avenga
Part of things
Posts: 182
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Hi Guys. I haven't been on the forums for a while. Some of you might remember my Avenger "Panther" forum.retro-rides.org/thread/132957/1975-hillman-avengerWell I have started my next Avenger, this one is code named Hydra for reasons which will become clear. A little back story first. Went up to view the wagon back in September of last year.  Loved it so much that I took the Charger up the next weekend and towed it back home  Only took me a couple of days to get it back up on the road. Pretty much only needed the brakes redone. Looked pretty damn sweet with my personalised plates on it.   Cleared out some room in the garage so I could fit all three cars in   Took it on a little road trip over the Xmas break in the Wagon, but it only had the original 4 speed gearbox and a 4.11:1 diff so it revs at 4,000RPM at 100KPH, so I knew something had to be done. First night we stayed in this awesome little bach in Urenui, just north of New Plymouth.   Then we did the Forgotten Worlds Highway. Had this awesome tunnel and gravel roads, that was a bit challenging with how low the wagon is. Then the next night we stayed at a bach in Mangakino  Also took it to some car shows with my Avenger Panther, and one of my friends Avenger's  Then took the wagon down to Papamoa for the long weekend.  Now is where the fun bit starts. |
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Last Edit: Mar 14, 2019 11:30:04 GMT by avenga
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avenga
Part of things
Posts: 182
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Already had the 1UZ-FE engine from another project Avenger that I never got around to.  Brand new R154 gearbox for it  Independent throttle bodies  And Hilux Limited Slip Diff  Brought the clutch, flywheel and pressure plate.  Got the hydraulic clutch release bearing  This is a specially modified bearing from Manon Racing Products (MRP)  The independent throttle bodies look so sexy on the V8!   They ever so slightly overlap  And they are a little bit staggered  Installed the clutch. The kit I brought didn't come with a ring gear so I had to use the one off the old auto flex plate.  Installed the clutch release bearing in to the gearbox   I also decided on the ECU. I am going all out and getting a Link G4+ Storm. I am buying it from NZEFI and they do bundled easy wire kits for the 1UZ  They also do a complete new set of connectors so I will be able to just crimp these on to the premade kit and it will be really tidy, I won't have to use any of the old Toyota loom, it will all be new and only the bits that I need.  I have also decided on the dash. I am going for a AIM MXS Strada Digital Dash Display. It is pretty awesome. It has tons of different layouts and I can load 6 different ones to the switch between while driving. They are all customisation also. They have ones like the photo below, but also ones with your classic analog gauges for speed and RPM. It also has shift lights.  It's not going to be cheap. It is about $6K just for all of the electronics but it will be worth it because it will all be new and all be top of the line stuff. |
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avenga
Part of things
Posts: 182
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The V8 fit surprisingly well ;D  Looks good from below. It is a front sump so the sump clears the crossmember  Length looks okayish. I might push the firewall in because we want to move it a couple of inches back.  Width is good. We might even be able to fit the factory headers on. Height also looks good so I think we might be able to fit the trumpets and everything under the bonnet so it will be a real sleeper.  Bell housing fits inside the transmission tunnel.  Here is a better look at the Hydraulic clutch bearing  And how it bolts on to the gearbox.  So was officially the point of no return. We marked out where we wanted to make the cut in the firewall.  And then made the big cut. It looks so strange being able to look up and see the roof of the car from below the car  Next up we made the chassis reinforcement rails  And the other side  Looks really tidy from above.  From the front you can see back seats  What do you think of the little modification to the number plate? we changed from AVENGA to AV8NGA. It's a nice play on Avenger and V8 combined. I checked and it is available but it is about $1000 for a personalised plate so I don't know if it is worth it.  It looks like a Fred Flintstone car from the inside  Gearbox crossmember is finished. This thing looks like a piece of art, its a shame it's under the car and no one will ever see it. looks super strong.  It is attached to the new chassis rails.  The V8 looks great in position with the trumpets on  |
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avenga
Part of things
Posts: 182
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Some shots of the radiator. Clearance between the motor and radiator is going to be tight  On the front we are running two big electric fans  which are tucked away nicely behind the grill  I found a really nice narrowed Hilux diff on Trademe, so that saves be getting my one narrowed and it came with all the brake set up It is narrowed from 1470 down to 1290mm from WBF (wheel bolt face) to WBF, with a 5 x 114.3 PCD. 4.1 LSD. Rekitted Rx7 s4 rear calipers, new vented rotors, new brake pads. Waterjet cut 8mm thick disc brake adapter plates. It is about 100mm narrower than the standard Avenger diff so I will be running more negative offset on the rear rims. Should look pretty sweet.    Got all of my electronics. The loom was built by NZEFI, custom made for the V8 Avenger wagon  There is a curse word ton of wires.  I am going to have a go at wiring everything up myself. It is all really well labelled which will make it a lot easier.  And I brought all new connectors for everything on the engine, and all new sensors.  Also got the digital dash. It looks a little small outside of the car but it should look pretty good once it is installed  Finished the firewall and transmission tunnel.  Looks really clean from in front, you can hardly tell it was cut when the engine is in place  Looks really nice one the inside  It nicely sits under where the old heater used to be  Finished new chassis rails.  And the other side  It connects up to the factory rear chassis rails   |
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339 
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Now this looks a meaty thread so bookmarked!
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Yes!
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
'08 Panda 100HP
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sowen
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,245
Club RR Member Number: 24
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Love it! Liking the compact clutch release too, might help out on one or two of my other projects getting things to fit |
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,419
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Fan-bloody-tastic!
Bookmarked! The work so far is great and I can't wait to see it progress!
Tom
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Yes.YES and YES again. as I was scrolling through I was grinning and grinning. Awesome just awesome.
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Magnificent - more please
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amazing work! a perfect example of how to do things right from the start and never look back....(and out of my price range so I rely heavily on hindsight!) should indeed be a real sleeper when done...except for the exhaust note, electric gauges, new wheels, racing seats and 5 point harness, wheelie bars, tinted windows, candy apple paint with ghost flames, hood scoop, ET numbers on the windows......  JP |
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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wotnot
Part of things
Posts: 55
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Respect!
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W201 2.6 sportline
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Awesome work, looking forward to more updates, not seen many Mk2s modded and especially interesting with it being an estate. They're about extinct in the UK.
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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Man that's gonna be sweet! Where the he'll did you source the new r154?! Big dollars?
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Not really an Avenger fan (didn't even know about them before joining RR!) but 1UZ had me grinning from the get-go
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What do you think of the little modification to the number plate? we changed from AVENGA to AV8NGA. It's a nice play on Avenger and V8 combined. I checked and it is available but it is about $1000 for a personalised plate so I don't know if it is worth it.
