Starting my journey.

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HuffnPuff
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Starting my journey.

Post by HuffnPuff »

Hi All,

I have just joined the forum. Hoping to learn lots by reading before I ask questions.

I'm keen to build a vintage car up to an EV sometime in the not too distant future. House reno's are just about done for now and I reckon I could clear out part of the garage and fit something in to tinker with. I like older cars and figure they'll be easier to convert too, given the lack of gizmos in them, no power steer, maybe not even a brake booster to start with. Flavour of the month for a rebuild would be a Mazda 1500, but don't see many for sale, or perhaps a VW type 3 wagon. I'll look over the coming months while I read and get my wife prepared for another of my ill-advised adventures!
antiscab
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by antiscab »

There's a Datsun 1200 for sale already converted. Converted cars tend to sell for around 10-20% what you'd pay for them in parts.
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HuffnPuff
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by HuffnPuff »

That's probably a good way to start, even to grab all the gear off it and put it in something else - I'd need extra seats to cart kids around.
HuffnPuff
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by HuffnPuff »

Oops. Just realized this is in the wrong section. Should be in the lounge. Sorry guys.
antiscab
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by antiscab »

ah it's fine - I'll shift it over when I figure it out

tbh, I actually recommend buying a working already converted car to drive, while your doing your own conversion
That way you have one for you, and then later when your better half keeps pinching the good one, you have another one for you
Matt
2023 BYD Atto 3 - 21k km
2017 Renault zoe - 147'000km
2012 Leaf - 101'000km - soon to be trialing a booster battery
2007 Vectrix - 197'000km (retired)
2007 Vectrix - 50k km
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woody
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by woody »

Welcome! I like your donor selection viewpoint. If you have a donor without fancy things like front wheel drive, heater/demisters and power brakes then you can have a very simple conversion.
Work out what project success is: for me part of success is converted car I enjoy driving.
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rhills
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by rhills »

Hi Guys,
antiscab wrote: Fri, 01 Sep 2017, 16:26 ah it's fine - I'll shift it over when I figure it out
Haven't had to do this before so I had to figure it out myself. @antiscab, if you look at the bottom of this page, you should see (to the right of the "Post Reply" button a moderator's toolset button (with a hammer icon). In the dropdown menu there you'll find the "Move Topic" option.

I had to Google for it!

Note, you'll only see this button if you're unlucky enough to be a Forum Administrator or Moderator!
Last edited by rhills on Fri, 01 Sep 2017, 18:14, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Added note about facility only being visible to Admin/Moderator
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HuffnPuff
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by HuffnPuff »

Thanks for the shift!

I've always been keen on older cars although it's been a few years since I've had one. My wife doesn't do well with car sickness and older smelly ones make it worse - she didn't like my old V8 valiant at all! Fortunately my sons are getting old enough to help and are also excited when they see 'cool' cars on the roads.
surfvibes21
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by surfvibes21 »

I hope you find the car that you will be working on soon.
HuffnPuff
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by HuffnPuff »

Vehicle procured. I found a Mazda 1500 locally for what I think was a good price. Short(ish) term now is to get it running on ICE and registered. Longer term aim is for it to be running on sparks for my eldest, now 13yo, to be able to learn to drive in it.
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jonescg
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by jonescg »

Wonderful to hear! Where are you based? I'm sure the community is keen to help.
AEVA National President, WA branch director.
HuffnPuff
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by HuffnPuff »

I’m in Lake Macquarie. Would appreciate any recommendations on who to talk to in the early phases.
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jonescg
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by jonescg »

Jon Egg in Warners Bay is reasonably close to you. Likewise with Elmofo.
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ev28wa
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Re: Starting my journey.

Post by ev28wa »

Dont forget to start a build log in the member rides section!
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