Last weekend we pulled out my A15 and replaced it with a good running A12 to keep it running. The A15 was losing power severely and leaking oil out of its guts everywhere. Also was backfiring and missing heaps. We decided to pull it out for further examination and to recondition it and rebuild. First time rebuilding an engine....should be great fun.

Here are some pics today of day 1 of pulling the engine apart and having a look. So far we can tell that the engine has been reco'd at one point but not sure when. It has aftermarket head bolt washers, brass welsh plugs, and some other little bits. We also found that the timing gears were aftermarket adjustable ones of some kind. The gears were not lining up causing the timing to be waaay off. It was amazing to see it running at all with the timing being so far out. Next we'll be pulling out the cam for examination.

Oh yea. Forgot to mention I first cleaned up the engine stand (thanks 76-Datto!) and repainted it to match my ute color. Why not?

Pics.

Thanks mik. Will be a pain to do for sure but I'll post pics.

and a vaccum in the corner... your well trianed. good work on the material, looks like it has a little bit of give. keen to see how you work the corners. i couldnt work out how to make it neat with vynil. step in curtain cord for the win lol.

see covers the ,essy pins or joins

Gauge build, also in progress:

Decided to upgrade my gauges with a new facelift. Over a year ago I bought the orange gauge decals from user: lisasdecals. I never got around to fitting them until around last month. They were really easy to install. I removed the faces off of each gauge so that the dials were exposed. Then I cleaned the gauge surface with mentholated spirits. Waited for the solvent to evaporate, then dipped the decals in soapy water and applied each, one at a time using tweezers. Then rubbed any air bubbles out and went over them lightly with a hair dryer to set.

Also purchased a full set of LED bulbs to go into the gauges. Didn't realize that two types of bulbs are needed. There are wedge bulbs and bayonet type bulbs so I had too many wedge bulbs. Oh well.

Also painted the fascia panel orange with black detailing around the edges. And there is a pic of that and me test fitting some fabric to try and apply to a spare stock dash pad. I've heard this is a hard task but I will give it a go. Alot of people have told me not to use fabric but rather vinyl as it stretches, but we will see.

Pics with yummy desert in between

Work in progress:

Mira bar installation. I got a Mira bar, read the Wiki and started cutting it up. Using a 4" angle grinder with a tile cutting blade (diamond grit). So far I have cut the top off, and part of the indicator lamps.

My goal is to try and keep the middle grille as its in fine shape, plus I think it would look neat with the license plate mounted there. Problem is, the grille is too deep and it hits the body of the ute before the bar sits in place.

Secondly, To get the indicators to fit properly I am going to have to figure out a way to notch the grille.

Pics of the destruction:

Ok time for a post to cover the time from February till now when my ute turned into a General Lee.

Post to come.....

Haha. Both good ideas

Also plenty of room in the back for the moonshine :)

Put a matteress in the back for daisy duke. Sure she's kin folk but man yee haw!

Thanks Andy. Send me a PM with your offer. Cheers.

"Looks like them Duke boys done it again."