FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

To All the FE/FC Enthusiasts

I am about to embark on my long awaited ownership of a classic holden.

The car I am buying is an FC Special 1958 that was last registed some 14 yrs ago. The car has been stored in a shed all this time and is 99.9% stock standard.

In the last 3 years it has received some attention but will require some minor work to re-register. The engine starts fine and it drives great for a car that has sat around for so long.

I want to keep the car as close to original as possible. So do not want any radical changes. My question is what would you suggest I do in the way of servicing the engine and car in general prior to driving my precious aquasition ?

I thought I should do a total Oil lube and fluid service and have the carby serviced.

The last old car I had was a Chev powed HQ Monaro 14yrs ago. I have not dabbled with cars much since then and am really looking forward to getting my hands dirty again.

I have an FE/FC workshop manual so have all the info to service the vehicle.

I am in Brisbane so if you recommend a mechanic or workshop please make it one I can go to.

Cheers Aries 8)  

make sure you flush the cooling system and pressure test it. if it were me i'd probably get the radiator re-cored to be on the safe side.

i'd also replace both the radiator hoses, and replace the fan belt because it is probably pretty corroded by now, and may snap easily.

maybe check the engine and gearbox mounts as well to be sure that the rubber is is good condition.

i would also check the brakes for signs of wear, and that all wheel cylinders are free from pitting and fluid isn't leaking past the pistonsit might also be a good idea to put new kits in the master cylinders, as rubber components can degrade over 14 years. while you're at it, fulsh the brake lines and replace the fluid in both the brakes and clutch. - the old flexible clutch hose that runs to the slave cylinder can be a real pain. i had one once that looked ok, but i couldn't bleed the clutch no matter how hard i tried. bought a new one and it bled properly in a couple of pumps. air was being sucked into the cracked hose, but the holes were too small to let fluid leak out.

check that the shaft where the throw-out bearing moves along is greased - as it may have dried up.

i'd also check the front wheel bearings, making sure they are adjusted properly, and packed with new grease. make sure your unis are still ok, and repack them with grease.

check/clean or replace your plugs and points, and check the timing.

maybe even dissemble the fuel pump and wash out the filter.

and i guess you have looked closely at the tyres, making sure there are no cracks or delamination.

i am sure there is more to do, but that would be a few starting points that i'd do if i got a stored vehicle anyway. 9apart from the oil change and lube that you've already suggested

My car sat unused in the garage for about 11 years so I speak from hard earned experience :-[

1. Replace or re-sleeve the brake wheel cylinders and fluid. Gree is right about the hoses, one on mine was stuffed as well. (rebuild cost in parts around $300.00 - $500.00 and worth every cent)
2. Fit a new radiator core (about $150.00 fitted)
3. Strip, clean and regrease the wheel bearings
4. Replace all oils including the gear oil (top up the diff)
5. Pump plenty of grease into every grease nipple you can find.
6. Get a range of imperial spanners and tighten EVERYTHING. It's amazing what a difference this makes.
7. Get ready for lots of little stuff to go wrong.
8. Get ready for lots more little stuff to go wrong.............
9. Enjoy!!!!

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on the purchase of an FC.

Cheers,

Craig.

Hi Again

I would just like to say this is the best website every. Everyone here is very helpful, and just so you know I have my QLD FE/FC club application partly filled in. I am just waiting for the car to arrive so I can fill in the rest off my detail and then hey presto I am a member.

I look forward to going to some meetings and some club days. I think you guy's are a wealth off information and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship.

I will put some pic's in here so you can all share in my joy. ;D

Cheers Jim

Welcome aboard Jim and hope to see yourself and your new bride (The FC) ;) at the nationals
John M

Hi Jim
In addition to the very good advice given by other forum members, I would suggest you have a very close look at the welch plugs (including the hidden ones inside the sideplate and behind the fly wheel), if the car didn't have good coolant in it or brass welch plugs then they are more than likely ready to let go from corrosion.
Cheers
Jock

Thanks again for the great advice I will be sure to check all these things youa all have suggested.

I will be at the nationals with bells on and if the old girl is up to it I might even bring her down for the day.

Here is a pic of the power plant.

Thanks and keep the suggestions rolling in. :D

You may also look at the water pump my car need a new one after sitting for a while .

Welcome aboard,
Cheers,
Graham

Great to see another one returning to the road.
With the ute that I have, I checked all of the above and the one extra was that my brake pads delaminated apparently the glue deteriorates with age or lack of use.

Cheers
Jason.

Good to see another crazy holden person,
When you do the brakes dont foget to change the three flexible brake hoses as she has been sitting so long

Cheers ChrisB  8)

Well ppl

Just thought I would let you know the deal is nearly done all that is left is to pay for the old girl and have her transported to brisbane.

The ppl I am buying the old girl off have done a bit of work in recent time ie the brakes, paint, oil, radiator and a few other bits and pieces. I will still be doing most of the stuff suggested and making sure I do it properly.

