Project "Dancing Hippo"

[walker]

I did post this elsewhere but then I read the instructions for the "members featured ride" area and it is not meant for reply's so I put it here as well.

Finally, today is the first day of project "Dancing Hippo". https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I just bought another Rangie this morning. A 1987 Range Rover, 3.5 litre 4 speed auto. It was a very good price and he says he will supply a RWC with it. I am not sure that he really realises how much will be needed for a RWC but I will wait till he gets back to me and then offer to take it "as is" at a reduced price.

So now i have to work out exactly what I am going to do. It will be a part restoration and part modification project. It will have my 4.6 V8 go into it and will also be made into a tray.

So any suggestions for the build-up. I have a general plan of what I want and am going to take my time doing it but I am open to suggestion.

I will also try to document the build here.

So, first pic.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/08/246.jpg

[dobbo]

Get rid of the plastic fantastic bumpers all around the thing then cut the guards and lift the suspension then fit big mud tyres

[dobbo]

Actually from what I've seen of Scouses antics the Rangie can cope very well as standard (the plastic bumpers replaced with steel of course) and get you home in comfort as well.

[walker]

Ok, I better explain a bit more.

What will be happening just to get it to the stage my current Rangie is at now. This is not a daily driver but a dedicated weekend offroader.

So it will definately have :

a back to chasis rebuild.
2-3" spring lift
2.5" body lift
Axles changed over from existing Rangie (Maxi rear, ARB front, maxi axles all round)
35" ET2's on 15x8 custom rims with second air beadlocks
4.6l V8 which will be EFI'd.


Now what I have to work out is the important things :

What color to paint it? (Purple with "HIPPO" plates.:o )
What sort of front bar to build?
What sort of rear bar?
Should I look at Hydraulic steering?
Do I do an internal or external roll cage?
Would coilovers be worth the money?
What sort of design for the rear tray?

[Slunnie]

Apart from Portals, what about Toy centres for those 35's?

[dobbo]

\


Now what I have to work out is the important things :

What color to paint it? (Purple with "HIPPO" plates.:o )
What sort of front bar to build? Tubular winch bar (detactable winch)
What sort of rear bar? Tubular winch bar (detactable winch)
Should I look at Hydraulic steering? To much hassle just a taxi ball thing
Do I do an internal or external roll cage? Internal full cage
Would coilovers be worth the money? If you can, why not
What sort of design for the rear tray? Just big enough to fit a spare tyre and esky




My opinions thats all

[walker]

Apart from Portals, what about Toy centres for those 35's?

Would be nice but I have spent too much on the diffs to change now with lockers and just having installed 4.11's.

[101RRS]

There is only one problem with Project Hippo - in Landrover circles a Hippo is a Freelander - that is, it short, fat and ugly - and what you have ain't no Freelander and Hippo Plates will look out of place.

Gazzz

[walker]

No, I don't want to hear that.

Anyway, by the time I finish with it it will be short fat and ugly. :D

I want HIPPO plate...I want HIPPO plates

[DirtyDawg]

One word "TOMCAT":):):)

[walker]

The Tomcat will look like a pussy when I have finished. :p :twisted:

But seriously what did you mean? Copy a tomcat or use Tomcat plates? Tomcats use Defender bodies don't they? I had looked at buying a defender ute for the project but they are hard to get and expensive when you find them.

[McDisco]

Adam,

Glad you have started the project! Let me know if you need a hand on the weekends (or after work). I am always looking for something to distract me from doing work on the house! lol

My personal opinion is stay away from the hippo purple...unless its a really deep purple. Ang go for an internal rollcage...it looks better.

Angus

[tombraider]

My personal opinion is stay away from the hippo purple...unless its a really deep purple. Ang go for an internal rollcage...it looks better.

Angus

Agreed...

But an Exo Cage protects the vehicle in a roll over/sliding on its side better.

On with the build Adam, and best of luck to you! I've got my Rangie Sitting in my driveway waiting for the funds to get into it now.

We're doing full cage, plastic front guards, Tubular Rear....
4.6 EFI, Full lockers, and 39's....

All registered, Road Legal and CCDA spec (just have to change to 35/36's for certain comps)

Speedwerks Tube bender is now here so its time to get serious I think. :p

Tombraider

[walker]

So are you doing an external or interna cage. I agree internal looks better but I do like the protection from an external and since you will already have the rear hoop external on a tray.........

I didn't kow you had a Rangie! So are you dawing up a design for the rear? When you say tubular rear, do you mean rear bar or a rear tray?

Plastic front guards????

