My Vortex Project

Show off your Subaru to other members. Tell us a bit about it. What mods you have done or have planned for the near future.
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coupe
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Post by coupe » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:36 am

looks great mate.
I did the same recoat to some of my mini coopers.
Yeah i found out about the ventilation thing when i did the first one lol. What a rush lol.
As for the staying power of the vinyl spray it lasted 8 years on the mini with only the seats cracking up after a few years.
Cheers Pete
Use The Fork Luke

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steptoe
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Post by steptoe » Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:09 am

I did a black vinyl spray on a centre console cushion twenty years ago from bone, so quite a contrast and can only just se something on a common squash point, actually forgot about it until post above me !!

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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:00 pm

I managed to take a quick photo of the roof lining today and I have to admit its only the first spray so it never comes out the best, but I'll finish that off when the roof is getting fixed :)

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I got a price for the kit and looks like i have to save up a bit more (its not expensive) but i need to fix the daily ride first lol.

I got another question to ask (AGAIN), when I'm putting the engine back together with the new head gaskets and what not, with the wiper motor cable as someone broke the wire, i found a new wire with the connection, can someone show me where that cable is meant to connect, if its not too much trouble would I be able to have a photo?

Thanks again guys

Johnny T
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Tweety
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Post by Tweety » Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:50 pm

Johnny T, this has been a good read. I'm certain if I ever buy an older Subie it'll be a Vortex- luv em.

Stick to it. These guys on this forum have helped me with my conversion immensely.

And remember, a lot of small issues with older cars often are easy repair. loose wires, fuses etc. they just need some TLC.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Tweety trike- EA81 (full reco 2014) 32/36 weber, SPFI manifold, 9.5:1 CR, VW auto.

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Chris_Rogers
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Post by Chris_Rogers » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:15 am


I do have another question, i found an early 90's liberty wagon that is being wrecked at the moment and I was thinking if I take the entire suspension, the hubs, breaks and shocks, so what would I have to do to make that fit onto my little pocket rocket because I do not want to to keep the 4 stud pattern.

Thanks again guys and hope to give you guys more updates :)
crossbred performance do the kit.

you will need:
the full front strut setup with ball joint.
a new set of driveshafts up front are needed as the spline count changes on the outside.
modified control arms (crossbred do these.)
MY rack ends on the L series rack

rear will need ALL the brake hardware and the cable setup. use a 80s honda accord handbrake. it may be a bit low but the mounting points are the right way up.

if you wnat to get trick and the donor car has it - grab the ABS system as well.

questions - ask.
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1987 HR31 Nissan skyline
1990 R32 Nissan Skyline GTS4

2006 Holden Combo - work van :)

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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:00 pm

Hey everyone, long time since I posted an update here, so here it is;

I am currently putting the engine back together with my uncle who is a panel beater and we are not 100% sure where all the piping is going, I have replaced the cut pipes and now can't seem to work out where the pipe that connects to the spider manifold goes, (Picture below)

Once this is all put back on my uncle and I we should be able to start it and weld up the roof and continue working on the body, but most importantly is working out how to put all the engine pipes and cables back together.

Any advice would be great and I will post some more photo's shortly of other things that I have done.

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I do know that this pipe is broken but I am getting this part fixed :)
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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:39 pm

Hey everybody, its been awhile since I have posted something up here,

I'm almost done putting the engine back together and should have the engine started within a few months (depending on timing)

When the engine starts I'm going to run a Compression Test to see how well the engine is running, hopefully every cylinder is running correctly considering the engine hasn't moved in over 3 years its a possibility of something going wrong.

I have another question I am not to sure off with the rear suspension, I found this problem awhile ago when I took the tyres off and put the car on stands (I know in the photo 1 of the stands are in the wrong place but I do have more than 4 stands available at that time).
In the photo below shows that the hub has fallen to the ground but on the other side it is fine, does anyone know what I have to do to fix it?

Image

Also does anyone know where I can get some new break disks from?

Thanks again everyone and when I get some new updates I will keep everyone posted.
Kind regards
Johnny T
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steptoe
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Post by steptoe » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:58 pm

I had a part number somewhere for rear discs ....I'll look and see.....

You must have air bag suspension ?

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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:01 pm

Thanks for the reply Steptoe, if you can find the number when you got some free time it would be great :)

As for the suspension it is an air bag system, would this issues be caused by a leak, because when the car was working only the passenger side fell and the drivers side was fine, also how would I find the lines so I can trace if the hose or rings are broken?

Thanks again
Johnny T
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steptoe
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Post by steptoe » Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:13 pm

Those little black high pressure air lines are usually with the wiring looms - I know zip about the air bag system as all three of my cars that were born with it had been upgraded to normal stuff by time I got them.

