The WonkyUte (SSV)

[AussieTone]

Hi Gary

Those actuators must be a great addition for you. I have a slight problem with my EGR lid in that the weight of it puts a large strain on my back when I open it. Unlike you, I do not need to go all the way and fit actuators but I would like to make the lid lighter / easier to lift open.

Given that you have obviously researched how to open the lid easier, do you think a different set of gas struts may solve this problem for me. The EGR lid only has a little finger type hook on the back of it and I find I have to squat down, place my finger across the 'hook' and then stand up whilst lifting the lid with 2 hands at the same time. By doing it this way the majority of the effort comes from my arms and legs rather than my back. I must look like a goose when I open it but it is the only way I can do it without ending up with shooting pains in my back.

Do you think stronger gas struts would make life easier or do you have any other ideas which might help.

As for the fiddley painting of your engine covers maybe get someone to trace the area you want painted and then get them to transfer it to some thin cardboard to make a template. Stick it over the covers and just use a pressure can of paint. If you stick the cardboard template down with double sided tape around the cut out you should eliminate any over spray. Just a thought

By the way, I still love your wheels.

Cheers mate

Tony

[Wonky]

Hi Tony,

I tried to lift Andy's (SSV8TE) EGR hardlid and no way could I do it from just that single liftpoint. However, when I was considering getting one of the EGR slimline lids I was in contact with EGR who said that on the new slimline lid they had changed the positioning of the struts and reduced the lifting effort from 15kg to 7kg.

Given they're up your way in Salisbury it may be worth contacting them to see if they can suggest anything for you. Aside from that I'm not really any help as I knew struts were never going to work for me so didn't really pursue that avenue.

Cheers,
Gary

PS Thanks for the clue on painting the 6.0 on the covers.

[iloveholden]

Sweet mate, engine covers will look very nice now

[JUSWANWON]

Hey Wonky,
Painting the lettering white would not be that difficult for one of your mates at chev's or whoever if you use the flat of a brush and not the tip and slide it across the raised lettering. Also use a water based hobby paint then it can be wiped off immediately if there is a stuff up.
Just my 2 c worth


Cheers

Gary

[worknssv]

Hey Guys,

I am heading to My local hobby shop tomorrow after i have been to chevs for a tune... i will be doing the painting for gary (Wonky) tomorrow afternoon if his car is home when i return home.

So stay tuned i belive i have come up with a good way of doing it. My only problem is i hope my hand is steddy enough.

Pics to come.

[Wonky]

Finally got some video!

Firstly, lid up and tailgate down. This was done sequentially for the video but in normal operation once the hardlid has gone up a bit the tailgate can be set in motion, thus halving the time required. Given how slow I am it's easily plenty fast enough for me!!

YouTube - Lid up gate down

Mark the auto elec next to Chev's added a safety switch to the hardlid to prevent the tailgate being operated while it is down.

The tailgate has had the normal locking mechanism disabled so now operates purely on the actuator. Fantastic for me with my disabilities but the automatic hardlid would be great for many people.

A few days ago James made up a grabloop to my design so I have something to grab onto while I swing the walker out as my balance is poor to say the least! Heavy chain wrapped in black plastic tape - very comfortable even when my full weight is on it (as happened yesterday when I got over ambitious swinging my walker out! ).


Lastly for today I had a set of big LED reversing lights put in. Very bright and white though being LEDs I'm not sure that they put out a lot more light than normal but at least people will see me when I'm backing out of somewhere at night!


A couple more videos to come when finished uploading to Youtube.

[EXCESSV]

thats simplyawesome gary!
can just picture ppl seeing the ute...low loud,etc pull up to a ACROD spot
then hardlid and tailgate starts opening tripping them out then u pull your walker out!

farken classic!

[wikky]

Fantastic work Wonk! Apart from looking super dooper shmick, it makes your life much easier (well the ute part of your life anyway). I remember that day at Chev's when we were all standing around the tailgate, scratching our heads and thinking of ways to do all this. It all seems so simple now huh?
Again, great work Wonk and all the best mate!

[SSV8TE]

Perfect wonks
Glad to see you have it all sorted to suit your needs mate.
Great to see you have researched this problem, fixed it and now independent again. Im sure that eases the pain of relying on everyone when it came to your ute. SOLVED
Again mate good stuff

[Number55]

WOW...
As Deano said alot of people would double take when they see you get out of this sled!

The reversing lights look really good. I think the VE Ute reverse lights are nice and bright anyway, but the LEDs look the goods!
Hopefully this comment wont be deleted like my last one

[Wonky]

Another video of the tailgate in operation.

YouTube - gate down back

WOW...
As Deano said alot of people would double take when they see you get out of this sled!

The reversing lights look really good. I think the VE Ute reverse lights are nice and bright anyway, but the LEDs look the goods!
Hopefully this comment wont be deleted like my last one

Yep! Used to get some strange looks when this disabled old fart extracted himself from my SSV sedan! Be even more now!

Sorry about deleting your comment but I asked the mods to delete all references to my potential new front bar when HSV were obviously getting very thingy about dealers selling HSV parts to non HSV owners.

[Desertws6]

Fantastic Gaz this should work out very nicely!


to all the folks and their hard work.


Cheers,
Steve

[Brandonsdad]

Wonkmeister, have you ever thought of fitting a rocket launcher in the back, so that you can just blow away any arsehole that decides to tailgate you. Just a press of a couple of buttons and whammo.

Could you start selling these kits to other disabled people that either own utes, or would like to own a ute but haven't due to problems with getting wheelchairs/walkers in and out of the tray. Surely it would be no harder than lifting it in and out of a sedan, in fact probably easier and no paint chipping as well. You could probably get a heap of people trading in their gophers for a VE ute and get a group discount for them.
I am full of good ideas, that was just one of them.
Also another one would be to sell these cars to people like Osama Bin Laden, painted in camel colour, and to North Korea. Just ask David Hicks where the great man is and give him a call.
Ute STILL looks good.

Cheers Adrian.

[Number55]

Sorry about deleting your comment but I asked the mods to delete all references to my potential new front bar when HSV were obviously getting very thingy about dealers selling HSV parts to non HSV owners.

Ahhhaaa....... that explains it!!
Love the automated actuators... I'm almost lazy enought to get them myself

[Holden Man]

very cool

I was half expecting the lid to start spinning around like the UAE guys / Jedda boys have !!