1983 Daihatsu Charmant

the headgasket set is the set I mean, for like 10 pounds extra you'll get the bottom end set too. It's never wrong to stock a headgasket
It's from ebay member shirley0968493054867398 or something ;D
Bought 2 kits, and was very pleased with the service both times.

Not that they go very easily, but you never know

Right then, actually did some work on the Charmant (!!), not the gasket as I've not bought the bits yet, that's up next. I did quickly clean up the oily mess a bit more though. One good point is that despite all the stuff, I checked the oil and it still hasn't gone down from full from when I changed the oil back in winter. Has probably covered about 1000 miles since, I don't do many miles.

What I did today was the fairly easy task of getting the dash clocks out so I can fit my rev counter. I didn't intend to get it done today as I started quite late, but I wanted to see if the back of my gauges are the same as the KE70 Corolla ones (which would make it a fair bit easier). Unfortunately, they're a bit different! Luckily, I have a dealer book with enormous fold-out wiring diagrams, which I will need to study before I progress further.



This is where the gauge will be, it actually doesn't restrict the view of the gauges, bear in mind you're looking down at them! Another good place would be to the left of those switches, but I don't want to cut up a part I wouldn't be able to replace easily. On top of the steering column looks fine to me anyway.

Talking of mockups, I stuck these on the parcel shelf:



Very cheesy Pioneer TS-X3 speakers for that old skool look, 80s speakers are a particularly Japanese mod, especially on Glorias and the like.



BASS REFLEX! But what will I hook these up to? The old twiddleknob radio is lovely, but I don't really want to blast out Talksport. The solution is another radio.....



.....and here it is! Nakamichi TD-400, one of my favourite tape decks radios, just so bland and 80s! Was a bargain because the Dolby button was stuck in (2 minute repair). Nakamichis don't come with an amp built in, so this period Alpine one was bought from RR member Skyway - many thanks!

So what of the twiddleknob radio? I'm keeping it. Yes, I will be running two radios independently, the Nakamichi out of the rear speakers and the other one out of the normal crackly speakers. The Nakamichi will go in the lower DIN panel which is currently a cubbyhole (unscrewable from the back).

I'm not big into fancy ICE by any means, I just want the ability to play my horrible tapes when I'm on the motorway instead of a particularly crackly version of the Punjabi Hit Squad and this seems the most "period" way of doing it. I hope it meets your approval.

TS-X3 speakers rock
Sadly my Convertible hasn't got a parcel shelf, otherwise i'd stuck a set on there too, in stead of cutting them in the doorcards

Looking good/nutz!

Speakers are from the bay, got them for something like a tenner! Easy!

As a noob, I've just read through this great post.
Love the Charmant dude, respect is due

and if you don't want that, i maybe can send you a set of Tokico Blue shocks for cheap
Slightly uprated stock dampers, all 4 of them in great shape

Hello.
First off all i have to say that is one BEAUTYFULL Daihatsu u have there Iam a big Daihatsu fan myself. I run a GTti,that hardly cant qualify to be a Retro ride quite now.
I have a Corolla KE70 83 that is the charmant`s twin
I have tried to look in your post on what option on the lowering kits awailabel. And what u have used. I cant seem to find anything for the car.
But AE 86 is also very similar to these two cars.

Here is a pic of my car.

Andy Norway