Aussie Gremlin

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   With our season over, it's time to get stuck into winter maintenance jobs and upgrades. I have compiled a bit of a list, some of which will get done and some which is almost certainly going to be pie in the sky dreams, but here it is just to see how far I get by next season:

1: Do some more rust repairs and bodywork, this is probably the biggest priority
2: Remove and reinstall windscreen or a new one, along with panel repairs to the roof. The windscreen has de-bonded across the top and lets water in.
3. Install oil catch can and associated rocker covers
4. Install longer rear wheel studs and open ended wheel nuts
5. Wire up 2 step rev limiter function on Holley Sniper
6. Swap LED headlight globes back to halogen, the cheap LED globes are pretty crappy.
7. Replace steering box output shaft seal
8. Install some sort of engine dipstick retention system
9. Additional throttle return spring
10. Install better/new shifter
11. Service transmission and install deep pan (already have the latter)
12. Refurbish passenger door card
13. New rear tires, slicks or radials, that is the dilemma?
14. Improve harness crotch strap anchors, maybe buy a new harness as well
15. New battery (lithium for weigh savings)
16. Holley digital dash
17. Engine upgrades, several options here
a. Upgrade existing heads, new valve springs, seals, associated machine work and a bit of additional porting
b. Install Edlebrock heads, I have them but would like to do some porting, valve job and probably new springs before using
c. Install new solid cam along with either a or b above, have cam and lifters already.
d. Freshen engine in association with the above, basically re-ring job and check bearings
e. Forget a, b , c or d and just go for broke and build a new 401 engine with the Eddies and solid cam
18. Cage, particularly if 17.e option is chosen although I am warming to the idea of just lifting off after half track to keep it in the 11's
20. Quick release steering wheel, will probably need this to be able to get into and out of the car with a cage.
19. Front brake upgrade, either Wilwood or Aerospace, mostly for weight savings.
20. Rear suspension upgrades, Caltracs, split mono-leafs, better shocks

So that's about it, some of it is fairly simple, but then a lot of the later stuff will probably stretch well beyond my current budget.

Time to make a start on the off season upgrades, first part of the task is of course some disassembly:

Some rust to be tackled, mostly just a repeat of what was done on the other side a couple of years ago, note this is the good side:

Rear wheel arch needs a bit of attention too:

So time to start drilling spot welds and splitting seams:

And before you know it, the inner rocker is on the ground:

Will follow the same procedure as before, replace the inner rocker first and then chop the outside off to hopefully maintain some integrity in the body while doing the repairs. The outer rocker will be returned to the factory shape.