A guy I have been out with (driving that is) over here has just made a mould and is making Kevlar flares for the Rangie...that should be good.

BUT I AM STILL THINKING PURPLE!

[McDisco]

Yeah I guess if you are going to be treating it rough it doesnt have to look pretty...better to save yourself the panel repair costs!

Angus

[tombraider]

So are you doing an external or interna cage. I agree internal looks better but I do like the protection from an external and since you will already have the rear hoop external on a tray.........

I didn't kow you had a Rangie! So are you dawing up a design for the rear? When you say tubular rear, do you mean rear bar or a rear tray?

Plastic front guards????

A guy I have been out with (driving that is) over here has just made a mould and is making Kevlar flares for the Rangie...that should be good.

BUT I AM STILL THINKING PURPLE!

Thermoformed front plastic panels and bonnet to reduce weight and prevent damage upon impact.

Tube tray/frame etc... with integrated barwork.
Extended single cab
Exo Cage.
Chassis mods (to take the 39's)
twin Cobra front seats and 5 point harnesses
Alloy Dash etc...
Re-calibrated factory ECU (So I can Rovacom it!)
Full rewire, do this myself too....
Bilge Pump system
Tubular front bar
Hydraulic Winch driven by PTO (primarily for speed)
Removealbe electric winch (for those OOps its drowned mements)


I have the ideas, now to draw them up, all of which starts with removing the rear of the current vehicle and seeing what we have to start with :D

And mines gunna be GREY

[DaveS3]

Stay internal Adam and go with the CCDA new spec.
You cant comp it with an exo anyway.

As for coil overs, I wouldn;t bother.
If you do have some cash, go with king triple bypass shocks, they are awesome.
We fitted some to a GQ just before the ateco.
Only prob is that they are approx 750 - 800 each.

If you want some, speak to Rowan Canavan, Midas Lillydale. He is the man.

Dave.

[DirtyDawg]

The Tomcat will look like a pussy when I have finished. :p :twisted:

But seriously what did you mean? Copy a tomcat or use Tomcat plates? Tomcats use Defender bodies don't they? I had looked at buying a defender ute for the project but they are hard to get and expensive when you find them.
Copy a tomcat....Michael2 is selling a bonnet you have the chassis:)

[dobbo]

Thermoformed front plastic panels and bonnet to reduce weight and prevent damage upon impact.


I toyed with that Idea a few years ago on a Valiant I owned but the cost of the composite material moulding shut that idea down.

You have the materials and equipment to do it Go for it.

What plastics though fibreglass, Carbon fibre, Teflon perhaps?

[tombraider]

I toyed with that Idea a few years ago on a Valiant I owned but the cost of the composite material moulding shut that idea down.

You have the materials and equipment to do it Go for it.

What plastics though fibreglass, Carbon fibre, Teflon perhaps?

Nothing that exotic I'm afriad....

Just plain old ABS...

And their off the shelf items I import.

Cheers
Tombraider

[dobbo]

Bummer the idea of very lightweight panels would be nice especially in the mud and soft sand

Walker Hippo Purple mmmmmmmmmmmm

Are you aware that Purple is the colour of frustration?
And the Sydney Oxford St boys adopted colour?

What about Flouro Green? Cobolt Blue?

[walker]

Nothing that exotic I'm afriad....

Just plain old ABS...

And their off the shelf items I import.

Cheers
Tombraider

Mike, how about emailing me a website where you get these from, I am very interested. Sounds like you are going very much along the same lines as me....except for color! :p

[walker]

Bummer the idea of very lightweight panels would be nice especially in the mud and soft sand

Walker Hippo Purple mmmmmmmmmmmm

Are you aware that Purple is the colour of frustration?
And the Sydney Oxford St boys adopted colour?

What about Flouro Green? Cobolt Blue?


Fouro Green is already on Adrian Couchi's Rangie (KERMIT).

Cobolt Blue is a possibility or something like Yamaha Blue.
No-one likes Purple!!!:(

[dobbo]

I like the Purple Ford made a few years ago "Phantom"

[walker]

That is the color I was thinking of when I say purple!

Here are a couple of examples: ok,ok, it might just show the scratches a bit........olive green is looking good

http://www.jeffpatton.net/Gallery2/Car-Purple.jpg

[walker]

Ok, here are some better pics. :D

http://www.lrocv.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10024/Rangie1%20copy.jpg

http://www.lrocv.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10024/Rangie2%20copy.jpg

[dobbo]

I think you should rebuild all of the panels in cheque plate to get the industrial look.

Or polished steel with a clear laquer like on the old Delorians