FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Most everyone in the NSW Club has heard about this by now so I thought I'd post some pictures.

This is a picture of my new car, a July 1959 FC Wagon. Car was one family owned - the orignal owner passed away some 28 years ago - and after this it was driven sparingly by the family and garaged religously as a reminder of their loved and missed father.

The car was in full rego until 1997 when it was stored until being placed outside about 15 months ago. Although covered, the car detioriated quickly so the paint is a bit worn and some minor rust has begun in the front sill. Otherwise the rest of the car is excellent and rust free and the interior is extremely good.

The head gasket was blown, this has now been fixed, and the gearbox is a little noisy on overun in second gear - this will be fixed this weekend, with a view to having the car on club registration in the next couple of months.

I am looking for some minor bits and pieces, so if you have a drivers side lower seat plastic, a wiper knob, or an original passenger side headlight harness please let me know.

I'll post some more photos soon.

Cheers,

Craig.

Interior shot

Very nice Craig, and good to see another beauty going to a caring home.
John M

Head ready for refitting

Engine bay as found. Car has original battery cables, orignal shock absorbers front and rear, original toolkit, owners manual in as new condition, all round a great find, and a pleasure to return to the road.

nice car craig       welcome to the"two tone blue station sedan club" ;D ;D
          cheers trev

Spectacular find!!!

Sounds like a right place at the right time scenario.

Looking forward to appreciating it up close.

Emu

Craig,
What a great looking car we can now start a Blue club.Doesn't look that different to my 2 tone.
Cheers,
Graham ;)

Graig
       Great find, Looks like not much to do and there will be another Old Holden gracing our roads.

Regards
Sarge

Nice pick up Craig it looks in real good nick lovely and original i am just in the middle of replacing the headgasket on my wagon it should be done on wednesday as it has not done much driving since the Gold coast Nationals! Good luck with the seat sides they are getting bloody hard to get. Will it be at the ACT Nationals?
Brett

Thanks Brett, I'm glad you like it.

I will be taking both my cars to the next Nationals - the wagon will be in "cleaned" but unrestored condition, and will be entered in my name with my younger brother driving.

Part of me always regretted repainting/refurbishing the sedan so I'm going to use the wagon as found for a couple of years and then fully restore it for the FC's 50 anniversary in 2008.

Cheers,

Craig.

Well Craig that makes two of us taking 2 cars i will be taking the wagon and the sedan to Jindabyne can't wait it should be ace fun and the more wagons the better.
Brett

nice wagon craig if ewe is lookin for another driver for the nats im yer bird  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hi Craig
Great to see your new car looks realy top car  nice be good to see it
WAYNE

Nice to see you finally came out.
The wagon looks great. You lucky dog.
Resto for the 2008 Nats......does that mean the tear down should start around Feb 2008. :)
Thanks for sharing the pics. Look forward to seeing her on the road at a club run soon.
Regards
Alex

 .....................(speechless)

Dave

Thanks to everyone for their interest in the new wagon.
Here's some more shots of where it was found.

another

another, notice the plastic and tape over the rear tailgate. This is what saved the car, no water could enter the rear compartment which remains perfect.

And have a look at how it had sunk into the ground. You could hear the cracking noises as we jacked it out of the ground.

New petrol, oil change, and new battery, couple of pumps on the pedal - and a puff of blue smoke.

;D IT WORKS

The car is a little bit dirty and dusty, but still a happy and proud new owner  ;D ;D ;D

Thanks again guys. I can't wait to get it registered and start driving it to club runs.

Craig,
The Wagon (Station Sedan) looks great. ;)
A rare find these days.
Whats its name? ;D
Regards ACE 8)

Craig...
I'm jealous mate... nice looking wagon!! Can't wait to see it in the flesh.
A 2-tone blue wagon is my dream car.... the main reason I fell in love with the FC was a sweet looking 2-tone blue FC Sedan I saw in a Street Machine mag back in about '85/'86, and I always wanted a wagon version. My ultimate car would be a 2-tone blue wagon, lowered, buckets and a thumping V8....!! Just dreamin' though...

Good luck with it!! Glad to see she ended up at a good home too BTW....! and keep those pics flowin'......
Cheers.....
Les

Thanks for your comments Ace, Les.

I should have it ready for the Club run to Berrima in May - thats the goal anyway. It will be mechanically finished after this weekend, it will then just need some work to the drivers side sill, and some new tyres. It only needs a pink slip for rego so it should pass easily. It will then go on to Club Rego.

I might get my brother to give it a touch up here and there as well as the paint is a bit average in some areas.

And Ace, how about the Bloo Mobile  ;D Matches nicely with the Poo Mobile!

Cheers,

Craig.

here's a picture with the head off the engine. Unfortunately the engine is not the original - its an EJ engine but looks like it hasn't done a lot of work, very little in fact. Although it had a blown head gasket, the engine was very quiet in operation, no smoke, and doesn't seem to leak any oil. Has some markings which I think are from Gem engines.

I had to repaint the head as it was chemically cleaned, so this also meant the block has had to have a new coat of paint, that's why it looks so fresh in the photo.

