Volvo C304 4x4 Build/Restoration - WR002

[geckoadventure]

Looking good Dave.

What's the ETA for mud now?

I have no idea sometime after JUne 2013 - sigh - but progress is slow and steady now.

[leeogrady]

Its June 2013 buddy! Hows things looking now?

[geckoadventure]

leeogrady

here you go updated report.

Progress

two weeks into the full time worker on the Volvo progress is being made.






Looks like the Exhaust is mounted but the air intake is not. However the 4 wall frames are up and so is the roof frame and the floor frame is done

I expect better pics this week with the Alloy roof or the rear wall completed.

Also found this last week after spending 3+ hours to find stuff walking from speed shop to speed shop previous saturday - finally I have a starter and kill switch. But I need to find a 12v to 24v RELAY to kick the starter solenoid with it.

[Cameron]

Looking good! Can't wait to see it finished!

what colour scheme are you going with? Can't recall if it was mentioned.

Are you running 12v electrics and a 24v start?
you need one of these
http://www.zafr.com/trucktcom/parallel_sw.htm
http://www.pjldiesel.com.au/docs/47.pdf

allows you to run 12v everything, except the starter.
lots of american trucks run them

[wjw]

Looking good! Can't wait to see it finished!

what colour scheme are you going with? Can't recall if it was mentioned.

Are you running 12v electrics and a 24v start?
you need one of these
http://www.zafr.com/trucktcom/parallel_sw.htm
http://www.pjldiesel.com.au/docs/47.pdf

allows you to run 12v everything, except the starter.
lots of american trucks run them

You could probably get all that stuff from a scrappie, would be in an 80 series LC.

[Cameron]

^ I'm sure there's a few in wrckers yards that've succumb to the jungle over there!

[wjw]

The main part you need is highlighted below, pics are too low res to find the other little bits, but you should be able to trace them

[geckoadventure]

Thanks for the support I will update in detail late

[geckoadventure]

Looking good! Can't wait to see it finished!

what colour scheme are you going with? Can't recall if it was mentioned.

Are you running 12v electrics and a 24v start?
you need one of these
http://www.zafr.com/trucktcom/parallel_sw.htm
http://www.pjldiesel.com.au/docs/47.pdf

allows you to run 12v everything, except the starter.
lots of american trucks run them

I am running two alternators.
1. 24v to start the engine and run the 2 24v winches
2. 12v to run everything else including the fridge and lights

If I can get a 12v relay to punch the starter button bonza.

If I have to get a toyota part to do the 12 to 24v even better I know it will work without failing. THanks for the part number I will see what we can do here at a scrap yard (however usually have to buy the whole 1/2 cut)

[geckoadventure]

^ I'm sure there's a few in wrckers yards that've succumb to the jungle over there!

80's do not go to the jungle much they are regarded as too heavy and break log bridges and get stuck in swamps causing no end of issues getting the 80 elephant out.

[geckoadventure]

Looking good! Can't wait to see it finished!

what colour scheme are you going with? Can't recall if it was mentioned.

Are you running 12v electrics and a 24v start?
you need one of these
http://www.zafr.com/trucktcom/parallel_sw.htm
http://www.pjldiesel.com.au/docs/47.pdf

allows you to run 12v everything, except the starter.
lots of american trucks run them

we are looking at 4 colour schemes
1. Desert Storm sand colour no camo flashes
2. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
3. Bright orange
4. Urban camo PINK, WHITE, GREY

All are still on the table until my graphic desinger wife gets the final pics and does some colour schemes

I am looking at these websites to see if I can use these items many thanks.

[Cameron]

Battleship Grey

[Taz]

1. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
2. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
3. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
4. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip

YUSS! DO THIS!

[geckoadventure]

1. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
2. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
3. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
4. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip

YUSS! DO THIS!

It has always been my favourite haha your showing your age

[keithal]

1. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
2. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
3. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
4. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip

YUSS! DO THIS!

It has always been my favourite haha your showing your age

dont have to be old to know what Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip looks like

[wjw]

1. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
2. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
3. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip
4. Thunderbird 2 GREEN and the yellow strip

YUSS! DO THIS!

I agree

[rob-mu]

The tribe has spoken.

[keithal]

The tribe has spoken.

loving the build keep it up!!

[geckoadventure]

I like the tribe

[geckoadventure]

Progress progress progress

This mornings 2.5 hour visit and discussion in seating position and lights and also rear lights setup.

My drivers seat needs to go back 3" or 75mm so the corner of the engine compartment will be moved back leaving the existing shape.

We then pretended I was strapped into the harness and organised all the DIFF LOCKS etc to be moved to above the driver on the roof, Winch controllers etc will be there. Being 188cm its amazing how far I can reach.

Console will now be constructed.

Then we discussed rear lighting and switch position.

Then the progress. Wow 2 weeks and a lot done.

The rear frame looks strong with only the air filter to be fitted


The rear right and left front doors are complete and swings out gull wing style as shown here.


