Tin Tricks Ltd

27/03/2026

Some shiney bois for your Friday viewing pleasure...

We all know billet wheels are pretty big money to buy new from the states down this part of the world, so often its more cost effective to have sets that are already here modified to suit our needs.

In this case, it was 2 different sets that James wanted to be able to swap over without any fitment issues on his Hilux build when he feels like it.

Elite Wheel Co in Christchurch took on the task after I decided what was needed and wrote them pretty instructions in pink pen...

The first pair were some 18x8" Boyd Coddington Blasters from a set that we brought back with our luggage from Aussie a number of years ago. I'm not the biggest fan of "square" sets of billets on minitrucks, so to make up for the lack of width in the rear, I had Elite cut out the centres and flip the barrels to make use of the non-stepped lip, clean up the lip/repolish, and reweld the centre in a 4" backspace instead of the original 6" to give a decent lip to them.

The second set were some old 90s style Boyds Deuce rims in 17x8. Elite added a new stud pattern, fixed a few dented lips, machined a bit of clearance into the front pair to suit the big brakes, and gave the rears the same treatment as the blasters by flipping the barrels and setting to 4" backspace. Finished off with a full repolish.

Cheers to Fraser and the team at Elite Wheel Co for getting them sorted, and to Mike at LKTraz Motors for the door to door transport.

04/03/2026

Friendly Psa...

Due to current workload, and the ever increasing interruptions I get, the workshop is strictly closed for any visits/catch ups and progress check-ins unless it has been discussed prior and is absolutely necessary.
When the time is suitable for me, I will tee up a visit with current customers.
Constant messages and phone calls will be ignored. I will reply when I get time.
For those that have been asked to collect their vehicles, you will need to book a suitable time with me to make that happen so we can work around the weather as I cannot put bare metal work out in the rain.

I appreciate the understanding. Heres some bo**er welds off some off the s**t I get to repair for your viewing pleasure. I suspect these people had too many interruptions and lost focus...

-Matt

30/11/2025

Did a couple of pre-season rush re-panel jobs a while back on the new 741a cars of Craig and Tiana Chatfield.
Craig bought the ex-long/wooton Rees/Hartley combo superstock in the offseason and wanted to change up a few things, replace some missing/damaged panels and get it ready for teams racing.
This required 3 sets of main side panels for both sides, and 2 sets of all the numberless panels to be made. 1 set ready for black normal racing colours, 1 set in Auckland Allstars teams livery with 741a, and a 3rd set also ending up in blue Auckland Allstars for 66a numbers as Randall will be pedaling the car as well.
Made 2 matching radiused exhaust heatshields with new floating style mounts to replace the ugly flat/square type.
Raised and re-angled the front edge of roof then modified 2 engine covers/bonnets by splitting them, and making mounts through the centre, chaged the angle of scoop to a cut-back/letterbox style, and dropped the scoop height down 50mm for better vision. Also added a dirt deflector infront of scoop as it seems like all the cool kids are doing it these days, and Craig wanted to fit in. Plus a few other bits here and there.

Tiana had a new ministock built for this season and it needed a few new panels made, and a few from her old car modified to fit.
I made a new roof and some rear cage filler panels so it wasn't so open. New firewall and closing panels around gearbox. Modified the old bonnet to fit around the Humphries strut mount system. Made the original hinge setup work at rear and dzus clipped the front. Plus I added a small air path under it to the airbox (Tested and confirmed to add 300hp). And made a blanking panel for infront of radiator to help get car up to temp. And lastly made a switch console slightly larger than the original.

Both cars came out great in thier final colours.

https://www.facebook.com/share/197N8wiyVe/

(Teams photos courtesy of Shannon Savage and NZ Speedway pics)

17/08/2025

Giveaway time...

Its our 14th Anniversary here at Tin Tricks so who wants a billet spud gun?

Post up a project that you and your kid are working on currently. Whether its lego, a school project, a cardboard box fort...anything....
I'l pick something cool and they can get some billet hardware to start off thier trophy cabinet.

14/06/2025

Fresh off the spinneriser and off to Ano. Pair of hilux disc swap hats in 4x110 pattern for MAX Fabrication

30/04/2025

Congratulations to my good buddy and local Lvv Certifier Clint Field on getting another NZV8 magazine feature with his Plymouth.
Thanks alot for the recognition in the feature and also for involving me with the build over the years, it was cool seeing it progress.
Seb was a friend for many years and colleague whilst we were at The Drop Shop.
I know he would be stoked with how the car turned out.

And Thanks for signing my copy 😆

18/02/2025

Ryan from Riggs Vintage Mazda in Canada spent his Christmas holiday in NZ and managed to catch up with Kirk who owns the twin dizzy 2-coupe we have been repairing here.
We yarned about old Mazdas for a while and did some You-Tube stuff but the highlight of his visit was seeing my old Honda Citys.

Riggsy visits Kirk Oddy's insane Rotary collection in Auckland New Zealand. We chat about the NZ mazda rotary car show scene, and what's up and coming for hi...

06/02/2025

Just a casual 1100mm non-stop blaze on some 0.6mm.
30amps and a little dab of 20ga er70s-6 mig wire to refresh the puddle every 15mm or so.

The things we do for that perfect

29/10/2024

The moneyshots.

Our rear big brake conversion kit to suit G-series Toyota Hilux & Hiace axles.

TinTricksMfg Billet 6061-T6 Alloy rotor hats to adapt the 310mm x 20mm Ultralite vented Rotors.

TinTricksMfg Billet Steel Caliper brackets to suit the Billet Powerlite handbrake calipers.

Also includes a full plated and heat-treated fastener kit to suit using all the good stuff.

Rotor Hats are hubcentric to both axle and rotor as per NZ LVV standards and surpass all other LVV requirements in every aspect.

These 'bolt on' kits suit 17" wheels upwards comfortably. Pictured with a 17x7 zero offset for reference. (May suit a 16" rim but would depend on I.d where tyre mounting dip is.

Can be sold as a bracketry kit only or as a complete package.
Pm the page for more info and pricing.

09/08/2024

Duncan's S'cab is up for grabs. 12+ years since I had this in the shop, time flys when you're busy...
This thing was pretty wasted when it came in. I think the only panel that didn't require any work was the roof. Everywhere else had rust so credit to Dunc for committing and seeing it through to the end.

Quick run-down of work off the top of my head...
lower nose inner/outer panels,
lower A-pillars both sides,
inner/outer lower doglegs boths sides,
inner/outer lower b-pillars both sides,
inner/outer sills both sides,
both rear corners,
both rear inner battery tray panels,
rear upper engine lid hinge xmember,
full Lh upper side rail,
80% of the upper cargo floor xmembers,
full upper cargo floor replacement,
treasure chest door skin,
lower 40% cargo floor repairs,
seat pod repairs both side,
footwells both sides,
2x chassis xmembers,
Chassis rail repairs both sides,
rear cab wall panel replacement and frame repairs,
Lower windscreen opening repairs,
Headlight bucket repairs,
new tailgate and 2x new sidegates,
all hinges re-bushed...

Underside/lower blast by JetBlast
Body/Paint by Graeme Hughes P&P
Mechanicals/Assembly by Euro Auto Services
Repair Cert by Euan Clark
and shout out to Nick McDonald for the extra hands.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/listing/4851609033

23/07/2024

rear bracketry kits are underway at the machine shop.
If you are wanting to disc swap your G-series Hilux/Hiace axle using calipers & rotors, then my bracketry/fastener kits are what your need to make life easy.

A limited number will be available, so don't mess around.

Private message the page for info and pricing options.

Note: these require 17" wheels minimum