Restoration & Modification Projects > Modification Projects
My Black Bitza
Scott:
After what seemed like ages, I finally got my radiator in last night. All my comments on how well the thermo fans fitted to the radiator came back to bite me... As the thermo fans sit off the radiator a little, it turns out that they fouled on the top suspension arms.
On the right side, a little extra trimming of the shroud had everything fitting up fine. On the left, a bit of agressive trimming and it was all sorted, kind of. I had to unbolt the control arm to get the radiator and thermo fans in, and then bolt the two back together again. Only problem was the left side fan still hit on the control arm. So, I modified stuff to make it fit.
First thing I did was reverse the mounting rubbers to bring the radiator around 20mm closer to the frame. Then, I fabricated up some new top brackets to pull the top of the radiator even closer to the mounting frame.
I cut up some SHS which just so happened to match the top of the radiator perfectly, with a few bits of rubber to cushion the vibrations.
Then something to bolt to the frame.
Making up the wedges in between took a while. Cardboard templated definitely helped.
Then I welded it all up (somewhat badly) and painted it black.
Now the radiator fans clear everything. I guess it's time to tackle the tail lights, that I'm still putting off.
Scott:
I needed to convert my tail lights to amber indicators due to it's age. After studying the wiring diagram, I decided it was all to difficult. The indicator and brake lights share a wire and I couldn't work out where they join. So I just cut the brake wire at the switch on the brake pedal and ran a new brake light wire from the pedal to the rear of the car. It was pretty simple, I just followed the existing wiring harness and added the new wire.
I used the test light to work out which wire was which. Then I cut the indicator and reverse light wires. I connected the indicators to the reverse lights and installed amber globes. I then wired in my new brake light wire and I had all my tail lights working, bar the reversing lights. I had an idea for that though. LEDs.
And I know where I wanted to install it.
The next scary part was cutting into the body.
Once I has everything located, I needed a good way to mount everything and finish it off, so I started with a lump of aluminium.
and eventually got everything looking neat.
Once it was all in place, I was pretty happy with it.
It's mounted low enough that it's not hidden in the recess too much and will provide ample light when reversing. My landy only has a single reversing light, and it's much newer so there shouldn't be any problems with just a single light either.
The other compliance issue was the rhs rear view mirror. I purchased one a fair while back, but never got around to fitting it. It came with a very hande template sticker.
It was very easy to install, but I just realised I have no finished pictures.
I'm still playing around with the front parker lights. They are mostly sorted bar some wiring but I've been waiting until I install the gearbox as I may need to pull some of the dash apart.
bfit:
MMM spacers
RTA would go off if you have spacers behind a wheel
yet a LC/LJ Torana came from the factory with them fitted
But the stand ?
not for me
If you have to build you own
build what is called a pig sty with timber
uses a lot more wood but will not fall on you
when you are doing something up really tight
Bfit
sirfixalot:
Hi Scott
with your fans fill in all the cutouts around the edges so fans have to work to pull air through radiator they wont work real efficient with that large hole on top r/hand side. Use some black colourbond steel & pop rivetts. Thermostat should be located in bottom radiator hose or waterpump not in top hose water at top is always hot, water at bottom has a bigger temp variation
Scott:
Yes, I still have to block off all the extra gaps with the fans. I also have been to clark rubber and got some stuff to try fill in the gaps around the radiator so the air from the front can't bypass while I'm driving.
The plan is to fit an electric switch where the temp sender goes in the block or manifold. I'm not a fan of the ones that go in or are taped onto the radiator hose. I'll just have to make sure it's matched to the water thermostat temp so they don't fight I haven't started the wiring on the thermos yet. It's on the (long) to-do list.
I really should be in the shed tonight, not sitting here on my butt :D
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