Below 265 SQ/FT Hewey's 1950s single garage & cottage

[Ralf99]

Ralf, as Geoff confirmed the engine and gearbox are one. I'd like to think it has a screen to stop this stuff getting recirculated, but who knows. Sometimes the early 850s have quirks which were fixed for later models. There's enough bits to know something got smashed up pretty good, so it's had to been smashed up against something either in the engine or box.

Ahh, the bit of the question I missed out was "Does your engine have the spin-on oil filter conversion?"
First thought would be the chunky bits are gearbox related and hopefully large enough not to get pumped around. Fingers crossed this is the case and the engine can be freshened up without too much drama.

Maybe a turbo and straight cut gears in its future?

 

[Jack_K]

On the old truck option front, check out Beezleboss thread and in particular Lyndon's comments about trucks and tow truck legislation (bottom of this page) https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/cncs-and-hot-rods-a-sydney-garage.486817/page-4.

That is interesting. I hadn't thought about the interstate rules. I had thought about the rules here in QLD and they seem to allow me to do what I want. An "authorised tow truck" and authorised operator is only required in certain areas and for accident towing etc but not breakdowns. I do need to go to NSW which sounds like a problem. I'll have to do more research.

Maybe I need an enclosed truck so that nobody will notice.

 

[hewey]

Ralf I'm not sure what the correct term is, but the trailer is braked mechanically via the coupling of the trailer itself, like this set up below. The mini still uses the original cannister style oil filter, absolute pain compared to the modern style ones. Without taking it apart yet, engine builder's guess is bearings. No turbo or straight cut gears, will stay as just a cruiser - but 60s inspired so twin SUs, finned rocker cover etc. - the kind of thing a young bloke in Australia might have built, being inspired by the mini racers of the day mixed with a bag full of Aussie speed parts and 60s 'sports custom' style.



On that front, on the weekend the 850 got picked up, so hopefully things will start happening soon.

 

[Geoff289]

They're usually just called override brakes, guys. Towing vehicle slows down, trailer tries to keep going pushing on the lever which tightens the cable going back to the drum brakes on the trailer. There's another hydraulic variation which has the override acting on a push rod into a master cylinder. Properly adjusted and maintained they work OK but electric brakes are way better and can be operated independently of the towing vehicle's brakes.

 

[Ralf99]

Yep, I have built or modified a number of trailers with brakes over the years, mainly electric for the reason you’ve mentioned, but also to allow ‘fine tuning’ via the brake controller for a range of tow vehicles in the fleet - and to eliminate the need to flip over the lockout when reversing.
Surge brakes are another common moniker.

 

[Bob Heine]

Properly adjusted and maintained they work OK but electric brakes are way better and can be operated independently of the towing vehicle's brakes.

Geoff, I towed our 19-foot Ford V8 powered boat with our '68 Pontiac GTO. It was on a 23-foot galvanized tandem axle trailer with hydraulic surge brakes on one of the two axles. It worked really well and I never had to disable the system to reverse, even when I was backing down a narrow uphill street to get to the launch ramp. I was often launching the boat into salt water and the brake drums were completely submerged.

You are right about the electric brakes but the dual chamber master cylinders on modern cars reduces that need. On our road trip from New York to Alaska in 1957 the thousands of miles of gravel roads took a toll. We had five flat tires, one tire blowout and most serious of all, we completely lost the hydraulic brakes on the 1953 Oldsmobile when a rock hit a brake line. The brake system had only one chamber in the master cylinder for all four drum brakes so a leak in any part of the system was catastrophic. Gas stations were few and far between so we drove for almost 100 miles with no brakes on the car. Had the travel trailer not been equipped with electric brakes we would have been stranded in grizzly bear country (in a large sardine can). It was obvious these brake failures were common because the first gas station we reached had the fittings and lines to repair the broken section and had us back on the 'road' in about an hour.

 

[hewey]

@Bob Heine losing brakes in a 50s Olds while towing a caravan is certainly hairy! Great to hear you got back on the road with such little fuss though.

