Latest acquisition to Boxhead's shed.

[boxhead]

I have been as busy as hell lately, but I also have a Nephew who has turned 18 and wanted a Valiant.
I thought at first he only wanted one as Uncle Dave has one, but I tested him out a bit and he certainly knew what he wanted.
So I was given a budget and told he wants a 6cylinder Latey (CL-CM)
Some searching on facebook groups and I found a car, it is a 2-81 CM, K code cop car. Engine has been replaced with a built 265 running a cam, cain 4 barrel manifold and a new holley 575 4 barrel.
Also has a rebuilt BW35, still in cop blue.

The car was in Melbourne so a mate went and checked it out, gave it the nod for the sale price and picked the car up for me.
I flew down on Saturday 9th, Mick picked me up, caught up with Pete and Rosco on Sunday night (Greek restaurant).
Monday morning I headed out and grabbed some carpet for the car.


Then over to Micks shop, fitted a thermostat and had a quick look over the car, loaded up some bits and pieces and headed over to Mums.
The Mrs's flew down on Monday, then we headed off to Adelaide Tuesday morning.


We drove as far as Nhill the first day (deliberately going slow to see some people along the way), Caught up with friends and stayed in a local Motel.
Damn it was cold the next morning.




Off to Adelaide after warming up a little, we decided to call in at Hahndorf for lunch, so of course had to take a picture.


Then caught up with another mate who recently moved down to Adelaide hills from Alice Springs.
He has a lovely old house (built in about 1850).


Before continuing on into Adelaide, caught up with more friends before staying the night down at Glenelg. Up early the next morning before dropping the Mrs's of at the airport to fly home.
I headed out then and called in at MoparFarmboys house just north of Adelaide.
Continued on my merry way then, with plans of overnight at Cobber Pedy. On the way up, the weather started looking a little sketchy, and timing should have me arrive at Coober right on sunset (6:07pm), a few kls before Glendambo this old Volvo past me by. I stopped at Glendambo to refuel and the Volvo was there, driver was an older lady (about my age I guess now that I am old) not the prettiest thing in the world but not ugly either.
We started chatting and she was planning to drive late into the night, she asked me about kangaroos etc and if any safer driving behind a truck.
I told her it is dangerous and will be extra dark with rain around.
I took off leaving her to fuel up.
The Volvo once again caught up to me, but she followed me for about 100kls before finally overtaking and disappearing out of view.
As can be seen, the weather was starting to get overcast.

Before the rain started.


I then caught the Volvo who was also following another car. But the hazard lights came on on the Volvo before it pulled over, I thought I better do the right thing so I pulled up behind her and she trotted back to my window.
She then says (and I **** you not) "I am a bit worried about driving in the dark and rain, can I stay in your motel room and either pay some money, or we can work out another form of payment"
Well I crapped myself and blurted out "Sorry but I am happily married" before pulling that column shift into D for drag and getting out of there.

After a sleepless night (cause the blue Valiant stands out and is easy to spot) I was up early and headed for the last 700kls home.
Stopped at a sign for a picture first.


Another fairly boring days driving and I was in Alice.


Gave the car a bath and unpacked at home, here it is Sunday morning on my pristine Alice Springs lawn.


Organised a roadworthy today before putting the car on club reg.

[Tonus72]

Cool story - thanks

Best to avoid Volvo drivers - no matter what is on offer !



Tony

[Aussie Mike]

Love a road trip story. Thanks Dave

[deano59]

we are a friendly lot down here :-) even the Volvo drivers

[xb-60]

Good story Dave. You possibly came right past my door. Less people do big road trips these days; I can't think of many more pleasant ways to spend a few days, particularly in a car with a bit of history under its wheels.
Cheers,
Glen

[Rog246]

Dave you better get the nephew to buy a cheap suit and trilby hat !!
That car looks like its come straight out of Homicide or Division 4
Its cool though

Better keep an eye on Old George.........he might try to throw the leg !!

[Donunder]

Good to hear from you again Box.

The new Val was obviously in good nick but there's always a degree of "wing and a prayer" about taking a car out of its comfortable suburban environment and embarking on a long trip. Glad the cooling system didn't have a spit out in the middle of the desert.

My daughter and family left Brisbane heading north nearly four months ago on an around Australia trip. They left Esperance this morning, facebooked from Norseman at lunch time and are headed home across the Nullarbor as I write.

As Mike says, you can't beat a good road trip, even when they're enlivened by friendly Volvo drivers!

