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Z's are like a p38 rangie... a good one is great to have, a bad one will drive you bonkers.
Best thing I ever did to mine was replace the wiring harness. It took me 3 failed ignition modules (power transistor units), and subsequently 2 pairs of melted catalytic convertors to realise the issue it was causing...
I wanted a LT230 transfer case adapter plate built for future removal of the T case.
I know I needed to build a thing, but who could perform such skilled labour?!
I made some calls, and got directed to this shady character...
Some say, he can zap you with his plasma cutter from 50 paces...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/215.jpg
...And that he can convert between metric and imperial in 5x10-5 nanoseconds.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/216.jpg
His welds are rumoured to be smoother than rainbow unicorn poop...
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But all we know, is he's called "THE TIG"
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I'm all about equal employment opportunities, but the TIG didn't talk much. So negotiation on a price was a little awkward. In the absence of beer, it turns out a bit of leftover pizza for lunch was all that was required.
After assessing the job, and a bit of muffled grumbling from under the welding hood, It appeared the prep work done by the TA (me!) was not too acceptable for proper fitment. After the usual precious boilie hissie fit, the TIG eventually came to his senses and knuckled down to the job at hand.
After a quick sniff of acetylene to get him going, the sparks began to fly.
I suppose I'll just fill in the details below:
The steel was cut with a little 25A plasma. Worked a treat.
The TIG also hacked thru some 10mm plate for the wedge sections- the gas axe was inoperable that day, so it was not that pretty a cut at 25A cut, but DealWithIt.jpeg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/219.jpg
It was then tacked together to get them ground down somewhat the same
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/220.jpg
Test fit:
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Complete top plate. Is tops.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/222.jpg
I think this is the ideal business model. I need a drill press and some big bits.
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Marked, tacked and squared up:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/224.jpg
Top plate tacked:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/225.jpg
Loving that deep penetration on the 5mm plate.
MAG welding, Argon CO2 Oxygen blend gas. Running approx 25V on 0.8mm ER70S-6 wire, in spray on a little 180A machine. The TIG tells me this setup was almost ideal. Minimal spatter and a nice spray arc in the horizontal position.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/226.jpg
In a momentary lapse of judgement, the TIG got a little bit of undercut on the 10mm sections. He muttered something about poor fit-up, and something about the apprentice, but I really think he was trying not to spray his way thru the 5mm thin stuff. The 10mm plate was part of a weld coupon that just so happened to be almost the perfect size to lop in half diagonally and make work... the whole thing has got a bit of gravity for a glorified adapter plate.
The TIG will make another cameo to complete the welding of the plate in the coming days. I had to stop him half way thru the job (after 5 minutes- he's a fast worker!) to confirm that it all fits up on the T case. As far as I can tell, it's all good to weld it out the rest of the way, and slap some paint on it.
Is TIG taking orders? I just found some leftover pizza between the lounge cushions.
The TIG got the sack.
He messed with the MIG settings, and did the final weld-out in globular transfer... spatter and fume everywhere.
So here I am knocking off bb's with a chisel, trying to cold-gal paint the thing, and rustle up enough paint to make it somewhat presentable.
After the shoddy workmanship, he's no longer answering his phone... he's a bit of an enigma.
Sometimes, you are better off just doing it yourself. It's hard to find good help [bigwhistle]
Perhaps I will use more traditional methods when the time comes. [bighmmm]
Well... it has been a long time between updates. Life has gotten rather hectic. This picture sums things up rather well:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/515.jpg
So I'll backtrack a few months with some landy (and not so Landy) related highlights
Boys weekend / Bucks party- October '17
A good mate of mine got married. His last hurrah was held on a property at Milbrodale NSW. Plenty of 4-wheeling was had, but alas the tracks were well and truly beyond the capabilities of the mule.
Had some fun hanging out with a few rigs like this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/516.jpg
All in all, approx 8 buggies attended, rode shotgun in a few, driving some incredible lines over some ridiculous terrain. Wheeled most of the day, and wheeled in the night until 3am. Fixed breakages early the next day, rinse and repeat. Fun times.
