FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi all

I am after info on what the obvious differences are between ute/Van to Station sedan tailgates.
I have been chasing one for my wagon so don't have one to compare and the couple I have found don't know what they are off


Any help would be great

thanks Kenny

Ute and vans are larger in height than the wagons, and the wagons have the lock going throughout the skin where the ute/ van is on the inside of the tailgate.
Jim

I thought the vans were the same as the wagons with upper and lower tailgates.

Happy to be corrected. I believe ute has smooth skin behind badge. Wagon has a raised pressed section for badge to mount on ( mine has). Seen one on eBay or gumtree other day minus badge but with this feature, very high price of $500 though.

Item no Ebay  Ebay Item #161702747498
Disclaimer I have no connection to the listing

obvious difference

   wagon and van tailgate have the channel for the rubber seal that runs across the top of bottom tailgate
   utes do not have this channel because the seal not needed across the top
    utes have a different shape across the top aswell  wagons have a slight turn in at the sides to go with the contour of the body
     
 thats  what l have noticed
 ute tailgates, very hard to find especially in good repairable condition 
     
    greg

Wagon and van tailgates are interchangeable. The part number is 7406137. Ute tailgates are different in lots of areas including hinges, general shape, lock mechanism and badge mounting area. The ute tailgate part number is 7406156.

Wagon/van tailgates are generally pretty easy to find even in rust free condition. Ute tailgates on the other hand are very hard to find even with repairable rust. A mint rust free ute tailgate is like finding a hen with braces on its teeth.

Ken

Hi All  ..  were the ute tailgates the same right through from FE-EK?

Thanks all but probably more confused now as some say ute van higher. some wagon/van same. the replacement skins say they suit ute and van only.
is it easier to go with wagon has handle and raised area for badge

My feeling was that they were interchangeable but the parts book says the part numbers are different between FE/FC and FB/EK. Maybe the differences are only internal or decorative.  the FB/EK has a different badge on the back doesn't it?

Ken

ek has station sedan badge fc has chrome emblem with raised area I see from internet surfing. after wagon tailgate but I see a lot of vans that have the emblem and handle and am confused with the rare spares skin saying only suits ute/wagon

sorry rare spares skins only suit ute / van

Rare Spares should probably drop the word ute from there description.
The original part number they quote is # 7413832 which is the panel assembly , outer lower for FB/2104, EK/2104

(http://s28.postimg.org/o6c58io09/FB_wagon_tailgate.jpg) ($2)
This is the tailgate skin they refer to.


(http://s9.postimg.org/4kym4a66z/FC_wagon_tailgate.jpg) ($2)
The FC tailgate has the raised section for the badge.


(http://s2.postimg.org/8lu4hjul1/FC_ute_tailgate.jpg) ($2)
This is the ute one which they do not make a skin for.

The rare spares skin will fit FE/FC wagons but has no raised section for the badge.

Hope this makes sense

Cheers Stewy   8)

Kenny, ignore the skin seller, doesn't know what he is talking about, pics are attached.
First is a wagon followed by a van. Quite clear that they are the same and different to the ute.

(http://s29.postimg.org/wn1rywe8z/image.jpg) ($2)

(http://s29.postimg.org/j4qa8vcpv/image.jpg) ($2)

Ken

thanks all this helps and I will be able to choose one easier now

Ken is that FE wagon still in circulation?

Looks a lot like FErgus should. Teal blue over Breton Blue.

Interested to know the production number if you have it listed to compare how far apart these two wagons were made.

Cheers Stewy   8)

Sad story Stewy, I bought the wagon about 25 years ago out of a shed. It was a mint car one owner with low miles and great interior. It was the first FE wagon in the Vic club and the first in my database. It was body number 4112A.
Anyway cutting a long story short, I sold it to a new owner who rolled it 5 times in a nasty crash. It was written off.

Ken

Indeed a sad story.   :(

FErgus is a little older being 3018A and the 10,924th FE (in any body style) assembled in Adelaide.


(http://s14.postimg.org/3v21mn43h/027.jpg) ($2)

Cheers Stewy   8)

I think our FE ute has an FB or EK ute tailgate, the profile seems to be a little less fuller than FE FC when viewed from the side although not so obvious in the pics, also as Ken mentions the badge holes would be different

(http://s15.postimg.org/r828jek53/FE_UTE_REAR_VIEW.jpg) ($2)

(http://s1.postimg.org/6zfmeh2hn/FE_UTE_PKUP.jpg) ($2)

The ute tailgate skin is widely available through several rust repair manufacturers and suits FE FC utes FB EK utes and vans, the wagon tailgates are not available anywhere unless you have a nos one.
The confusion maybe because  FB EK vans share the same tailgate shape as the FE FC FB EK ute. FE FC wagon/van tailgates interchange with FB EK wagons and vice versa only, but there are a few differences as noted with the badges.

That makes good sense Scott, as the FB/EK van has a higher roof line the tailgate must be higher and the opening handle is on the top tailgate.
Glad you were able to clear that up. I have not had the need to chase tailgate skins so have not physically measured any up.
Always learning something about these models all the time.

Cheers Stewy   8)

Well there you go! Who would have thought that FB EK vans had ute tailgates? :-\
Collecta you are a champion!
Just goes to show you can't assume commonality across a model change.

Ken

Except for the position of the handle !

...also just noted in the MPC, the FE219, 229 and 2104 lower end gate is P/N 7406137, whereas the FC219, 229 and 2104 lower end gate is P/N 7406669  ? ...

...i guess the FB/EK ute tailgate would differ from the van in some minor detail, but it also means your search can be broadened to the FB/EK vans for the hard to get FE-EK ute tailgate....

FE vans and wagons had a different seal between the upper and lower gates.
FE - There is no seal retainer on the lower gate, but there is a fairly crude seal. There is a seal and retainer on the upper gate.
FC - There is a more comprehensive seal and retainer on the lower gate and no seal on the upper gate
Otherwise they are the same
Something to remember though because they can only be interchanged.
The FC seal is reproduced but the FE seals are not.
Ken

...great info Ken  ..  thanks for explaining the detailed differences....

Thanks everyone for the info. I have been able to identify a rust free station wagon tailgate so on with my resto.

Its funny how the subtle differences aren't noticed until we need something

To me that's what this forum is all about.
The sharing of knowledge for the restoration of these great examples of Australian motoring history.
The more of these we can preserve in either stock or modified guise the better.  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)