First up, let it be known, I have a life (and responsibilities), and so I make no appology for the slow progress of my buildup as the zook is not on the top of my list of 'things to do'.....although I do wish it was further advanced than it is.
Long story cut short......Previously owned a LJ80 softtop, which was partially swaped for the current project zook. I lost out badly on the deal due to a bad dose of desire before reality. In hindsite, I should have stayed with the 80.
This is what I ended up with...... a engineless, rusted out '82 litre shell and chassis (note: I added the 31" tyres on 8"rims, 2" body lift).
After doing a bit of research, I acquired a early corolla which donated it's 4k engine and 4 speed. I then proceeded to do a bit of 'booty fab' and fitted it in.
Then I got married.....
The zook sat still for a while as I had other things on my mind, and the more I looked at it the more I hated it, it was requiring a lot more work, with no real benifit at the end of time invested.
So, I decided to treat it as a 'life lesson', take it on the chin, and start again from scratch.
I ended up buying 2 more zooks of varying types and condition with the intention of making 1 'good' unit from them all.
insert lesson 2...........1.0 & 1.3's are not the same, and not all 1.3's are the same either
insert lesson 3.........sometimes better & cheaper to buy 1 complete finished vehicle like 'big steves' then try and build one from 'cheap' bits.
Moving right along......I now have basically a '85, 1.3 softtop, with wide tracks, vitara 5.11's (?) & 31" simex(although I still owe Germo finance for these......ie anyone interested in buying my 'regular' street 31's?) awaiting finance for rego.
Esentually stock otherwise.
Since I won't be registering it for a while, I figuired that I'd do a few 'simple' mods, with the intention of adding some more adventurous mods later in time as the opportunity's present themselves...
I've had a burst of enthusiasm of late, so I removed the bodylift, currently cutting gaurds and sills and will be making roll cage (internal) in preperation for the destined carnage ( as previously mentioned, carefactor of car still at 0%)
Here's the chariot as it stands....
The car will continue to be painted 'fiat orange' after I've finished the tinwork mods.
I'm in no real rush, just playing every now and then as the opportunity's present themselves.
Future plans are....
* RUF (or possibly a coil spring conversion......haven't decided just yet).
* 3/4 rear with longer springs
* currently using a litre transfer, hope to replace with S3.
* Bigger engine.
* SS fueltank (moved from current position to allow for rear diff to be mooved back
As mentioned, I'm going to cut the sills, although haven't decided wether to just chamfer them with a piece of 3mm plate, or cut out the edge section and weld in a piece of RHS or pipe.........what do you reckon?
Also, as mentioned, Ive got some 31" tyres(5 off) and rims(4 off, 15x8") for sale if anyone is intersted as I'm going to buy Germo's simex's, will be posting them in the for sale section a bit later for those that might be interested....
