Scottz

Storm still brewing over the GST free threshold. http://www.smh.com.au/business/lew-hits-out-at-online-gst-rates-20121204-2as4h.html See article from the Sydney Morning Herald you may be interested in. I think there are lots of members like myself who have used the tax free loophole to import parts. If the rules are changed, what do you think the impact will be? I think while the AUD is high in comparison to the USD no one will kick up much of a fuss about 10% getting added to the cost. EG: I paid USD278 for some parts in USA that would have cost me AUD1000 in Oz, plus USD60 for air freight. If I had to pay 10% extra, I would still have imported the parts. However if the AUD was back to the normal 0.6 to 0.7 (before the boom), 278+60 becomes a different figure, and then I might think twice before purchasing. Anyone think it's worth running a survey to see if the Aussie customer will tolerate the GST free threshold being removed, or maybe cut back 50%? The retailers are making noise about it, but honestly I do not think their sales are going to increase if the 10% was added. There is simply too big a difference in retail price between USA and Aust', and our dollar is allowing us to access offshore supply. Comments!

Hey Tim, Whats the NEWS !

Thanks guys, I have spoken to the person at the ATO who is handling the case. He was very helpful. That's how I found out about the communication between the ATO and my accountants. I was shocked to discover that my accountants had stated that the full amount owed would be paid in July. How that was going to happen I do not know, since no one told me a darn thing. I also got a copy of the PSI test in the records I asked for from the accountants. There are errors in the answers that were given. The commissioner made a decision on 3 main points. Results Test, Supply of Tools and Equipment, and Rectification of Errors. I have drafted a response which I believe is reasonable, but need an expert to check it over. I just wish I had known what was going on at the time, my involvement would have been more useful then. I've still got a lot of reading and learning to do before I go to another accountant. Running your own show is not all it's cracked up to be, but I'm determined to work through it. As the saying goes..."Don't throw your money away. It's to hard to earn". scottz - broke and kicking

Thanks John

I drove 1400kms on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the long drive gave me a good chance to think it over. When I got home I wrote out all my concerns (good to get things down on paper) and mailed it to the accountant. I asked for all my records to be returned and all work to stop immediately. I also gave him a chance to explain it to me in 5 weeks when I return from my next work rotation. Time for both of us to stew on it. If the explanation is not satisfactory I have made it clear that I want him to pay the interest. I am also not paying for last years tax declaration work (which he has not yet lodged ) and no payment for this years, since I'll be getting someone else to do it anyway. The ATO has not placed any penalties, so I guess something was done right, but darn if I can work it out. Saxon - Agree on the 'have a go myself' option. I did the same back in 2001 when the ATO fined me for what they called a fraudulent declaration regarding repairs to an investment property. I called it repairs / maintenance and they called it capital improvement. Took 2 years of stubbornness, but I won. Me and the wife aged 10 years in that 2. It was very stressing. I reckon that’s when they got their nose out and have been on my tail ever since. I’ve been audited 4 times in 25 years. That’s got to be high in comparison to the general public and bordering on harassment. The first 2 were simple matters where I was not affected. But the last 2 audits have been very stressful. I’m now doing the research and preparing my objection. I’m going to send it directly to the ATO officer who was handling the case. Unfortunately for me he can ignore it, since the commissioner already made a final decision, and I missed the 60 day window of opportunity to take it further with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Scottz – broke and getting mad

This is about off topic as it gets. My accountants of the past 14 years have just informed me of a tax bill I owe from 2007 / 2008 financial year. An ongoing argument with the ATO re the PSI test. Their last attempt to 'fix' the problem has made it worse and I now owe 3 times as much. Adding more pain and stress, the bill was due several months ago, but they forgot to tell me about it Like WTF So I am now searching for an accountant / consultant who can help me get through the PSI test (Personal Services Income) or at least give me a few options to work on. My wife has a heart condition and with so much owed and overdue by several months I had to ring the ATO and arrange something fast. I feared that if the ATO were to treat me as a debt risk, they may do something drastic (like seize assets & bank accounts) and my wife could have some health issues with the stress that would cause. So I quickly arranged a payment method with the ATO to get a bit of breathing space. Has anyone been through the PSI test? Especially those who are self employed. If anyone has some experience they can share I would appreciate it. You can pm me and swap info offline. I understand most people don't share bad news, it's kind of a human defence mechanism. We just want bad stuff to go away. I was considering contesting the rule, however since my accountants forgot to keep me informed I have missed the 60 day window available to lodge an appeal after the commissioner has made the final decision, which was done last April That stuffed my one last remaining option. Further there is the Federal Court - but cost rules that out. Only the rich can use the courts for justice, the rest of us get the stick. Regards, scottz - broke but not down yet.

