4x4 Action Group

this one is getting there....

Clive went nuts. Instead of a rebuild he decided he wanted an auto box, air con, power steering and leather interior.

that basically meant buying a modern V8 - Chevy LM - which we got from Rocket 88. The drop on the transfer case is then wrong, so you have to sort that out. Plus you now have no hand brake system so you have to sort that out. Plus the electronic speedo won't run the original binnacle so you have to sort that out.

The SA spec Wagoneer didn't have heaters or air con so you have to put in a aftermarket spreader , which arrived in ugly plastic grey. so that had to be tidied up. Clive doesn't want a modern looking radio but does want bluetooth and all the nessecary, so he found this beauty which gives damn good sound.

teaser pics....

Awesomeness!!!!

Very, very nice.
You do get drives for the speedo to keep the classic speedo drive by electronic pulse or GPS

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/ ... prd886.htm

Just drove it!

Still a few odd jobs to do - Finish the gear shift, make the Aircon panel, Wheel alignment....

A few teasers until then....

Wow Alex, that looks stunning. Remember to give me a call when you get tired of it!!!

AndreasR wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:34 pm

Wow Alex, that looks stunning. Remember to give me a call when you get tired of it!!!

not mine!

hopefully I'll be able to do mine as nicely!

That looks awesome Apoc!

Did you upgrade to disc brakes or does it still have drum brakes?

Ricoffy wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2019 6:02 am

Did you upgrade to disc brakes or does it still have drum brakes?

The body we started with had a disc brake conversion already fitted, we’ve overhauled the lot and the brakes are very good!

Power steering and aircon conversions also work well!

Looking great. We need a video for a sound clip.

I found this at Builders Warehouse in Fourways yesterday.

Good looking gladiator!

So anyway, the Incredible hulk is all but done!

Took it for a drive last week and it was all over the road. Horrific, but knowing the wheel alignment was miles out I wasn't too concerned.

It went for electrics and W/A and I took it for another drive, and well. you forget. It drove like a 1968 Wagoneer. Wandering over the road like a drunken seapoint hobo.

The owner took it for a spin and was ... 'oh! I guess you get used to it!' but yes. thats how they were. Even with new joints and rubbers all round it doesn't inspire much confidence with 300hp under the loud pedal.

Anyway, they are built with just about zero caster because they didn't have power steering. Shoved it on the lift and added 4 degrees of castor with a couple of shims and it's WAY better.

about like a early defender. which is not quite as terrifying

Anyway, took it for a spin, the owner dawdled around with it a bit and was happy, then I took him for a spin in it and used all the travel on the loud pedal. kinda got it a bit sideways just outside triggerfish... . Interesting experience with a limited slip centre diff on an old leaf spring truck....

Anyway, the phornicating brake lights don't work and the speedo thingy is not wired correctly so I didn't let him take it. The Electric fan is also annoying loud so we'll look for something better.

The Hi fi is excellent - he got it from Germany, it looks the part but is completely modern.

The leather smells fantastic

The exhaust is a 63mm with one big box so it's not obnoxious but it's got plenty of growl.

I'll do some better pics next week but in the meantime, a couple more off the phone