vn/vp project Cali style

[hi_ryder]

you donate the drivetrain im game...

 

[hi_ryder]

today

new ball joints, new superpro control arm to kframe bushes, new sway bar link assembly from nolathane, and new nolathane adjustable strut top bearings. had a set of castor rod poly bushes, installed them. put a dollop of grease in the dust covers and whacked them on too. car is back on the ground finally.

 

[hi_ryder]

urethane'd my door seals. scuffed the old yellow glue off with a piece of 80 grit (both surfaces). tape it slam the doors shut and play the waiting game...

 

[b_lake1]

Wow mate, great thread. Just finished reading through. So eager to see how she turns out. :thumbsup:

 

[hi_ryder]

Wow mate, great thread. Just finished reading through. So eager to see how she turns out. :thumbsup:

cheers man and

you and me both... cant wait to put some k's on it. there isnt a whole heap left to do to get it roadworthy, just gotta chip away at it...

 

[hi_ryder]

did a hillbilly fix. drilled a hole then put a stainless screw in it. i tried it on the berlina first to make sure it would work, it did.

also took my spare bad steering wheel and sliced it open. sanded both the metal frame and the inside of the foam with 40 grit paper. the wheel had already been cut once and filled with super glue, so i had to sand it all out. i them pumped it full of black marine grade urethane and taped it up. pretty much 50% of what i put in squeezed out lol. was too messy to handle a camera, **** was everywhere. i put in on the dash of the berlina to cook in the sun. after that ill have to try and clean up what came out of the slit. im only using it for roadworthy purposes. ive got an after market wheel for it but ill mess around with mounting it after the car is reg'd.

 

[b_lake1]

are you able to clarify? Is a car deemed un-roadworthy with an aftermarket steering wheel?

 

[Calaber]

are you able to clarify? Is a car deemed un-roadworthy with an aftermarket steering wheel?

Cars like the VN Commodore were designed to meet certain Australian Design Rule parameters and in the case of steering wheels/columns, compressibility (impact absorption) and protection against body penetration has to be met by the design and construction of the steering wheel before it passes the relevant ADR's. The old factory design would have met those rules. Many after market wheels don't comply at all.

So yes, technically, fitting an after-market wheel can make your car illegal as it no longer complies with the relevant ADR for that model of car. And I think that Victoria is notoriously tough on inspection standards.

 

[b_lake1]

cheers, thanks for clearing that up. Man, you guys have it rough. It seems so difficult to do anything to your cars, but I guess it is safety conscious. Mind you, its like how we have to get a permit to cut down a tree on our own property.

 

[hi_ryder]

are you able to clarify? Is a car deemed un-roadworthy with an aftermarket steering wheel?

tbh i dont know, but like calaber said it can be illegal. i dont really want to find out, ill just fix up this wheel and go for roady with it. at least i know 100% it will pass because its factory.

heres the final product before paint. after baking in the berlina for 4+ hours at 40+ degrees its hard as a rock. no signs of movement at all, like factory new. ive sanded the top of the wheel too where it was sun burnt, and wiped in some urethane with my finger to fill the little holes. i also used it as a filler for the little air pockets on the seam. ill sand the whole thing with 240 and use flex additive in the 2k paint as well as matt additive. ill color match it to the dash. also for those who dont know urethane shrinks, so its only going to pull the foam in tighter as it fully cures...

as you may all know i prefer urethane to superglue. urethane flexes and superglue cracks. more than likely ill be dead and gone, the cali car will be at the wreckers, and this wheel will be on another vn/vp.....