in NSW also have yearly road worthy inspections. Everything has to be up to spec and then we have the privilege of paying around $1000 a year, per car, to drive them. Talk about a nanny state, hey! I'm always blown away with how free some of the US states are around what you can do with cars. We wouldn't get away with a tiny percentage of the things you can do. I just don't understand why you would need an "Engineer" to sign off on the build... As far as I am concerned YOU are the Engineer!!! You know and understand Way more that any other engineer ever could!!! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites