Thread: Bush Mechanics

at one stage, most of my exhaust was supported by fencing wire and hose clamps.
DEVCON is a good multipurpose repair medium, i have used it to resurface my water pump inner face to reapair a leak. it also can be used to fix holes in radiators, fuel tanks, diff and gearbox housings, sumps.
i've also used the outer lamnation of a piece of heater hose to replace an O ring in my clutch slave cylinder in an old Hilux. it was still there 3 yrs later when i sold it.

Originally Posted by Bearman

Who remembers "Northern Safari" where Keith used a makeshift windlass to pull the old Buick out of a bog AND the .303 to cut the branches down.

I hadn't even heard of it until I read this post. Now I googled it, fell in love and ordered the DVD. Can't wait for it to arrive.

1 metre long by 1cm wide cable ties are extremely useful. The modern equivalent of fencing wire (except for bits that get really hot).

They are great as battery clamps and holding the air-filter housing in place on a Tdi Defender and big enough to use on a lot of other bits and pieces.

We have Northern Safari on video, taped it from TV years ago, and we also have the book "Crocodile Safari Man" written by Keith Adams, the fellow who drove the 1948 Buick from Perth to the Gulf. It's really amazing how clean the 2 ladies keep whilst camped on the Robinson River. Most times wearing white and cooking over an open fire, baking bread etc. etc.

Their little dog is amazing as well

Considering the trip was made in the 1950's it was real challenge, especially driving from Kalgoorlie to Alice Springs via via Warburton & the Rawlinson Ranges.

It's an excellent show.

If anyone is interested in getting the DVD, in the back of the book is an order form. The address to obtain the DVD is: P.O. Box 358, Karrinyup, W.A 6921 or phone (08) 9341 1944. The cost is $39.50 plus $5 postage & handling.

Mrs B

Like you I saw that movie back in the 70's (I think) and was amazed at how he got that old Buick into some of those locations. I used to travel to Robinson River NT every year for a couple of weeks camping and fishing back in mid 70's to early 90's in my early landrovers and know that country pretty well. It must have been sheer determination that got him through some of those tight spots like creek crossings, bulldust patches, sand crossings etc especially pulling a trailer. I guess he wasnt in any sort of a hurry either. Also that small boat they had, loaded up it had about 2 inches of freeboard and back in those days there were still a lot of crocs around in that area, and to think they went 12miles offshore to Vanderlin island. I wouldnt even do that in my 12ft tinnie when I used to go up there as the weather was always unpredictable. Southerlies would blow up very quickly and turn a flat sea into a choppy dangerous one. More than once I have had to camp on the beach miles from camp being unable to get back to the Robinson. Very gutsy people.

Originally Posted by sclarke

I used no8 fencing wire to wire up a hilux steering arm in Toolangi and got FLAMED for it on this exact forum... ROFL

you helped rescue a hilux, plus you wasted perfectly good wire by doing it..... what else did you expect? lol

Aluminium cans for big end's (motor)
Serial boxes for gaskets
2 core wire + Interior light globe & sticky tape makes a torch for under the bonnet
Silicon seals cracked exhaust manifolds (even "No More Gaps" will do it)
Hit a Roo?? .... Holden / Ford radiators with extended hoses, hanging / wired on the Roo bar will get you home

[QUOTE=Bearman;954778]Like you I saw that movie back in the 70's (I think) and was amazed at how he got that old Buick into some of those locations. I used to travel to Robinson River NT every year for a couple of weeks camping and fishing back in mid 70's to early 90's in my early landrovers and know that country pretty well.


We also used to go fishing at Seven Emu station on the Robinson River, I think the first time we were there was 1989 and each year after that till old Willie Shadforth, the owner of Seven Emu, passed away in 2000. It's a beautiful river and a great place, but like you say, the tracks are really very ordinary.
Just googled up Northern Safari and the DVD's are a lot less than the price on the order form in the book, so sorry for mis-information.

Mrs B