Time for an update

[rocket]

Congrats Rod, & thanks for taking us along for the journey ..

Hi Angelo, Thanks.

Slowly working out this new photobucket. Would have liked to post more photos.

Perth is such a big, modern and clean place. Had not been there for about 15 years and found it is just getting bigger.

Well done on the awards!!! And well done to the locals for helping you guy's out as well, Top effort. Have a safe trip hm.

Hi Adrien, Thanks. We found the people in Perth to be very friendly and helpful.

Congratulation's to the Crow eater crew, 1 on taking home the silverware, 2 on overcoming every road block thrown at you and now that the presures off, here's hoping that you blokes enjoy a trouble free cruise home and let your acheivement really sink in....

Thanks Pete. We are stoked about the awards.

It was frustrating at times with the problems we had, but the important thing for us was they were running well at the Judging, and the assistance we had was fantastic.

We have also been very happy with the towing performance of the 2 Nissan Patrols. Brad tweaked the turbo boost on the Blue Patrol and had no problems overtaking trucks. They are also very comfortable.

It appears our electrical gremlins may still be with the convoy on the trip home. Have just heard on the grapevine that the Blue Mach 1 is going very well on the trip. SAY WHAT! Yep - The Blue Mach 1.

Hmm...... It was on the car trailer when the convoy left Perth. Will know more later. Details are sketchy at the moment.

Rocket.

[rocket]

Finally managed to get through to Jeremy.

They are at Caiguna which is 350 klm from the SA Border.

The background noise told me they are all in very good spirits, having stopped for breakfast.

About 150klm from Perth, Tony`s engine developed a rather loud ticking noise. Sounds like a crook lifter or tappet. Rather than risk damage to the engine they decided to get the Blue Mach1 off the trailer and load Tony`s Boss.  So Tony and Trish are now driving the Blue Mach 1.

All vehicles in the convoy are running well. After today`s 980 klm drive they will stay at Ceduna tonight and should arrive back in Adelaide mid afternoon tomorrow.

Rocket.

[rocket]

Just heard from Fiona.

At midday, the convoy has already driven through Port Augusta so they are making very good time. Expect they will arrive in Adelaide around 3-3.30.

They are happy to be near the end of another very long cruise. The boys will take tomorrow off and have a relaxing weekend then back into it on Monday.

Rocket.

[Macka]

Well done on the awards gents.... 

[66 Hertz]

be good to know they are all back safely

[mwizz]

Hope the last leg home is a safe one

[MachAttack]

Rod, I hope you have the ticker tape parade organised for the returning pilgrims.

[rocket]

Most of them are back safe and sound.

Ron diverted over to Whyalla to go visit his mum.

They were all extremely tired after such a long drive.

More later - have to lock up here and go home.

Rocket.

[chopmgw]

Mission accomplished !
 

[rocket]

Mission accomplished !
 

Sure was Michael.

Ron arrived home at lunchtime a very happy, but tired man. He did not mess around. Took his car straight back to the Auto Electrician who was supposed to have made sure all the electrics were good to go just before they left for Perth. They were not all good as it turned out. Ron said something along the lines of - i paid him to make sure it was all good so now he can effin well fix it.

The WA electrical gremlins are still active. Ron received a phone call from Bruce - who had remained in WA for a holiday. Bruce`s car had broken down at a place called Pemberton - electrical issues - and he was waiting for the RAC to come and see what was wrong. Bruce drives an extremely nice 71 or so coupe -



Hope it is sorted easily for you Bruce.

Met some excellent people in Perth, in particular Denton who saved our bacon with Ron`s car by getting it going well enough for him to drive to the Judging. Also some SA members who did themselves and the club proud. Steve Kidd hopped in more than a few times to help get cars running. Thanks Steve.
Steve and Brad making modifications to a Distributor -

 

Brett and Angie did not think twice in unloading their exceptional thoroughbred 70 Boss from their enclosed car trailer and loading the Red Mach 1 when it broke down on the way home from Judging  so that we could get it back to the resort. When Ron was helping to get another car going, Brett and Angie cleaned and washed Ron`s car in preparation for the Judging.
Then at Ceduna on the way home Jeremy fell on his dicky knee and really hurt it badly. Brett and Angie were there once again to pack it in ice and make sure he was ok. They sent text messages quite a few times after that to make sure Jeremy was ok driving. You guys are Pure Gold!
Brett and Angies 70 Boss


Rocket.

[red066]

ITs like the end of a series ?
when does the next season start?

[rocket]

ITs like the end of a series ?
when does the next season start?

Aha... Back to days of our drearies eh

Actually started a week or so ago. Blutey the panel man has been busy working on our 68 Vert. The body was painted for the 2010 Nationals in Adelaide, but the engine bay and undercarriage still required work. It had an awful thick undercoating underneath, so Blutey has been busy stripping that off to see what is underneath. Thankfully clean metal mostly, but he had to replace the aprons in the engine bay





While Blutey and Luke work on the Vert next week, Ron and Brad will get stuck into putting our 67 Vintage Burgundy Coupe back together. Another one that was painted 3 years ago - but we have not had the time to reassemble the car - Although Jeremy and his son Sam have been working on the car at home in their spare time. Problem is spare time for Jeremy is very rare.



