Builds 93 80 Beater.

[darwink1]

no problem man.

we are lucky to be staying with a friend that has wireless so its no trouble at all. been cruising mud and doing laundry since its raining today.

also, try to remember that everything ive built, while functional/structurally sound, is built for a "beater" so i didnt take the time to pretty everything up. when building junk for my tacoma i ground and polished like an obsessive fiend and it shows. i did spend time on the 80's front bumper wings but thats about it. the carrier and rear bumper were rush jobs with the road trip looming. i left some things out and didnt polish as much as i would have liked to.

i also had to do a lot of stereo switching in the last week so we would have satellite/ipod/laptop tunes.

i do have to say the carrier is a huge bonus cause the 285 spare would have taken a crap load of room in the cargo area. I marked the big wing nut that holds the tire on with paint marker before we left and it hasnt loosened one bit, the hinges/pins are solid and it looks to be holding up great.

I have found a small gas leak at the filler tube where it goes over the x member. i dont fill the tank till the pump klicks and that solves the problem for now. have to figure out a fix whan i get back..... suggestions?

i may have to change the drivers window motor before winter as well. she gets slow when its cold and i cant imagine it working when its -30.

thats the update mang.

D

 

[Gavlad]

Your works looking good even for a beater!!! Better than I can do... My buddy is a very skilled fabricator so I rely on him to make my stuff up. I plan on investing in a welding set at some stage & getting good though...

On your filler tube leak, we have something called DENSO tape in the UK - its a fabric tape but very gunky, petroleum based & might do the trick for you...

Using Denso Tape

I'm sure you have similar products in the US...
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/denso_tape.htm

 

[darwink1]

Ive used the Denso tape at work and it does work but i think Id rather try to cut the pipe and graft in a rubber fuel line type thing. Its right over that x member and may be a pain.

Trip update:

We left halifax monday and ended up in Pictou (Pictoe, we were corrected numerous times). Spent the night and then made the trip across the causeway to Cape Breton and on to my parents place on the North Mira river. Once there we were treated to home made wine and all the dp (deportee) food we could eat. My step dad cooks up a freaking storm man. Did the tourist thing for 4 days and managed to avoid a crap load of relatives I hardly know.

I'm really proud of this van Im driving man. We left the rents place today and set out to drive the Cabot Trail. She did great in the mountains, temp didnt budge from half way, no christmas trees on the dash............... did damn good.

Shot lots of sweet pics (about 2000 w the 2 cameras combined). I may get around to posting some but I'm beat so well see.

Thats the report.

Keep it real.

D

 

[96r50]

That's a fun trip. I did that trip in May with 3 friends of mine from university. If you get back to Halifax check out the Seahorse Tavern and try the Seahorse Ale, it's good stuff. We spent a couple night in Cape Breton and drove the trail and did a bunch of the touristy stuff (Alexander Graham Bell museum in Baddeck, Mining museum in Glace Bay, Peggy's Cove etc). Post some pics!

If you need anything on your way back through Ottawa, let me know!

 

[darwink1]

lol thanks.

if you have a rust free rear hatch laying around........

We kind of skipped a lot of the really touristy stuff since we had a local showing us around Halifax. We did go down to the water and we had to check out Alexander Kieths brewery but otherwise we just kicked around.

Actually Halifax was kind of weird. I dont watch that ufc junk much but a buddy of mine from suds was fighting so we checked that out. On top of that I dont watch football either but we were invited to our friends friends place on sunday and watched 2 games. Kind of out of the ordinary.

Were gonna hit the bay of fundy and some rock dudes place when we go back through NB then heading to old Quebec city cause that place is freaking cool. Ottawa is next since Kristins sister is there. We are staying near the university so if youre close we should meet up. Not a date mind you, just 2 dudes checkin out eachothers vans lol.

D

 

[darwink1]

First real pain in the ass "breakage" today. Nothin really broke but the drivers window wouldnt roll up and made a horrible gear stripping stutter sound. We had to pull over and I used both hands, one on either side of the glass, and pulled up while Kristin worked the button.