I have more pic's of her but they are at work, I will post some tommorow for all to see. I especially love the number plate FC0058. You have to love it.

Cheers Jim   :D

Hi Ladies and Gents.

Well the day is near, the arrival of my own FC. I pay for her tomorrow then its on the truck for the long haul from Adelaide to Brisbane.

A lot of the advice you all have given me will come in handy. The previous owner has put some effort in and the old girl is again registered. I own the plates and will be hanging onto them like gold. I truely believe she was ment to be mine so am looking forward to a long loving relationship.

I will be joining the club (QLD branch) in the next few days so keep an eye out and I hope to meet you all at the nats. I will be bring the old girl to meet some of her relatives.

Hers a pic of my old lady of the road.

Cheers and thank you all heaps.

Jim  ;D  ;)

G'day,
Good to see another grey resurrected! One thing everyone seems to have overlooked (especially if you intend doing a few miles), you should consider changing the timing gear before you get stranded on the side of the road.

I look forward to seeing you at the Nationals

...Or at least obtain some advice about changing the timing gear and how necessary it is.

There are many different versions of the timing gear story.  Some people have had many many cars, and not one timing gear has gone, others have had only one and have had the timing gear go.  

Then there are the different replacement options - I think 2 or 3 -  which is another question in itself.

I am only a novice at all this and I know others know heaps more and can offer you better advice that what I can give, but the one thing I was worried about was the timing gear after getting the wind put up me by someone who had a bad experiece with the timing gear in their car.  But I found out by asking around that one bad experiece doesn't mean they all are.

Just a thought (my 2 cents worth!), with no offense meant to anyone.

Cat

Hi Cat
Any advice is good advice. I will start another post in reference to timing gear in the old greys and see what response we get.

Cheers Jim

Ah the timing gear, it must have a few bad stories to tell.

When I changed the gear in my EK I bought a steel one from a guy in SA.  It was recommended to me from a guy who had suffered the fate of a broken gear and replaced it with another fibre one, only for this one to fail as well.

I can't find his number but maybe someone else might have it?

Cheers a-c.

having owned 5  FCs and 1 FE,i have never had a timing gear let go on me but the brake lines have burst twice on different cars

American Auto Parts in Sydney sell the steel gears,helical cut the same as fibre so not noisy.
https://www.americanautos.com.au/secure.html

I think I should get commision of these guys ;D

When I rebuilt the current grey in 1989 fitted new fibre gear still going OK.(It will more than likely break now) ::)

John M

He John,
as I told you the other week, stop talking about it

Murphy might hear you !!!!   ;D

Cheers ChrisB

Oh Well Chris all I can Say is thank God for the NRMA Gold Card (There I go again giving out free plugs). ::)
Besides I can always sell it for parts to all the rest of you as you drive past ;D
John M

Hi Again Everyone

Well my baby Has arrived, be it late but better than never.

I only picked her up this afternoon after many phone calls and searching, I found out she was delivered to another depot and was ready for pickup 3 days ago.  >:(
Any way I had to drive the poor old girl from brissy airport to Ipswich. (15 yrs in a shed) I nearly had her towed. I took my time and she handled it ok. I need to do some work on the brakes and clutch.

My first impressions of her, bare in mind this is the first time I have layed eyes on her for real, "Gee I have some work to do". First turn of the key and she started, "that impressed me".

""I think I am In Love"" and only after our first date. she purred like a kitten and by the time I hit the cunningham hwy the brakes had freed up the temp guage dropped and I was cruizin at about 90 (KPH not MPH). I know this coz my sweet loving wife followed me all the way home. I think she was more excited than me.

Any way thats enough for now, I will wash her in the morning and take some pic's

See you all tommorow.

Jim

Alright Jim
Found this chestnut, how's the rebuild going? Pictures please.
Effie C
(527 Posts) ::)

John
All is not well with the old girl. I have started the slow proccess of stripping her down. So far I have found a lot of rust that has become quite noticeable. It is amazing what happens to rust once you start to drive a car that has been stored for years.

Road vibrations are a gem for working all that scaled rust away in hard to see and quick fix (cover ups) areas.

It is amazing to see what lengths ppl will go to to sell a car. Things like a shit load of glue and brand new carpet to cover up and hold the floor together. The floor looked great from under the car, when I lifted the carpet it was quite heavy with all that rusty floor glued to it.

I am reserving my decision on what to do with Grac untill she is completely stripped and I can have a proper look at the shell and its condition. It looks good on the surface. Old grace is a bit like a mud guard, shiny on the outside and shit underneath.

We all have to live and learn, but at my age you would think I would know better. I was like a kid at the lolly shop when I finaly convinced the trouble and stife to let me have an FC, I needed it and I needed it yesterday. If all goes well I will not loose out and infact may well end up with 2 FC's in the long run.

I will post some photos real soon.

It is amazing to see how many posts I have made in less than a year. I have gone from a nobody to a GURU with 600+ posts and I still have no idea what I am on about.