[jcraigau]

Great story Boxy. Some of my fondest memories are from behind the wheel...
Europe 6000kms in 4 weeks.
Sydney-Perth 5550kms in 12 days.
USA 2500kms in 7 days.
Mexico 800kms in 3 days.

[BJ's Snake]

Just remember Dave..What happens on a road trip STAYS on a road trip!

Good yarn all the same.
Cheers

[750hp]

Any road trip is good fun. Doing it in an old champ you've never driven before is just plain cool.

Looking at the rego plate, I wonder what I'd need to do to have a NT registered car down here. I'd love to get the 777 historic plate when it becomes available!

[Gav]

So had you taken her up on the offer Dave,
Would that make you a vulva driver?

[boxhead]

Not sure what I would be called, but 1 thing it would make me is single and broke.

[letsboogie351]

one evening a young woman waved a bloke down whilst he was driving along the Princes highway. She said "can you give me a lift"
The young bloke says "sure can love, hop in"
They had only been driving for a few minutes and the woman turned to him and said "I'm a witch, I can turn you into anything I like"!
"Go on do it" he said.
Good to her word, 500 metres further up the road she turned him into a motel

[guye]

Originally Posted by boxhead

I have been as busy as hell lately, but I also have a Nephew who has turned 18 and wanted a Valiant....

Similar thing, Dave, my son turns 16 in October and doesn't like any modern car (except my Cobra or an Aston Martin perhaps). He would love a classic he can work on a bit, and an old Valiant was on the list. But I know stuff all about them. What is a good model to start researching? This one you got for your nephew?

[Baz]

Great story Dave,

You might be able to help me out. My missus was driving her Volvo along the same route that you took home recently and I haven't seen her since. She was out there, somewhere near Coober Pedy. Don't suppose you have any photos of the old dear that you encountered?

[boxhead]

No pics sorry Baz, I couldn't get away fast enough.

Hey Guy.
The model I bought is a CM (very last model made) it is a 2/81 car and production ceased in August 81.
The CL/CM has the radial tuned suspension and is actually a very nice car to drive, power steering isn't needed and the 265 hemi is a strong motor, weak link is the gearbox in the autos being a BW35, these can be beefed up a little with later (ford XF internals BW40).
To most "Valiant guys" the CL/CM is more a "donor car" than a model of choice, (cheap and plentyful) but the younger generation like them for the bulk and twin lights.
A later model SE Regal even has leather interior, or a more "sporty" model (truth is just different mags, a little stripe and different cloth interior) is the GXL model, or a limited run was the LeBaron.
Most of the cars are column shift bench seat (this car is optioned with buckets, console and column auto).
The main areas of rust on any valiant from 1970 to close of production is the plenum (open the bonnet and look around compliance plate) around front screen on lower edges, also open the doors and look up under the screen where the "A" pillar is, they rust there.
And around the back window and under the vinyl roof in lower rear corners.
Apart from that it is just the normal doors and lower rear quarters.
(also a wet floor is never good as it generally means rust inside plenum or screen)
The model before this was the VK (C series cars are Chrysler, V series is Valiant), the VK are a nice car with good suspension, but normally bad for rust (too many drugs at Tonsley plant in mid 70's so cars did not get a thorough coating of rust proofing)

Parts availability is pretty good still, also trim kits are for sale and mags are same as Ford stud pattern (although centre is larger so genuine mags wont fit, but after market are good to go)

[Towmaster]

Originally Posted by jcraigau

Great story Boxy. Some of my fondest memories are from behind the wheel...
Europe 6000kms in 4 weeks.
Sydney-Perth 5550kms in 12 days.
USA 2500kms in 7 days.
Mexico 800kms in 3 days.

If this is a pissing comp....

Northern Europe January 2013 7,000k in 7 days.....
Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland (Lapland - Arctic Circle) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland.....
Loved it so much i'm going back next year.
Home - Navigate North

Love a road trip!

[Aussie Mike]

Dave, do the later cars still have problems with cracking chassis rails around the steering box or was that something that was fixed through the model years?

Cheers

[boxhead]

They do, but no where near as bad.
So yes, make sure you check around the steering box on the chassis rail.
The proble was that the rail fills up with leaves and crud, but gets stuck at the internal braces, on the late model there is a hole in bottom of rain for this all to drain out.

turn full lock left and poke your head in behind the back of right front wheel for a look.

[guye]

Thanks for all that info Dave.