There are also some customers cars booked in as well as another 4 or so of our own cars requiring full restorations- so no shortage of work to go on with.

Rocket.

[66nag]

Fabulous day!
Just thought I'd share a few pics I took with my phone before the battery died....

[rocket]

Hi 66Nag, Fabulous day - absolutely.

Thanks for posting. Great selection of cars! Your Vert looks fantastic.
If you (or anybody else ) have more photos - please post them.

Rocket

[66nag]

A pleasure, Rocket!
I really wished I had got to actually meet all the fabulous people involved, and put a face to their names,cars, and avatars!!!
(Note to self for Next Time!)
Thankyou for making the effort to come to WA....it's people like you that made it a super day for me!
It's just the kick up the **** that I need to get more involved....!
 

[rocket]

A pleasure, Rocket!
I really wished I had got to actually meet all the fabulous people involved, and put a face to their names,cars, and avatars!!!
(Note to self for Next Time!)
Thankyou for making the effort to come to WA....it's people like you that made it a super day for me!
It's just the kick up the **** that I need to get more involved....!
 

No worries mate - Thanks for having us.

I was fortunate enough to read your list of suggestions for the event. Agree with most of them, in particular your suggestion of more signage in front of the cars explaining what they are, owners, etc. This was a nice touch that was provided by the NSW organisers at Newcastle last year -



Hope you do indeed get more involved. See you in 5 years.

Rocket.

[tim_morrison82]

I was planning to make a big board for my project, but i was flat out moving the car around and organising the event. I promise i will be more prepared next time! I did put my marti report on display though, and linked my build thread to a barcode you can scan with your smartphone for those wanting more info...

[rocket]

Tim, That was an excellent display of your Mustang and also the Blue Vert next to it.

Thoroughly enjoyed the walk around and explanation you gave Michelle and i when we came over to have a look.

Rocket.

[chopmgw]

Good to see the Burgundy coupe is gonna get some loving !
This car inspired me at the start of my project, due to its similar probs

[rocket]

chopmgw wrote  -Good to see the Burgundy coupe is gonna get some loving !
This car inspired me at the start of my project, due to its similar probs.

Yes Michael - the old "rusted out roof skin due to a cracked vinyl roof" problem.

I am very fond of this coupe myself. We imported it from California about 5 years ago. It was owned by a doctor from North Hollywood since new and passed down to their daughter at some stage. Car came with lots of documentation. Really like the Vintage Burgundy colour and all the options on the car.

It is much further advanced than the photo shows. Headliner, front and rear screens have been fitted and i am pretty sure Jeremy has already fitted the door glass. So should be easy to finish off .

Rocket.

[68Coupe]

This car inspired me at the start of my project, due to its similar probs

Not being around when chopmgw undertook his project and being a lover of '68 coupes I went back and read Michael's build thread. Great read and very inspirational. A really great job and a sensational outcome. Congratulations. 

[rocket]

68 Coupe, I agree. Having seen Michael`s car up close i can advise he did a superb restoration on his 68.

Ron has heard back from the Auto Electrician. Seems his problem is in the wiring loom. Somebody had butchered part of the loom in the past and just twisted wires together then taped them up. Buggers! We have to take an old loom to the Auto electrician so that he can unwind it to find a particular wire that he needs, so not just a matter of joining up what is there already.

The boys in the factory are hard at it with the 68 Vert. Blutey had already spent over a week on the undercarriage just getting rid of the thick undercoating. He replaced the 2 aprons closest to the firewall. Next he found the rear floor pans had been replaced and just welded from above - not good enough for our rego dept, so he has welded them from underneath.
Luke is busy removing the undercoating from the back area, and Brad is cleaning up the diff and other components. Some photos -

















After i took the above photos yesterday, they decided to make it easier to work on the car by putting it on the rotisserie. More progress pics later.

Rocket.

[mwizz]

Excellent, a new build to follow

[rocket]

Hi Mark, This Vert has already been painted so it is like doing a resto in reverse

Some more photos -

Brad cleaning up the diff ready for painting -



Blutey has finished welding the floor pans -







Luke has cleaned up the wheel wells -



Blutey doing a bit of panel beating to the lower firewall -



A couple of general shots -





Luke says he will have the undercarriage and engine bay ready for paint tomorrow.

Watch out for a new Thread soon. Jeremy wants to start a full restoration of a 73 Q code Mach1. He hopes to enter it in concourse in next years Nationals at Geelong.

Rocket.

[rocket]

Vert looking better now

Gone from this -



To this -







The above photos were taken after Luke had sprayed 3 coats of Epoxy ( Etch Primer ) over the undercarriage and engine bay. It needs to dry before he gives it a coat of Primer/Surfacer followed by a few coats of Matt Black.

Rocket.