Still FS? I'm interested.

Gunmetal grey looks good. I was trying the same but gave up and went for flat black. It took me ages to fit the front and rear fglass bumpers and front spoiler. I had to reshape them a lot to get a symmetrical appearance. Rear spoiler I have is even more difficult to shape and fit, also in fglass. I'm searching for ideas for a grill. Something with grrr that doesn't look like the original venetian blind. Anyway, lots done but still have the engine transplant to do. What are your plans for horse power? scottz

What's the goss Tim? Still got the zed? or are you now a 4x4 & boat owner?

Hi Rev, I just picked up this thread. Got home yesterday from another offshore work rotation. I have some 16" x 8 and 16" x 7 Rota's for sale. Since you have already ordered wheels, I might be a bit late but email me if interested. scottz

Yep, yep, yep.............too long in sadrock..........it happens ! Been here 14 years myself and have too much of the above. Can't trade the boat for your zed until I get the new bigger boat. Can't trade any of the 4x4's cause they're all new and the drivers would get upset. I can trade a '71 Pony..........or a couple of dogs? Interested ?

http://www.wimp.com/tiniestengine/ Watch a Master at work. Share and enjoy....... This is not CNC technology; this guy made everything at home on his lathe and drill press. Took 1220 hours (a year and a half?) to make the 261 pieces. Note the end-loaded crankshaft into the block (like an Offy), 12 individual cylinder heads, TINY rods and pistons, dual "underhead" cams with pushrods to rockers in the heads. And, he did break-in runs using an electric drill driving the crankshaft!

Welcome Heath.

When the lock bolt is over tightened it deforms the slot in the pivot pin. Especially if the slot is a touch narrow. The edges of the pivot pin slot get damaged and jam the pin in the bore. I found if you can tap the pin forward a few mm and slide a (very small) file through the lock bolt hole, you can file down the burred edges of the pin slot. Then tap the pin back the other way and file the opposite edge down. Working the pin back and forth and filing the edges of the pin slot, I was eventually able to get the pin out. Once it is out you can see the scour marks inside the bore where the burred edges touched. Before re-assembling, polish the bore out to remove the high ridges, then slide the pin through. If you reuse the old pin, polish that as well and leave no raised edges or burs. I removed the whole arm to do it. Easier that way.

Tim, The Stang is already home and resting quietly in the shed. RHD and very original. I'm working on a build spec for the 302w to stroke up to 331cid. You have my mobile and email so text or email a message and we can sort out a fishing day. I'm talking to a shop in Brisy to help finish the zed project. Not enough time at home to do it all myself. Only thing I'm still looking for is a LSD. Every other part I have. Here are some pics of the front suspension and brakes, which I was working on when you dropped by last.

Tim, I'll be home for 5 days from 3rd to 7th May. Last time I was home I got my boat ready, but I have to look up the new life vest classification (apparently some changes have been made). It's getting close to time for upgrading the boat. Imagine what the wife will be thinking if I towed a new boat home! If the weather is good, I'll show you some close reefs that you can get to in your tinney.

I ran out of steam a bit with this mod last year. After 5 years with the same company my contract was terminated. That's life for a contractor. Unemployed I was happy staying at home and working on the zed. But one day while out in the shed working on the car, my wife strolls over and asks me if I have got something else to do rather than hanging around home all day and suggests that I actually spend some time looking for a job. 2 weeks later I'm working on a construction site out west and now only get home for 6 days each month. Well 7 months later the wife is telling me to find a job that lets me stay home more often. You just can't win. Either your home too much, or too little. Here is a photo of the rear after the mod was finished. I'll dig out the other photos and give a bit more detail later. Simply I did a combination of cutting the strut tube & using a spacer above and below the insert, to allow for the new inserts being 85mm shorter. Front suspension has also been done and disc brake upgrade all 4 corners. Next is the engine transplant. Now to fix the wife's moaning I thought I would teach her a little lesson, and I bought this a few weeks ago. She doesn't dare say a word now. Any more complaints and the shed will really start filling up..

