great Posting there, Donkey Lover!
i so like the way all the Bellett boys and girls get together and help/support each other. its what its all about!!

sometimes the work is just a bit too much to get done in a timely manner by yourself, and its so much more fun with friends.
also get coffee delivered or made and tools handed to you etc.
nice to have a hoist to help your out. and a large workshop to boot.
i know a few of us end up at claws place the other weekend to take some body parts of an old sedan body. i mean cut and grind! we had a great arvo with the power tools. and less rust then the Chev Luv as well
didnt quite get it all done so have to be back for some more Man Shed time. oh yeah

OZ

I'm hearin' ya Oz

Without Greg availing and offering his workshop with hoist Donkey may not have had the rear end so extensively overhauled.
It's a bit hard to work and stay motivated when your working off a couple of small trolley jacks on the dirt floor of a carport that turns to mush whenever it rains so the hoist, workshop, company and hospitality mean more then a thank you and a hug can express.
Plus I learnt a few little facts and tricks when it comes to Bellett bums and Donkey asses


The man himself in action

its great how everyone just helps each other out in the bellett world! good to hear donkey got some love!

OK GREG YA GOT ME GT AERIEL ...WHITE MMMMMAND STRIPPED WHERE DOES THAT ONE COME IN IS IT BRIBIE IT AINT NAPOLEAN ??? CHEERS DAVO

Yeah Davo that's Bruce the Bribie car. It had engine issues so it now runs Lizzies race engine wit a pr90 gearbox on full rego it needs a few thing to be finished before it rolls.
As Sticky said it was a fun weekend with a lot of laugh's. I am amazed we got all and more done than expected Russel said there is no way we can get what we planned done we exceeded it . Adam has some tidying up to do now it will keep him busy for weeks and I had a reality check never start another big project and in the case you do don't let Russ have nothing to do as he stabs the car with screwdrivers and it messes with your head. I like to repair what I can see and then find the next repair but Russ likes to find them all at once so by the time you repair one hole we have another 10 waiting

Sorry Davo I thought you were talking about the car beside Donkey. No the car I was on is a gt it belongs to Adam, Ken and Carols son I wont mention surnames most can work it out. He is building the car on a limited budget with a few major structural issues. we did no panel work but replaced the a plllar that you could put your fist through Lizzies race car donated the piece we needed so it was cut out and picked back to three pieces and placed into the gt. The shock towers have 3mm plate now fitted and a huge amount of holes filled with weld where bit were cut out and holes drilled ect. While we were working on the car we noticed the sub frame was in bad condition so we rolled what was left of Lizzies car and cut the sub frame out and fabricated new sections from 3mm plate this was not planned for the weekend but a couple of hours grinding will see it done. I wanted to attack the floor pan below the rear seat and plate that to but we ran out of cutting discs But to be honest we were over it also.

Ride'em Donkey . So looking forward to seeing the legend and the people (legends) down south.

Yeah, without unconditional support and help, Blue Beastie would not be what she is today, nor my enthusiasm for our little critters, if not for you special comarades out there.

Spesch times, B.

Donkey got new 3" white wall flappers fitted on the front yesterday as the old were torn to shreds.
I still has a few things that have to be fixed for him to survive the drive south too. Items 1 and 2 are optional at this stage but items 3-5 are a must fix

1. L/H lower ball joint is flogged and has about 5-7mm slip slop and slap. A little too much considering I drive him like it's Targa Tasmania every where I go. I have a couple of used ones that I've pulled off wrecks so I'll pick the best one and fit that.

2. Front wheel bearings are shot and L/H hub has major pitting and damage so will check my spares or will have to get new case hardened sleeves pressed in

3. He needs a new (mega long) antenna as the one he had with the smiley faced squash ball on the end got ripped off on last years road trip when l thought it would be hilarious to drive through the canopy of a fallen tree on the side of the road at 80kph Sadly Donkey lost his smile (it now only lives in avatar form)

4. I need to make some brackets for his new grill some will love it but many no doubt will hate it

5. I have to modify his gear stick too.................. it's about 2ft too short for my liking

i had a gearstick in my bellett that was too long! made it when i lost the origional from the car i got the gearbox out of! it was just some tube bent up to suit but in 1st and 2nd it tended to hit the rear view mirror! one day i will modify it some more to work!

That's the exact sort of shifter length I'm aiming for mrflibbles. My hand should just go under the mirror

Hey Sticky. I've heard of Donkey's speed antics Like a true Donkey it's flat out gallop or just sit'n in the paddock.

1. (not opptional) We don't want Donkey dropping his balls, and spearing off into the paddock

2. (also not opptional) How's Donkey gonna find his way south without any bearings

As for the new snout,

B.

I tuff muzzle.

It's like I always say "If your not living life on the edge, you're taking up way too much space!"

i dont know about Targa Tasmania but i think you will miss Targa Adelaide.



but its always good to see Greg working hard, even if he has been rewarded with the latest and a quite amazing Barn Find!
hope the weather improves for September guys, as we are having days with tops of 11 and wind chill of down to 7.
i have already arranged my leave so i am free to enjoy the full weekend of festivities!

roll on B2B Weekend


OZ

Bearings are sorted (sorted enough for the drive south anyway)
Haven't changed bad ball joint as yet as the spares I have in parts boxes are rather dodgy but I have a rusty rolling shell at my brothers to check the ones on it.
Heaps of time left.......
I also put a set of FX Holden springs in the bum end today too. Perfect fit and good ride height for comfy driving (couple of inches lower than STD height and not too stiff) but I want LOWER so tomorrow I'll pop into Pedders and see if they have any lowered FX springs handy. An extra inch and a half should do it
New long aerial attached, just need to find a smiley faced squash ball for the top
Next is the gear stick extension and then might fab up some Donkey style door cards???

Not long now!!

Good on you all. Gotta keep safe!

Sounds like you're having fun! Make sure you get those ball joints, Bruno's experience of sudden failure was certainly not fun.

Looking forward to seeing you all,
Cheers, Matt.

good to hear that rear end is working just like it should, Sticky. nothing worse then your favourite Donkey with a loose rear end.
Could cause all sorts of embarrassing accidents

and we are all looking forward to catching up with everyone.



OZ

Donkey's a redneck at heart

If you look into his eyes you can see he is sad. Santa should give him a gasket set So he can have a freshen up

C'mon Sticky, must be nearly time for Donkey to show his excellence at CARnivale'
I bet Donkey would say "BEWDY ANOTHER CONVOY"
D.