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Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
https://auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=53959		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Bammo [ Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Hi Guys,

Complete Suzuki noob here but looking forward to learning heaps. I just bought a 1985 Holden Drover as a project car. Its in pretty average condition looks wise but seems pretty good mechanically. It was originally a soft top but that seems to have been lost so is now a permanent convertible.

I want to convert this into a dedicated gun buggy for driving around the farm and certain national parks where we do volunteer conservation work (and have permissions / exclusive access).

So far what I am thinking is:

1) Removing the windshield and converting it into a proper stable platform for shooting.
2) installing a proper roll cage for safety - roll cage will also double as mounting points for the radio and spotlight as well as worklihts.
3) Upgrading the alternator / battery to cope with a lot of light output
4) removing the doors to make ingress / egress simple especially at night when you need to hop in and out a *lot*

Vehicle will not be road licensed and wont ever travel above about 40km/hr. We want it to retain reasonable 4WD capability especially on sandy tracks but not looking to do a lot of hard core 4WDing.

So: I am starting to gather ideas and suggestions and just thought I would put this out there in case any of you guys have some good ideas about what can be done. No idea too crazy at this stage! What can I throw into the melting pot before I start making any changes?
Author:  madmacca [ Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Alternator upgrade info here viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5529
Author:  Red89 [ Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Stock suspension, stock motor, spooled rear, 1lt TC case or 4.something TC gears, 29s, remove the doors, cage and go.
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Yep. Really you're just unbolting things that are designed to be removed.
Author:  alien [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 11:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Why don't you just fold the front window down rather than taking it off? This way if you need to do some higher speed work you won't have to deal with bugs in your teeth =)
Author:  Bammo [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
alien wrote:
Why don't you just fold the front window down rather than taking it off? This way if you need to do some higher speed work you won't have to deal with bugs in your teeth =)


OK - so this is the noob forum right? And...just to be clear...I've purchased the vehicle but haven't actually collected it yet. And I saw somewhere that ragging on noobs isn't allowed right? So here goes...

(I didn't know the windows folded flat on these) :rofl:

After the experience we had in Carnamah on the weekend with about 11 billion bugs I think this makes perfect sense.
Author:  alien [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
haha it's super easy to do... the screws up on the door frame might be a bit tight but once you crack those loose it's quite simple:

Image
Author:  Bammo [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
And the windscreen can still be lowered even with the doors completely removed? Gee, you really get a sense of how small the vehicles are when you see those two guys in it don't you!
Author:  Red89 [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Soft tops only though.
Author:  steve125 [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Image

Image
Author:  steve125 [ Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
How to undo stuck door screws

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6789
Author:  sideways [ Sat Mar 04, 2017 12:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Lots of soft top drovers (very rare option for Sierras) had soft door tops so you could pull the door tops off, fold the windscreen down and have no obstructions forward of the targa bar.

Image

Note how the rear view mirror swivels around so you can look at your shoulder and the spare tyre. :D
Author:  Bammo [ Sat Mar 04, 2017 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Steve125 - I've seen that second picture around before but first time I have seen the first one, thanks very much for posting that! That foam covered tube across the dashboard for a gun rest has started getting the thought processes flowing now!

Any idea where the photo came from?
Author:  missmyljdaze [ Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Me poor old ticker just skipped a beat and I had a WTF moment when I saw the Lewis, then realised there was a WW2 jeep behind the Zook.........


Image[/quote]
Author:  missmyljdaze [ Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
Bammo wrote:
That foam covered tube across the dashboard for a gun rest........


foam tube = pool noodle

Run your roll cage tubes across the car at the A and B pillars, don't join them over the door opening - you will be forever banging rifle barrels, scopes and scones on them.

Join the "A" and "B" tubes fore and aft in the middle of the car.
No more dinged scones, scratched barrels or knocked scopes.

Those fore and aft tubes also give you somewhere to bolt the spotlight pivot.

same principal as Frankenzook's "cage"

download/file.php?id=16852&t=1
Author:  steve125 [ Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Project Car - Drover into a gun buggy
It's from 'Enough Gun', found it when I searched 'Suzuki hunting rig'.

https://enoughgun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=908

AHN also has a zook write up

http://www.australianhunting.net/AHN_Jo ... 20Zook.htm
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