The Mk1 ABF Project

[Preen59]

I'm not sure why the **** i said i have Racelands headers.. Pete and I got Ashley. Sorry.

I just fitted a set of 195/45.15 KE31s to some 7 inch Zenders and they look sweet.

[cartertronic]

Cheers guys, tracking a set of Toyo T1R 195/45/15's now...
Amen, on the reduced width! Traction is king

Remember you have Cost of goods + shipping cost + 5% uplift + duty on that total + GST on that total...yeah, sucks....

Rocco, do you know how duty is calculated? How much etc?

EDIT - Scratch that, found a useful FAQ document at the Australian Customs website (PDF)

Also, found this if anyone is interested... Australia Customs website - Importing a Car

[roccodingo]

Going thru this now...

Importing Vehicles to Australia

Have the import approval and the car has been collected, waiting for the shipping next.



the factory build date was 30 Sept 1980 so it should be duty free ( Older than 30 years)

hijack appologies

[Jarred]

dammit grant! another one!

(jealous!)

Good to see you're wondering around here still simon! I've lost your number otherwise I'd have bugged you to come down the pub last week.

oh, and 195/45's should be fine. Might have to fold the lips and trim the arches a tab, all depending how low you want to go.

[cartertronic]

No apologies necessary for that beast!

I'll shoot you a text Jarred, keen to hit the pub again after an extended absence.

Btw - some second hand tyres came up on eBay, is this a nightmare waiting to happen with AU customs (as they're paranoid about dirt/organic waste coming in the country)?

[roccodingo]

Quarantine inspection service will be fussy if they actually get to look at your used tyres.

I usually pay more and have the seller thouroughly power wash the items before shipping. If quarantine picks them here you will be stung for additional charges to get them clean enough. Personally if your going to the fuss of buying used I would just get new ones.

Check out tire rack in the US, last trip to LA the shipping warehouse was full of new wheels n tyres being shipped here as there loads cheaper.

[Valver.]

Grant's right! I went through hell when I imported my last set of wheels from Germany. They opened every one of the four boxes and pressure washed each of the wheels, which stripped off heaps of the paint etc... And then charged me an extra $280 for the "hassle". It also amounted to a six-week customs delay!

Given how cheap the tyres are new, you'd be mad to try and get used ones. It's a safety thing anyway - don't fall into the trap of being another "Mk1 corner-cutter"

I'll be at the next monthly meet (I've been a tied up the last two times, so well overdue to appear again!), so we'll have to discuss ABFs

[Jarred]

I've heard if they're mounted on the wheels you'll get less hassle, than if they're just loose. If brand new, loose tyres should be ok though. Given how much cheaper quality tyres are OS, I reckon you may as wel try and get new ones.

Got ya text, cya next month!

[cartertronic]

...don't fall into the trap of being another "Mk1 corner-cutter"

Yeah, too true. I've cut corners a few times and paid the price - new tyres bought!

Pub meet sounds good lads! I'll have to brush the cobwebs of my ABF knowledge haha!

In other news, I finally bit the bullet and bought a daily driver (been using and abusing the Mk1 for a few years now..) Mk4 GL last night. On the topic of not doing things half-arsed, I figured I would do a better job + have time to respray it if I had a daily.

Got a pretty good deal from a mate heading overseas, $5000 with rego to October and about $2500 of receipts already paid for (all maintenance - clutch, belts, water pump, relays, cracked headlight, chipped windscreen, AC fix + misc stuff) to bring it up to RWC. It's got a couple of scratches and dents, but for a daily who gives a crap?

Although there is one thing, the central locking unlocks all the doors.. but won't lock them again

Anyone got any idea what this might be (this brave new world of electrics is new to me )?

[Jarred]

congrats on the bargain mk 4. Hopefully it's dull-ness will help and inspire you to finish the mk 1 quicker!