The window seems loose in its tracks and it also seems to be "seperating" from the track at the bottom. Im thinking with it being loose and the rain we got today it added up to more friction than normal. It seems to work ok when dry but wet or cold its hit and miss. What to do?

D

 

[96r50]

A quick bandaid measure would be to grab a can of silicone spray at Canadian Tire etc and lube the rubber window tracks. That might help the window slide better. After that, replacing the rubber tracks is really the only other option.

When/how long are you in town? There might be some sort of trail run going on next weekend with one of the local clubs. Have fun in Quebec City, it is a really sweet place.

 

[darwink1]

yeah, had to lube the tracks on my nissan hardbody and toy mini. on the mini i ripped out the rubber channel closest to the hinges and it worked a ton better. outlasted the truck. i was worried about the nasty clicking sound the window motor makes when the window is jammed. sounds like stripping gears. i really dont like power windows man, theyre convenient, but when they go its a pain. give me cranks any day.

kristins doin a buck ten on the hwy and when she tries to do the window up it makes that awful noise and stays put. oh its raining too and due to fing with it its now all the way down lol. we pulled over to get it up and right before taking off she hits it again...... that was funny as hell.

we really have no schedule so no clue when well hit ottawa. besides, this thing has no skids or sliders so id be hurtin on anything half assed serious. im afraid id smash something pretty good since ive been wheeling the fully skidded and slidered taco for a while now lol.

i did bring my hardtail, helmet, and pads so i want to do a little urban assault run or something........

D

 

[darwink1]

Some pics.

D

 

[96r50]

Nice pics! I think next weekend's run would be on a stock-friendly trail that has some fun optional obstacles off to the sides. I did most of it without sliders/skids last year. Another group is organizing a different run on the 18th on a similar trail too.

I think a street riding session could be put together pretty easily. I haven't done any this year, but my bro has been out a few times this summer. Ottawa has some good stuff to ride. I'll send you a PM.

 

[darwink1]

Like I said in th pm were hitting Parlsboro then the Bay of Fundy on our way back to Ottawa so we should arrive wed/thurs....

Id really love to get on the bike and screw around a little while in Ottawa just to get some much needed exercise. Ive been eating like a glutton and I feel it.

Have to chug some coffee, pack up, and hit the road now. More updated to come, hopefully all good.

D

 

[BeratE]

Real nice work. Wish I has something like that as my beater!

 

[darwink1]

Yep, sure beats the 90 toy mini I drove the last 2 winters lol.

Thanks.

D

 

[darwink1]

In a hotel room in Montmagny Querbeck, bout 45 min out of Querbeck city. Rained all day, best part was the cheap smokes and the poutines (french fries with gravy lol).

Rain Rain go away.

D

 

[chappysfj40]

crazy

 

[daveb1016]

when do you plan on being in ottawa?

 

[Polak]

Damn...... This thread makes me wanna go give my 80 a hug, cause your progress makes me feel like I've been ignoring her


Great work!

 

[darwink1]

Meh Ottawa has come and gone man. Pulled in and it was raining so we just went for dinner and then a couple beers w her brother. Hit MEC in the morning and got back on the road. Pulled in to sudbury around 630, no issues at all. The fuel filler tube leak seems to have disappeared as well which is cool lol.



I can start thinking about mods/repairs again.... Still have to fix the rust around the front and rear windows, have to order new window channel things for both front windows and maybe a motor for the ds window, see what I can do about the fuel filler problem thats surely to come back.........

Thats the boring stuff, Id really like to build some sliders and a nice skid plate x member thing but I need some tube to fall into my lap first.

D

 

[darwink1]

Meh, fixed the rust around the front windshield last week and thats about it for progress.

Heres a couple more cruiser pics from the trip.

D

 

[Taildragon]

LOVE that rear bumper, nice work. Keep it up. Justin