Chevrolet 6.5 litre in Patrol

Thanks Peter and Alan
Don't want to hijack your post Peter talking about Colorado's but thanks for the info. I've had two rodeo's before and never had a failure and this one seems much better . Here's hoping.
cheers
Brett

No problems Brett,
You must be very happy to read the Colorado won the Sydney/Darwin bush bash,2010, the Patrol came a very close second.............. And I might add the Rodeo won a few prior years, so you should get a good run for your money.
In the mean time have been doing a few extra mods to my little truck in preparation for the coming season, will post details when complete.
Have the neighbors turning their heads and enquiring what is under the bonnet when I rumble past.
Hope to see your set up when you get yours ready for the road....

Cheers
Peter

Gday Peter
What sort of mods are you doing now???
Off for a little drive to Darwin to pick up a new van on Saturday
Bit of a run for the new bus and save truckloads off the Perth price. Bloody great being retired eh??
cheers
Brett

Maaaaate,
Don't know how I had time to work before retiring, so much to keep yourself occupied.
What's the difference in K's heading to Darwin as opposed to Perth. Very interesting to hear your new little truck is cheaper in the NT. What don't you pay in NT as opposed to WA costs?
Only minor additions to my Patrol with gauges replacing the "idiot" lights for oil pressure, temperature, new diff, gearbox & Xfer case breathers and battery monitors.

Leave you with this;
Holden Colorado 1st and Nissan hard on their heals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVOycothbdM&feature=related

Peter

Gday Peter
Mate I bought my colorado from Melville Holden, I'm driving up to Darwin to buy a new caravan!! It's a Jayco 19'6" offroader with ensuite etc and is exactly the same as one I can get from Jayco in Perth but $7k cheaper. Makes for a good reason to go on a run and catch a barra in the wet maybe? Was going on Sat but they're now predicting up to 400mm of rain along the Pilbara/Kimberley coast this week, so may have to delay a few days. The Murch/East Murch is going to get a truckload of rain this week as well from the same system.
The Colorado did well in that vid.
cheers
Brett

Brett
Record rain in Darwin, a foot of rain in the old language, obviously you are sitting pat.
Picked up my Firestone coil airbags today to boost the rear end when towing our Trailstar/ Aquila, 5.4 metre tandem axle offroader.
You have opted for a bit more space I see, you should be very comfortable. Do you have a solar/ battery set up included?

Hope we cross roads down the track.
Take care on your trip.
Peter

Gday Peter
Yeh, weather watching on the net is now an hourly passtime but I've always had an interest anyway.
Battery setup at the minute on the new van but we'll see how that stands up. Maybe just a second 100ah battery will be sufficient. Camping solar is getting cheaper too it seems. I've got solar on my current Avan and that works brilliantly.
Might have to do some investigation re the airbags you mentioned after I pickup the new van and see how it handles.
cheers
Brett

Hi Brett,
The bags were very simple to fit, saving $175.00 installation fee, the airline fittings are quite unique, just a matter of pushing the tube into the fitting.
Next project is oil & temperature gauge fitted to door pillar.
I see you are still slip/sliding around your patch, bit of rain down here would be a godsend.

All the best
Peter

Gday Peter
Is your Patrol leaf or coil on the rear end?
Where abouts on the "door pillar" are you mounting guages, never seen that done before.
Bloody roads still closed and will be for some time. Pannawonica turnoff to Karratha section is the problem area. I'm getting more and more towie.
Had some good rain (30mm+) a few days ago and the Irwin and Greenough rivers are both running strongly now from 3-4 inch falls inland around Yuin. The Greenough closed the highway a couple of days ago when it flowed over NWC hwy at Greenough bridge.
cheers
Brett

Morning Brett,
My little truck has coils back and front.
Here is a link with details about the pillar pods, the only draw back is you need to get them painted to match existing trim. Most use them for extreme 4WDriving with boost and pyrometer, all I need is oil pressure and temperature gauges.

http://www.extremelimitsoffroad.com.au/category218_1.htm

Looks like you will have to wait another week or three with Carlos still affecting your weather.
Hang in there it will all be worth it when you get back out swinging, some big nuggets turning up around Kal.

Cheers
Peter

Gday Peter
Those little pillar pods look pretty neat, never seen them before. There's some good stuff around these days.
Hopefully we'll be off in the next day or two as the road is only closed because of the red alert. I don't think they've had much rain inland in the river cathments. Here's hoping anyway.
Should be back out swinging in a month or so eh?
cheers
Brett

Hi Brett,
Yes, there are countless toys for the boys online, just have to pick the wheat from the chaff.
My mate just left here here, has had a minor lift job and airbags fitted to the rear leafs on his Colorado. Also he has fabricated some underbody guards, and will fit them when this $%#@ heat wave ends.
My truck goes in for first service and tuneup next Wednesday, they assure me the smoking problem will be sorted out.
I'll be hooking up the van then and doing a few short runs to settle it in for the coming long hauls, and hopefully a few nugs in the brag jar.
Happy driving on your run to Darwin, watch out for the live stock feeding on new growth on the road verges.

Cheers
Peter

Hi nightjar , just wandering how the big thumper is performing ? Been a few months since the patrol had her heart transplant & i gather a few kms have been clocked up since then..
I am currently considering doing the same as you to my 80 series vx sahara , the old banger is starting to get a bit tired with age.. any feed back would be much appreciated.
cheers gully hunter

Long time since being here?
The vacuum pump packed it in but was able to find a genuine brand new on GumTree, $120.00, delivered.  
That part was easy but removing pulley from old pump was a challenge.
Ended up in the shed and fabricated a puller and the end result was positive, pulley off and refitted to new pump.

Now if there is any one out there who has a Chevy motor and the vacuum pump fails, let me know and I'll lend you the puller. (Postage would be peanuts)
***Cost you a kings ransom if you buy a pump with pulley already fitted. ***