FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

I bought a van (one back to SA thank you very much  ;D )
But what a friggin debacle that was.
Sun 4pm Truckie calls to arrange to meet at 3:30AM!
Sun 11pm get to bed after thrashing out a copy of the SMASA Club Newsletter all day.
Mon 2AM Truckie calls to say he is early (Yay)
Mon 3AM Get to drop off point, at least three other suckers had to meet this guy, the van is off the truck and revving at the side of the road, then starts spraying steam everywhere before I shut it down. Truckie sorts out other drivers then agrees to take the Pano 5 mins down the road to the nearest 24hour servo. Dropped off, stripped out of most loose parts and locked up, I went home at 4AM for a little sleep.
8:30AM Called the car carrier and asked to speak to the boss, left message.
9AM called the Towie that I had left a message for Sunday arvo and texted at 8:30am, too busy, so I get one of his mates who can do it at midday, 11:30am the towie can't make it until 2PM at least. After a couple of hours work in the garage the Towies left a message at 1pm saying he'll be there at 1:30pm (takes us at least 40 mins to get there), when we arrive after an ATM stop we find he managed to get it on the Tow Truck anyway without the keys  ::)
My eldest son wants to start on it straight away, I'm fairly keen myself  :P

Thanks to Dave Mc (vmx-mxr) http://fefcholden.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,17470.0.html for all the help in getting it over and most of all the honest appraisal of the car over the phone. The car is in great condition (apart from the wiring) and should be in service within weeks.
I have a Gasresearch carb on stand-by, as luck would have it is was powder coated red  ;D and there is an LPG "scuba" tank on it's way from Melbourne.
 
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/Image00251024.jpg)

BTW, does anyone have any tips for a dummy trying to tune a 350 Holley carb?

On both sides of the carb you will find a small screw, grab a small screwdriver start the car, turn one of the screws in until the engine starts to slow/run rough turn it back out till it runs smooth, keep turning until out it runs crappy again then back in to the smoothest spot, repeat with the other screw then go back to the first one and do it again until both sides are in the optimal position(usually about 1 1/2 turns out), too easy, the main thing is to listen carefully to the engine and find the sweet spot, you may have to re ajust the idle if it was badly out of tune.
             Pedro

welcome to the Vanner's Club Stinky!  ;D 

I just need one of "those" stickers  ;)

Um, given yours has side windows, I think you'd better string up some curtains if you're gonna get one of those stickers!  ;)

Great work Stinky, you get to cruise in your shop truck every day and can use it as a tax deduction, coooool ;D ;D






 I also noticed that Kathy is about to tick over the 1000 post mark. Is this when she becomes a guru? If so well done.

BTW, does anyone have any tips for a dummy trying to tune a 350 Holley carb?

Hey Glen,

This is from memory:
Take off front bowl and check
Main jets around 52-56 ,powervalve 65 which is located in the plate between bowl and body. reassemble
Take out grub screw on side of bowl when fuel pump is runnning fuel should just dribble out. If not loosen big screw on top of bowl and rotate nut below until it dribbles, lock back up.
Check arm that comes from linkage and pushes down on shooter pump, at full throttle it still should have some downward shot left.
Finally after engine is warm as pedro has said screw in small screws one at a time until engine starts to stall and wind out 1.5 turns. Should be great, give me a call if needed
cheers
grant

Just means I've made a lot of snide comments to people, that's all Scott!  ;D ;D

OR you know it all  ::) ::) ::) that should get you a little closer ....FC427...getting ready to click over 999

999 - devil down under!  :P :D

Hey Stinky, I'll do some research and see if we can get some of those little mirror tiles for you  ;)  :D

(http://www.lolblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/facepalm.jpg)

Hey Stinky what an epic mate !!!

I am very happy to hear you are happy with the van and keen to get on with the job. Hope you can post some progress pics -especially the trimming out ?

What about that 'wiring' - told ya so, lol!

I'm glad it's gone to a good home. All being well I might bring the ute over next year to catch up with it.

Congrats on being on the verge of cracking 1000 too Kathi

Cheers

Dave Mac  :)

Wiring kit came in today, I went for the bare bones option this time  :-\ we'll see if it was the right decision on the weekend, I'm holding off I giving my ebay feedback until then too  ;D

Work started today!
Please note that this was bought as an unfinished project from vmx-xmr, who purchased it from someone else in the present condition, so none of this is Dave's work.
Gave the car a quick squirt up and down, goes great but the gearbox linkages may need adjusting as I couldn't get fourth  :-\.

