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Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:45 am

I REALLY hope you pull this off and get it all together. I wish the engine was in the back, but I'll take what you can give me... Keep it up!

Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:50 pm

G'day all & midwesty79.just a couple today. I started to set up front diff center to make the mounts the front 1 which is in the beam I will be able to use the original commodore mount so that's a bonus simple 90deg welded beam. note how well the centre arm clears the bottom of the diff I know someone will tell me the steering arms aren't tight but there is plenty of room so THAT MADE MY DAY PUNK. don't mind the bent axles they are hose just to give me an idea of clearance issues of which there are none so another worry out of the way. So I'm just waiting for the front spindle so I can be sure they will work otherwise more climbing around under 4x4's to find the next 1.
If you look closely at the pinion flange you will see part of the shaft for the trans shaft it is the Nissan tailshaft flange it is identical size on the locater as the commodore so I can drill 4 holes & bolt the Nissan drive shaft straight up to it so another 1 falls into place it just seems to get easier as I go. next job on Wednesday is to start on the chassis reinforcing frame to mount the drive train frame to. all for now have a good 1
ernie

Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:30 am

G'day all. some body & underneath

Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:23 pm

Nice flares! Does the sliding door clear them?

What are they off of?

Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:11 pm

Really enjoying following the work on this. I always thought it would be awesome to put a subaru drivetrain (essentially backwards) in a bus. The scariest part was the front dif, but you're making it look very doable. Good on ya! I like seeing people not afraid to cut weld and fabricate. Keep up the good work and keep us posted, can't wait to see a video of this baby off road!

Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:41 pm

Am I the only one that reads the mono log in my head with an Australian accent?

Looks good so far!

Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:42 pm

naw mate-- he's beyond the burnt stump they only lernt english 20 years ago. before that it was all pigeon.

where the hell is nambula--- whatever :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

OH did I say -nice idea- but would leave the bent axles in and use em for mowing the grass.

Are you putting a big axle spring roo bar on that and chicken wire windshield protector in there some where.???

Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:07 am

G'day all. hi williamM welcome Nambour is on the sunshine coast I hour north of Brisbane 20 minutes some of the best beaches anywhere it used to be a major producer of sugar but those days are gone mainly tourism now if you ever get over here contact me I'll show you around even a kangaroo plenty of them out at the university they live in the grounds there the Asian & European students are stunned when they 1st arrive that they are so close to them.Now the kombi the rear flares are a reworked fj40 land cruiser the fronts are made to suit kombi they are made by a local company volks conversions. the rear arm on the slider has to be lengthened a bit.the seats are Honda prelude here are some pics showing how clean it is underneath.

Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:31 am

That will be so cool. Bet it will run the highland in the wet- no problems.

Alert> we have ROOs in the court yard. So tell all those "Foreigners" that the big red ones like to be scratched under the chin!! :wink: :wink: and to make sudden moves.

I worked at the cardboard factory in Cains lived in a little bed n nothing below the hospital.

Drove the 65 bus to Darwin and around what a trip! Keep the pics coming will love to see the final drive install.

How many of those conversions are down there.

My land cruiser had bullet proof drive line. So sounds like a good choice.

Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:22 pm

G'day williamM. As far as I know this is it don't know of any others I may be wrong. So maybe it's the first I could only hope. Is there anyone over there doing a similar build It's our ANZAC day so as a veteran I'm of to march so no more for today. Take care stay safe over there.
Ernie

Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:31 am

Most of the 4x4 conversions seem to be putting the bus body on a 4x4 frame. Jeep seems to be a popular manufacturer.

Your bus frame seems to be remarkably free of rust. But then don't suppose you even heard of some one putting salt on the roads on purpose???

That stretch across the nullarbor had some crustys on top of the grading

Do they still cut a 2' trench across the roads for no apparent reason? (well drainage maybe)

Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:33 pm

G'day all. The spindle didn't give enough adjustment so engineer is relocating the bottom balljoint hole. I will be away for awhile taking a break. Take care enjoy your time.

Ernie

Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:34 am

G'day all been in shed with a tape measure can someone tell me if the torsion bar set & size is the same top & bottom on the beam as the bottom arm is longer than the top arm so thinking maybe I can use them in opposite it should give me the adjustment needed then just have to figure out a shock mount so off to the shed tomorrow. for a couple of hours before I leave for break.
ernie

Sun May 12, 2013 2:38 am

G'day all. Have to spread the beams to fit in spindles so of to the water cutter next week to get mounting plates made up to replace the pressed metal kombi parts. this will also provide a lift at the same time. this will take a while to get done as the guy is flat out like a lizard drinking.
take care over there you all looking at our news the country is going thru a tough time with loss of lives so from an aussie who has only ever had the grim truth of 2 gun massacres my thought go out to all & be safe
ernie

Sun May 12, 2013 2:39 am

G'day all. picked up the Datsun 1600 halfshafts today 1 will be used complete as the rear tailshaft the other will be machined & inserted into front shaft the design of the spline is perfect for the use it will be put to in that it allows in & out movement to allow to fit between fixed diff centre's & they don't lock on to spline under acceleration or deceleration

Sun May 12, 2013 7:31 am

That piece should hold up against your power.

When its mobile- get us a pic of the thing on the lift so it all comes together.

Mon May 13, 2013 4:12 am

G'day williamm. thanks for interest in the project. here are some pics of parts in the intermediate shaft between gearbox & transfercase.

Mon May 13, 2013 10:22 am

That looks like it would stand up to some "wheel spin" without snapping off.

When Subaru came up with the light weight 4x4 in the early 80's we had a few "oil leaks" at the axles that turned out to be the spider gears breaking out thru the gear case after a single wheel spin to hard pavement. Or just under inflated tire on one side of the diff.

So looks like you Datsun stuff is a little bit stouter.

Tue May 14, 2013 7:12 pm

G'day all pics of freeby seats assembled intermediate shaft & locating diff set up

Fri May 31, 2013 12:05 am

G'day all. My best wishes' to the people of Oklahoma I hope your all safe & well. I spent some time working on the rear mount for the rear diff it's using the original commodore mount turned upside down & bolted to a 75mm x 50mm x3mm tube with the bottom cut out to let it slip over the crossmember next job is the front mount for it. all for now
ernie