Pretty exciting to share an engine update. The builder has started work, with the new 1100 block copping a coat of high temp 'raptor' brand paint in their 'bright red'. I had suggested Holden red motor red might be a good option, but apparently most of the off the shelf spray-paints are all American these days. No word yet on the dismantling of the old engine, will keep you posted.




As you can probably tell, I've made the call to step away from it looking like a resto, and more of a modified 60s 'hottie' - particularly inspired by 1960s custom Holdens. My first car was an LH Torana with a red motor so there's an element of nostalgia for me, but more so the early Holdens were the mainstay of the Aussie custom scene in the 60s. I wont be touching the body, but want to create the kind of mini a young bloke back in the 60s might have, with these kind of influences:

Iconic custom Holdens part 1: FX-FJ

We take a trip down humpy memory lane with seven iconic custom builds from the 60s and 70s

www.streetmachine.com.au

Iconic custom Holdens part 2: FX-FJ

Part two of our hot humpy flashback customs from the 60s and 70s

www.streetmachine.com.au

 

[ajohno]

Looking good Hewey.
My first car was a LJ Torana 1973 which my dad and myself rebuilt. It had a 173 red motor. We painted the car back to original colourS. White roof green body. It was a great car.

 

[hewey]

I'd love a little LC or LJ Torana.

I finally got around to dressing up my rocker cover. You can definitely see the inspiration from the pics above starting to show here. Lots of time masking and cutting, but not too much clean up require. Has come up a treat and will fantastic alongside the twin SUs. The good thing about using an off the shelf colour in a can is that I can buy the same stuff and start applying it to bits too.

 

[ajohno]

Looks good Hewey.

 

[Geoff289]

Great masking work, Hewey.

 

[jon72vega]

That looks great!

 

[hewey]

A non project update this time around. My dad passed away in late October. We knew his health was getting worse, and the care staff had liaised with us and shifted him to a palliative care plan. He passed away peacefully with no discomfort, which is what I think most of us would want. The funeral service was small and nice. We went out to the old family farm near Urana (about an hour west of Wagga) and got some red dirt to sprinkle on the coffin as part of the service, where he was buried next to his parents.

Without getting into details, he was a complex person with significant mental health challenges and other challenging elements to his personality. His passing and then the funeral planning process involved a lot of revisiting things, which was it's own task to work through. It was also a balance to getting the right tone for the funeral. The funeral director and celebrant were both amazing though, couldn't have been happier with their support.

We've now started on the process of dealing with his estate and all the other formal notifications that come with that. Both Geoff and Lyndon have recent experience with this. Ours has a few extra complications to make it even more 'interesting'. It'll be an ongoing process.

 

[ajohno]

Sorry mate. Hopefully everything will go well.

 

[Geoff289]

A non project update this time around. My dad passed away in late October. We knew his health was getting worse, and the care staff had liaised with us and shifted him to a palliative care plan. He passed away peacefully with no discomfort, which is what I think most of us would want. The funeral service was small and nice. We went out to the old family farm near Urana (about an hour west of Wagga) and got some red dirt to sprinkle on the coffin as part of the service, where he was buried next to his parents.

Without getting into details, he was a complex person with significant mental health challenges and other challenging elements to his personality. His passing and then the funeral planning process involved a lot of revisiting things, which was it's own task to work through. It was also a balance to getting the right tone for the funeral. The funeral director and celebrant were both amazing though, couldn't have been happier with their support.

We've now started on the process of dealing with his estate and all the other formal notifications that come with that. Both Geoff and Lyndon have recent experience with this. Ours has a few extra complications to make it even more 'interesting'. It'll be an ongoing process.

Condolences Hewey.

 

[zanyad]

@hewey, my condolences on your loss.

 

[Lyndon]

Hewey

My thoughts are with you guys. Condolences!

Yes - the whole process, from admission to Palliative Care to the aftermath of Estate Administration, is very tiring and long winded..... Especially when you are the Enduring Guardian and Executor!