The bores have very little wear, no lip, and the pistons weren't badly carboned up, I just gave them a wipe with a thinners rag and they came up shiny as per the photo.

Looks good Craig, congrats on a great find! look forward to seeing it soon.
Gary

Wagon is nearly completed mechanically - on the weekend the gearbox was replaced (thanks to John Rap for his help) and some other minor stuff repaired including a rear uni that was missing some of the roller bearing that explained the clunking noise in the rear end.

It now drives very well, quiet and smooth like a good original car should.

Rear brakes need a service, head a retension and readjustment of the tappets, and that should cover it.

More photos soon.

Cheers,

Craig.

Great news.  Big thumbs up to all concerned.

cheers
RET

WOOOOHHHOOOOOOO!!!

The wagon is REGISTERED  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

New crossplys fitted and then passed a pink slip today without any problems.

Here are some photos taken this afternoon. The paint isn't that fantastic but it now drives perfectly and everything works great - except a squeal from the water pump bearing which is to be expected when its been sitting so long.

Anyway, I'm one happy camper, and here are the photos.

(http://www.ctcgroup.com.au/Craig/CraigsWagon.jpg)

Berrima run here I come!!!

Cheers,

Craig.

Oh, and I forgot to mention another couple of happy campers.

congrats Craig.
And looks like the girls are having a ball.
Cheers,
Graham

looks good Craig, I'm keen to see it, when is the run?
Gary

Gary,

Berrima run is next weekend, Sunday 16th May. Details will be in this months Sideplate (comes out Tuesday) and at this weeks club meeting. Details will also be posted up on the NSW area of the forum.

Cheers,

Craig.

Hey Craig....
Congratulations on getting the ol' wagon registered. Awesome job...!! Top pics too..!!

Cheers
Les... ;)

Good to see another classic FC on the road.

MICK

Hi Craig
Great to see you got the car on the road without any problems be good to see another car  has been saved.
WAYNE

 ;) Hi Craig, It's a good looking wagon and thanks to you it's on the road well done, :D Good on you mate.
Regards. Leon   ;)

Craig,

Looks good. Shall I pack a spare water pump in the boot for next weekend?

Out of interest, where did you buy the crossplies? I'm after a set.

Regards

Edward

Thanks guys.

Edward,

I purchased the tyres from a local tyre place - CC Tyres  in Penrith. They are 6.40 x 13 Crossplys - cost $70.00 each. The guy had to get them in, but it only took a day.

Cheers,

Craig.

hi craig,very nice find i just curios on how much you score it for as i'm after a complete wagon myself FE/FC,also one other question can i ask you to post some progress pic's for me PLEASE.as my other sourse has failed me.i can only send normal pic's to be scaned though,hope you can help as i'm droolling over everyone's car's but unable to show progress of mine, sad is'nt it  :'(hahaha   .thank's again COL58FE. ;)

Col,

Email your pics to me at craig_alderson@yahoo.com.au and I'll post them up on your behalf.

And didn't your Mum tell you there is only two things you never ask - how old a woman is, and how much someone paid for a car  ;)

Cheers,

Craig.

 ;)HI CRAIG,good call and i'm sure mum mentioned it but as usaul never listened ;D.thank's for that i'll send them on the weekend o.k. COL58FE. ;D ;D ;D HAPPY LARRY.

... and you definately shouldn't ask how much someone paid for the old woman in the car....!!

Sorry  ;D

 :o

dunno how i managed to miss all this juicy stuff!

nice wagon Craig.. cleaned up and regod in less than 6 weeks too!

was the wagon sitting outside all that time and yet in such gr8 conidtion??

Cheers

Ed

Ed,

FWIK it was only sitting outside for about 18 months or so. This meant that the paint had deteriorated and some significant rust had formed in the drivers side inner and outer sills. I removed, remade and replaced these rusted areas but the rest of the car was very good.

It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but its really exciting for me to drive something so original. I have now advised the Club that it is my designated club car which means it will be at a fair few runs.

Hope I get the chance to show it to you sometime.

Cheers,

Craig.

Craig,

Maybe you should really put the "Mothers" products to the test.

For your next trick, I'd like to see the XR8 reflected in the side of the wagon.....

Regards

Edward

Edward,

That's not a trick, it's called a miracle  ;D

Craig.

more impetus to attend the meetings!

Cheers

Ed

Craig,

A "miracle" would be getting to and from the meeting, without incident, in the wagon......... ;)

Edward

Ouch.







;D

Now thats got to hurt, very very harsh
Didn't it say in the bible "let him who's cart has never broken down cast the first stone"

Confucious say, "He with new water pump, travel many happy mile through great journey of life..."

I thought it was more like "he with many grey cars need to buy colour television"

Or "He who chooses poo, does not have a clue..." ?

Patently this is becoming childish. I'll stop now.

Fast eddie
Is he starting on you now about your gray car I thought that was the top colour. We have to stick together with our gray cars.
WAYNE

(http://community.voxeo.com/images/tutorials/yawn.jpg)

haha  well said craig ;D