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El_Freddo
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Post by El_Freddo » Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:07 pm

Factory L air suspension! Lucky bugger!

I got a new set of rear discs some time ago from my local parts joint.

I'm sure you could still get a set - even if you have to wait a bit on them arriving.

Even then, those discs will be fine once back in use. The ones on Ruby Scoo are the ones that came with the hubs from the wreck - I got them free as the dude at the wreckers said they were useless! Do use an old set of pads when you wear them back in.

Cheers

Bennie
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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:56 pm

Thanks again for the reply,
I managed to contact a few brake places and they gave me a quote around 350 - 500$ (installed with new pads) so when the time comes I'll take it down, but for that suspension issue, still cant work out how to repair it, I know it will be a fun job tracing the lines if its a leak and hope it's nothing major.

Also I do have another question about getting a set of keys made for the car because when I got the car from my Uncle he lost the original keys, I contacted a locksmith lose by that can make a new key for me but I will have to bring the driver side mechanism in, only question I have is that how do I remove the part, I bought a door trim removal so I know that is a start hahahaha,

Thanks again for all the help

Johnny T
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El_Freddo
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Post by El_Freddo » Sat May 03, 2014 11:20 am

The leak will be in one of the air bags, not in the lines.

The door lock - you'll have to remove the interior panel then get into the back of the door handle and remove this to take the locking mechanism to the lock smith.

That price for the rear discs is steep in my opinion. See what the parts alone are worth, they're relatively easy to replace. The hardest part is getting the castle nut off the hub to get to the disc for removal. It's a 36mm nut ;)

Cheers

Bennie
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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Sun May 04, 2014 10:41 am

Thanks for the reply Bennie,

I will get another price from other places, I'll have to check with the Subaru Specialist Mechanic down the road and see what they can do for me with that. Ideally I would like to change the brake system myself but as I'm not very mechanically minded I would like to take it to a professional so I know that the brakes will work when I need them to :)

Also with the suspension can that part be repaired or does it have to be replaced, to be honest I would like to keep the suspension and the car original as possible, but worst case possible I did buy some used pedders coil overs a few years ago from a 4wd vortex so it should be a swap over (hopefully)

Thank again for the help

Kind regards
Johnny T
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steptoe
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Post by steptoe » Sun May 04, 2014 11:12 am

conversion to coils etc is what most seem to have done - air bag has its limitations, not unlike our wallets when it comes to these things - about a grand a corner from memory. You'd have to eliminate entire air bag front and rear, ditch the heavy little components under LHS guard etc

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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Sun May 04, 2014 1:49 pm

Thanks for the reply again Steptoe

A grand (roughly) seems a bit much but what can you do, it would be nice if there was second hand ones I can buy hahaha, but looks like I'll have to make a swap over to the standard suspension, is there any other ways (less expensive ways) to have adjustable suspension or would that cost more to do than repairing the original system (just weighing up my options), lucky enough for me that I have another car to get me around and this is my project car, just cant wait to get it on the road so I can drive it once again.


Once again, thanks for all the help

Kind regards
Johnny T
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FujiFan
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Post by FujiFan » Sun May 04, 2014 9:47 pm

As for the suspension it is an air bag system
There was a used set listed on fleabay Oz a few weeks ago described as being from RX turbo sedan, cant recall starting bid.

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El_Freddo
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Post by El_Freddo » Sat May 10, 2014 6:21 pm

FujiFan wrote:There was a used set listed on fleabay Oz a few weeks ago described as being from RX turbo sedan, cant recall starting bid.
I thought it was gumtree, but anyway.

Johnny, what you can do is easily swap to coils, disconnect the power/fuse to the air pump and keep all of the system in the vehicle - then you can buy/source/find/steal/whatever to get the airbags sorted in your own time. This will help save on the $$$ needed for the airbags - who knows, you might find a way of replacing the airbag component only :twisted:

There are options, don't ditch stuff before you find out what you can/can't do with it.

Cheers

Bennie
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Johnny T
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Post by Johnny T » Sun May 11, 2014 11:13 am

Thanks for the advice again El Freddo, when I get some free time on the weekend (lucky for me I found a new job) I'll try and swap over the system and keep the old suspension stored till I get more cash in the bank hahaha.

If everything goes according to plan I should have the car started this year.


Thanks again for all the feedback.

Johnny T
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El_Freddo
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Post by El_Freddo » Fri May 16, 2014 7:08 pm

Johnny T wrote:If everything goes according to plan I should have the car started this year.
That's a big statement :rolleyes: :p

Cheers

Bennie
"The lounge room is not a workshop..."
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