Lyndon

 

[Coolabah]

My condolences too hewey. I'm sure it is never easy at the best of times coping with this sort of thing , thinking good thoughts of support for you.

 

[Bob Heine]

Hewey, it's always a blessing and a curse to lose a close relative. When my father passed at age 55 in 1968 I attended the funeral but said nothing. I let the people he liked and who liked him do the honors.

When my mother passed at age 95 in 2008, I waited a month before holding a service at her church. I was the last member of the family who knew her well so I gave the eulogy. My five typewritten pages took a little over ten minutes to read to the mourners. I kept the eulogy so my great grandchildren will know a few things about their great-great grandmother.

 

[hewey]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the support and kind words.

At the end of the year I decided to spoil myself and buy myself a new mountain bike. It's been about 15 years since I got my last one, and the old bike was just a bit long in the tooth but most importantly I couldn't get it to shift properly (even after multiple shops looked at it). It'd shift for about 5 minutes (long enough to look like it was fixed), then start playing up properly. Combined with my lack of fitness, it was really discouraging getting back on the bike. I've been hanging for a new bike for a while, and with dad passing away relatively young after not looking after himself, it was good motivation to get back on the bike.

I ended up picking a Specialized Rockhopper. Hardtail (no rear suspension) and a 1x drivetrain, 29" wheels etc - simple, lightweight, tough - just what I was after. I've managed to get it out a few times, and its hitting all my expectations. Currently its hitting about 40 degrees today so it's not getting a run today!



Christmas, well it was an interesting one. My wife got Covid and then I got it not long after. It didn't hit us too bad, but it was bad enough we didn't want to pass it any of our parents. Most of the lead up to Christmas was spent on the couch trying to kick it. So we didn't see my mum and step dad as planned, and we delayed our trip to Queensland by a day to get some extra rest and ensure we had a couple of negative test days before we saw my mother in law. We had a few good days on the Sunshine Coast doing some local exploring and hanging with my wife's family.





And then on the day we left to drive home, the fuckening happened. A horrific bout of gastro/food poisoning. The worst I've ever experienced. It hit while we were in a cafe getting breakfast, and continued to hit in bouts on the highway. Like it's terrible when you get hit with this at home, but out on the road, it's just horrific. After multiple emergency stops on the side of the highway it'd taken over 4 hours to do 2 hours of driving, it was showing no signs of easing up, and I was just broken. We threw in the towel and found a hotel close to where we were, where I continued to be sick in multiple ways for the rest of the day and into the night. We extended our stay for a second night so I could reasonably recover. We took two days for the remainder of the drive home, and I was so glad to get home. The rest of my Christmas leave was spent on the couch recovering and slowly building up my tolerance to food again. So between Covid and gastro, of my 3 weeks of leave I had about 4 good days - and two of those were driving up to Queensland and two were spent with the in-laws. I've had better holidays

 

[Geoff289]

Gee Hewey, what a rough trot you had. Are you able to reclaim your leave days or anything?

I was just thinking recently how you don't hear much about people getting Covid these days. When I voiced this thought the Head Gardener said I was tempting fate.

Hope the rest of 2026 goes better than it started for you.

 

[Bob Heine]

Hewey, I won't tempt fate by saying the C-word but I feel for you on the gastro. I was, as usual, working late at the IBM West Pennant Hills facility when I thought I was having a bout of painful flatulence. Before I could do anything, the gas escaped as a liquid. Went to the loo and disrobed so I could wash the lower half of my body AND outfit. Made it to the parking garage after stealing a garbage bag from a trash bin (contents added to another bin). Turned the bag into waterproof Boardies to go over my wet pants and protect the car's upholstery. Very carefully drove home, muttering "cheeks, don't fail me now" for the whole hour drive. Wool suit pants went through a cold cycle in the washer and hung on the line to dry before sending them to the cleaners. I feel blessed it only lasted the one night.

