New member in NZ just started CF restoration.

[yoeddynz]

Hello all,

My name is Alex and I have just started a restoration on a MK1 CF for a customer. Its going to get a 4L ford Falcon engine, box, aircon, powersteer, abs etc. Its gonna be an interesting project for sure.

What I need to find out is if there are any local  NZ/Aus suppliers of repair panels? Any help would be great.

If I get the owners permission I'll start a thread on here

I am a big GM fan and have spent 6 years living in and travelling about in a ex BBC broadcasting/video truck in Oxford, UK and currently own a much loved little 1966 HB Viva (Torana) after many other GM cars like chevettes (4), Victor FD wagon etc

I have never owned a CF and its all new to me so quite happy to be getting paid to restore one!

alex

[BusyKiwi]

You'd have more luck winning lotto than finding repair panels
There are some fibreglass bits on the market (here in NZ and in OZ (ben on this site does great fibreglass products in OZ))
Your 2 real choices are get a donor van or make the panels needed, same amount of work but newly made panels are easier to work with.

Start a thread and show lots of progress shots

[yoeddynz]

Cheers. Its worth asking anyway. I think I'll make do with what's on the van and just go from there. Its mainly little spots of rust except the back panel/valance. Heres some pics.  ...









Today I've been stripping out the entire loom and dash for later transplant. Had the cert engineer round and he'll be checking on it every so often. Lots of work to do.
 

[BusyKiwi]

What part of the country you in and who you got to cert it?

[yoeddynz]

Nelson and Don Hoff who comes up from Chch. We had a local fella but he has stopped doing certs.

[BusyKiwi]

I haven't heard of him (mind you I'm in Auckland), keep us posted on his requirements please as I know some engineers have a weird idea of things, example I had to strengthen the standard steel seat bases because I put (lighter) jap seats in the van

[yoeddynz]

Yeah some cert engineers have slightly anal requirements but I guess we are lucky we are allowed to modify vehicles here unlike many countries

After clearing out the falcon engine bay and doing more measurements I think the falcon suspension will not work easily and the strut tops will take too much room in the footwells beyond just a raised floor.

Any common disc brakes conversions for CFs?

[wendyh]

If ur a ford fan we used BA xr6 discs on front & some falcon panel van diff n brakes for rear....so then we could use some nice ford rims...stops really nice now....bought he kit from hoppers stopers in Vic...can see pics in my gallery page 5 

[BusyKiwi]

HQ Holden is common too - do a search above, several threads on brakes

[cfjeff]

Gidday, Don hoff is a lot better these days, he used to be avoided by most here in christchurch some years back. Most complained he was far too anal, but more recently have heard people praising him, which suggests to me he has taken the stick out from up his...... well you know where. Good luck with the conversion/ restoration.

Cheers Jeff