Aussie Chit Chat

[OscarA]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Great thread you started Doug reading about some of the car restoring stuff has made me reminisce of some of my first cars. I had a 1972 HQ GTS Monaro Coupe then a 1974 HJ GTS Monaro sedan. Loved both those cars and nothing I've had since has had as much character and nowhere near as much fun to drive.
If I had the space and more importantly the money I'ld love to get another Coupe, sexy muscle car a real head turner.
Oven stuff is on hold due to weather/work but come September (4 weeks off) I'll get it finished.

[nissanneill]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

bris-pizza-oven

the plan for the car isn't fully decided yet but i am looking at going with a ls1 v8 with a 6 speed manual

you might like to contact the boys at
http://www.eddywreckers.com
as they have a 130,000 km VZ SS Commodore 245kW Gen III V8 with all looms, computer, starter kit, pedals, exhaust, the works available. It has a 6 speed box on it but i believe that it has been sold to a fellow employee of the company.
Email either Rob or Ian and they will provide all the details and photos to you. I spoke with them yesterday and said tht I would contact you with some details.
They are Mitsubishi specialists but happened to also get into Commodores for their biggest customer, a taxi repair company.

Good luck

Neill

[david s]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Mick,
You forgot about the bodgie balls around the back window.
Dave

[nissanneill]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

and the furry dice hanging from the rear view mirror!!

[david s]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

This is my recumbent bike I built in '02. it is the second one i have built and I recently upgraded the motor and batteries. The motor is a "Golden Motor" from Shanghai. It has no transmission and makes less noise than a mountain bike with knobbly tyres. The motor has an internal controller that can be connected to a computer to alter various settings. It has regenerative braking and cruise control. The batteries are 48 V lithium ion phosphate and have a range of around 50 Km (haven't flattened them yet) Top speed on the flat without wind or pedalling is 47 Kph, higher if pedalling ,tailwind or going downhill, but I expect this to improve when I fit the front and rear fairings.I use it as a commute 20Km round trip approx. twice a week. The kids at the school I teach at call it 'The Time Machine".

[david s]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Shanghai, like a few other cities in China has banned motorbikes, so only bicycles or electrics are allowed. They have sold millions of these things, I think/hope that theybhave the reliability sorted out. When I was in short pants the cry from anything made in Japan was "Jap crap" now their quality is unquestioned. Have seen the same with Sth. Korean products. Less than 10 years ago I bought a Currie (USA) system of motor driving the rear wheel via a tiny chain running on 24V lead acid batteries(souped up to 30V with another 6v in series) The quality and performance of my new system is light years ahead.But I take your point, it's all a gamble, but that is part of the fun when you're breaking new ground.
Dave

[lwood]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Have you guys, down under, bought Chinese mfg goods? They are all crap. China is in their infancy stage of the manufacturing evolution. Here in the Philippines, Chinese crap is all that is available, unless you pay an arm and a leg for American or euro imports.

Some consultant could make a lot of money teaching them quality principles.

[Johnny the oven man]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Most of the firebricks sold in Oz come from China, you just have to find the best manufacturers.

[david s]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Most of the firebricks sold in Oz come from China, you just have to find the best manufacturers.

And the Chinese were hundreds of years ahead of Europe in their understanding and control of fire, refractories and ceramics. Also of note is that the South Koreans were known as the finest Asian pottery of all. Master manufacturers. Notice now how Hyundai is the new Toyota?

[bris-pizza-oven]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

bugger getting bricks from china claypave is 300 metres away from me

[Johnny the oven man]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

bugger getting bricks from china claypave is 300 metres away from me

I purchase some materials from Claypave/ Rylance Refractories, and have found their firebricks are not suitable for furnace and boiler work. They are OK for ovens, but not for 1000c+ situations.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

bugger getting bricks from china claypave is 300 metres away from me

Im fairly sure that half the bricks I lay come from China, I know for a fact the cement I use does, the cement is bulk shipped and bagged here, Ive had the rep out because of the colour difference in the bags.

Once the carbon tax hits everything you buy will either come from China or India where they just dont give a flying, good bye Ozzie jobs.

[david s]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

It beats me how the freight charges for goods sent from China are less than those that are charged from Brisbane.

[moyboy]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Mate sorry to hear that

It's never a good thing to happen. Everything has cycles and we can only hope that things pick up again in the future......Not that I can see that happening with this wonderful carbon tax.......

I work in an Aluminium smelter near Newcastle and the writting is already on the wall for it's closure soon........it has 600 direct employees and indirectly employees 3000 people around the area............ Yeah this tax is going to help us all lol

[brickie in oz]

Re: Aussie Chit Chat

Youre not alone Doug, no consolation but I have had the worst toughest 2 years in the trade, luckily my Princess works in childcare.

I seem to work harder and get paid less than I did 20 years ago.

All the shit rough brickies pick up the work for the same money I charge, I dont get it?