 

[hewey]

Thanks @Geoff289. We're both pretty sure this was our first bout of covid. Most of the times we've had colds we've had to get tested for one reason or another (mostly work). It was just like a regular cold at our end. But when my mum and step dad got it last year it hit them pretty hard, and the step brother they were staying with was about to embark on an overseas holiday so they didnt want to spread it. Likewise my mother in law has been getting treated for something for a while, so she's more vulnerable too. Yeh hopefully it gets better from here! Not sure about the leave thing, I've always considered getting sick during leave as bad luck and copped it on the chin. Definitely looking to take some extra leave in the not too distant future.

@Bob Heine Man what a nightmare! Nothing but sympathy for you, can only imagine going through that. As always sounds like you took a pragmatic and practical approach to getting on and dealing with it. We got some diarrhea tablets which seemed to keep that side at bay while we were on the highway - something I am hugely grateful for!! We did take some precautions like putting a towel on the seat just in case, as well as some vomit bags as well.

 

[Geoff289]

Thanks @Geoff289. We're both pretty sure this was our first bout of covid. Most of the times we've had colds we've had to get tested for one reason or another (mostly work). It was just like a regular cold at our end. But when my mum and step dad got it last year it hit them pretty hard, and the step brother they were staying with was about to embark on an overseas holiday so they didnt want to spread it. Likewise my mother in law has been getting treated for something for a while, so she's more vulnerable too. Yeh hopefully it gets better from here! Not sure about the leave thing, I've always considered getting sick during leave as bad luck and copped it on the chin. Definitely looking to take some extra leave in the not too distant future.

I'll continue to tempt fate and discuss Covid a bit more. I've only had it once and have to say it barely affected me, but for the positive test I wouldn't have known I had it. My partner, however, had it at the same time and it really knocked her around, laying her very low for about 3 weeks. Then she got it a second time which I somehow avoided and, while it didn't affect her quite as much as the first dose, it was still significant. Funny how it impacts differently.

I don't know if its a universal feature of industrial law, but in my working life I could certainly basically convert annual leave days into sick leave if I got crook while on annual leave, but it did require a medical certificate which in your circumstances I guess wasn't possible. This worked particularly well for me about 35 years ago when I took about 6 weeks annual leave for a family caravan trip to Central Australia. In the first couple of days before we left while I was supposed to be packing and getting organised I came down with what turned out to be pneumonia - easily the crookest I've ever been. The medication the doctor prescribed started to work pretty quickly but he said I shouldn't go to work for at least 3 weeks. When I said we were supposed to be heading off to Alice and Uluru etc. he said a warm, dry climate for a while was the other part of his treatment recommendation and gave me a certificate for 4 weeks in total. By the time we headed off only a couple of days later I was feeling fine and enjoyed the long holiday for very little debit to my annual leave balance.

That does, however, cause me to lament the mindset of many, usually much younger, people I worked with who saw sick leave as something to be used up as soon as possible, often with dubious justification, rather than a resource to be banked against the possibility of have to use large chunks of it for more genuine purposes in the future. I left behind about 2 years worth of accrued sick leave when I retired.

 

[hewey]

@Geoff289 I actually managed to do a telehealth phone session with my local doctor while I was recovering in the hotel in Queensland. He gave me a script which was messaged through to my mobile, and my wife was able to get some meds from a nearby chemist. Great system. I'm similar to you, I've got close to a year of sick leave banked 'for a rainy day'. On the flip side I'm a big proponent of living for the day, and trying to make the most of things. Although that's a little tough when it's going to be 40 degrees today!

 

[Bob Heine]

Although that's a little tough when it's going to be 40 degrees today!

Hewey, us 'up overs' assume that's Fahrenheit and a bit chilly. Down under (and most of the world) knows 40°C is hot (104°F).

 

[hewey]

So not a huge update, but a few things to share.

After a terrible Christmas we've been making an effort to get out and have some nice days. Which has been hard as the weather seems to alternate between stinking hot or heaps of rain . One of those said wet days we went out and did Bells Line of Road, with woodfired pizza at Bilpin - perfect for a cold and wet day.