Wiring "before" shot - the cheapie kit I bought isn't comprehensive so I had to carefully pull this mess out as I might need to reuse some of it. Interesting use of trailer wiring for the headlights and indicators
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100815FCPanoSTART13.jpg)

A couple of shots pre-wash and polish.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100815FCPanoSTART1.jpg)

Bumperettes are in at the platers.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100815FCPanoSTART8.jpg)

Does anyone know what this is? It had two wires leading into the rat's nest, not sure where they actually led though, there is a capillary Temp guage already so I assume it is for something else having two wires.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100815FCPanoSTART.jpg)

Does anyone know if this is a single or two-speed? it has Delco on it and I can only find three points to connect wires.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100815FCPanoSTART26.jpg)

 Stinky this Switch may have been used to switch the electric fan on and of ......FC427......

Yes, that would be it! Cool! (pardon the pun)

Looks like a great project Stinky.

Isn't wiring fun (at least they used different coloured wires).

Dean.

They sure did, green power wires, Blue power wires, black and even red power wires coming from the Battery-Starter motor feed  ::)

Stinky,

The first time I did electrical work on an M.A.N. bus (SL200) I got caught out big time, with the M.A.N. black is positive, RED is earth, guess who hooked the starter motor wires up backwards......... It took two sparkies 4 days to rewire the burnt mess.

At least you haven't got any burnt bits

Keith

Nice van Stinky,

Wot wheels and tyres you got on it ?

Mark

Hotwires at the moment, 13" on the front and 14" on the rear with 235 tyres. I have others to try out but will get the car running properly and regoed first.

I hated those hotwires at first, but they sorta grew on me. personally i reckon the stance on that car is spot on even with hotwires. maybe plain chromies 13" front 14" rear.
I couldn't believe the wiring either-bypassed it all to get that little starter switch set up working.

Jimmy (dave mac's son)

G'day Glenn

I reckon that switch is for the thermo fan too.

Can't help you on the wiper motor.

Gotta love that wiring, lol! Take a pic of the chopping block fuse board to amuse the masses mate - the guys brain was out to lunch when he did that wiring  :o

The starter switch and choke set up is a work of art though  ;) Two pretty savvy blokes set that up eh Jimmy....

I'm sure glad you like the van - buying or selling via emails and phone calls is nail biting stuff as I found out (happily as it turned out) when I took delivery of my EK ute from Qld.

When do you think we'll start seeing the interior take shape, and any idea on what front seats will be used yet?

Cheers

Dave Mac

It's long gone and I didn't take a picture of that  :( I'm probably mounting the new fuse panel there, purely for ease of access, as I tend to do my back when changing a fuse on my Sedan.

It was a shame to take it out, I'd keep it if I didn't something a little more secure.

Plans are being formulated, looks like there will be lots of red with black and white thrown in. I am thinking of a "customFC" shifter mod so that I can keep the front bench. I have been looking for a Tarago centre row seat with a fold-down so that I can fit the rear seat.

By the way Dave, do know what was done to the motor? She seems very pokey  :o  ;D 

Hi Stinky your wiper is single speed.Go the van
regards fat

Thanks for your help with that Jimmy, the Hotwires are staying for the moment, I don't mind them so much. I'll try the matching 14"s on the front this weekend but I'm guessing they will rub the guards  ::)


Thanks Fatboy, does anyone know how to wire one up?

I would try fused postive to the wiper motor and put a switch on the earth.  You could try switched positive but I don’t know what load rating the switch is.

G'day Glenn,

I honestly can't remember what the guy said about the engine as I had visions of more work on it. He did say it was a pretty decent engine but beyond that I have no idea. Did you have a fiddle with the carby yet?

He seemed to have gone to some trouble with an electronic dissy 350 and extractors so maybe he did a few things inside the old 179

As far as the wheels go - I seem to remember him saying the wheels rubbed hence the 13's but I would double check.

Better get going

Dave Mac

Well at least it has new oil, I had a little play and got it run a little better before I took all the wiring out. The fuel pump leaks, although not enough to cause the mysterious fuel disappearence, the transport company claim they had to put $20 in it  ???

Hi Glenn

Now that fuel thing is weird  ???

