Western Queensland trip

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grazza
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G'Day folks,

A recent trip around western Queensland.  4400km all up.

Some G photos here.

http://brisbanetobirdsville.blogspot.com.au/

cheers,

Graham.

 

 

axel
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Re: Western Queensland trip

that is one hell of a shakedown trip for your new engine! seems amazing to see your truck with the engine i mounted on a pallet and loaded onto a courier truck to go all the way to rockhampton to good old 'palmy' - like the croc warning signs at the campsite that's pretty hardcore , how do you find your new engine compared to the 230 ? 

good work /amazing roadtrip 

IanA2
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Many thanks, a really good blog. Lots of pics and just enough words. I'm guessing you're planning the next one!

grazza
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Hi Axel,

The engine is still a work-in-progress and is currently having the injection pump swapped before being dyno-tuned.  Its not performing at its best (I hope) and struggled on the trip, which could not be delayed. So I can't conclude whether it is a worthwhile swap from the M102 to the n/a om606 just yet.

Thanks for all your help though.  Its taking a long time but will get sorted eventually.

My next big trip may be a crossing of the Simpson Desert next year.  Also thinking of a trip to the tip of Cape York (again, but in a G this time) which is the aussie 4wd'ers mecca.  Lot more crocs up there, hence the roof top tent!

Of course the long term goal is Graz in 2019, hopefully with the G...

-Graham

axel
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Re: Western Queensland trip

hi graham, you need to get the fuelling/timing right before you draw any conclusions - i have only driven a w124 estate with a n/a 606 and it felt flat as a fart you had to rev theguts out of it and even then it was steady away  - lovely smooth six engine but it just had very little poke - the turbo however is a different animal - you can fit the turbo exhaust manifold etc onto the n/a /the casting is there for the oil return connection and pickup oil feed from the filter head spare connection turn the pump up a bit and run lowish boost and it will be a very pleasant improvement without generating too much heat -it's an option.  you need torque to make a g move and a n/a diesel is a bit soft in that department - give it a chance though and get it a bit 'crackly' on the injection timing and see..

i am building an expedition 'g' for my self at the minute in between all the other jobs i have to do, it is a 'super g' ie. 3428mm wheelbase with a custom 2+2 cab and a pickup body to take a skarosser demountable camper which has mulitple awning options and will be getting a wind out awning having seen your setup  and it will be croc proof , possibly i will take it to next years le mans 24hrs to stay at the back of porsche curves as the stuttgart manufacturer is returning with a full factory entry after many years away so it will be a goody - my super g has 605 a power 2.5 litre with a 6 speed gearbox - happy holidays.

Spider1V
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Bonzer blog and some pretty spiffy pics as well! Any V8 petrols there?

Spider1V

axel
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Re: Western Queensland trip

evening spider, ref. the v8's  i think some guy called 'max' had the last one....

gav.helme
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Here we go again.....crying

grazza
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Re: Western Queensland trip

No V8 petrols.  But being "Toyota country" (practically the only choice of farmers and mining companies)  there were lots of V8 diesels about.  A they absolutely flew up that sand hill.  Unlike my G.  Mostly new 76-series, not sure if you get them in the UK.

Spider1V
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Re: Western Queensland trip

sad Shame! V8's in the UK are becoming few and far between mainly at £1.40 per ltr, and about 17 MPG for petrol, its only stupid die hard's like me who keep hold of their V8's. Toyota's becoming more popular but again tends to be the smaller engines.

 

Spider1V

Pistonhead
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Thank you very much for posting Graham,

I enjoyed it and very much liked your presentation. May I enquire what software you drafted your article in?

Great photos and views of Australia. 

 

grazza
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Re: Western Queensland trip
Hi Rakesh, I used www.blogger.com First time I used such a thing but it was pretty easy. However most of these types of sites want to display the latest day first, like Facebook, and this did not suit how I wanted it to show. The trick is to use "pages" for each day/location and not "posts" Cheers, Graham.
grazza
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Hi Axel,

Thanks for the advice.  I am sure there are some good improvements to come.

On paper the OM606na has slightly more power and torque than the M102 but the max torque should be at roughly half the RPM and I should get quite a lot better economy.  Plus I want to get the pump tuned to the max it can deliver, perhaps a 5-10% gain.

At the same time I am getting my 4-speed auto reconditioned, to eliminate that from the equation, and it may need some adjustment of its shift points if possible.

Can you recommend a particular turbo if I decide to go down that path?  Is it really worth it or just put the 606a in?  One of my main concerns and reasons for the n/a was engine temp, especially in a hot place where I like to do a fair bit of beach camping. Driviing on sand really makes the G work hard especially with a trailer.

cheers,

Graham

Grendle
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Re: Western Queensland trip

 Hi Graham,

      Excellent trip. My mates just moved out to Noosa so I'm planning a trip in the next couple of years. Looks great I'm tryiny to get him to buy a Paj or something so we can get out and have some fun when I get there!

 

    Cheers

 

      Paul

Pistonhead
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Re: Western Queensland trip

REPLY TO THREAD NO: 12

Thank you for your reply Graham, I will certainly try the site for myself.

grazza
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Re: Western Queensland trip

Grendle wrote:

 Hi Graham,

      Excellent trip. My mates just moved out to Noosa so I'm planning a trip in the next couple of years. Looks great I'm tryiny to get him to buy a Paj or something so we can get out and have some fun when I get there!

 

    Cheers

 

      Paul

 

Gday Paul.

We get up to Noosa quite a lot - top spot.  A small car ferry is used to cross the Noosa River onto the "North Shore" then about 40km of beach driving to my current favourite beach spot, Double Island Point.  From there you can also drive along the beach north to Rainbow Beach and then another ferry to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world.  Sand driving pretty much the whole way.

Pajero's are pretty good value over here but are not considered very tough.  The 4wd scene is dominated with Landcruisers, Hilux, Patrol (Safari)  etc...

Drop us a PM if you are heading over.

-Graham