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Found, thanks Keith!

I need a new 3 speed gearbox for my FC - mine got stuck in 2 gears over the weekend, and has now seized :(

Will collect from anywhere in Melb / country Vic, or will pay postage from interstate.

Forgot to update! My baby is officially on the road. Passed the roadworthy and was registered on Wednesday last week. New kingpins and drums make her a much better drive, but she needs to be lowered a touch. Next items on the list are Pearlcraft wheel, lowering and CD player (going the glovebox route... box speakers under front seat?). Ooh, and I have a fox tail for the aerial! Waiting for the ants to work their magic and eat out the flesh at the moment ;D

Pics coming - once I clean her :)

Hi all,

I don't know how many of you are country Victorians, but I just spotted flyers over the weekend for the 2010 Camperdown Cruise, happening October 22-24th in Camperdown, SW Victoria.

The weekend includes:
- "Live 50’s/rockabilly music by 12 bands, plus 2 DJs
- Two dances at the historic Theatre Royal
- Rock ‘n’ roll dancing-dance displays
- Custom, classic car and hot rod displays
- Art exhibitions (including pin striping workshop)
- Trade stalls and a 50’s collectible flea market
- Fashion parades
- Lion’s Club BBQ breakfasts on the Saturday and Sunday mornings
- A new scenic cruise route, plus the traditional cruise to Model Barn"

Camperdown Cruise website

I think accommodation is running out fast, but I just booked a cabin at the Lake Purrumbete caravan park. Should be a good weekend, and the virgin trip for my FC  ;D

$5! Wow, that's a bargain. My back fared pretty well seeing as I took my dad and brother along to do all the heavy work - I just paid them using beer. We've got another old 50s fridge sitting in the dairy, but that needs a lot more work.

FC at the mechanics today... had an interesting drive to the gym in the dark with no dash lights (not that it makes much difference because I drive slow in the old girl anyway, as the speedo is ridiculously inaccurate) but it righted itself when I left. Currently hunting down parts for electric wipers - going the XP wiper motor route (not stealing my boyfriends though... he'd kill me  ;D ).

Cheers Keith - we're just thankful they didn't get into the interiors of the FC and XP. They did get into the 1980s Suzuki Carry, but that just adds to the charm.

Forgot to add - side project is a 1950s Kelvinator fridge that I picked up on eBay for $80... need to sand it back, rechrome some parts and get aforementioned mate to paint it red. Slowly converting my house to mid-century too!

Just a little update. Scored some drums from Ken (mcl1959) which I sandblasted and will spray black tonight with VHT... then she's off tomorrow to the mechanic for (what should be) the final time - overhauling brakes and new kingpins. Last night I had to change the radiator hoses too, after a rat chewed through them (it chewed through the radiator hoses on all 5 cars, and also my battery on my VT, spark plug leads on 2 cars and plenty of other things - we have only caught one rat though, so he/she must have been damn hungry).

Also bought my custom plates this morning... RACH-59 in blue with white writing. And our panelbeater/spraypainter mate is setting up a spray booth in his new garage to do home jobs, and has offered to do my girl first. I like things falling into place.

Thanks guys. Dave, I think my boyfriend wishes I was into motorbikes so he wouldn't feel guilty about the three he owns! (One of which lives in the living room)

I have a question, guys and gals.

I need new brake drums all round, as my mechanic says the current drums aren't able to be machined any more. I did a search here and online, and saw some people speculating that EH drums will fit the FC... was there ever a consensus made about this?

I spotted a pair of FE/FC drums on eBay here, but then I'd still have to hunt down another pair. And I can get new EH ones for the same price, I'll take that route!

Cheers...

Oh my gosh, 20 years! You certainly deserved it then, Kathi! Anything would be better than mine right now (original, but cracked and deteriorated - it leaves a black sticky residue on your hands after each drive... attractive!)

And Keith, thanks for the tips! Mr 1950s' XP has been sitting very forlorn in the garage for quite some time, so I'm sure he won't notice!  ;) It'll be years before he gets around to restoring it thanks to his modern cars/bikes.

I've just got to be strong and stop buying vintage clothes, so I can get my FC looking beautiful sooner. That's a tough job when you see the price of vintage dresses!

Thanks Jamie, Kathi and Keith... there will sure be some progress over the next few months, thanks to some extra funds I happened across, so I promise pics.

Kathi, I'm just reading your epic of a thread on NosFEratu (love the name, love the movie). Haha I chose that avatar as it's the most PG one from the whole shoot, so no need to feel guilty boys! And I've already got the brother onto hunting down another fox tail for me while he's up north, so fingers crossed! (Otherwise, I've got a pet lamb that's about to lose her ringed tail if I get real desperate ;D )

I can't wait to get my Pearlcraft wheel - I've been eyeing them off for over a year!

please do!!

(otherwise, you'd have to paint that lovely blue and white FC black  :o :o::), or worse still; trade it for an FE...  ;))

Haha, is it wrong that I don't get that reference?!

Hey Scotty, I had to remove the lowering blocks because they wouldn't have passed the roadworthy (think it had chopped springs too). Right now it's got a pair of original springs in it, but I'll probably lower it a bit down the track. I don't mind it so high though, it's so much more comfortable to drive (what little driving I have managed to do on unreg permits)!

And don't worry, I'll ask stupid questions if I've got em!

Cheers guys!

Jack, you know what, my brother actually shot a fox and hung the tail up on a fence to dry out for me, but one of the dogs ran off with it! I'll have to get him back on the case.

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

And you'll have to forgive me for my sometimes utter noob-ness, I'm a girl who is by no means mechanically minded!

Me? I'm a 1940s/50s obsessed web development librarian who pretty much lives vintage.

I bought my 1959 FC almost two years ago to the date, and it's been a slow process (and a comedy of errors) getting her roadworthy. My partner has an XP wagon, and I'd always been interested in classic cars... so it was a no brainer. Purchased as an investment, and I don't care if it takes me 20 years to get her done.

Anyway, pics first.













Standard grey motor, twin carbs, extractors.

Already - removed lowering blocks, bought new tyres, and done rust removal in floorpans / rear quarters.

Currently happening - new king pins and brake overhaul (then it's roadworthy!)

Eventually - respray, rechrome, pearlcraft steering wheel, new carpet and roof lining.