Do it all again..... AE71 Highroof Panelvan - 4AGTE - Moonlight Garage

[maxhag]

Sam92 - It will just be a water system routing issue.. Yeah, engine will be using more fuel as it's never getting a chance to get out of cold start mode.

I will let you know what the problem is when I fix it up

[maxhag]

Well Sam92, I've just spent 3 hours on this water issue, and now I just have the shits.....

It all looks plumbed ok...... ??????

- Car running at idle, for OVER 20 mins during the day, and temp only just got to 82deg, and wouldn't go any higher than 84deg. (on the Microtech Hand controller) That sensor is on the remote thermostat housing.
- The aftermarket temp gauge I have, has the sensor on the top radiator pipe, and that is only reading 70deg when the other sensor mentioned above is at 84deg
- Third temp gauge is the stock dash one, which hardly gets off Cold.

I have thoroughly bled the system.
I have checked the thermostat, and it's not stuck open.
Bottom radiator pipe stayed cold until the thermostat housing got to 82deg (as it should), but then would get colder when it started to open and close up again
If I turn the heater on, the water temp drops and stays cold.....
All water lines feel hot by touch, except bottom radiator hose. (bottom hose only got a little warm when the thermostat was trying to open)

I should be able to work this out, as I have done many 4age conversions now, but I have never had this issue.....

[maxhag]

I thought I would post up some pics of how the van turned out. There are still many more little things I plan to do, but the base is pretty much done.
I plan on getting a actual chrome bumper bar for the front, but till I get one, the makeshift Hilux grill will have to do for the time being

I have been driving this thing daily since rego, and I still get a massive thrill everytime I drive it.. It's actually a pretty quick car...... The turbo upgrade was def a winner.......

[maxhag]

Ok, well after driving the van for about a month and a half now, it was fun to drive, up untill some things went horribly wrong....

A few weeks ago, the main pin/bolt in one of the leaf packs snapped. Not only did this fuck the tracking of the rear end, but I figure then the pinion angle was so out, as the diff internals chewed itself rather quickly (welded E series - Lite Ace).
And also, unrelated to the diff issue, the AE71 pedal box snapped off at the clutch mount on the firewall Fuggin great! I love changing pedal boxes!

The leaf bolt most likely snapped from the horrible skipping and clunking from the welded diff and/or the shitty flipped standard leafs it was on. Man I hated that thing..


The Solution:

Diff: After the experience with the E series (7'1 crown wheel), apart from it being welded, it was just too psyically big to fit under the floorpan and still get the car low without the diff centre impacting with the body
So, that ruled out anything bigger, ie F series, G series etc

I figured a T series would be the best size to fit, plus plenty of LSDs etc.
I had a few options in the yard. My choice was between a T18 or a RA60 diff.... I chose the RA60 diff, as its mounts were essentially useless, while the T18 one could go into another Corolla. The RA60 diff is also 10mm wider each side (20mm overall), and I was happy to run a little extra track.

I removed all the old mounts and dropped it in at my diff specialist to get the leaf mounts welded on. I kept the sway bar brackets, but couldnt keep the lateral rod mount, as it would foul with the shock.
I got some fresh wheel bearings and housing seals, but just left the RA60 drums as is, as they looked quite new. I fitted up a TRD 2 way LSD with a 4:1 C&P.
For handbrake cables, I used KE70 panelvan (S series) cables, and RA60 front cable as it was just that little bit longer.

Rear Leafs: For my new leaf packs, I have made my own combination to suit the cars purpose. (daily and backup drift car). I made a combination of Standard, KE36 panelvan, and Hilux leafs. They came up looking and feeling just how I wanted. Very stiff and solid ride now. No bouncing about like the previous setup.

Pedal Box: I swapped out the pedal box for another AE71 one. Fun as always,


I took it for a quick test drive this arvo. Wow! Feels like a totally differant car. Instant drift car
No more banging, clunking, whining, wurring, leaking oil from the diff. I can actually turn the car now without it sounding like the diff was going to fall out
Handbrake works fugging amazing. Locks both nicely and I have heaps of adjustment for years to come.
Clutch pedal works now

Also added my Nardi (genuine) wheel too.

[maxhag]

With a bit more fine tuning and testing, I may bring this car to DF3. I would love to drive this van at Raleigh

[ae8zn6]

Good to hear things are going well again in this thing, I know how frustrating it is to do a bunch of work to something for it to break and you have to pull it out and re-insert it only a short time later

[maxhag]

Loving the van as my daily. Practical, fast and just so much fun to drive.... I've done a few Sydney trips, and it loves the Hwy too

Last week the dump pipe (mild steel) cracked and broke, so I got to fix that up. Been driving my drift car (SR86) for the last week to work, as it's my only other registered car Also fun to drive.

[ae8zn6]

Lake George is looking green!

[maxhag]

Last weekend I got the chance to take the van out for its first event/skid session since I've finished it....
The ACT Multiclub Motorkhana is a great little event.

Got a couple of shots.....





I still need to fit up the rear swaybar..... (I forgot to do it before the motorkhana).

[ae8zn6]

Hey JoJo, I found a place over here that stocks your favorite drink! (just in case you were thinking of moving)