Kustom Bitz

01/09/2026

Ed from AustralianEVS visits Ron in the new Kustom Bitz workshop. Ed is doing leading work in developing EV kits for local classic cars. To think of it in more familiar terms, Ed is producing an EV equivalent to a crate engine for me to install in any classic car or Hot Rod. It is a very interesting time in the EV space.

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12/08/2026

Road trip to Whyalla Nostalgia Drags this October.

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08/07/2026

STREET MACHINE did an article on the Toyota ute last year. I've been that busy restructuring and moving the business over the last 12 months, I completely forgot until I stumbled across it this morning online. What a nice surprise, thanks for the kind words Kian. I get buried in the work day to day and an article like this when I see it, I think wow, did I do that? It's been a project of epic proportions that's for sure. I am looking forward to doing more work on it over the next few weeks so stay tuned.

Ron Smith is adding a whole lot of clever metalwork to a super-rare Toyota ute to make one neat, slammed cruiser

15/04/2026

One of the many split panel repairs on the Model A crew cab body.

07/04/2026

Before and After video of fitting a drag sway bar on the diff. The torque of this big block Ford on the 41 Willys first outing at Portland was phenomenal, but the body rolling over needed to be contained for consistency and predictable handling off the line. So I fitted a drag sway bar kit from Competition Engines. We went to Mildura and it was a great result, lowered the 60ft and consistent all weekend.

07/04/2026

29 Model A crew cab rear window rust repair. It was quite pitted and rusted through in spots, so I replaced that whole area.

31/03/2026

Model A crew cab - lower cab back panel is rough, well was rough, a 97 year old panel, its good to still be able to use it. It's one of those things if you change every original panel to a new one, when does it no be an old car anymore 😀

I've got it back to a point that'll be quite acceptable for a no frills body with matt paint. Before and after pics.

27/03/2026

29 Model A crew cab floor frame is coming along, a good foundation for the cab frame. I had to rework the bottom of the cowl to make it work with these fibreglass running boards and keep the bonnet edges square to the cowl top edge. Sheet metal gaps to be filled later. Bolt down bungs do not rely on the welds to hold body as they clamp the bottom of the tube, strong as.

20/03/2026

I just got the insurance renewals in from Lumley and they have folded and sold out to RACV. I've been with Lumley since the VGL days. Not 100% sure if RACV is ok its been my experience RACV don't understand Hot Rods and modified cars at all, I dunno. What's the general consensus out there Shannons? or this newer Enthusiast Insurance group from Sydney.

10/03/2026

We are up and running again. First day of serious work at the new joint in Mount Evelyn Vic. A walk around the new workshop.