The New Car
Sunday November 1, 2009
After getting the car back from a very successful run at the
dyno through the week and completing the sign writing and setup
of the car, its all ready to go for its first race on the 7th
November 2009 at Charlton Raceway.
Sunday October 18, 2009
The car has been taken back to gympie for another run on the
dyno. While it was back home I found the time to put all
the panels on the car, starting to look like a race car now.
Thanks heaps to Shane who has put in a lot of time in helping me
do so. There is a practice this coming Friday the 23rd,
but I am doubtful the car will be back in time to make it.
Finger crossed. I will start cutting the signs out for the
car while its away, then all it needs is a wheel alignment and
for the car to be put on the scales.
Stay tuned.....
Friday October 16, 2009
After many many hours of work, delays, frustration and the rest, the
engine is back together and running smoothly. After a trip to
the dyno it was discovered there could be something wrong with the
engine, after pulling the heads off to check it, everything was ok.
So on went the heads and the car fired up once more. The car
is going back to the dyno on Sunday, and we will be hoping the car
will be all finished next week sometime, and if it is there is a
possibility Nathan can take it to the practice at Charlton on the
23rd October. Nathan would like to thank his brother Shane
especially for all the help he has put into this car. Shane
wired up the car by himself and has done a top job.
Here is proof it does go!
Sunday September 6, 2009
At long last the
engine has been fully assembled and installed in the car. The
engine harness still needs to be wired up, oil coolers and
reservoirs mounted and connected up. I may get a chance this
week to paint all the panels also. The push is on to get the
car to the stage where it can be started so it can be put on the
dyno to get the computer set-up and engine tuned. Once that is
done, providing there is no dramas, we can put the car on the
race track! More info provided as it comes to hand.
Friday July 24, 2009
A bit more progress but
unfortunately time consuming, Shane has wired up the fuel pump,
fans, water pump, battery and ignition box. I had to repair a
problem with a tight spot in the steering which has now been
rectified. I have built up another diff ratio, made a dash and
installed gauges and lights. The block is ready and waiting
for assembly. The heads will be turning up next week which
will then allow some pre-assembly checks. I will be going to
Melbourne again next week so there will be some more lost time!
Fingers crossed everything goes to plan! More updates as soon
as we have more developments!
Stay tuned.....
Sunday June 21, 2009
Time is really going
fast, it seems to go even quicker when you have a deadline to meet!
With the recent hype of Shane winning the QLD Title in Cairns, (well
done big fella!) its has been an unexpected reward for everyone's
efforts in this sport and as such a booster for the team to get my
car back on the track for a two car team. I have been delayed
in updating the site as I will use the same excuse of work
commitments. I have however got all the suspension back in it,
built one new diff up, painted the roof red (bet I had some people
guessing if we were going away from the traditional red!), hip
plates fitted, and I was busy trying to get the sheeting to the
anodisers before I went away for work, which I managed to do and
picked it up on Friday. I now have the rear firewall and
parcel sheeting in, radiator and fans installed, radiator pipes and
guards done.
Dad has also been very
busy, coming up with some brilliant ideas for the car and engine and
has been playing on the lathe making bits and pieces here and there.
I have everything for the engine to put it together apart from the
heads which shouldn't be far away. I am going to Melbourne
today for a week and on my return I will get a few full days on the
car with hopefully some help from Shane, so I am hoping we will get
a lot done in that time before I go away for work again. So
the race is on against the clock to be ready for the new season! Stay
tuned.......
Saturday May
2, 2009
After arriving back from a cold Melbourne, I found a totally
different looking car sitting in the shed. The powder coat
blue turned out really well. The process now of piecing
the car back together will begin, with the aim of getting the
car back on wheels the priority. More photos will follow
the further I advance.
Sunday March 19, 2009
More progress has seen
the car not far away from being powder-coated. I will be going
away for a week which I will need to get the car all ready for
painting before I leave. Which leaves me with just this next
week to completely finish it. The nascar bars have been
completed, thanks to RCP
Machining. Exhaust system and radiator pipes have
been bent up. I have made up the dash, and next will be to
mount the ECU and relay box, mount the gauge panel, finish off the
window net and a couple other minor details. Then strip the
car entirely ready to be picked up on Monday the 27th. The
engine had also been stripped down and parts sent away for work to
be done on them.
