GOAL ONE ..... GET IT ROLLING!

My main aim for this trip down was to sort out what the car needed in the way of spares, mission accomplished for now. Much back slaps and good times all round, I could even relax with a cider this afternoon after heading down the adventure park so I could run around like a kid and play on the equipment.

The secondary objective came about due to the car being stored at the parents for now at least, and the fact that my mother would most likely kill me if i left in a state in which it couldnt be moved around and got the hell out the way should the need arise .... the hemi performance rack and pinion kit would have to be installed.
This kit promised to be the ultimate bolt on solution to the rubbish steering box (and assorted idlers, arms, linkages, etc) that these cars sported when they rolled out of Todd Autobodies Petone. With more room for the big american engine which had no design consideration given to being mounted in a RHD vehicle, and as such, in a compact car, its all a bit of a squeeze and space is at a premium beneath the heads and between the chassis rails ... every bit helps.
In between times though the stock bosch starter had a stuffed solenoid and so had to be removed to be fixed, when i got down to taking it out space proved to be of a premium on the left hand bank also, and a quick check on summitracing.com proved there to be a multitude of 'mini' small block mopar starters with the correct 10-tooth pinion, these badboys claim to have twice the grunt of the stock starter which should help turn over an angried up mopar mouse motor, as well as being half the size of the stock starter, with space at a premium it will help fitting an exhaust later on in the build. Settled then.
On removal of the starter the wiring wasnt really at the standard I desire, the boot was much the same, a battery box was provided, although not fitted which may be a blessing in disguise as it gives me a chance to install it to the specifications required should this vehicle hit the strip. A lot of old copper core fabric wrapped wiring remains in the car, powering the brake lights and turn signals, as much as I respect the originality of it, for piece of mind and perhaps saving later 'epic' road trip nightmares, I am budgeting now for what will be pretty much a complete rewire.

Getting back to the rack in a round about fashion, the factory dog dish hubcaps were removed, revealing a broken stud on the left drum, perhaps due to an accident with the bizarre mismatched threads used on opposite wheels on these cars based on the long since past insistance on using left hand threads on the left side of ALL rotating parts, and right on the right.
Not to worry though, this car would not fly through a mod certificate with the factory drums ... not like it would fly through an intersection when I would rather it slow. This car has been built to go, so now it must be built to stop. At the moment im still keeping my options open, as im still yet to sort out the rack. But I did find these bad boys on summitracing.com which I found by looking at the exact same kit on an australian website listed for a price too rich for my blood, then cross refencing the kit to wilwoods comprehensive catalogue of available kits and finding the part number, which i plugged into summits search engine, low and behold, its in stock and features all new parts.
The rusting wheels which were originally fitted with 6.5"X14" crossply tyres, is now fitted with near new 195/60R14 Supercats, running a very low performing 10 psi in the fronts, I took these to the servo once the car was on jacks to get them pumped up.

Up onto stands .... hemi performance rack moved into position ..... nope .... it doesnt fit .... WHAT ... THE .... F&^&!!!!
An international call to australia, was greated with these pearls of customer service 'ohhhh mate, VC's are the worst things ever' .... 'nah mate, these things are a nightmare aye' .... 'we dont recomend them for VC's' .... 'what do your instructions say' .... 'it might have been a prototype' ..... 'Yeah those mounts will have to go' .......
A plan way hatched to the next morning slice and dice my chassis rails till they were naked and smooth them out, like old school rodders say "custom comes one cut at a time"

So much for a kit that would have ripped someone off to the tune of NZ$2000!!!! once the dollar had been converted over, the item shipped, and customs had stung you for duty. Not impressed to say the least, I can not recommend this kit.

Pics to follow. along with the next days (attempted) install