Oh darn! And all the best Peter. You say....."Fitter.....once at a mine".....uhmmm........please email me (you have my email address already) or just pm when you get a chance. Are you looking for new challenges, or do you already have a new opening? Scott.

Pick out half a dozen or so designs that you like. Give them to her and ask which are the best 3 she likes. In the conversation (over a few weeks - no rush) discuss colour options, cost of plumbing, light and power, plus a concrete driveway. Throw in a water tank for rain harvesting to make it enviro friendly. Get her to commit on these items and the value. Then wait a while and see if she starts to waiver on the shed idea. If she doesn't get cold feet, then she is up to something. Like maybe she wants the storage space, or is thinking about running a business from home, or a granny flat for the outlaws, etc... 20 years, I bet you have built up some equity on your home. It's not the shed, its how easily are you persuaded to increase your debt and start something new. Wait a while and it will all flush out....eventually she will let you in on her grand plan. Hmmm....if you build a shed does that mean the cars go in the shed and the garage on the house gets converted into a.......new kitchen, dining room, TV room, something or other that one of her friends has done to their home? Seen a few too many house and kitchen magazines lying around recently? I've got had a 5 bay shed. I am now reduced to 2 bays for me and 3 for the wife. She bought a new horse trailer, and I have to build an extension to the shed to fit it in. 5 becomes 6 and I still only get to use 2 ! Be very very careful...... And congratulations on 20 years.

Hi all zed fans and members, Merry Christmas to everyone. Play safe and enjoy your holiday break. Scott

I've cleaned and repaired a few fuel tanks over the years. After the first one was a success, friends / associates would turn up with their car or boat tank like I was some some kind of expert. Thing was at the time I worked at a facility that had steam generation (boilers). So the trick was to run a steam hose into the tank and have the tank tipped over so one of the penetrations (Fuel fill, breather or return) was at the low point to let the condensate drip out. Steam is a great cleaner and left on all night it will strip out anything in the tank. For really dirty tanks it is done a few times with water washing in between steaming. Warning (all readers): If you intend to do hot work (cutting, welding, soldering) you will need to do more than just clean it, so don't try my tip and think that's enough. If you don't have access to steam, then a chemical kit as handsandwhich has suggested is next best option for cleaning. Steveo, if you had gunk (fuel bacteria) you should flush out all your fuel lines as well. Otherwise the bacteria will return over time. You can treat it with some 'fuel doctor' (bug killer) mixed with your first 2 or 3 fill ups. You can buy it at Repco & Autopro. (Last time I bought it anyway).

If you are not as attached to your other cars - SELL THEM and not the Zed. And just for eye candy, how about some more pictures for the fans. Not often we see the real thing in its original package.

Fiberglass / epoxy resins that require 50/50 mix can be difficult in really hot or cold environment. Before you get mad and scrape all the goop out and start again, try brushing a very thin layer of only the hardner over the surface. Wait 24 hours and see if it works. I have found that sometimes it is successful. Also don't do it late in the evening and leave it over night in the garage. Too cold at night and it doesn't 'go off'. For painting it black, I have experimented with a spray can of paint for outdoor plastic furniture over fiberglass parts. First use the clear primer then the black coat. Product is called Plasticote and I got it at Bunnings for $15 a can. I was surprised how good it worked out for a cheap alternative. If you want to try it, use it on the inside of the dash and see what results you get first. Sprays on glossy but drys to a matt finish. For 30 bucks, I thought it was ok. Good luck.

Hi Tim, If you haven't yet got your tools and workshop gear delivered, drop over to my place and we can have a quick look. I'm located half way between Gladstone and Calliope. I'll pm the address to you. Scott.

Could be a runner for the Darwin Awards.