Australia Day long weekend saw us get to our local cars and coffee, and then that evening a twilight show in another area on the same day. Took the Yaris in the morning and then the Statesman in the evening.

I'm pretty sure I've shared this D Type before, but had to get some more pics for @Lyndon as I've heard he's fond of these old Jaguars I think it's technically a replica, but it's a proper replica, if you get my drift.




And to balance things out, some old Fords for @Geoff289. About 5 seconds later another XY drove through the shot...



And then last weekend was my nieces birthday, her choice was lunch at the famous dumpling place at Rylstone. Food was amazing, such a great spot. Took the Yaris and enjoyed some of the roads out that way.



On the mini front, the engine builder has been waiting on some bearings to show up. They're due early Feb, so once he gets those it should be all systems go. Really excited about that! We've got some other exciting news too, but will wait till it arrives After a dodgy end to last year and start of this year, things are swinging in a more positive direction.

 

[Geoff289]

And to balance things out, some old Fords for @Geoff289. About 5 seconds later another XY drove through the shot...

Thanks. As I discussed on DFB's thread a while back, the XY Falcon is one of the best aesthetically, whether a GS or GT like in you pic or a bog standard Falcon 500, they just look right.

 

[Lyndon]

Snip....

.

I'm pretty sure I've shared this D Type before, but had to get some more pics for @Lyndon as I've heard he's fond of these old Jaguars I think it's technically a replica, but it's a proper replica, if you get my drift.

Hewey

Thanks for that - I don't think I've seen that one around before, but a rego check shows some interesting info:



It's showing as a '66 build and the make as "Jaguar", but it says the chassis number ends in 37BW, which is not consistent with D-Type chassis convention (they used XKD and 3 numbers......). And at 1850kg it's way heavier than an original D-Type (between 840 and 850 kg!). Bet it's not running an XK 6 cylinder.......

And good the hear the Mini is a bit closer. Sounds like the story of our house!

Anyway - have fun and stay cool!

Lyndon

 

[hewey]

@Geoff289 I dont think many Aussie Ford fans would disagree. My XY wagon is the car I regret selling most - even over the EK wagon we used for my wedding. Speaking of, I recently visited the old EK forums for a poke around and found my old wagon has been properly done up. It was a cool car, but man it had a lot of rust throughout it. You can get a hint in this pic.



And how she looks now, they've done a cracking job on it.



@Lyndon engine pic. I don't know my Jags well enough to ID it, but apart from looking equal parts **** and thirsty

 

[Geoff289]

Despite being a Ford man through and through, I can appreciate any old classic. That EK has sure come up nice. Do you know if it's still running the sideplate engine? I also know little about Jags but that twin cam donk with the triple Webers is just beautiful.

 

[Lyndon]

@Lyndon engine pic. I don't know my Jags well enough to ID it, but apart from looking equal parts **** and thirsty

Hewey

That's the classic XK lump, probably in 3.8 litre form (it was inially produced in 3.4 litre - you can tell the difference from the head colour), with the mandatory triple Webers. Love the throttle linkages and the 3 springs at the pivot points to keep it all in balance.

This is the 1980's version of it in 4.2 litre form (in my XJ6):



The engine was designed by the brilliant Jaguar engineers during wartime Fire Warden duties at the factory, and debuted in the XK120, and was in production until 1992....... A very famous engine.

So I would say that the Service NSW records for the car are very wrong about the car's weight (by about a tonne!).......

Lyndon

 

[Geoff289]

Hewey

That's the classic XK lump, probably in 3.8 litre form (it was inially produced in 3.4 litre - you can tell the difference from the head colour), with the mandatory triple Webers. Love the throttle linkages and the 3 springs at the pivot points to keep it all in balance.

This is the 1980's version of it in 4.2 litre form (in my XJ6):



The engine was designed by the brilliant Jaguar engineers during wartime Fire Warden duties at the factory, and debuted in the XK120, and was in production until 1992....... A very famous engine.

