Canter Fg637 Rebirth

[Candy]

Back in August 2015 I had a bit of bad luck and rolled my truck. We had a look at it and had a couple of options to get it back on the road and offroad. We could just replace the cab; or buy another truck and rebuild. My old, rolled truck had a bit of rust in the chassis rails and would eventually need replacing. So we decided to start again, with a better truck and rebuild.
My brother, Dan and his wife came to visit a couple months ago and I sent them straight to Melbourne to pick up another Fg637.

 

[Goldanfish]

The work begins , well done. By the name on the door it would of been up and down Mt Buller snow fields a few times, and no trips up north or deserts.
John.

 

[Aussie Iron]

I believe you are right as it has been a local truck down there from new. It will certainly get a new life in a nice warm "retirement". IT HOPES.
There is nothing really wrong with it other than syncro on 4th gear but we are making quite a few changes. As Henny said we drove our Canter on a rush trip to Melbourne to pick it up.
Stopped in to see Alan, picked up some goodies and had to take a couple of photos.



But back to the topic.

Dan.

 

[Candy]

Dan took the Canter home with him to Gladstone. This is where the old truck is.
We decided that we would do an engine and gearbox swapover, as my old truck had the turbo attached, and we figured it was an easy option. So Dan proceeded to remove the engine and gearbox out of the new truck. He also removed the front axle out of the old truck and fitted the limited slip diff, supplied by Alan.
The weekend prior to Christmas, Steve and I headed up there and cleaned up the chassis rails and gave them a fresh coat of paint.

 

[SkiFreak]

It seems like a very logical decision to use the best parts from both trucks to make the best truck that you can. I know that this is what I would do.

 

[canter tourer]

You'll get there soon enough, with a better truck by the look of it. What did you use to clean the chassis and what paint did you put on it? Gotta do the same to mine, just wondering how you did yours.

 

[Aussie Iron]

The chassis was soaked with rust converter in between the double chassis rails and along the rails then pressure cleaned at 3500psi. This was also done in the double rails and left to dry. Another rust converter was then injected between the rails using a syringe and fine needle. This time it was "Fertan", used by the trawlers up here as it reactivates every time it gets wet (like when we do water crossings) and it creeps very well in the fine gap. It is something I do to mine as a yearly ritual. The paint is just chassis black. I mixed some with thinners and using a kero gun we shot a much as we could in between the double rails and along all the joints. The rest was painted with a brush straight from the can.

Dan.

 

[canter tourer]

Thanks for the info Dan, hadn't heard of Fertan before and after googling it, seems like good stuff. Good luck with the rebirth.
Dave.

 

[Candy]

On Sunday, after Christmas, we headed back up to Gladstone. On Monday we did the front axle swap.

 

[Aussie Iron]

This is the front axle assembly from the old Canter, which I striped down and had the front Centre that I picked up at Alan fitted. As well as cleaning and repacking the knuckle and wheel bearings. Brakes are good on this axle and it also had our modified springs fitted all ready.

Dan.

 

[Candy]

On Tuesday, we removed the engine out of the old truck.



Henny.

 

[Candy]

On Wednesday, we put the old engine into the new truck. Started to connect it up.



On Thursday, we finished connecting everything and topped up fluids. Sat the tray back on the truck to see what has to be done to it. Had to move it back a fraction to fit the turbo pipes and exhaust.

 

[yabanja]

You've been hard at it!! Looking good!

Allan

 

[HazMan]

Could you please tell me what turbo kit that is?

I will be in the market for a turbo for mine too and that looks like a very neat setup.

Sean

 

[Aussie Iron]

Could you please tell me what turbo kit that is?

I will be in the market for a turbo for mine too and that looks like a very neat setup.

Sean

It is not a Turbo Kit but a custom built setup. The manifold was made out of pipe fittings. The turbo is a Garrett. Exhaust has been custom made. Seems to work well which is the reason that we are changing out the engine to the old one. The original motor is going to make a good spare.


Dan.