Messages

Thanks guys. I will try vintage. ken - it is the plate that is broken. Definitely a grey. Someone here tried to rebuild it but likely did more damage. Need a new one anyway.

Need either a really good or recoed Bosch distributor for my car in the USA as the hold down spring has broken and seems like no one can fix it (plus its got about 100Kmiles on it). Car is still running but no vac advance and does not start at times.  Let me know I can pick it up from Sydney area to Port Macq end of July. Or does anyone know a Sydney shop that can rebuild one? In that case I wold need a donor.
Also need a FE front indicator lens AND chrome surround (thats what actually fell off) 

I got my Swan at an antique shop. They make them new and I see alot of trucks here in the US with them. They can also have colored plastic wings. I suggest mounting them with brass bolts that will shear if in an impact (ie kids head) - I have had a pink slip tell me to remove it, but most mechanics recognize that the grill will probably do (much) more damage. Teher are three pieces - two wings and the body.

Ken
You have an excellent eye. The seats in my car were from a car that I bought that had the same exterior colour as this car, but I can't quite remember if it had a black roof. The reason I bought it.....because it had a Tilleys kit and en electric wiper motor (all for $200.00) but the body was very rusted. I have photos in Oz and will dig them up when I am next home in June. I bought it in Katoomba NSW and sold it later for a profit!
Siggy

Hey Matt

Seems like you have good taste!! I love my kit and it makes my car for me.

I got the kit as NOS for about $400 in 1993. It certainly dresses up the FE. I had a wreck that had he strips removed, but I was able to size up the holes. I think you will need about 50+ holes drilled into the body - not for the faint hearted!!

I suggest first getting the clips you want to use and checking they work with EACH strip, as the centre size varies. I would then get an old door - preferably FE/FC- and practice the drilling and fitting so as not to wreck your car. I would then use blue tac or blue tape to fit up the kit, and pencil mark the pieces - as Alex said they need to be right. I found the kink at the bottom of the rear door is the most difficult. Many holes are existing from the special trim. Having said that I believe that you can keep the upper guard "special" spear and it intergates well with the rest of the kit, so that a thought if you can't find the missing piece. Also, e a small pilot drill for the initial hole as it wander less.

As a final note take your time with each stage. I only did one side of my car, and had it like that for a year - thats taking your time!

Best Christmas and Holiday wishes to all club members from Denver. My club jacket has been getting a workout as it has been about -5 celcius (max) the past week and a balmy -25C about a week ago - thats cold!! Expecting about 7" of snow tonignt for a white Christmas!!

Siggy MaryAnne and Amelia Anne (and Billy Dog)

Graham

I am in the USA and not much special is happening. I think Holden has made more of their 50th and 60th anniversaries. GM is taking a pounding with most large SUVs and trucks selling at 30-40% off list, and sales down 30% over last year. Most new Chevys (or Ford/Dodge) will depreciate about 40-65% in its FIRST year. They are doing some ads but its pretty low key in general USA. I would hope they are at least celebrating in Michigan. No really cool anniversary specials have been released.

Thankfully the SS-V Commodore (Pontiac G8-GT) sells at $29,990 and the HSV Clubsport (Pontiac G8-GXP)is coming soon at about $36K. Still hard to buy when a 2004 E63 Mercedes or 2004 M3 BMW costs the same. Old VZ GTOs still fetch $24K++. Oh, and since it snows here in Denver for about 4-5 months, you need AWD to get around and miss the kerbs!! I am still waiting for the HSV Coupe4 (could be a while).

Take care  - Siggy

 I drove my stock FE for 100,000 miles as a daily driver sometimes doing 1000kms/week in the Sydney /Blue Mountains. All I would suggest is electric (vs eclectic) wipers, H4 headlights, some good tyres to give the brakes a hand, and a towel for the demister (found that "flicking it" at the rear screen cleans that too).
Driving style needs a bigger braking gap and some concentration on whats happening ahead.  In that time never spun the car and never hit anybody. I finally got a second car (Holden Calibra) but always preferred the FE. The looks and admiration were worth it all.
Some great memories of pulling up Lapstone hill doing 70mph and undertaking a HSV - whose driver was looking at me saying WTF. Its also a lot easier to get off speeding tickets. One night I over took a car at a speed trap. Both got pulled over - driver ahead gets a ticket - I got a lecture on "nice old car - you need to take care of it" but no ticket.
Only drawback is risk of serious injury if you do have an accident. That was my final reason for bailing to a VT when I moved - as 1200kms/ week is a high fuel bill, lots of repairs (almost every weekend as Alex said), and serious risk of having a (nasty) accident.

Finally a car I can use over here!!!