So I would say that the Service NSW records for the car are very wrong about the car's weight (by about a tonne!).......

Lyndon

Nice, Lyndon, but doesn't really have the same presence with EFi in place of the Webers.

 

[hewey]

Despite being a Ford man through and through, I can appreciate any old classic. That EK has sure come up nice. Do you know if it's still running the sideplate engine? I also know little about Jags but that twin cam donk with the triple Webers is just beautiful.

When we owned it, it was running a stock red motor and trimatic box. Ran beautifully, including multiple faultless trips to Canberra. All you needed for a cruiser like an EK wagon. There was no indication either way if it was kept or swapped from the new owner's post.

So I would say that the Service NSW records for the car are very wrong about the car's weight (by about a tonne!).......

Lyndon

Wouldn't be the first time there's a typo in the rego records.

 

[Coolabah]

<snip>


Wouldn't be the first time there's a typo in the rego records.

Yikes ! Well in NSW at least , rego costs increase depending on the weight (range) of the car so I'm pretty sure that would be costing the owner a hundred or two extra a year

 

[hewey]

Well, I've been keeping something VERY exciting under wraps for a month now, which I can now reveal. Many of you'd be familiar with those online mobs who give away cars under a 'membership' model, where you buy membership levels and then go into draws to win cars. And heaps of people reckon they're dodgey. Well we've got pretty good evidence to suggest they're legit - in the form of a brand new Ranger Super Duty sitting on the front lawn!

About a month back as my wife was cooking dinner, she got a call that she'd won a ute! They were presenting live on their social media accounts, and they actually had to call 5 times before she answered because she thought it was probably just a scam from an unknown number. Very surreal, and spent the rest of the night in disbelief to be honest. We had 24hrs to choose the car or a cash option, and clearly we chose the car option and will keep it for my wife's new daily, and weekend adventure mobile. The Yaris will be kept as a weekender and long term investment, which was always the hope, but just didn't expect it to happen in this kind of fashion. The ute will probably get some additions like an awning, to make it more friendly for day trips and camping trips. And we'll use it as a catalyst to hopefully do a big central Australia trip and hit some red dirt in it.

For those that don't know it's a Ford Ranger Super Duty. The short version is that it's super spec'd up, for better offroad and towing capacity particularly. Only about 6% of the chassis is carried over from a standard Ranger (I think that's body mounts?), the rest is thicker wall and larger side profile for more strength. Hubs are from an F Truck, upgraded brakes, all kinds of things to make it more heavy duty. Increased track width and ride height too. Has 4.5T towing capacity and 1.8T payload in the factory tray. It's particularly targeted at the fleet market, particularly mines and remote work. But undoubtedly will be popular with the recreational crowd for caravans and overlanding. It's got some quirks, so this is the base model so it gets all you high tech cameras, sensors and things for safety, but interior really says work ute with plastic floors and other durable materials. It comes with the standard Ranger running gear, so I think it'd be working hard towing when it's hauling close to its GVM limits, but is more than adequate to tow the mini on our trailer which has a combined weight of about 1300kgs.

As you can see it's unregistered. Blue slip is booked in next week, because it's not 'in the system' we need a blue slip first, and then we can get rego. Looking forward to getting it dirty!!

Colour is called 'command grey'. It's an interesting opaque colour that shifts with the light. So in these pics with full sun it comes across as quite a blue tinged grey. But then when it clouded over it took on much more of a sage green tone. We really love it.

 

[cortina64]

Wow congratulations to you both, so happy that you won this. Looking forward to seeing what you do to it and how you rate it. I have been reading about these and I’m liking them more than a standard Ranger.

 

[ajohno]

Congratulations mate. Nice colour.

 

[Ralf99]

Wow! Congrats guys - I never would have thought those deals were legit.
It’s a good lookin’ rig too - especially in that colour.

 

[mmsheb]

That's terrific, Hewey. Looks great! Congrats.