'81 Aussie MOKE.

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Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

'81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

Hi,
Just thought I'd share a small part of my Moking journey from the other side of the world. I'm sure it will be interesting to some, and cause others to cringe a bit.
We have owned this MOKE since the early nineties, and it has had a few makeovers in this time due to being driven nearly everyday but its the first time she's been bent.
Back in Feb this year on a 43 degree day and 2pm in the arvo, My Son in Law was driving with his mate in the passenger seat heading out for a swim at the Weir. It was a 50 kph zone and just before a 'T' intersection, an elderly bloke reversed directly out of his driveway and straight into the traffic flow. There was nowhere to go and BANG! The Gent then panicked and hit the accelerator pushing the MOKE even further.
The guys wife called the Police and when they arrived( within a few minutes) assessed everything, then handed him a "Failed to Give Way" fine.
Thankfully everyone is ok, with no physical injuries, just a bruised ego for the older guy, and embarrassment for the MOKE's pilot.
Oh well, not much we can do about it, and my Son in law was pretty upset about it knowing how much the MOKE means to everyone in our family. But it was definitely not his fault.

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A few weeks later, and the panel shop were able to pull a big wrinkle out and give it a basic straighten.

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I got it home again and was able to remove the engine and strip everything off.

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At the moment, the rotisserie is in use so I can tidy up a few holes that have never been used, thought I might as well while we are at this stage.

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The plan over the next couple of weeks is to have the shell soda blasted and returned to the panel shop so they can replace the front panels and straighten it all up.
While that happens, I'll fire up the shed heater and setup another front subframe, (being May here in Australia, were heading towards Winter).
My Granddaughter has set the deadline, It must be all completed by Christmas so we can drive around at night time to see all the Christmas decorations with the roof down again ( as we do every year :D ).
Cheers everyone.
Halfpint.
Nigel(no top)Sykes
MMC Member
Posts: 5217
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 21:04
Location: Everywhere and nowhere baby

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Nigel(no top)Sykes »

It is certainly well bent. It's good that the insurance let you keep her and good luck with the panelwork, keep us in the picture(s)
Come on summer
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Tim
Posts: 2284
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 0:41
Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Tim »

Nasty, I'm glad that no-one was hurt and that the Moke can be saved.

Tim
Any sarcastic, ignorant, libellous, unfounded or stupid opinions expressed in or through this message are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the opinions or views of any member of The Mini Moke Club or the opinions or views of any other individual.
Mickey C
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2016 14:15
Location: Manchester, UK

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Mickey C »

The old pulling out half a second later could've nasty but glad everyone is ok , well except for your Mike! Hope it's back on the road for Christmas (or sooner), great to read its regularly used.
I'm jealous of your garage but being from the north of England, wonder what temperature your garage gets to that needs heating? ;)
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Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

A little update for those interested :)
We mounted PRU on the rotisserie. Its so awesome to have the Rotisserie, I've never had one before, and wow, its a revelation :)
Pulled the old MIG out, cleaned the sleeve, borrowed a bottle of gas, and welded up some holes that have never been used and also some holes that are no longer needed ;).

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Amazing how you see more every time it gets flipped.
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Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

Hi,
Had the shell Garnet blasted and delivered back to the Panel Beater.
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Unfortunately, this is where its stalled with no progress, but I've been assured that with the arrival of the new panels, work will commence soon and it will be a pretty quick process from then. We will see :|

Its given me time to clean up some bits and re-build the rear subframe.

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The suspension is sitting on the shelf and will be fitted when I bolt the subframe back onto the body.

I have the engine on the bench now to replace all the bent bits and give it all a tidy up.
Not enough time to spend in the shed, but even so, its like a time machine, no sooner do you walk into it, the days gone in a blink of the eye :lol:

Cheers.
Halfpint
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Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

G'day evryone,
Im afraid its been quite slow going. Looks quick like this though :D

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I'll post some more next week, been playing with the engine again :D

Just been busy chasing other Mokes up mountains :lol:
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and through some creeks :D
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Cheers Moker's
Halfpint
User avatar
Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

And it begins :D

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Still havnt finished the front subframe yet, but should have the Moke 80% assembled by next weekend. :wink:

Cheers
Halfpint
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spider
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Posts: 622
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:25
Location: 'Big Red', Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by spider »

Come on mate, no time for snoozing now, Christmas is just around the corner !!

Looks great mate. Oh well, it bought your plans forward a year or so,,,,
Old Mokers never die, they just smell that way.
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Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

Ok, Ok :) In between Summer naps :lol: :lol:
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High 30's tomorrow, so only a couple of hrs of shed time early in the morning. When the sun goes down I should get the engine roughed in. Unless I'm onto the second beer :D Its tools down then :)

HP
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spider
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Posts: 622
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:25
Location: 'Big Red', Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by spider »

No rush now - Christmas has come & gone !!

Yeah, I'm only getting in about 4 - 5 hrs in the shed too ATM, today, 10 AM was it !!

And what's that thing on the radiator? It looks like a black version of that thing from the Movie 'Alien' - have you got Sigourney Weaver helping?

<EDIT: And,,,,, when are you going to pick up your shifting spanner that you left here when we did your gearbox a year back?

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Or did you want me to post it? >
Old Mokers never die, they just smell that way.
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Tim
Posts: 2284
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 0:41
Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Tim »

That's great, but it would be better with a wing nut because now you have to have another spanner to adjust that one. :lol:

Tim
Any sarcastic, ignorant, libellous, unfounded or stupid opinions expressed in or through this message are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the opinions or views of any member of The Mini Moke Club or the opinions or views of any other individual.
User avatar
Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

spider wrote: Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:34 And what's that thing on the radiator? It looks like a black version of that thing from the Movie 'Alien' - have you got Sigourney Weaver helping?
Sigourney is a big help :D She's not afraid to try new things :lol:
Going to give an electric fan a go, still have a std fan as well for now.
The engine would get pretty hot around town, so Im hoping this will remedy that(rather than driving slowly :wink: ).

I knew you nicked that spanner, you couldnt take your eyes off it :twisted: so I went into my adjustable nut wrecking draw and pulled this one out of retirement.
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The Moke hasnt progressed at all over the last week, Oh well, its not going anywhere soon :roll:
HP
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Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

Been chipping away with limited shed time, even when Im home and not at work, its been just too hot out there.
Unlike the UK at the moment barely reaching maximum temps in double digits, we have been melting with most days in the hi 30's and this weekend is forecast to be 41 degrees both days.
Any way, progress is still progress :D
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Halfpint :)
User avatar
Halfpint
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:24
Location: North East Victoria. Australia

Re: '81 Aussie MOKE.

Post by Halfpint »

Hi all,
A few distractions with family visits and general socialising, but time for an update pic.
Exhaust done,

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Seats assembled and fitted, as well as the seat belt mount :D

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Custom wiring well under way and will knock over the fuse box this weekend.

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Its all coming together quick now :D
HP
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