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Ok, So looks can be deceiving.1971 HQ chassis and cab, HJ Front end, powered by a 307 Chevy 2 speed powerglide. Fell in love with this car years ago,a m8 had rebuilt it and needed to sell it, so i obviously brought it. Tunna hasnt been registered since 2002, but still drove it for three years untill i got busted lol. After speaking to a m8, his brother in-law agreed to help restore it as serious rust had developed since it sat out the front open to all weather. That was 2005

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My best m8 hangin around the car, pain in the arse when he gets in cause he dont like to get out

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Floor carpet was buggered so i took it out to reveal rusty floors on both sides, one reason for the resto. Caused by vents being left open and plenum chambers were rs. Feb 2005

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Rust had eaten heavily into sills

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Paint had begun to bubble on drivers side door so i put thumb into it and through it lol. Feb 2005

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Another shot of drivers door

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Trays off and starting to take a few things out

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Closer shot of tray off

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and another

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Aprill 2005, the tunna is at the panel beaters with HJ cab sourced to replace the old one, actually in just as bad a nick as mine.....mmm. OK so here i am thinking that things will be ready in 6mths. You must understand that the bloke who agreed to restore it would be doing it part time and there was no rush, as time passed i kept in regular contact for updates 6-7-8mths later sweet FA had been done except two panels, radiator support restored and etch primed......

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Then the actual panel beater wants to close the shop due to family problems so work stops AARRGGHH .Now im getting the Shi@#. Cars gotta go, Where?

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So with all this happening and no closer to getting the car back, i get an email from the people who i had been chasing info up on the paint scheme i want. Theres my answer! they had just sent me a photo of a ute with a similar style of paint that i want, on the back is a sticker with a name and number on it. SO i ring...... have a chat,we come to terms The utes back underway and only has to be moved 30 minutes away.

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Feb 2007, Cabs off looking at bare chassis.

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Rust build up inside rails

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Fresh out of the oven

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Rolling chassis lol

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Back of cab before removal of back panel

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GONE, ready for square up

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Just another shot of cab back

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Feb 2007. Well things are moving, Brad the panel beater is a champion. Chassis has been completely stripped, new shocks, springs re-set, new bolts, new rubbers cant find the photo to show you, i will find it. Any way the photo shows firewall cut out as it was totally RS, and back of cab has been straightened to allow for shelf in the back

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Chop, chop lol removal of firewall

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Passenger side

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Passenger side

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Drivers side

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Shot of firewall that was cut out of the blue cab

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Other side

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Replacement firewall is welded back in

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Up on hoist preparing sill plate

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Another shot of sill plate

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Floor in the blue cab needed a lot of work. New sections welded in front and back

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Floor pan in

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Panels and radiator support are being trial fitted and arent matching to sill...mmm

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Right guard

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June 2007, got talking to a m8 i used to work with about old holdens, says to come over and have a look at whats in his garage.....

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and this.....

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and this, also the bonnet which is in perfect nick, needless to say i bought them off him. So the guards and radiator support come off and these now go on.....

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The Bonnet, nice and straight

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Bit of rust at base of guard.

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20th july went down to the wreckers and walked out with these for $80. The sides will be black with blue inserts.

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Dave the trimmer is making up a back pocket section for both seats, utilising the square dip section.

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Also walked out with a bumper bar lol. The other one came with the HQ front end i got, both are being sent off to a specialist restorer in Sydney.

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Picked the seats up 3rd August. Look to good to sit in, done in black and blue vinyl.

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still wondering about a pocket in the back

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Old dash pad, pooey brown and cracked. Off to the restorers on monday 6th august

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Another shot of pooey brown dash pad

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Dash pad will be changed to black

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Nice, Newly Restored and Black. No more poo brown lol

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Closer shot of vent area

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Cracks gone! The restoration process takes about 5 hours and is not bog filled. A hard coating is put on then is hand sanded back to its original shape. It then takes an hour to reskin. Interesting process,they have a lot of Holden centre consoles, armrests and dash pads.

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Sunvisor workings in good order, assembly has been taken off and will be renewed somehow, havent made up my mind yet. Sunvisor will be electric blue

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Other visor

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11th August 2007. Went to see the panel beater today, the GTS panels etc have been trial fitted. Everything is sitting square and the panels, doors etc are matching up.

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Another shot of trial fit

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Everything comes off again and goes to the sandblasters hopefully next week, slowly getting there.

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Checking Bonnet sits ok

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Looking ok

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Happy with way everything is

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The doors. We are planning something different and although ive had the idea for a while , i have been beaten to the punch as i have seen the combination in some car mags. Still going to scissor the doors

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Ready to be cut out and replaced

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Bit Messy, cant wait to get this back, things are getting closer