We put $30 in on the afternoon it was being picked up. We checked it would run and then just drove it all of 100m down my cul de sac and then up to where the tilt tray did the rest (and that was with a winch) - very weird !!!

Looking forward to the next instalment !!!

Dave Mac  :)

Got my LPG "scuba" tank today a few clever brackets and a space-saver spare and I should be "cooking with gas"  :-[
Also found some Oztion bargain lowering blocks that I'd forgotten about  ;D they're in for sure this weekend (assuming I can find the bolts).

No photographic progress, spent most of the day on the wiring and got most of it done. Still have to sort out the headlights/dimmer switch, reverse lights (need a switch) and a few other loose ends.
FC Seat is stripped and an early Tarago rear bench is donating it's tilt mechanism to the cause, this gives me a modern camper seat that tilts forward to allow access to the rear station wagon seat.
Trial fitted some Jellybean Mags that had 245s on them but alas they scrub, on the inner panel of the tub! with plenty of clearance on the outer side. The Torana diff might be more of a curse than a blessing.

Stinky i run 14 x8s with 235 60s and a torana rear end and had the same problem with the inner wheel tub . I masaged it with a hammer and now run a set of 6mm wheel spacers they now only rub very occasionally. you had a look at my car at the vineyard carpark on registration day at the nats gm chassis black FE with magnum rims and tripple dellortos hope this helps  Simon Addison

Thanks Simon, I think wheel spacers may be the go  ;)

Wheel Spacers  :o :o :o :o :o .......FC427........

It's either that or chuck in a HR rear end, then again with the bottle-jack flares I could probalby still get 265s under there.

Mark; you're right - it's naughty, but sometimes the only viable solution....

Stinky, I'm running an XU-1 diff with 14 x 7 rims and 215-70 tyres; rims have considerable offset out, but still rubbed on the inner guards; plenty of clearance on the outers (even without rolled lips)
3mm spacers prevented MOST of the rubbing; 5mm all of it...

So I will join Simon and you as recipients of a (well-deserved!) lecture from FC427 re the evils of wheel spacers...  :-[ :-[ :-[

(seriously though, Mark; aside from spacers being illegal, I would really appreciate and value your opinion on the possible  consequences of using them, and what sort of driving may induce or hasten these problems, and what steps, if any, those of us who choose to use them may take to minimise any problems...  I'm using best quality new studs with plenty of thread available for the nuts after the spacers are fitted; other than taking the spacers off, are there any other precautions I could be taking?)

You might actually be legal Jack, I believe XU1s came from the factory with wheel spacers, happy to be corrected though  :-\

XU1's definitely had wheel spacers - in fact the laters ones had multiple on each wheel where my 1970 model only has them on the front.

I'd be putting longer studs on though or at least ensuring that the wheels nuts engaged a similar amount to factory.

We run 25mm and 30mm bolt on spacers on our nissan drift car and add 3 and 5mm additional spacers when needed to suit different tracks and wheel types. These vehicles run under extreme conditions as far as wheel studs go and have never had one fail yet.

regards

Weddo

Jack no lecture I'm not the wheel spacer police   Craig is correct XU1 used spacers  about 2.5mm thick I think  ; I have had the wheel studs brake on a couple of my cars my FC included from using wheel spacers, if you have to use them turn up a set that fit properley [not the  universal shity ones]  the same as the mounting face of the mag you are using and glue them with together  once nice and clean with a hi temp Anaerobic Adhesive such as ThreeBond 1375B so at least it's not a floater spacer and always run hub centric wheels but as for me I will never overload my studs again with wheel spacers .....FC427.....

Thanks Mark; good info... do you think that running wheels with big offsets and/or spacers may impact on wheelbearing life?

cheers, jack

(sorry Stinky for butting in on your thread...  :-[)

As Mark has inferred, the major problem with spacers is that the wheel no longer locates on the axle or hub along with the fact that some punters do not change to longer studs when fitting spacers. You may remember also that some mag nuts are designed to lock against the axle or hub as well.
Now, that said, not all wheels have the same problems and not all mag nuts have issues. Rather than list a whole lot of different scenarios of what can and can't work, it is easier just to make spacers illegal. :P

Ken

Front seat mods.