The middle post is hand made c-channel and a bent flare for the door seal you cannot see the quality in the pic.


The new front floor and my foot well widened for my size 11 boots


The roof will be 3mm alloy and can walk on it and a side top rail will be added to tie stuff too. The floor will be bolton/off 3mm alloy so the complete floor can be lifted for maintenance work. The rear "door" will be cross braced up next week and the "DOOR" will not open side entry only.




The angles look wonderful.


The left side is impressive with the angles back frame. The "middle" work area (the radiator and exhaist area etc) will be two parts bottom half will fold out as a LADDER and the top half will be bolted in.




Brett talking to the workers telling them to finishe it by next friday



Front view - still a few bars to add to the front to make it tougher.






The final product - the DAKAR class winner from 1983. I hope.


Colour scheme is done

Completion date discussed RFC time 2013 so mid-late November 2013.

[fullthrottle]

Dave mate, its looking bloody awesome now. Going to look soooo cool rolling through the jungle, hell even the streets.

[geckoadventure]

Dave mate, its looking bloody awesome now. Going to look soooo cool rolling through the jungle, hell even the streets.

The first think that struck me sat morning was the quality and how solid it it. rivnuts etc installed to hold the floor down the 3 posts each side all same angle and perfectly in line. Then they showed me the doors and the day of templates they made to work out the seals. I was so impressed.

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Love this beast, just showed the old man he wants you to ship it over here!

[wjw]

The final product - the DAKAR class winner from 1983. I hope.

How close to this will it be?

Someone has a cab full of toys in one of these:

[fullthrottle]

Love this beast, just showed the old man he wants you to ship it over here!

Yeah Dave, come back to NZ.
We have rivers here to keep you satisfied

[geckoadventure]

Love this beast, just showed the old man he wants you to ship it over here!

Yeah Dave, come back to NZ.
We have rivers here to keep you satisfied

MAte im back in the river today exactly 8 weeks after breaking a RIB in the river rescuing a TV star in the rescue inflateable kayak today kinda fun I showed them the 7 plus styles you can use to rescue people in a inflateable rescue KAYAK they thought it was hilarious. IT's fun as its dry season mucking around is KING at present. I have in September 402k charity kayak trip to paddle with my WIFE totally unsupported if she makes it I will be so proud of HER. The upcoming story and pics might make guys waana toss their trucks for a KAYAK.

The only thing with the volvo is it cannot be driven as fast as the RED truck as you have experienced the RED truck can shift if driven hard.

I wanna come back in 2014 and do a few GRADE 5 rivers and show some of your guides what a 55 year old asian riverboarding guide can do. The young guides here just shake their heads still I can still outgun them with skill and BRAINS.

Plan for december trip and you never know I might toss you the Volvo keys.

[geckoadventure]

The final product - the DAKAR class winner from 1983. I hope.

How close to this will it be?

Someone has a cab full of toys in one of these:

Without looking at this truck VERY VERY close overhead DRives lockers winches etc right side DRIVERS switches BUNNY BURNER switches etc

Middle console IPAD GPS console (don't laugh the GPS kit in a IPAD is awesome)

I expect the Volvo to TURN heads im trying to find all the Thunderbird two signs and put into the VOlvo all the detail including the black rive lines etc. Before the rebuild I used to stop in the jungle or a petrol station immediately people pull cameras out and take pics - wait till its GREEN and has THUNDERBIRD 2 colours.

[geckoadventure]

20 July 2013

a long visit today

First the tour

The doors all fitted and all with gas struts to hold open - wow gull wing style.



Right side






Top view






Then upstairs to the Wiring diagram


Yup its all wayed out in red and blue red is 24v and blue 12v then as we go thru it with my switch diagram vs bretts count we have a discrepency I have more in the end we agree looks like my 42 is very very close and bretts 36 could be short..



Back downstairs 1.5 hours later

we have decided

1 month to paint everything except the alloy skin - second paint round

then the fitting of everything including the proposed 6 seats (we are talking 6 high quality customer seats) in the rear and the removal of the doors to be replaced with side rails

The winches and yes he is installing a 30 litre water tank and with our simplicity motto its going to be gravity fed.

THe new target date of mid November is looking good.

Many surprises on vehicle launch to be revealed

Next visit I gotta hand over the newly sponsored LED lights - The stereo - the rest of the instruments and the OFFROAD controls switches for the winches and a new albright controller sigh the other one is on a comp truck now lying in the workshop after its rollover in Ride N Seek TV program which im sure you all saw and two wheels.

Next visit should see the floor cut and fitted the water tank completed the dash started the winch wiring etc all layed out and ready to install.


The rear rollbar.

[crazyclark31]

Maniwould love tocome overand paddle some of your rivers. When you come back you have to comedo some of the rapids on the kawerau incentral otago. Can help direct you and find some guys to paddle some grade 5 stuff with you.
Am loving the build to. Is going to look awsomely

[DieselBoy]

Those poor log bridges

It's shaping up nicely