Authors Cars

Yahoo for Yahoo! Japan

October 21, 2009

Now many weeks post purchase of my Daihatsu Max, searches for Rings and Pins etc. coming up with nothing but “Out Of Stock” or needing to be tracked down with huge delays on each side of the stretch of water separating Japan and New Zealand, delays of course not due to the people involved in helping me (much thanks goes out to Dell’orto from OS, Ewan and others for attempts to find them locally) but rather delays from those that stock, could potentially stock, or sell the aftermarket brand that makes the appropriate replacements.

I was met with more disappointment yesterday not related to the Max when the GT-R badge I had placed a bid on went above and beyond what I could afford (though it did end up selling for exactly as much as I expected) then an effort to buy a replacement vehicle post sale of my Terrano fell through when some cad had the nerve to click the “Buy Now” option on the Auction.  Something I wasn’t willing to do without checking the Fiat out first.  Those who know Fiats will know why that is.

However, all was not lost.  I decided after searching my usual fare on YAJ, I would crack into another series of Daihatsu searches and after the third search variation (I have to try about 5 variations on models and codes and several hundred pages of searching just “Daihatsu” items to find things for the Max) I stumbled upon these…

Oh yes!

Oh yes!

Not only are they a new kit but there were several available and after a hastily written email to Ewan @ Hayatonka I bought the 040 over-size ones.  A direct replacement for what was once in mine.  Not only that but the same chap had a Full Gasket kit.  You may recall that when I got mine, it came with a brand new replacement head-gasket but being I’ll need to put the intake and exhaust back on,  I’ll need more.  So, stoked!  They will be on their way to NZ in due course and this leaves me with only the needle roller bearings to get to install and reassemble the engine.   Eeeeeeeexxxcceellent!

Finally some progress!

-Michael

Another Monday comes…

October 19, 2009

With nothing to show for it in the way of working on cars.  Some progress has been made but certainly nothing really worthy of posting about.  So, instead have a brief glance at my clone flares taped onto the right rear.

Lots of Steel to Cut Out

Lots of Steel to Cut Out

Lots of Gap to attempt to Flush

Lots of Gap to attempt to Flush

I’ll get there….

-Michael

The Dreaded Rear Quarter

October 15, 2009

Some of you who read this might not be aware of the drama that my C110 has been through in the past, so I thought I would bring it up to date.  I’ve been quite apprehensive in starting on the right hand side of the C110 and the bad weather and lack of equipment has also played a part in the delay in continuing the strip down of paint and the inevitable bog.  My concern about what I’m going to tackle shortly (hopefully start on it tomorrow or in the weekend) stems from being the victim of a tourists inability to give way, at a Give-Way.  The result was this;

Quite possibly the worst place to hit.

As you can somewhat see from this picture (more so in the subsequent pictures), the corner of a stupid late model Nissan Pulsar rental managed to nudge directly into the apex of the bodyline, the door only taking a minor scuff and the wheel not too bothered.  The shut did get pulled around however, not good. (more…)

Have a laugh at my Southland accent, I know you want to.

I was going to throw in a few extra ‘R’ words but the memory stick ran out of space and cut me off.

-Michael

Being that I’ve been finding so many little bits of drama here and there on my way around the car, I figured it would be stupid to not take the rear window out after all the effort going in to remove problems from other areas.  So, today I whipped down to E Hayes & Son and got some White Spirits, I was greeted and served immediately.  It’s a lovely place, been around for ages and friendly staff, other than being a little slow on it.  Not that it mattered, it was a wonderful day today, a nice break in the horrible weather of late.  So I scooted home and began pouring some of the White Spirits onto the gap between the metal and the glass.  After a little while the White Spirits starts eating into the dry and horrible sealant keeping the window in place and it becomes extremely tacky, but with that, able to be sliced into with the aid of a wide putty knife.  Once I’d made a little gap, I poured some more in and let the spirits do it’s thing, then a run around the edges from the inside of the car, sliding between the glass and the sealant and I’d cleared enough for the glass to lift out with ease.  Albeit entirely messy, it gets the job done well and it doesn’t risk cracking what is quite a rare rear window to have to replace.  Once that was done, I was left with this;

Oh my, messy.

Oh my, messy.

(more…)