My 04 Grande Build-up!

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Racer, I had a look at the doors and you'll have to remove the whole door trim and then take off that panel by removing the screws in the back.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

I ordered a Narva 12 way power fuse block which has dual inputs so you can have 12 points off one power supply or 6 running off two power supplies which is what I am going to do. I've also started the 3D design of the drawers for the back, going to be made out of 25mm square aluminium and ply.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Time to update this thread, not that it is overly noticed but incase anyone is watching here what i'm upto.

I have started building the drawers for the back, So far i have made the aluminium fram and i used pre made plastic corners to click it together and then pop riveted it all together. Then i made the top, the side wings will be hinged which is more for the fact without them being hinged it won't fit in the car in one piece plus there a little extra storage and it means the jack can stay where it already is. The top is made out of 15mm ply, the reason i made the drawers so high is that when the seats are folded down i will have a piece of ply that will join the back of the drawers and rest over the seats creating a much larger area for carrying things and/or sleeping if need be. The drawer frame is 1050mm W X 900mm D. I have ordered 6 recessed tie down points so that i can safely carry things. I have held the ply onto the top of the frame using 6 X T-Nuts keeping it nice and secure. The frame is bolted into the floor through the four existing tie down points making it very sturdy.

I will be ordering some 850mm locking runners later in the week and next weekend i will start building the drawers and then all that will be left will be carpeting it.

I have also order some new shoes for it too, 265/70/17 Maxxis Bighorn 764's. They will be fitted on Saturday morning, then i'll be off to the Hunter Valley caravan camping and 4WD show to see what bargains i can get.. I need to buy a set of recovery boards and want then to sit in these drawers with my other recovery gear so looks like i'll have to go with the TREDS 800mm long as unfortunately MAXTRAX don't make then short enough.

Heres the pics of the drawers in progress, you can see how i templeted the side wings to that it is a great fit. All materials have been bought with my team discount through Bunnings so at the end i will list all materials but i won't list prices as mine are different for what you will get them for obviously.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Looking good jhiace

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Somehow I have missed this build so I just had a look through. Damn fine work there. Looks great.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Thanks Craig and MJ. Hopefully have some more progress pics of the drawers up next weekend when i hopefully have it all but carpeted.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

If you are using contact to glue the carpet leave it out of the car for at least 24 hours after gluing. I learnt the hard way with the 120 but had no problem with the 150.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Thanks for the tip but I'm immune to the contact adhesive smell. I'm a motor trimmer by trade and have done it for the past 9 years.. That's my favourite part!

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Today I cut the boards to sit over the back seat, they are two sections so that depending on which part of the 60/40 seat is folded you can still use the boards for the flat floor. The 6 tie down points also arrived so I made a templet for their cutout and tomorrow I will cut the holes in the too for them I mount into. It's all coming along nicely.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Today the new shoes were fitted. Maxxis bighorn 764 265/60/R17.. Bloody big tyres and fill the guards well, lovely to have the muddy humm back... Will get some pics up tomorrow night.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Here are some pictures of it with the new tyres.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

Mate some great mods there. Some really original ideas, caried out with great skill. I was waiting through the thread to see what you did for a crust, can't say I was surprised to see auto trimmer!

Do you find the rear reverse lights hang up on things at all?

[JCG Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JCG]

In response to Heath74,

"Some really original ideas, carried out with great skill. I was waiting through the thread to see what you did for a crust, can't say I was surprised to see auto trimmer!"

.

I've just read through the whole thread and was thinking exactly the same thing. :lol: