Ned's Grumman 2 (ish) TD in New Zealand

[Sheddie]

I know where you are at. The day we were supposed to leave (in the morning), I was still working on it until midnight. We got to bed at 1:30am, then were up again and on the road at 4:30am. We had to get from Whangarei to Wellington by that night. Thirty hours after finishing working on it we were in Christchurch.
You are lucky that Auckland to Coromandel is not too far. Have a safe trip and a fantastic time away. Can't wait to see photos of the TD & TV out and about.

[Bantam]

I guess you got the wheels on?? or did you put it on the roof rack. Saw a mess outside the garage door on my way to work this morning, you must have left to Nationals in a hurry. See ya next week, can't make it this weekend.

[felixx]

Ned
I am impressed
See you at Nats next year

[Ned]

No reception, but I made it. Pics in a day or 2 when I get back to civilisation!

[Sheddie]

Congratulations Ned
Well done

[dales133]

Well done ned!

[pchast]

[felixx]

How did it go, how did it go, how did it go?

[Ned]

So i didnt actually take any photos of it done really... but i have asked the guys i was away with to send me some, as surely someone took a couple.

Anywho, outside skin on, and time to mount the axle! so body came off (thats my buddy Dion that helped HEAPS)



here you can see i built up most of the hatch


and the first piece of aluminium is on! went with the 'floating'method, so polyurethane sealant and adhesive around the edge, with staples to hold it in place


Trailer done! finally on its wheels with the jockey wheel on and the axle mounted went with 100mm drop plates so that it sat fairly level behind the little starlet. Wheels are actually nowhere near straight and has massive tow out, but we'll just pretend that doesnt matter for now...


Skin done and body back on! this was 22:45 on the 3rd of March, and had to finish it by the end of the 4th... so the pressure was on!


Thats the last photo i took though... was in the garage working on the teardrop until 4:30am or something on the night of the 4th, morning of the 5th (the day i was leaving) and then got 3 hours sleep, woke up and started working on the car, as the car wouldnt idle and had a water leak. So fixed those in the morning, bought some swiming gear, new shorts (as i ruined the ones i had building this) and bought some food and a gas cooker etc and got on the road at ~1pm!

and what a weekend. Got showered in accolades by everyone at the event and made me feel pretty darn good about spending all my money and all my time to get it there!

Photo a friend took of it on the way to camp

not a very flattering photo, but maybe by looking at it, you can see why i said i wanted a nice solid strong frame to start with
linky

and a group photo of all the misfits i got to spend the weekend with

[dales133]

Looks great ned very well done to get it up and running in such a short period of time.
What have you got left to do you didn't get done before you had to leave?

[felixx]

*like*

[Sheddie]

That really does look good. How did the Starlet like having it on behind? And what have you got in the Starlet?

[dales133]

Those jap import 4k engines go great in starlets and the old car olla, I did a few conversions

[Ned]

didnt get around to getting the trailer hot galv dipped, didnt seal the bottom of the floor, galley has no cabinets/drawers, inside cabinets need some trimming. Also didnt get around to varnishing any of the inside ply etc. Galley hatch has no locks or latches yet either, and the main doors dont quite close properly and the lights dont really work. Also need to get it registered, as i may or may not have borrowed the registration and warrant of fitness from my old trailer.

So a few things still to do, but that can all wait a little while as i'm ruined (mentally and financially)

Starlet went well. Got a little hotter than normal, and some of the hills coming back from the Coromandel were a little steep. Was able to get up them fine and maintain speed, just couldnt accelerate up the hill. Did fine on the Bombay hill though. Started the bottom at 75-80k in 4th gear and accelerated up the hill and got to 90 easily and didnt get hot.

And Dale, mine doesnt have the 4K in it, it has the 7K from a late 90's Noah/Townace van. Came motor, just a 1.8 instead of 1.3 with plenty more torque and looks identical, even tjough it's 10mm higher and 10mm wider and needed some sump modification to fit properly. Not a massive power house (did a dyno run on it a while back and made 45kw ATM) but more than enough to tow the little teardrop.

Is it wrong/bad that i want to sell it now and build a bigger/better one?

[dales133]

Actualy that's the one I ment ned, the 7k. ..been a while
Fantastic motors.
At least you can relax a bit now and finish off the bits and pieces in a list of priorities and still use it.
Love the shape of it it looks sweet!
Have you considered painting the frame with hammerite or something instead of gal? Will save you hundreds and it lasts for years and years without needing attention at all
This forums full of people building more than 1