Early 1990s(?) Tarago far rear seat adjustment mechanisms, the initial plan was to cut the FC seat and weld brackets to mount these to.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100915TaragoSeatMods01.jpg)

Plans changed  ;D this is the bare frame from the Tarago seat, after some more measuring the dimensions were close enough to incorporate some of the Tarago seat frames.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100915TaragoSeatMods02.jpg)

Closer inspection of some the seat springs and experience from the FE Sedan had me leaning towards a more modern foam base.
Restorers look away now  :P I removed the bottom spring set from the frame.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100915TaragoSeatMods04.jpg)

One thing led to another and I chopped the back off the frame, why not have an updated backrest to go with the base.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100915TaragoSeatMods05.jpg)

Assembled Tarago seat frame placed on the butchered FC seat base. Whilst the base comes up short the back rest is close to the original height of an FC backrest. A commondoor rear seat base (in the background) is currently being eyed for the bottom seat foam at the moment.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/stinky456/FC%20Panelvan/20100915TaragoSeatMods06.jpg)

Nice,neat mod Stinky.
 :o :)

Cheers

Ed

The only downside would be 2 people to change it or can you reach.

Or do i have no idea what im jibbering on about.

There is a rod that runs through the rear frame rail that activates the opposite side, One man operation  ;D

I just thought it might kill the moment with a lady friend  OI just pull that lever would you.

Nice work looking good.
No cars for a while for me we have bought a new house so have to pack projects into containers but there is a upside i get a new shed fully decked out.

Stinky,

what's the best way to "lower" a FB seat. I was thinking of just using cable ties to pull the std springs down.

Cheers

Ed

Chop the springs  :P but seriously, there are 4 coil springs at the sides then there are the rows of "zig-zag" springs holding up the front of the seat. The coil springs could be tied down, but the "zig-zag" springs should be able to be bent to a lower position.

Put a solid day in today (plus a couple hours yesterday) to get the wiring sorted, two steps forward and one back in most cases. Got the dash in and the car running, then went to run it around the back paddock to get it up to temp and see if the Thermo fan switch works, backed it out of my garage-on-high and clipped the retaining wall in the squeeze  ::)



CRACK!


Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

 >:( >:( >:( >:(

Then I drove back in the shed  :'(
Ripped a nice big hole in the side wall of the 245 wide Yoki, I'm sure it can't be repaired and finding another might be a bit of task. Some days I wish I had taken Golf more seriously  :P

Ouch that really sucks!! Can't fix sidewalls... hope you can get another one.  :'(

Good to see a couple of posts here, been missing no updates on the projects sections!

Cheers
JB

A few more wins!
- Pinched the sway bar out of my son's "EK Wagon Project"  ;D this allows me to run an engine fan, otherwise the fan would foul on the sway bar that was fitted.
- Cleaned up the water pump and thermostat housing, new gaskets and a new thermostat.
- Pinched the known good temp guage and sender from the FC Wagon.
- Modified the top radiator support (after cutting it out  ::) ) so that the radiator can now sit vertical instead of a slant.
- New Petrol tank sender and fuel guage lettering.
- Replaced the rear wheels  ::) need to find something for the front that'll match now.

Once the radiator and cooling system are buttoned up it's the gearbox. I think I have spotted the problem with 4th being 2nd, in the picture of Alex's gearbox below the linkages are both attached in upper positions on the gearbox, I have one up and one down  ???
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/customfc2/Holden/4spdconv03.jpg)

What do you do when the handbrake cable fouls the exhaust?

(http://s3.postimage.org/eTfOA.jpg) ($2)
Squash it until it doesn't  ::)

Arse end is now a little closer to terra firma  ;D

(http://s3.postimage.org/f7l90.jpg) ($2)


Much better, if I can get the correct profile tyre I'll put these on the front and run the larger wheels on the rear.
(http://s3.postimage.org/f7CC0.jpg) ($2)

All good, Stinky  :)

BTW, that shed is looking a little cluttered - maybe you should consider expanding it a bit?

That's only one half, you should see the other side  ::)

90% of the way through the customFC shifter mod, using a Speco Twin-Stick shifter. Forward gears are sorted, reverse not so much  :-\ the new position of the shifter up on the box means the separate reverse shifter is directly over the reverse thingy. I can get it to shift reverse but the lock-out wont work properly  :'( More work  ::) or the lock-out is getting turfed.

