Project Shute

3: The Buildup Starts

I had heard that Brett from OnTrack 4WD Centre in Slacks Creek had converted a wrecked LWB GQ wagon, into a Ute with a 350 Chev. As he was relatively local, and obviously had great taste, I enlisted his help with Shute.

A few weeks of stuffing around trying to get the engine and the Shorty down to OnTrack, and we were on our way. Out came the transfer case, auto, engine, and that's how it sat for a week or so whilst waiting for the adapter to arrive from Marks 4WD Adaptors.
 

Shute in need of an engine

During this time I got to thinking about chopping it down again. It just looked so empty sitting there without an engine.. How hard could it be to chop it into a Ute? Have chainsaw, will chop..

The Adaptor arrived, and the auto went into the auto shop to get it's new shaft in. A once over at the shop revealed that little bits of metal had been floating around inside, and had settled as it'd been sitting for a while. Bugger! This is one of those added costs you should never tell the missus about.. Take it from me, they don't like hearing about unforeseen costs. A quick rebuild of the auto and we were moving again.

Whilst waiting around for the auto to get done, I decided to go the chop. Alf down at OnTrack was supposedly a master choperupperer, so he was given the task of the conversion. First Shute was stripped naked..
 

Shute Stripped

Then before the chop, started the engine was thrown in the bay, the auto hooked up, lines run to the cooler etc.
 

350 Injected Chev feeling at home in Shute

Then almost straight after the engine was in, she was chopped right down the middle. Alf had a lot of fun chopping her up, and ticked everyone off all day with the noise. My SWB GQ was now officially a "Shute". For those who haven't figured it out yet, it's a Shorty Ute.
 

Now officially a Shute



Shute Chopped with a GQ LWB Extra Cab back panel resting on her.



Side on view of Shute after the chop

It actually looked a lot better than I thought it would after the chop. I was doing it more for practical reasons, and to be a little different, but in the end I think it's going to look alright as well.. Almost forgot, the front guards got chopped..
 

Front Guards Chopped to accommodate bigger rubber

Continue to next stage. Click here..


Shute Menu

1: The Early Days
2: The Plan
3: The Buildup Starts
4: Cab Complete

Media: Shute Photos



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