Steak envy. In retrospect, I should have sprinkled it with salt like that trendy poofter on those youtube videos :bat:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/517.jpg
Drove the 'stake your claim' trail on the property, a dry creek bed / gully that works its way for kilometers up a mountain. Idea is that you cut the trail, and drive your obstacle, you get to name it. Some notable obstacles were 'Bacon' and 'Eggs', and 'cookie's'
Bacon on the Right, Eggs is the line on the left
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https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/519.jpg
Gives a bit of an idea how steep Bacon is.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/520.jpg
The Eggs line had a big undercut which would trap tires and was even more difficult to drive.
There was a roll-over with one of the cars coming down Bacon.
Cookies was equally crazy.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/521.jpg
NB people for scale. This was a vertical rock wall approx 2.5m tall.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/522.jpg
This was one incredible rig. LS powered, solid diffs, tube work that was absolutely incredible, and a heap of other cool stuff.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/523.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/524.jpg
The little zook got half way to bacon before snapping a CV. Got one 'over nighted' from a mate of a mate who was attending the next morning :D
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https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/526.jpg
This was another (more capable) zook which attended. Great fun little machines!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/527.jpg
Before heading back home after an epic weekend, we took a leisurely drive along the Old Bulga Rd in the Yengo NP. Found some very old graffiti and rock wall formations which may possibly be part of an old road (I'm cautious to say 'convict' road, but you never know)
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https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/529.jpg
This road was between the town of milbrodale, and the putty road.
Nov '17
Pretty quiet month. No landy mods, no trips, nothing fun. All work and no play makes homer something something.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/530.jpg
The majority of my time was taken up packing for...
Dec '17
...the move to the house I bought. It's an old fixxer-upper 1960's vintage. Needs some work. Well actually, a LOT of work. But now I sort of have a shed. I had to displace a number of wasps first.
We got the keys on the 8th.
Ripped the carpet out on the 9th.
And had all the interior ceilings and walls painted by lunch time on the 11th. Jamie Durie ain't got nothing!
Had a chance encounter with DAL the landy of Nate (now Andy P's). Parking rules etc.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/278.jpg
Moved into the new place on the 12th-15th. The 90 with the seats removed is actually a very good vehicle for moving boxes!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/531.jpg
Upon moving to the place, turns out the how water system was buggered. Turned out to be a corroded / burnt and failed wire on the element.
Replaced the thermostat while I was in there.
It was a perfect opportunity to buy a new tool! So that means...
It's time for another...
Volt stick
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/533.jpg
Let's face it. Old houses, old wiring, and the propensity for one to die when 240V is applied to oneself is not a good look. Hence a volt stick is a good investment in one's will to live.
I've used it a number of times to work out WTF is happening with lights which don't work, cross checking power points etc. 10/10 would buy again!
Now back to normal transmission...
Welding project
I bought some steel and thought I'd have a crack at building one of these.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/12/534.jpg
I'll leave its function undisclosed for now, feel free to comment if you know what it is!
Until next time, keep your nuts in a vice.
Congrats on the new Digs mate
Congrats on the lifetime of reno`s it will never end [bigwhistle]
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Never seen one but is it a wigwon for a goose`s bridal [wink11]
Getting into solid fuel and rockets, hmmm? They're bloody brilliant things, gotta make another one myself, soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombie
Cheers fellas. The bunnings trips are becoming an increasingly regular occurrence. I think I'm up to 4 trips this week. Good thing Tamworth is small, and bunnings is 5 minutes away with traffic!Quote:
Originally Posted by rangieman
The sausage sammiches are also becoming a weekend staple!
Unfortunately not a wigwon for a goose's bridal [wink11]
Winner winner, chicken dinner! This is a 'rocket stove'. It's my interpretation of a wood stove design which uses kindling and small fuel (twigs etc) to make a hot fire. Uses a chimney effect to boil a billy, heat a frypan etc. From what I understand real 'rocket stoves' have an insulated combustion chamber, but this was made to be a bit more compact.Quote:
Originally Posted by donh54
I splashed out on some 500C exhaust header paint, and gave it a good lick of paint.
Then I realized I have neglected to make the trivet for the top of it. So back to the welding room I go!
Might just get some 50mm flat bar, cut 2 lengths, notch each half way, slot to make a cross, and notch the stove accordingly.
I looked at a few designs, and decided on this one as:
1) the angle of the feed tube is somewhat self-feeding.
2) the lower 1/3 of the feed tube is a dedicated air inlet
3) the leg arrangement is removable - M10 nuts and all-thread rod
4) the whole thing should stow away neatly into the air feed tube.
...designed to be stored in a land rover... but not mine! Consider this MK1.