things are pretty quite here this week on the forums.., only crickets in the background.
 
Anyhow, there was an RS owners club show an shine in Geelong last weekend. Of course, not that anyone in Geelong knew, nothing gets publicised much. I would have liked to see it but did not know it was on. Did anyone brave the floods and attend?
 
I played around with some painting, so now have 'Marty Red" springs, front sway bar and steering gear.
Clear over base paint looks average until you get the clear on! The red was just brushed on, to save the neighbours cracking it from any overspray. Supercheap had $13 rattlecans of clearcoat, and a spray on under chassis coating, so I gave that a try also. New bushes to go on, then back together.

Also, the rear suspension has new bushes and replacement shocks, but is otherwise stock.
Is it worth tracking down a rear swaybar?
 
 

Without us few the forum will be very sad lol..
Noice red duco there 👍
With rear swaybar, I don't really care to much for them..I like the rear to squat and lean when powering thru corners.. when you add anti tramp bars you can't run a swaybar as it gets in the way. I think I've got one but it could be bent, I don't have bkts tho, (similar to steering rack mounts) . A spension shop should be able to align it again if your desperate..

that's ok, not desperate, just arksin.
Shame if there's only 2 old pharts left on here.
 
The more others post, the less I will need too... :)
Time for an update from you Marty, or are you hanging back with a big reveal, showing us when its all painted?

Nah, no big reveal anytime soon. I've only just completed the tasks (tarks) for youse vics on the van for a friend, about 6 months of tinkering. In that time I've bought a 3dr Focus mk1 and plastered loads of time and moneys on it, still going with the exhaust system and that'll be it for a while... Not only that, my daily Focus mk2 ST blew a oil filter diaphragm causing real big noses and it's not meant to be driven till it's fixed, Ford want $789 for the part , Volvo want $400 , so I bought just the diaphragm for $20 on eBay instead of the complete unit, I'm still waiting for it to arrive, in the meantime in driving like a Nancy and the fuel consumption has gone up a bit... Sorry the rant lol

what are friends for if not to listen to rants?
Bad luck about the Focus.
Might need to use the open wheeler as your everyday car.
I've watched a few more of 'Daves Garage' on YT, yesterday he made a rear lower qtr from scratch, which is turning out pretty well. And he's doing bubble arches also. It looks like Mk1 arches go on a Mk1 coupe much nicer as it turns out than on a mk2 van, but who knew.
It sucks when you've done something already, then learn from others how you should have done it!

Old Landy here for you Marty, over in your neck of the woods too.
https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-60011844/classic-cars/land-rover-ute-manual-ute?spr=true&fbclid=IwAR2KMV3mryj_4s2NYcUE2XueA5g3k9OSBdxKhWt9MVba78AfqSJzZ5i3nGs 
 
Might be as reliable as the Focus :)

That'll be fun to have, will keep watching..
My Focus mk2 ST 5cyl has been excellent reliable over 10yrs , just general stuff like brakes and rotors in that time, and the front lower arm bushes..
the diaphragm problem is a recall thing on Volvo's but Ford escaped it. This is 1 car I'd recommend

Here's a nice one..
https://www.grays.com/lot...tomatic-sedan?spr=true

Wow that landrover looks like it was plucked from my father inlaws paddock.

Also Marty a mates dad has a XB 4 door sitting in his shed, wonder what the going rate of those is, he was always going to drive it, maybe next weekend etc.