52 replies to this topic

[CRIPPLE]

Yeah the front bumper is adjustble. I put it on before the grille so I just sorta guessed where the bumper should be. After I put the bumper on I realised that I didnt get it quite right so I gotta adjust it. Only two bolts to be loosened for adjustment so no big deal

[CRIPPLE]

I just put an update on my website. There are another 30 photos of the car in paint along with a writeup on it

To check it out go to www.cripple.tk

Edited by CRIPPLE, 31 January 2010 - 11:44 PM.

[CRIPPLE]

I know its been quite a while since I wrote anything on here but I thought I would give anyone who is interested a quick update. I have finished uni for another semester so its all back on with the Merc (cripple). I ripped the heads off the engine as I bought it based on what someone had told me (30 thou pistons, standard heads, nodular steel crank solid cam). Pulling the heads off revealed a whole bunch of headaches. Firstly, there had been water in the number 1 and 2 cylinder bores on the left bank, it had 30 thou pistons.....but in a 40 thou bore and with a bore/hone it would be out to 60 thou. That was game over in my book so the search wass on for another motor. I found one in the Quokka (WA's version of the Trading Post but it was 3.5 hours drive south of Perth (in a place called Manjimup). The engine was advertised as a ZZ4 crate motor that had been pulled from a HQ. The advertised price - $1500. I did a bit of research on the ZZ4 and found that it made 330 HP out of the box, I figured it would be a perfect candidate for a pair of turbos.. I rang the guy and he said over the phone that I could have it for $1200 but it had been stripped as it cracked a skirt on one of the pistons. So, at 12 noon I hooked up the trailer and headed south. I got there to find a virgin bore ZZ4 with a few modifications. It was a 4 bolt main block but with steel crank and roller cam setup, aluminum heads, and cast rods. The engine was complete from carby (Holley 770 street avenger) to sump and had HQ adapter plates and mounts and HQ extractors. The only problem was a small amount of surface rust in the bores. All parts, except for the block, were kept and presented to me in thick plastic bags in good condition, but in need of a good cleanup. I offered the guy $1100 and he took it. We loaded then engine in the boot and back seat and headed home. I got home at 8pm and took the engine to Southside Engine Centre, about 15 minutes from home, the next day. The owner, Graeme, was really helpful and said it would need a bore and hone and then gave me about half an hour with his head machining guy who showed me what to do with the heads with regard to porting and polishing. Three days later I had the heads finished and ordered a set of SRP dished pistons at 20 thou over. I also got some help from the guys at Thunder Performance (John Separovich helped me out a great deal) and have ordered me a set of Eagle rods to suit. The roller cam setup will be retained and I have ordered a double row timing chain set. In the mean time, I threw in the old engine (now sporting the refreshed TPI manifold and low mount chrome plated alternator) to begin fabrication of the sump. I have also fitted some more chrome to the car, installed the fuel tank, brake booster, intercooler and wiper motor. Below is a pic of the old engine in the car. If I can hide the wiring well it should make for a pretty clean install. The revamped ZZ4 engine should be machined by Monday week, ready for me to build it up. I had some bad luck with the upholstery. The guy who was doing it went out of business but was good enough to pass my job onto his best mate who is also an upholsterer. I spoke to him on Friday and he says the roof upholstery will be ready by Wednesday, with the seats ready by Wednesday week - a huge relief.

On a side note, I had Boris from Street Machine out to take some photos of the car. They want it in their magazine for the next issue (July??) and Boris invited me to show the car at the West Australian Hot Rod & Street Machine Spectacular. He wants me to enter it as an unfinished project. I was very hesitant but he revealed that he is on the selection committee and says it will be accepted without any problems. So its pedal to the metal as I have 5 weeks before uni starts up again to get the engine built and in the car, engine mount adapters refabricated, gearbox and interior installed and turbos and exhaust plumbed in. Its doable but will be very touch and go. I havent updated the build website for a while, as I have so much going on with the car at the moment and Im building a few web sites for other people as well.

Thanks again for all your kind comments and words of support - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now...

G

[WallyBasher]

You are an inspiration to many not just with how amazing the cars looking and all the work and effort that your putting into it, but dealing with being wheelchair bound. But love the car, and its going to be one hell of an eye opener when its all complete. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it come together, and thanks for the update!

[CRIPPLE]

Thanks again, and no probs with the update. The car and a story is in the current issue of Street Machine (August issue). Pictures arent real flattering but at least it gets the story across. I got some interior in to give you an idea of how the colour scheme works

[CRIPPLE]

After the article in Street Machine I got asked to bring the car tot he Hot Rod and Street Machine Specatular over here in WA. I was super nervous but accepted and then the pressure was on. I finally finished the engine build on Thursday at 4pm and by 11pm had the motor and gearbox bolted in. I worked through till 4am installing the stereo gear that was sent to me from Vibe audio in the boot and the doors. After getting 3.5 hours sleep, I was up at 7:30 and back no the job. I got the amps fitted, the seats in (thanks to my other half for them) and the newly painted bonnet springs and hinges on before the car was picked up at 4:45pm.

