1987 Suzuki Santana, moar welding..

[Rich]

Thought I'd post this up now too, seeing as I am tasked with trying to get it roadworthy





Had it long enough, near on 7-8 years now, but its been stood for 5

Got 2 bits to weld up that I know of, but it needs oils changed, new belts, ect ect. Got it running today which was nice, but then started to strip out all the shocking wiring I did when I was 17!
Also started to look into the ignition fault it develoed which cumulated in my grandfather wiring a switch to back-power the coil because a wire broke somewhere between the ignition switch and the spur for all the IGN controlled circuits. Getting near finding that now though although I think the dash will have to come out tomorrow.
Will get some more pics of the 1 litre beast as I work on it, but plans are service, Mot, paint and just try to get some use out of it

[Deleted]

Cool I had an SJ410 as my first car, a very early 1983 one on an A plate with drum brakes all round & four speed box. None of this fancy front discs & five speeds you got later on

You have to try driving it on the road with the windscreen folded down at least once

[Rich]

I will for sure when its all sorted ;D This was my first car too, just hung onto it and parked it up. Now i'm back in town I can get it road worthy again

Sorted the ignition issue. Eventually found that the main wire to power the whole car up was connected to a random fuse on the fuseboard. Swapped it round (the correct wire was powering the radio!! ) and bingo.

Doing the foglamps next (rear is missing- the switch was what used to turn the ignition on), then the oil pressure idiot light (inop) and then probably start the welding, of which there will be more pictures

For now, all I have is this:

[Rich]

Finished off the dash today, started on my light wiring. My mate was with me again so I tasked him with removing the seats to fit new runners. (old ones were so far past it the drivers seat didn't lock in any position)
Found 2 massive holes under the rear carpet and about a tonne of fibreglass and bog
Right near the seatbelt mounts











Got my work cut out there. Oh well, will keep me busy tomorrow.

Also got the bigger battery fitted and the front fog wiring in as far as the light buckets But then the battery terminal cracked :S





Getting somewhere anyway. Welding fun soon enough!

[Rich]

Did the most important stuff first today :



Then did a bit more inspectin':






Chop:



Chop!:



Then started to blob some metal in. Then ran out of wire




Will do some more Monday, going over to area 52 tomorrow

[Rich]

Blobby welding- commense!




Got bored of that, so cut the grot out of the front edge of the bonnet:



Just needs a skim of bog



Back to work:




Gone!



Well, almost. Need to sort out the other skin and the bodymount that goes there (needs some reinforcement around it) and then its done. But its pretty awesome not being able to see floor through it again!

[suterman]

nice one, those corners under the seats mean the end of SJs too often.

[Rich]

More updates. Splatted the bonnet things on..



Then the reinforcement for the bodymount..



Then started to put the paneling back that I had to cut out to get to the rust. Then ran out of wire again



This also turned up for me this morning ;D

[mightymini]

You might want to delete your address off the last pic.
I used to live in Keynsham, only a stones throw from were you are.

[Rich]

Feb 24, 2010 16:18:44 GMT mightymini said:

You might want to delete your address off the last pic.
I used to live in Keynsham, only a stones throw from were you are.

[Mystery Machine]

Blimey Rich, that's some work!

I can see what you meant about wanting a break from the weldathon! Good work but I think some time working on my cars will be all the rest you need before getting stuck back into this cool little SJ.

Will give you a call tomorrow.

[petetong]

nice bit of welding work there..
looks like it has rotted in all the usual sj place's??had loads of them over the years,and think only one of them wasn't rotten.. even then it still need a bit of a tidy up
have you had a look at the cills yet??

[Rich]

Pete, Sills seem fine, its really odd. Most of the rot is conectrated in the floor kickups behind the front seats and the corners of the rear tub.
There is a hole in the passenger footwell by the sill but the sill is still sound

I put it down to it having had rock sliders on all its life to protect the sills from damage to the paint. They will be repaired and going back on for sure

[Rich]

Ok, so took my new wheel arches over today. They are a set of Samurai ones: (held on with a cable tie ;D)
Looks good but something is wrong..





The fronts look a little lost.

Ahh, thats better! A few bits of wheel spacer later and we have reversed 8 Spokes all round. Bless the manufacturer who decided to put a wheel nut taper on both sides of the wheel face.







Lick of white and they will look awesome.

Om nom rust monster is coming for you..



Hole..



Filled



More soon!

[petetong]

the more you look on an sj the more rot you find
one of the sj i built was a very early sj410..and looked rot free(ish ) but the more i poked, the more i found.. in the end i took the 9" grinder to the rear and lopped the lot of..
tubed and traybacked it in the end..
oh and stuck a vitara back axle on coils under it just fro good measures
this is it haft way though its build

[Rich]

Good stuff! any more pics of that? looks awesome!

[Steve]

Nice one Rich
I think its the rust thing thats always put me off SJ's.......wanted one for awhile but i went and bought a rusty SWB Series3 landy instead now wishing i hadnt sold that as it was a right laugh ;D

Keep on plugging away chap, cant be much left

Steve

[petetong]

Feb 25, 2010 21:43:33 GMT Rich said:

Good stuff! any more pics of that? looks awesome!

yeap.. got 1 or 2 ;D
here a couple of it about 90% finished

[luckygti]

Love the reverse rims. Gonna look sweet when it's finished. Bet you were well chuffed to walk into Area 52 and get a welder thrust into your hand Keep it up mate.

[Rich]

Feb 25, 2010 22:04:15 GMT Steve said:

Nice one Rich
I think its the rust thing thats always put me off SJ's.......wanted one for awhile but I went and bought a rusty SWB Series3 landy instead now wishing I hadnt sold that as it was a right laugh ;D

Keep on plugging away chap, cant be much left

Steve

Ohh, there is. Getting there though. Got to do that floor repair all over again on the other side as yet, only its worse..
I nearly bought an S3 SWB once, went to see it and everything but the eBay bidding got a bit fierce.

Feb 25, 2010 22:26:29 GMT petetong said:

[
yeap.. got 1 or 2 ;D
here a couple of it about 90% finished

Looks awesome! Mine isn't going to be anywhere near as mad or cool but its surefire inspiration!

Feb 25, 2010 22:33:21 GMT luckygti said:

Love the reverse rims. Gonna look sweet when it's finished. Bet you were well chuffed to walk into Area 52 and get a welder thrust into your hand Keep it up mate.

Yah, I actually like welding, just doing this with my gasless MIG is a bit slow going at times. ;D