Nah no relaxing Ash. Was out this afternoon in between the rain to work stuff out.
A couple of things I want to get done before the camping trip.
1. Put my tunes back in
2. Get the second battery in.
Well Getting the tunes in is going to be reasonably easy. Just need to put an MDF baffle board in the reart and start mounting stuff up.
The second battery is an issue.
Before there was not enough room to have it under bonnet and it was mounted in the rear drawers. Was never a fan of it but it was quick and easy.
Now I would have to put it either in the tray and take up precious room or put it behind the rear seats and do the same.
Both options sucked the big one! To put it behind the seat takes away the mounting space I wanted to use for the air compressor.
So I started to scratch around under the bonnet and see what could be done. I worked out if I removed the remains of my orignal air box , massaged a lump in the inner guard down and rerouted the air filter I can JUST fit the second battery under the bonnet.
So this weekend the weapons of mass descruction and creation come back out and I find another panel on the truck to chop and weld!
Will try and get a 3" 90 degree hose fitting tomorrow and a short piece of pipe to move the airfilter and then its game on.
Another thing I was worried about was the extractors fitting the GT40P heads and the RPMII clearing the firewall and heater hoses. Looked at it this afternoon and the extractors are that close to ftting its not really an issue. I worked out if I rotate the top half of the RPM II 180 degree and then do a bit of DAZFAB style inlet piping and build a little airbox just bit enough to take the pod filter beside the battery I should be just able to fit it. It is close enough for me to not be panicking about it like I was.
I want to sort a lot of stuff out and make the truck 100% workable before doing the body work so I am not doing things more then once.
Will get some pictures on the weekend as I am cutting and hacking!

Can't squezze it underneat anywhere etc. say under the back seats if it humps up etc.
I'm not familair with the layout of them but maybe an idea.

Nah not enough room unfortunately.
I find a spot where I could squeeze it in and then remember I wanted to use that spot for something else.
Unless I get a brainwave when Im on the s**t next I reckon where I am at at the moment will be the best way.
There is nothing a grinder , hammer and welder wont fix!

Hey......

Just wondering if you had done any extra wiring for the headights/ spotties?? I found out recently that my high beam had only one light working. I upgraded the wiring to heavy gauge from my junction box, and added relays for hi/lo beam.

Really sucks that such a big vehicle has so little storage space. You know i have the best spot for a battery. My second one is gonna get tucked into the rear quarter...Might be worth a look, unless you got a massive gel cell jobbie.........

Cheers

Daz

Yeah Daz I put extra relays and wiring in when I put the lights on. Another thing that has taken a lot of abuse and needs to be sorted............
I havent relayed the mainlights yet but. They still seem just ok at the moment.
You right for a huge vehicle they are the worst designed thing for storage and extra stuff. Really takes some thinking.
The second battery is in and hooked up now under the bonnet but I am not happy with it.
I am thinking of doing similar to what you did with yours but under the passengers rear floor when I change the exhaust to make some room.
Then I will fit the main battery to somewhere nearwhere the second battery currently is.
Have a few things to try and fit in the drivers side!

Ahhh if only................
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1UyhqBavAA

1700 HP 4.8 litre Patrol. Those Saudis are insane!
3.8 second 1/8th mile.
Me want it!

Check out the Saudi hill climbs.....those guys are nutters....and rich ones at that..........

Got a bit done over the weekend.
Fitted the twin battery system again only to work out that I dont like it as it is.
Have a few other things to attend to in the engine bay in good time so will do it again then. At least the JD will stay cold in the fridge now.
Fitted some MDF to the rear wall to tidy it up a bit which led to the stereo being refitted. Mounted the sub box , fusion amp , crossovers and solar controller on the rear wall along with some 12V and ground distribution blocks.
Fitted the front fusion splits which turned out to be a job and a half. They did not fit in the doors so I had to make some MDF baffle plates. The results are comical at best. Luckily I have lined up a good mate who is a very talented timber worker to make me some that look the goods!
After driving it around I have worked out that the rear suspension is too f**k stiff now after the weight reduction. It rides like it is on leaf springs and is pretty uncomfortable and sketchy on the road so a new softer set of coils will be required.
Also I have done the sums and there is minimal if any cost saving running it on LPG. I have pretty much worked out that I am going to get rid of the BBQ bottle and run it on straight petrol. It will save a lot of weight , a lot of hassles and give me a lot more room to work with. So just now need to track down a new fuel tank.
After all I didnt buy my V8's for fuel economy so bugger it.

I got my old long range tank here. It is a bit rusty on the inside though. I would suggest it could be modded the same way as i made mine, which would solve your battery location problem.........

Cheers

Daz

Now that sounds awesome Daz. I will chat to you over the weekend about it.
When I get rid of the LPG the second battery problem will be sorted and go away. It may now be happening quicker then I thought it would.
In other developments work has f**k with my plans big time.
Myself and a few other guys had a meeting with our Depot Manager today and after many months of disputes , yelling , paperwork and general trouble we have lost and the axe fell.
As of September 10 I no longer have a company car. I have to get myself too and from work and pick up my work vehicle from in the depot.
To say I am not happy is somewhat of an understatement.
So now I have to figure out what to do and where to go.
Seeing as though I will have to rely on the truck to get too and from work I am not really going to go out and push my luck too much offroad because I wont be in a position that I can afford to break or damage it. So its offroad work will only basically be firetrail work.................I fail to see the point of driving a vehicle all the time and live with the shortcomings and hassles of soft suspension , mud tyres etc everyday to go off and do something that could be done in a stock Hilux. Basically I will just be using it to tow a camping trailer. Big f**k woopie.
Also now due to this intelligent cost cutting (oops I mean environmental) decision I wont be able to take it off the road to do all the body work , engine swap etc that I wanted to do.
Dunno what to do now. If I had of known this a couple of weeks ago when the random bloke at the tip made an offer on it I might of took him more seriously....................

Very uncool.

I am happy to lend the ED, once the Blue Car is mobile, and then the engine stuff can be completed.

Brett

Take it to the tip and put a for sale sign on it....lol.....good chance he is a repeat customer.....hahahaha

Sorry man, bad luck with the CC bullsh&&*%&$t.......

Cheers

Daz

Thanks Brett. We will see what happens.
Yeah Daz it would be funny. I dont think I could actually go through with getting rid of it but.
Still have a month to work things out. Might be time to grab a cheap hack. That way we could also use it as the shopping trolley to keep the XR8 out of the supermarket carpark. Things to think about.

Matt you know I've always got spare cars and there is a a*** for sale at the moment too, you can look at it today when I get down for the campin trip lol...

Phill

Had an awesome time on the weekend and me and the Mav are starting to love each other again.
The Mav generally has a hissy fit on every trip it does just to keep me on my toes. Well this time around it did it on Friday night before we left. The starter motor decided to bundy off and sieze solid so it was out on the footpath in the dirt with a lead light changing it over.
At least I didnt need to jack it up to get to it..........
Got that done and the brand new second hand one I had laying around in it is making many less noises and working somewhat better. Looks like the original was on its way out for some time.
Otherwise the old girl run without a hitch all weekend. Actually managed to use all the fuel in it that had gone off from sitting around and had that lovely varnish smell to it.
Hopefully with any luck the BBQ gear will start coming out this weekend as Da22le has hooked me up with a long range fuel tank that I need to head out and pick up.
Things are slowly heading in the right direction!