Tuesday March 10, 2009
Well here I am again
for another update, thanks to all the people who have shown interest
in the new car, it's good to know a lot of people are watching.
After waiting for over 2 months to have an engine plate made to fit
the gearbox we wanted, it was a complete waste of time as we ended
up modifying the bell housing ourselves (thanks to RCP Machining).
In the meantime I have sorted out the rear end and suspension.
The gearbox is fitted and the engine installed in the car, steering
rack mounted and steering shaft fitted as well as the pedal
assembly. I have started mounting panels and bumpers on the
car. Next will be to make up a dash, mount bonnet and boot
pins and make any little brackets for computer etc. So
hopefully the car wont be too far away from being painted.
Parts are currently being organised for the engine. Stay
tuned!
Whilst I have been
able to sheet in the rear fire-wall (special thanks to Ashley
Barron for the metal roller), I am still waiting to get my
engine back from getting an engine plate made up to run the gearbox
we need. I was hoping to have it back before Christmas but it
was not to be. Hopefully It will be back in a few weeks and I
can then get stuck into finishing off the steering, pedals etc.
Monday December 1, 2008
UPDATE!!!! Due
to popular demand I have another update - Work has begun on the rear
end, with the right driveline and ratio's currently being worked
out. Weight jacks have been made for the rear. I now
have my hands on an Alloytec engine which will be used in the car.
Engine, gearbox and diff will be put in the car and a dummy assembly
done before it is stripped again and painted.
Sunday October 5, 2008
The car is
finally back on wheels, with all the work needed for the front
end is just to fit new wheel studs and set all the adjustments
for when the car is ready to race. Focus will now be
turned to the rear end. Stay tuned for more news..
Monday September 15, 2008
As the new season is
almost upon us, more work has been done on the car, but not as much
as I would have liked. I am getting itchy feet to get this car
mobile so I can race again as it seems ages since I last raced my
own car (which I've only missed one season). I apologise for
not updating the website of late, but there has been a lot of time
spent on the front suspension, a crucial part of a race car to get
it going around the clay way. The lathe has been working
overtime of late, but the strut tops have been engineered and the
adjustable struts made up and adjustable lower control arms.
The Z-bar just has to be modified for mounting in the k-frame.
I will endeavour to keep the site updated regularly on the cars
progress, so keep checking back.
I would like to note
special thanks to Robert Trapp for his insightful help, lending
ideas through the development of his own race car, thanks Trappy.
The radiator has been
fitted, the front suspension is being worked on now as well as the
seat belts.
Thursday June 26, 2008
Wednesday June
25, 2008
Things have now
started to slow down, coming into all the nitty gritty bits which do
take time if done correctly. The seat and fuel tank have been
mounted as per the photos, and the head plate on roll cage fitted.
Friday
June 20, 2008
The car has left
RCP Machining after the majority of the roll cage and bar work
is complete. Rodney Pammenter has done an excellent job of
designing the cage. Work will now continue on mounting
radiator, seat, fuel tank etc and all the other necessities.
Thursday
June 19, 2008
Main bumper bar
fitted, with a little more work needed to complete the rear.
Wednesday
June 18, 2008
The front firewall
has been fitted and front bar work done.
Tuesday
June 17, 2008
Monday
June 16, 2008
The roll cage has
finally been started, and the next two weeks will hopefully see
the car go a long way. Special thanks to Rodney Pammenter
from RCP Machining who is customising the bar work in the car.
Keep checking back for regular updates and photos.
Sunday
April 13, 2008
Nathan Macdonald has started on his new car being built for
Modified Production. The car is a VZ Holden Commodore, and
the finish date is hard to say in concrete but ideally Macdonald
is hoping to have it going next season sometime. Keep
checking back here for regular updates and photos on how the car
is progressing. Currently the car is all stripped down and
being cleaned out ready for the roll cage to be fitted.
