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Got my front hubs today, very happy with how they turned out. Total cost of all parts and machine work £60. Now that i can measure the width of the front axle i can make a start on narrowing the rear axle. The Vitara axle has a offset diff so i need to remove 280mm from one axle tube and 320mm from the other. Once cut i will add a sleve to strengthen the tube and the half shafts will be sent out to be shortened. Need to go now and get a lend of a slide hammer to get the half shafts out and then the cutting can begin.

Reached a milestone today finally managed to complete the rebuild and paint of the drive wheels I seem to have been on with them for months. Having to be careful that I dont get carried away with finish I keep looking at other original machines to see what level of marks/gouges etc were sent out from the factory I do not want it to be better than original I just want original and that means defects. Skimming with filler to reduce the pitting is a chore but the effects are very pleasing.

Should that not be asses?

Tight ass

I've got to say it is a great feeling working together on this project we both seem to be on the same page and learning from each other considering we both have warped minds it will be very interesting to see what the end project will be, but I am certain it will be a very good working tractor built on a budget of less than £100

Hi all, Have decided to sell my shot blast cabinet and the remaining medium and fine grits. I haven't used it for over a year and its just sitting taking up space. It is the same one as is for sale on Ebay and other places. Its in a used but clean, good condition. it has a couple of spare window protecting sheets, it also has some different size nozzles for blasting. I have been running it using my 14cfm compressor with an inline moisture trap(not for sale, nor included) so its been kept very dry. I have about 6kgs of medium grit and over 8kgs of fine crushed glass grit for a more gentle blast to go with it. I'm looking for £50 for it all, collection from Newbury, Berkshire. Any questions, please ask?

Glad you use Owatrol as it's good stuff to use. Also I like the Westwood as well.

Building on a budget always brings out the best ingenuity and ideas!

I have both but choose small batches down on a bench to keep the spray drift under control, I have sprayed many parts outside but now it is too cold. As I tend to work on a couple of components at a time repairing or restoring I take each one to primer stage and then put it away for later re assembly if I use a gun I would be forever cleaning it up.

I agree with you there, Neil. I've always found when you have someone to work with, it is much better than working alone.

Hi all, sorry for the inactivity, been busy and not had so much workshop time, but I have been slowly but surely working in the Westwood. I sent the carb to be cleaned by a friend of mine, that should be back soon and hopefully the Westwood will be usuable For now I painted the whole chassis and bodywork with Owatrol oil, the only bits I left untouched were some corners underneath that were hard to reach coated in oily grass anyway I also straightened out the steering wheel, rustproofed and painted it, and some other little ajustments here and there. And yes, I managed to spill Owatrol oil over one of the rear tyres I'll look forward to being able to use it for gentle garden work this spring.