We got the car on the tilt tray and headed to Burswood dome. After setting up it was back home for 5 hours rest before we had to be back, polishing and finishing the last of setup. The response from the other competitors and spectators just blew me away. I got new turbo headers made up so the turbos are now high mount and it all fits under bonnet. It was one of two turbo v8's there (the other being a black torrie that made it ontothe cover of street machine magazine).

The old girl cleaned up quite nicely but certainly looked out of place. It was the only merc there and something very different from everything else there but it was all shiny and had heaps of chrome. I got a lot of comments about the coluor and interior so that was encouraging and on the Sunday winners of various categories were announced. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard my name called for the traders choice award. Norm from Aussie Desert coolers presented it and I was so stoked!

Anyway, enough crapping on. I will let the photos say the rest. Oh yeah, and she's still not finished yet. Hopefully by the end of the year.

[Falconxf88]

That is awesome man. I wish i could build a car that good. Mad skills.

[TTCV8]

The cars coming along great

Cant wait to see the finished car

Having trouble trying to access your web site though

[CRIPPLE]

TTCV8, on 05 September 2010 - 05:52 AM, said:

The cars coming along great

Cant wait to see the finished car

Having trouble trying to access your web site though

I have changed my signature to reflect the correct web address. Sorry about that, but I didnt realise that I hadnt changed it here when the web hosting guy moved it on his server. Should all be working now.

[CRIPPLE]

Hey guys its update time again.....

This one's pretty exciting for me as there has been a ton of work done on the car. The new intercooler pipework is now done (although it needs some serious polishing), a brand new custom made Aussie Desert Cooler radiator is nwo in, a custom made sump with modified LS1 pickup is now in and the steering has now been sorted out. A custom made Y piece for the inlet manifold has been made and fitted, as have the BOV's and the dump pipes are also done. The gearbox crossmember was turfed for a stronger one, made from 50mm square tube and an aluminium oil catch can has been fabricated and fitted into the engine bay. I threw the car onto a car trailer and took it to a car show to see the response (15 bucks entry was a bonus) and the car got quite a lot (perhaps too many) of "what the fu#k????"

I'll let you guys judge about how it all looks now....Only problem with the engine bay shots is that the stock mercedes grille casts shadows on the engine bay as the grille is attached to the bonnet. Might have to modify that next I think. Anyway, pic time....

[Nemesis]

looks bloody fantastic mate good stuff, I'm not too keen on the wheels but the rest of the car is just WOW!!

[jacka]

CRIPPLE, on 23 April 2009 - 12:48 AM, said:

QUOTE (jubes @ Apr 22 2009, 08:51 PM) yeah only the ones in his pants hahaha

I am the guy that is building the Mercedes....When you see a Merc next year up there, throwing 650HP and 2 tonnes of car on the burnout pad just think about HOW I am doing it....I cant use my legs, so hand controls are the way to go. That means 1 hand on the hand controls, controlling BOTH brake AND accelerator and the other hand throwing the steering around.

Before you start poking sh!t at people in chairs, think about this.....I was once like you....I was injured at age 23 and I had built my first car at age 16 - probably around the same time some you guys were still sh!tting in your hand and rubbing it in your face. It could very easily happen to you...The blink of an eye and you become like me and DONT FOR A SECOND think it couldnt happen to you...I thought the same way....

Anyway, cheers for the ups to the original poster, you're a champ, thanks for bringing my project to peoples' attention

Grant

Check out my project - CRIPPLE - Twin Turbo 350 Chev Powered 1968 Mercedes - http://cripple.hioctanedesigns.com.au

i hear you mate im 23 and had my whole life ahead of me untell i had a car crash 8 months ago just lucky to still be alive. . . but i broke my right arm in 2 places and severed 2 nerves the control it now i cant use it at all but i havent let that stop me i have resprayed 3 cars since my crash !! ( im a tradie spray painter/ pannel beater for all you smart asses out there yes i have 2 trades!!)

Attached Files

•  crash2.jpg   100.63K   17 downloads
•  47687_441996154736_691749736_4958492_2100731_n.jpg   99.56K   15 downloads
•  66587_459953584736_691749736_5308607_2849172_n.jpg   82.18K   10 downloads

[CRIPPLE]

Killer job mate!!! Kepp pushing the boundaries, keep ding what you are doing. Mate I would give anything to be able to spray paint. I am starting on the missus's car at the end of this year. Another ground up build on a HQ 1 tonner which Im putting a 350 chev into (looking like an LS1 at this stage) and to be able to paint it would just save me sooooo much.

If you want to know how the car started and how the build progresses, take a look at this video, its my build from start to now.

Video link: