Aussie 55 Restomod

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

The rust really isn't that bad. The right hand side front fender is almost still intact. Only surface rust on the floor. Worst is te left front fender rear quarters and door bottoms. Should all be an easy fix. There is bog in the roof and one quarter panel which is always a worry.

Engine runs fine and has plenty of pull. Just needs a tune up, looks like the whole ignition system is still original!

Now the dramas, broken windscreen the dealer didn't show. Front seats are worse than they looked in the photos.

The indicators come on but don't blink, but they blink for the hazard switch, anyone know what's going on there?

And the most worrying thing is a massive clunk whenever you turn the key to the on position, the whole car shakes and it feels like the whole motor is going to launch out of the engine bay. Anyone got ideas? Is the starter shot? Or been wired wrong?

I can do mechanical and body but run crying like a small child when electrical gremlins show themselves.
 
I'm right behind you when it comes to electrical stuff. On the clunk, might check the motor mounts or maybe the starter gear isn't engaging with the ring gear properly. Years ago, I had a pickup that would sound similar and found the ring gear ( on the flywheel ) was cracked. It would expand when I turned the key and sound like a bad starter, only did it though when in the right position.

Good luck with it, wouldn't be right if everything was perfect!
 
Let me clarify about the clunk. It's when you turn the key from the off position to the on position, not the momentary switch start position. There is a single loud clunk and the whole car rocks. Once you turn the key to the start position the starter turns and the car starts and runs as normal. I'll try get video in the morning.
 
serenity said:
Let me clarify about the clunk. It's when you turn the key from the off position to the on position, not the momentary switch start position. There is a single loud clunk and the whole car rocks. Once you turn the key to the start position the starter turns and the car starts and runs as normal. I'll try get video in the morning.
Click to expand...

The clunk sounds like a relay or solenoid energizing when you turn the key to run.



Look for something like this

Relay_0332019203_lg.gif




Or this and have someone turn the key while you hold your hand on it to see if it’s your clunk.


25634-Starter-Solenoid.jpg
 
serenity said:
Power steering pump and box are now safely stashed in my garage! I had a look at those lights Pablo, I'm afraid they are cactus.

What a day though, it was 35 degrees C by the time I got to the wreckers at 9am! Forgot my water bottle too. Luckily everything came out easy, no stuck bolts and minimal bad language.

Here is the rusty 55 that will live on through mine.
Click to expand...

Wow, she looks like toast! Or should I say she looks like cactus? :-)
 
Had some wins today!

Figured out the clunk from the starter, the contacts in the ignition barrel are worn down causing the starter circuit to engage momentarily when the switch rotates to the on position. Just need to find some replacement bits to sort it out.

Also figured out why my rear indicators weren't working, someone had cut the wires to the rears. Just need to solder them back together to fix it. Easy!

The original user manual was in the glove box and has wiring diagrams for everything!

Only other electrical work is getting the wipers to move and windscreen washer to pump, and cleaning up some of the PO handiwork. Then it's on to an engine tune up.
 
Well it's all come back to a worn out ignition barrel, once I replace that everything should be sorted electrically!
 
is it a worn out ignition barrel or is it the electrical switch that goes onto the back of the barrel? My guess is it is the switch but i could be wrong.

What'd you pay for the factory ps? Mine will arrive tomorrow. Got factory ps in my 40 and 47 so why not in the 55 too!

I nearly bought that 55 you got. But there was one advertised down here in melbourne so i figured id get it instead. Lots more rust than i'd thought.

Where in qld are you?
 
It's the electrical switch in behind, I'm hoping I can find one in decent shape at the wreckers.

PS setup cost 275 for the pump, box hoses pulleys brackets and plastic radiator fan.

This one has more rust than I expected in some places but less in others. I don't have any experience with body work only steel fabrication so it's going to be a massive learning curve.
 
that's a really good price on the ps man. I just paid 800 for mine! Did you get the steering column with it? If not are you able to get it? I need it for one of my 40's that i want to do a ps conversion on.

I can do bog work. ANd i've done a few metal patches on the pig now. But damn mine is a huge job too!
 
Nah I didn't get the column, will I need it to do the conversion?
I could go grab it for you otherwise.

I'd like to do all steel repairs as much as I can but there are some areas that I don't have the skill to weld up yet. Now is the time to learn though I guess. I'm hoping I can get all the electrical finished in the next week so I can start on the weld repairs. Maybe have it registered by the end of the month.
 
nah as far as i know the column is the same for the ps and non ps. I'd love it if you can grab it for me though man. Will make my conversion heaps easier!

I'm in the same boat. I can weld patches in easily enough. It's getting the patches made that's the hard part!
 
Roadkilldovii said:
nah as far as i know the column is the same for the ps and non ps. I'd love it if you can grab it for me though man. Will make my conversion heaps easier!

I'm in the same boat. I can weld patches in easily enough. It's getting the patches made that's the hard part!
Click to expand...

Any price limit for you? I can grab it tomorrow morning, I'm gonna go searching for a new ignition switch anyway. Not sure what shipping would be either.
 
Looks like you've done pretty well on that pig! Glad to see it's getting the attention it deserves...whereabouts in QLD are you located??
Also that pig at your local wreckers, is it a ute cab conversion?? or did it just get chopped in half??
Good luck on the electrical issues....I had some electrical gremlins with mine when I got it, but after pulling out meters upon meters of wiring from the PO it resolved itself....
 
Got a little bit done in the last week, made a temporary solution to my ignition switch issue and started on the body work. Still no welder but I started cutting rusted sections out all numbered and saved for templates.
image.webp
image.webp
 
Last edited:
Did some more the last few days; pulled out the crappy ford radio and all it's wiring. Then I check the ignition system, and vac lines. Dizzy needs replacing and a few vac lines were split at the ends, the line to the charcoal canister was disconnected.

Took it for a test drive around the block and it's driving better already. Noticed however that there are massive leaks at the exhaust gasket! And that the radiator is leaking as well.

I was planning on getting it registered how it is but now I have a few issues to sort, so I'll jump in and do the power steering swap and 60 series brake swap while I sort everything else.
 
Got the radiator out, I'll take it in to get looked at tomorrow. The old metal fan and pulley came out with it. Manifolds are off, exhaust is warped about 1-2mm from being flat with the intake. Is it worth machining the exhaust or should I just bolt in some headers? Also got the ignition switch in the mail, plugged it in and it works perfect so that knocks over all the electrical side of things!
image.webp
image.webp
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom