Keith Goes for a TEST DRIVE on his 36th Birthday!

Thursday 15:

Danny rang Ford Australia and found out Sep 15 is Keith's birthday.  He was always a 6 cylinder and originally seated 6.  He has since got a compliance plate for 2.  

Today, he took Keith for a test drive around Scarborough.

 

Friday 16:

Danny takes Keith down the road to the servo for a RWC.  One guy seems a bit daunted by Keith, so he rings another guy who says it will cost at least $450 just to look at him!  Waffled on about the carby matching the reconditioned motor.  Luckily, Poustie convinced as to not to even think about all that stuff.
We asked Mick next door if he knew anyone and recommended a bloke in Clontarf.

Monday 19: 

Keith goes in for his RWC.  All is good with the engine, lights etc but they can't find the chassis number? There is a compliance plate, but you need the number punched on the chassis somewhere.
Well, there is an inch of blackjack all over the chassis.  Someone says it's on the firewall, someone else on the leftside wheel arch.  Eventually we * find * it there and Keith gets his RWC.
Sammy takes it to Main Roads (while Danny has some medicinal beers) and Keith gets his Rego - no worries at all.  

* Finding * can involve a helpful tip and believing it will all work out.

Poustie and Danny get Keith ready for Roadworthy

 Monday Sept 12
Poustie came back from Moreton Island and started work on Keith.  Danny took a few days off work to help.  Here is the list of stuff that had to be done: 

Locks on Gas Door + 2 Outside Storage Doors
Tow Bar + Utility Basket hand made, painted and attached on back
Bullbar on front + Kangaroo Screen (Danny's invention using window screen from the scappy).
Vent sausages attached
Side Door attached (temporarily with screws)
Rubber Mud Flats made & attached
Some of the Aluminium Trim put on the other side
and...
Side Truck Mirrors fitted

Jimbo, Danny's Dad popped in for a chat.

 

 Poustie fitting the gas door lock

Roadworthy booked in at The Matilda down the road: Friday 16.
But is Keith ready?

A little help from (work) friends

Last Wednesday, we saw Brett from work at a local gig Danny did and he said:  "I'd be happy to come and help with Keith".  I quickly replied "What are you doing this Sunday".  He said not to take the offer lightly - so I didn't!

On Sunday (Father's Day), Brett 'volunteered' to get up on Keith's roof and do some gapping:  around the 4 Seasons Hatch and also the Airconditioner. 

 
Danny worked on the front end, bolting on the bumper bar...

... while I screwed some taps onto a pair of tap shoes I am giving to Danny's niece, Liana.    

            Not sure what Danny is doing with this edging, but it looks good!

 

I did make an effort and taped up Keith a bit and Danny painted some more stripes down the door and other side. 










THANKS BRETT and  Keith looks forward to seeing you again real soon....

Hey Brett, what are you doing next Sunday?

A short film about the paint work

Danny and I are very happy with how his painting of the cab and stripes turned out.  Here's a little film he made, with original music.

                                                                                  

       All we have to do now is somehow get Poustie back from the Island and tick off some more of our Working Towards Roadworthy List:   bumper bar and tailgate inc number plate housing;  fit aircon ducting; fit side truck mirrors (Danny has already assembled) and put the door on.

C'mon Keith....Let's keep it movin'!

Heading towards roadworthy...

       Over the past few weeks Danny has put in lots of hours doing rubber seals for the doors, bonnet and one of the storage hatches.  As well as putting more stripes down the side.

Lookin good Keith 

     We have done many trips to Clark Rubber and Indigo Velvet (our Boxador) even came into the shop for a look the other day.  Poustie had a birhtday and went back to Moreton Island for a couple of days.    (Come back soon Poustie!)                                              

         We went to Repco and asked about blades for the old wipers we got from Harry, but they don't make them like that any more!                                                                              

Then Danny put the door bits back on, bolted the seats in yesterday, while finally Sammy finished the carpet.

 



Our aim is to have Keith roadworthy by Aug 27 (Danny's birthday) for him to take Danny and Poustie to the Gympie Muster.

Manscaping and Keith Gets Windows

     It's been a busy few weeks of manscaping for Keith.   Danny got a quote for painting the cab and a stripe down the side...$2000!!  Which is fair enough, but Poustie said:  "Nah, do it yourself".  So Danny has been working very hard painting and wet sanding a few coats of white and the stripe.  Still negotiating on the blue on the cab, but thanks to all your hard work Danny - he's going to look great. (See facebook page for pics.)

     Poustie has practically finished in the engine bay and cab, so last night Danny and I started carpeting the foot well with our choc brown auto carpet from Clark Rubber, Rothwell.  Took a while to work out the best way to do it, but it's going to look great.

     Today, Poustie is fitting some of the windows (although we can't find one of the small bedroom ones ??)  and also the outside access door for the gas bottle.  Danny has recycled and pained the old one.  As requested, I went to Clark Rubber to get some bailey channel for the window cavity and a variety of engine hoses.

Keith is definately on the downhill reno slide now - thanks to Poustie, and ofcourse, the continuing weekly efforts of Danny.  

Off with the Roof and Pouste Returns!

Over the past few weeks, Danny has been very busy with Keith.  First he took the roof off...

Then Danny and Cousin Todd did some of the aluminum trim,

Danny sicaflexed the trims...





Then Todd did some window bracing inside and took the floor out. 

Then Pouste came back!  He told Danny about his plan for the underfloor wiring and water pipes and then he and Danny spent a couple of days tidying all the chassy up.                                                                  Danny black-jacked...

                                                                   And Pouste soldered, clamped and fitted all the 20 lights! 

 We will not need a Xmas tree this year!