I am doing the same, using a Speco Twin Stick shifter and having it forward mounted to clear the seat. The way that I want to put the reverse linkages is to have a pivot point at the rear where the shifter originally mounted to ensure that I was able to run the shifter correctly and still use the lockout. HTH

Keith

Thanks Keith, that's set the cogs turning again (pardon the pun  :P )

A game of pool anyone? The 8-ball is a aftermarket item that I had lying around and the 11 is from a bloke on the FB-EK forum who sacrificed a set of pool-balls.


(http://s3.postimage.org/2mnflynic/17112010029.jpg) ($2)

Hmmm, even though the interior will be red and black, I might do a green felt/velour shifter boot  :o

geez.....  why not go the full  :o :o :o and do the shifter boot in grey leather?
(you must have some of that laying around somewhere...)

Tempting, I've got some lying around somewhere  :P

11 months later the shifter mods are finished  ::)
Next is the trans tunnel, let's hope that happens a bit quicker  :-\

Works good on the bench, let's hope this translates to the car  :-\
(http://s2.postimage.org/1mq0nf8bo/014.jpg) ($2)

I had to drop the back end, this should be the final ride height (the car is on axle stands)
(http://s3.postimage.org/1p6jwl8sk/022.jpg) ($2)

Update on the Pano, I am Glenn (Stinky's) son Jonas and I am currently working on my Fathers Panel van in hopes of using it as well as the FE Sedan (SIK056) on my P plates.  ;D

Since moving house we have done quite a bit to the car in order to get it road ready. We have currently fitted an Aussie 4 speed with an Impala twin shift instead of the Speco which is making its way into the Sedan. We had to make a spacer for the shifter to work, and have bolted a Torana cross member to the trans and plan to weld in outriggers to the frame rails and floor in order to secure the cross member and trans. Whilst doing this i have welded most of the trans tunnel and am waiting on Dad's assistance to complete it. We have also cut out the Panel van floor section and fitted a wagon rear seat with a pair of Capri buckets on BA Falcon rails in the front. This will allow passengers to get into the rear, these seats will be trimmed in a red and black leather combo by Dad. We have also gotten a set of 14x6 (F) and 14x8 (R) Jelly bean mags that we are yet to get tyres for, but are hoping to fit 245's on the rear! ;D Once the car is complete we plan to get it switched over to dedicated LPG so it will be cheaper to run daily, and hope to get the plates SIK059 for the Pano to match the Sedan (SIK056). I am very keen to get the Panel van on the road and drive it daily but unfortunately Dad shows the same amount of enthusiasm and will most likely rip the keys out of my hands for the first drive!   :-[

Photos to follow this, hopefully tomorrow night when I get the chance

Good to see you getting your hands dirty Jonas and that progress has resumed on the van

I am currently doing a panel van with a rear seat in it and am considering putting it back to stock

Probably a long shot but did you guys keep the bits you cut out for the rear seat area?

Gary

Gary, I noticed various pieces laying around in the yard  ::) so you might still be in luck. I will check where they are and if they are salvageable.

Thanks Stinky

Sorry about the wait finally have some photos after working out how to upload them

(http://i67.tinypic.com/o5uwyr.jpg)
Trans and shifter before the spacer

(http://i65.tinypic.com/rr4aa0.jpg)
Shifter spacer that I made

(http://i65.tinypic.com/5497uu.jpg)
Dash back together!

(http://i68.tinypic.com/nf2m4g.jpg)
Full set of Jelly bean mags repaired and polished for the Pano!

(http://i65.tinypic.com/5bybz4.jpg)
Trans and shifter in along with the drivers seat on its rails

(http://i66.tinypic.com/mubkf7.jpg)
Wagon rear seat mocked up

(http://i66.tinypic.com/1zzizo3.jpg)
Drivers and passenger seats in

(http://i67.tinypic.com/2wd0xt3.jpg)
Floor and Tubs, repaired, and painted

11 years of ownership  :o
I had the side windows filled last year, then put her into storage for a while, back home with the final(?) wheel and tyre combo fitted.

(https://i.postimg.cc/02mDcwv7/IMG-0508.jpg) ($2)

Very nice!!!

Got to be happy with that Glen. Any specifics on the rim and tyre size and backspace or offset please?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Not off the top of my head, and it's too hot to go out an check  ;D
I know the tyres are 185 and 245/60 R14
The next time they are off I'll measure up, BTW the rear guards have a slight pump to them.

Thats a great looking van ..  very nice . you must be very happy