Intro from Malaysia - WR7002 - C304

[Heinkeljb]

Air compressor filling a tank connected by a pipe to the inlet manifold via a pressure release valve. Always have air in the tank as long as the air compressor works.

Constant pressure available to pipe to the inlet manifold.

John

[geckoadventure]

Status of the Volvo is total chaos. We are really struggling to paint it. For the past 4-5 months we have been trying to sort out colour and a paint shop. We have had stupid quotes such as 5-6K local which i basically like saying USD 6,000 to paint a cabin only which only needs to be lightly sanded as its already undercoated.

Then we get oh my workers have run away due to the currency devaluation (the ringgit has drooped some 30% against the USD this year) .

Also the builder is now away at the Malaysian 4x4 Rainforest challenge for the past 9 days it it finishes tomorrow so maybe Wednesday he will be back unless they win and he will be drinking lol. We had a long chat on last Sunday abou it his mates there also giving him a hard time get it finished lol. The paint shop across the road from the workshop wants to bodyfill the car even though there is nothing wrong with it. He's getting them to look at it on Thursday and explain what I want no FILLER. Then we wait for the rediculous quote yet again.

[TechMOGogy]

Compressor, dryer, $50-150 paint gun, good quality paint and you can do it yourself - looks like you'll save $5000 and a lot of time waiting around!

[geckoadventure]

12/12/2015

Well the builder run me Thursday come up and see me I'm sick of the painters quotes.

So Saturday took the trusty Isuzu and attached the boat and trailer, had a swiush breakfast and then headed to the workshop 190K away. Fark me holiday traffic and 3.5 hours later.

Reversed the trailer in for the addidtion of rollers to combat the issues on steep boat ramps and a dry pull out and to make it 3 feet shorter. No the dog is not the trailer tow dog. He is also still deciding whether to rebuild the new fuel tank/seat which has leaked again 3 weeks after the boat shop repaired it looks like the did mig welding and not tig on the fuel tank so its split - YIKES!



Then onto to the real purpose of the trip the Volvo.



The final requote they got was $4800 and oh we will do you a favor we will paint it in the workshop for you. 4800 just for the cabin and the roll cage its laughable.

So it was decided. In the workshop we will get our own painter and paint it in the same area they paint the trailer axles So sometime in the next 10 days it will be painted and assembled. The winches and all the chassis stuff will be attached in the next 10 days (Winches and wiring etc). I marked all the areas which need a little putty before the top coat is applied.

Before you ask the beast beside the Volvo is a 2WD 400HP Nissan V6 powered Landrover Alison gearbox etc and yes it goes. No its out of scope for this story line lol.

The Build has recommenced the target is before my birthday in March.

[Heinkeljb]

I hope they keep this deadline!

You seem to have had more than your fair share of broken deadlines on this build...

Look forward to seeing it all back together and driving around doing what it should - helping people!

John

[geckoadventure]

24/12/2015

Good news cabin split in two and removed from chassis again to do the touch up welding and putty work.

So next week almost ready for painting.

So merry XMAS to you all from me and my friend Mr Cheshire.

My little friend Cheshire happily sleeping on my chest. So go give your pets a hug for XMAS.


Honest it was me that made this mess it was the black cat at the door "Fury" is his name. Yes the mess was really made by Cheshire.


May all your offroad trips for 2016 be action packed. Laying out the practical course for charity group 4x4 driver training lol what they never saw lol.

[geckoadventure]

2 Feb 2016

I rung for a progress report and got told none so I asked why he said no staff to do the body work. So being years since I prepped a body I volunteered to do my own vehicle.

Monday wa a pub holiday and they offered me the workshop for Sunday and they would help me Monday.

So Sunday morning 9am im 190k away from home at the workshop. I start had a quick look at the Cabin and did a quick plan of attack. All day I played with small amounts of body filler. By the end of the day the cabin wac starting to look close to being ready for paint. Original dents etc were left alone

The frame as Sunday morning



My companion while I did the top of the cabin was the workshop new guarddog the cazy happy 7month old mongrel


The rear panel is a bit of a mess but its been decided its original we leave it.


Filling the repair work from the patches added to the roof.


Oh yeah the pooch likes ICE as its over 34c here at present


Preparing the paint


Inside of the cabin top painted


We sat this here this morning ready to paint then we realised the sealant we added at lunchtime took 24 hours to cure our mistake for not picking it up yesterday


So after 2.5 days work of pure hard work in the heat I have made a lot of progress.
Early this evening we moved stuff around to enable the rear cage to be painted.


Rear cage 2/4 sanded tomorrow they can finish it and paint it


The doors are being taken apart a there is a small rust issue in the top/bottom join area.


3rd coat on the top of the cabin.


So next Monday Chinese new year to be spent in the workshop.

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

Wow, what a build. I have a feeling it won't be 2017 until it's done! (or is it ever really done?)

[geckoadventure]

I want it on the road in the next 2 months else its doomed he is expanding his workshop.

I also need it for a support vehicle for a 400k kayaking trip in June.

[Heinkeljb]

I really hope you manage to "push" the workshop to finish things - They appear to have taken years to do something which you wanted in 6 months!

Look forward to see it all back together and being driven around doing the tasks you need it to do.

Good luck,

John

[geckoadventure]

Getting good workers to work on the truck very hard. I have a couple of offroad friends volunteering now to help.

[Haf-e]

Best of luck - you deserve it!

I just noticed your truck has double tilt out "safari" windows - very nice! Its going to be a great truck once it is done.

[geckoadventure]

Best of luck - you deserve it!

I just noticed your truck has double tilt out "safari" windows - very nice! Its going to be a great truck once it is done.

That used to be the air conditioning unit lol adjust the window for volume speed up for more air flow. Pretty shitty in rush hour traffic though lol.

[geckoadventure]

8 February 2016

Chinese new year Holidays

Arrived monday morning to the pleasant sight of the rear cage and all parts painted that I had left the week before.




Brett stuck the engine and gearbox on the forklift and then left for CNY lunch and said you can install and oh yeah learn to drive the forklift lol.

2 hours later I had it all installed but need new gearbox mount bushes.



Then started on the 18,500lb winch install. Success again took me about 2 hours plus searching and cleaning up parts areas to get stuff out.

[geckoadventure]

9 February

Had assistance from the builder all day and we managed to get the cage installed and bolted down after installing the WARN 12,000lb winch and tightening the 18,00 bolts down correctly.




Then dinner time for both of us and we packed up at 5pm after getting the fuel tank reinstalled yet again and the gear change installed and bolted it. A whole pile of parts washed and a list of parts needed to buy.