Jake's Zook Build Up

My 15 year old son has been bitten by the offroad bug and decided he wanted to buy a Suzuki Sierra for his first car. He browsed Auszookers.com and found this little zook at Ipswich, He handed over is hard earned $1000 from his after school job and that was that, Jake has just purchased his first car and now the fun begins. Bookmark this page and follow our journey as we strip this zook back, give it a paint job, a lift, new seats, and well, pretty much rebuild the whole thing.

Ask Robo or Jake a question or send suggestions for the build up

zookbuildup@boating4x4camping.com.au

RUNNING EXPENSE TOTAL TO DATE

Click here

to see full break down of Jakes expenses to date

$1999.00


After a 15 hour return trip from Bundy down to Ipswich and back the zook comes home.	Before we can get it off the trailer we need to put the new battery in as it didn't come with a battery.	1st problem, the previous owner obviously had a larger battery in it because the terminals were way to big for Jake's new battery. -

While Fiona is off getting the correct size battery terminals we have a bit of a look around and see just what we've got ourselves into.	The battery is now in and Jake sits in his new car for the 1st time. Jake shows his appreciation for letting him have Fiona's garage for the build up. -	Fiona and Jake negotiate how long the zook gets to stay in the garage.

A close look reveals that we have quite a bit of work in front of us but most of it is minor and easy to replace. The good thing about these fourbys is just about everything bolts on. -
	After a very long day we call it quits and go up stairs for feed and a good nights sleep. Tomorrow Jake wants to get straight into it.

DAY 2 - 07/02/2010 - THE FUN BEGINS
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The seats have seen better days so Jake decides he will dump the fronts and see what he can find at the wreckers. The rear seat is in reasonable condition but it isnot going back in as we plan to fit the back out with a false floor and a set of drawers. The rear seat will be sold to off set some of Jake's costs.		The electrics in this car are in a real mess so we decide to see what is and what isn't working.
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Apparently rebuilding this car has become a spectator sport.	Jake discovers the drivers side headlight has blown, just as well Dad owns Boating 4x4 Camping and Mum works at Supercheap Auto.	I repair the handbrake sensor and discover these zooks are quite roomy without the seats.
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To repair the hand brake light was as simple as cleaning up connection and replacing washer to allow a better contact.		Time to see what these wires are
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Jake removes the speakers. Gotta have big doof doof ones ya know.	After working out what all the loose wires were I was then able to reconnect them and cable tie them up under the dash.	Max & Macca have inspected the zook and give it the thumbs up for rides to the beach
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After cleaning up the wires in the rear, we then made a bracket out of some old angle I had laying around and mounted the trailer connection, little bit of black paint and it looks just like a new one.
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DAY 3 - 14/02/2010 - DASH, RIMS AND BULLBAR
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Jake jacks her up and removes the rims so he can sand and paint, he has decided to repaint them the same white.	Jake removes the bullbar so he can sand and repaint. He is painting the bar black.
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Rims before repaint. Luckily it is all only surface rust, they should clean up well.	The undercoat goes on. To prevent overspray on the tyres we simply cut a piece of cardboard to the shape of the rim.
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The bull bar is primed waiting for top coat of black		4 bolts and the door's off, I love working on these zooks. Jake folds the windscreen down ready to paint the dash.
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All the vents are popped out, steering wheel comes off, cover up instrument panel and remove all knobs ready for paint. Jake scrubbed the dash down a day earlier giving it plenty of time to dry off.	Couple of coats of grey paint and the dash looks as good as new. The vents, knobs and trim will be painted black. Proper vinyl paint was used.	Jake has sanded the wipers ready for for primer coat. Why go and buy new wipers, $3.00 for some paint, wack some new wiper blades in and they will be as good as new.
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		It has started raining pretty heavy here now and it looks like it is settling in for a while so it may be a week or so before we get the top coat on. See you soon.
Jake removes the knobs and boots around gear sticks and hand brake ready for primer coat.