[Technotron101]

G'day all,

Just wondering, would a coily front clip (and matching bonnet) fit onto a ute? Of whatever year?

Also, how hard is it to swap out a narrow track dash (from a ute) for a coily one? In the event of a G13 engine swap, how would the tacho etc work... Would it? How hard would it be to get everything functioning?

Just wondering...

Thanks

[sideways]

No, the cowl shape is different and you can't just use a leafy bonnet because it will overhang the corners and look stupid. Some people (MrGreen on his dual cab Sierra) have grafted the coily cowl in to make it all work but that's a truckload of work for a minor aesthetic change and basically means you're going to need a whole donor coily.

Jonno has done a coily dash conversion on his maruti (all marutis run a planstic NT style dash). I don't know how difficult it is. I believe it's harder on steel dash sieras.

Pre 11/84 Sierras don't have tachos and I've never hear of a post 11/84 ute with one, though I'm sure some do exist. Sierras came in 2 trim levels, JA and JX. JA (which all utes I've seen are) had no tacho.

[Gwagensteve]

As per sideways, what's readily achievable depends very much on what model of ute you purchase, but there is no simple way to swap a coil front clip onto a leaf sprung car. NOTHING lines up.

There are 1.0 litre utes and 1.3 utes.

If you want a 1.3 in a ute buy a 1.3 ute. Don't mess around with trying to convert, it's a huge job. The 1.3 utes have a narrow track dash and you can swap a JX cluster in whch includes a tach. It's possible the 1.3 ute loom already has provision for the tach.

The type 3 1.0 utes are basically a 1.3 with a 1.0 litre engine in them. However, putting a 1.3 in one still requires substantial work to engine and gearbox mounts and you're still left with 1.0 diffs

[greyghost]

100% can confirm the wiring is there for the tacho, in a 1.3 ute. as is the intermittent wiper wiring

[Technotron101]

Imagining I used a coily bonnet and clip, how much doesn't line up?

[Gwagensteve]

Quite a lot.

[Gwagensteve]

Details of the conversion here

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=32591&hilit=dual+cab+sierra&start=30

[Angus Martin]

My ute has both of these, just have to trim the bottom of the bonnet off a bit, lines up pretty well, not noticeable unless you're looking for it, no real gains from it though

[Technotron101]

Angus, do you have a build thread for that ute? Just interested in the work involved. I quite like the coily front, that's all. Makes it look a little more modern.

[Angus Martin]

Nah I don't, haven't done much to it but I finish school in a month so after schoolies I'll have some time to do stuff so I might whack one up then.

[Angus Martin]

I assume you've got Facebook? shoot me a message if you'd like to

[Technotron101]

Nah, no facebook for me. Reckon you could shoot me some pics in a pm? Just of what it looks like, and maybe some progress pics if you have any. Cheers

[sideways]

Gwagensteve wrote:

The type 3 1.0 utes are basically a 1.3 with a 1.0 litre engine in them. However, putting a 1.3 in one still requires substantial work to engine and gearbox mounts and you're still left with 1.0 diffs

To my knowledge type 3 1ls have dual engine mounts and the same gearbox so a 1.3 is a pure bolt in. Some NT marutis have the dual engine mounts too.

[Gwagensteve]

That's not what my type 3 1.0 looks like. Only has 1.0 mounts.

[Technotron101]

I'm aware of the engine mount adjustments, that's not really a problem. I'm just concerned about the bodywork, and whether it's possible to fit a coily clip and bonnet to a ute. Do the mounting points for the clip itself line up? Does the clip itself mount on correctly? If it's just a trim to the bottom of the bonnet it might be manageable, but I'm just interested in what's involved.

[Gwagensteve]

Yes, the holes physically line up.

I don't know what your level of fabrication skills are, but I'd be much more worried about getting the engine in the right spot than where the indicators are on the front clip.

[Technotron101]

The engine doesn't interfere with the clip though does it? It's just the engine mounts on the chassis that need adjustment for a 1.3 conversion right?

Thanks for your help.

[Gwagensteve]

Correct. There's lots of scope to get engine position wrong though when you installl a 1.3 into a 1.0 litre.

If you want a 1.3 trayback I'd suggest buying one rather than converting.

[Technotron101]

I will if I can, it'll be easier. Thanks again

[Technotron101]

The Holden drover is a 1.3 and wide track trayback isn't it?

[Gwagensteve]

There are no widetrack traybacks. Drover is just a Sierra with a different front clip.

[Technotron101]

hmmm, but they have a 1.3 from stock though don't they?? I swear I've heard that somewhere...

[tanshi]

Technotron101 wrote:

hmmm, but they have a 1.3 from stock though don't they?? I swear I've heard that somewhere...

yes they were 1.3 engined. they were also Narrow track

[Technotron101]

5-speed?

That'd be the car to look for then wouldn't it, because everything's done. It'd just be a matter of swapping the clip for a coily one (Yeah, I know, but I like them), and a coily dash (I like them too), and then it'd be ready to go.

[tanshi]

see pics of steves above. THEY DONT FIT. doesnt matter how much you like them they are gonna look like crap

[Gwagensteve]

Gwagensteve wrote:

If you want a 1.3 in a ute buy a 1.3 ute.Don't mess around with trying to convert, it's a huge job. The 1.3 utes have a narrow track dash and you can swap a JX cluster in whch includes a tach. It's possible the 1.3 ute loom already has provision for the tach.

The type 3 1.0 utes are basically a 1.3 with a 1.0 litre engine in them. However, putting a 1.3 in one still requires substantial work to engine and gearbox mounts and you're still left with 1.0 diffs

.....as I was saying eight days ago......


Anyway, cutting the bonnet will result in none of the body lines matching up and hokey panel gaps. If you think that looks better than a factory clip, go for your life. You'll still need to cut and weld to restore the lip on the bottom edge of the bonnet that stops the whole thing being a floppy mess. Personally, I think sierras are ugly and have crappy panel gaps anyway. Any time spent trying to make one look pretty is like putting lipstick on a pig, but each to their own. Paint and panel is for road cars where it's not going to get trashed.

[Angus Martin]

Techno, I have to set up a photo bucket account first to send you pics so when I do I will.
Where do you live? You're probably no where near cairns but if you were you could have my coily front clip and have a look at how the coily dash is mounted.

[Gwagensteve]

All 1.3 cars are 5 speed. All 1.0 cars are 4 speed.

[Technotron101]

Nah, southeast QLD Angus. Pity though.

Thanks Steve, I thought so, but just checking.

I found a some pics of utes with coily clips, but I don't know how they were done.

[tanshi]

if you look at the windcreens they have no hinges, thats how coilys were done. thus they are factory built ones from over seas and wont work for you here