RobSA project Bella

[RobSA]

Getting a set made by a bloke in Wingfield (SA) who is the bee's knees with bonding rubber to metal (does harmonic balancers - see engine mount thread).
Going to drop off a set of stuffed engine mounts when my rack rubbers ready, have already asked the bloke about 4 sets (rack rubbers) to begin with.
We'll see how they turn out, hopefully on the car for AJD.

Got to get back to rubbing the paint back

Cheers
Rob

[RobSA]

Update time !!

Bella is getting front end looked at, wheel alignment if everything is okay ... maybe even if it's not, so she drives a bit nicer.
Here's a nice tough stance.



She'll be a tad higher in the front after this, maybe half inch higher !!

Thanks everyone for the positive comments and votes, I know it's my car but the fact that people like what I've done does make the work feel good.

Cheers
Rob

Got a few things left to do before the show on Sunday, stay tuned.

[mrflibbles]

thats a great photo mate! that back door looks so much better now!

[RobSA]

Here's a bit of a teaser.

Cheers
Rob

[RobSA]

Well, we finally got her on the road proper.
If the looks she got are anything to go by a few people seemed to like how she has turned out.

This is her in her show livery, enjoy ... i did



Only thing I'd still like to change are the mirrors.

Cheers
Rob

[pearcesnr]

Great effort Rob, Bella looks great, another saved, regards geoff

[RobSA]

Update

Done a bit of driving the last couple of days.
Wow does she hook through the corners, roundabouts are fun again

Gotta sort the carburetter out though, might also be a bit of blowby as a result of the clogged PVC system causing some detonation or just a crap carby.
Not sure whether to get the stocker rebuilt or put a 34ADM Weber off my old XE on her.

Also I was getting some funny chirps from the rear on change of direction.

Cheers
Rob

[GTtoo]

I'm sure something "chirpy" out the back end of a Bellett around corners is not that unusual, but you'll sort it out anyway.
Man, Brad and I followed that thing out of Maccer's, and it blew a nice note when we hit the highway It was great to meet the genius who drives it. The day was mad.

Cheers, B.

[mrflibbles]

Genius or Madman that drives it? Im sure its a blurry line between the two!

[PR91]

Update

Done a bit of driving the last couple of days.
Wow does she hook through the corners, roundabouts are fun again

Gotta sort the carburetter out though, might also be a bit of blowby as a result of the clogged PVC system causing some detonation or just a crap carby.
Not sure whether to get the stocker rebuilt or put a 34ADM Weber off my old XE on her.

Also I was getting some funny chirps from the rear on change of direction.

Cheers
Rob

a nikki carb off a gemini bolts straight on too. no adaptor needed, and bigger throats to boot!
and a re-jet with jets out of a bigger engined car works wonders .
did this years ago on the gemini engine i had in my sedan. was a re-built 1600, out to 1705, head work, cam, pipes, etc. had a re-jetted nikki first, then twin 40mm webers, then a 32/36 dgv. IMO, the nikki drove the nicest, chewed less fuel, and went just as hard as the dgv. took a bit of fiddling to get the jetting right, but as alot of japanese cars of varying engine capacities used them, they were easier (and cheaper thanks to the wreckers!!) to get parts for.
PM me and i can give u a run down if u'd like.

[RobSA]

Okay update time.

Speedo still giving me grief trying to get different wheels to work together, it will work!!
Replacement headlights (H4 inserts) dont fit easily. Apparently, the inner headlights on a Bellett are different from the outer ones, doh.
I have to file a new slot to get the new lights to fit.
The H4 sockets wont fit through the original grommet, sigh, more work.
Drill battery flat, so couldnt even fit the relays.
Oh well, charge the battery, file the slot and fiddle with the speedo, no probs ??

Going to use a phone and GPS for speedo for awhile, also gives me lap times!?

Until later ...

Cheers
Rob

[RobSA]

Oops, sorry Brett nearly forgot ...
thanks for the info, I'm going to try the 34ADM carby as I got it (no cost), have some aluminum in my stash so will just make the adapter for it.
get the drill set and solder out and shrink the main jets a little shood be close.
If it turns out no good will try your suggestions.

Cheers
Rob

[PR91]

is the bolt pattern for the 34adm the same as the 32/36dgv?
if so, there's an adaptor available off the shelf, made by redline.
is to suit this weber onto a datsun 1600 (they use the same nikki base as the bellett and gemini). they were around the $40 mark when i looked last (a few years tho, i'll admit!).
this may be easier than making one, as it comes with all the longer studs and adapting bolts too.
cheers.

[RobSA]

Thanks Brett, yep I know about the Redline adapter, though at the moment I'm a little short and since I've got all that stuff in the shed it's cheaper to make one up.

Update: new H4 headlights and wiring looms installed, though I may have a dry joint in one of the power leads for one set of lights (note to self, check).
Fun times, broke the bonnet cable under the dash, doh.
GPS and RaceChrono software works a treat as a temporary speedo (yep still cleaning and trying to make old one work again).


ENGINE MOUNTS have been rebonded!! I will post pictures as soon as I pick them up.
RACK MOUNTS are available also (see under Suspension).

Does anyone want center cap stickers, currently have 44mm diameter Isuzu ones, other sizes upon request (check out picture in here somewhere).

Cheers
Rob

[gt orphanage]

my bonnet cable is a brake cable from a push bike $3.95 kmart red and black packadge it has the right end and another piece cut the other end solder it so it does not fray pull the inner out drop the bit you dont need at the bonnet catch end cut the outer to length, the little crome end will go back on the handle end after you rethread the inner and then fit to the car. after its fitted solder where you want to cut to length so its neat and again does not fray.may sound like a lot of trouble but you could do it quicker than i type the instructions.
modification looks like factory and no one will know unless you tell the world on a forum

[RobSA]

Thanks for that, found an old brake cable ... the end however is too large for the bonnet catch end?
Will have to check my stash of pushy bits see if I can come up with one of smaller diameter ball end.

Might have a look for some ally to make a steering wheel adapter while I'm looking through the materials bin

Cheers
Rob

[gt orphanage]

boss kit rx7
kmart have a ball one end and a 44 gallon drum shape the other end that fits the catch the drum discription is overkill but you will see what i mean.

[RobSA]

An update on Bella.

She got her new(ish) bonnet cable courtesy of my bicycle parts bin. Nice clean cable and outer housing.
I did have to drill the hole in the arm out a fraction to let the new ball fit as the bicycle parts are slightly larger than the Bellett one.
While digging under the dash I realized the handle had been relocated from it's original mounting point to the edge of the dash and had been bent and twisted to fit, doh : (
Handle was panel beaten back into shape and refitted in the correct location. Oddly the cable now lines up with the handle much better !?

Next jobs are to re-solder the power leads for the headlights/spotlights and finish wiring the spotties and install the switch.
Replacement carburetor is on hold until I have a place that I can work on the conversion.
Though I have my eyes out for the next piece I need to get in the jigsaw that is carburetor replacement (throttle cable off an XE/XD).

Cheers
Rob

[redback]

Might have a look for some ally to make a steering wheel boss while I'm looking through the materials bin
\

I have put a Commodore VN/VP steering boss on my bellet and it fits well.

[gt orphanage]

how do you intend to make the steering wheel boss?do you have a lathe and how are you going to spline it.Even if you can do it professionally it would not be worth the effort they are around $70 to buy.If you have a accident due to a boss failure i would not want to be you.ie insurance isues up to man slaughter.