I was having a shed cleanout recently and came across  my old low ratio diff which I thought had gone to the tip many years ago.
I fitted it in my FE during the mid sixties when I belonged to a sporting club that promoted hill climbs standing 1/4s and lap dashes etc. Amaroo Park was a well known race circuit which also had a hill climb and a short motor cycle circuit (dirt).
I entered my car in the lap dash of the motor bike track, after doing my lap I could hear the diff was making a lot of noise, when home I pulled it out and found the crown wheel was badly scuffed. The circuit I had been on was all left handers except one right hander and evidently the oil went up the axle tube and starved the diff.

Mal.

That photo brings back memories thanks David. It was a daily driver until he purchased the FC and the car was a regular, filling up at our petrol station and created lots of admiring attention.
Mal.

Nice photos David, it would have been in the early 60s when I serviced the car.
From memory he purchased the car second hand and his previous car which I had also serviced was an immaculate 1927 Buick tourer which he donated to a Technical College.
Mal

That's great to think one day it may be in a museum or in a racing display and didn't end up scrap metal. A pity the grey is not there to go back in the car.

Mal

Thanks Mickrat

Does it go on the track or taken to shows?

Mal

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Leo Geoghegan's Black FX racer with the unique nose cone is now.
I think it went to Tassie in 1960. I had the pleasure to see this car race several times.
I spoke to Leo several years ago regarding the whereabouts of his old car but he told me he had no idea where it was.
There was an article in a Sydney Newspaper which mentioned the car was going to a new owner in Tasmania. I can't locate my copy of the article but I copied it onto this Forum about 10 years ago.

Mal

If you take the side plate off again remove the oil feed pipe and also the brass fitting on the block.
You will be able to see the camshaft or maybe the bearing has turned partially restricting flow.
(I did this with Garry's car to discover the bearing was incorrectly fitted).

Mal

I found in my shed an unused electronic  intermittent wiper and washer control made by Mitsuba Electric MFG CO LTD in a box with fitting instructions.

Mal

As Craig A mentioned I bought my car new.

I purchased my Fe new on the 2nd of October 1957 when I was 21 and not long after I had served a 5 year apprentiship as a motor mechanic.

Mal

                                                                                                                                                                   I can't help with decoding the number.

Info I have on V8s
Bel Air 1955 with engine number suffix T55GA chassis prefix VC55T
Bel Air 1019D 1956   "        "         "     T56ZB     "         "     C56T
Bel Air 1039D 1956   "        "         "     T566A     "         "     VC56T

Registration horsepower 45 for the V8s

Don't have any more V8s listed till 1960 (Bel Air & Impala)

Mal

I was a NSW pit inspector for many years and still have makes and models books dating back to the twenties.

By my book the chassis number appears to be on the left front door pillar.

1956-104 sample chassis number is 56-1019-HS60815
1957-104 sample chassis number is 57-1019-HS63010

These cars had 6 cylinder engines.

I also have info on V8 models if required.

Mal.

 
I've worked on a couple of greys that had original braided flexible fuel lines that didn't leak fuel but evidently had a small hole causing an air leak which prevented the pump sucking fuel.

When I was responsible for the running of FX and FJ taxis years ago they had plenty of carby blockages and a quick fix was to reverse two plug leads and rev the engine so that it back fired which often cleared the obstruction.

Mal.

I would sell if offered a fair price.

Mal.

Hi Ray,
My block hasn't been bored, still 3 inches plus wear also crank appears to have standard size slipper bearings.
Mal

Back in the fifties I served my time with Don Mackay who was a very well known speedway car owner. At the time Ray Revell and Andy McGavin were driving Don's cars.
We always sourced early numbered blocks for our speedway cars and Don would bore them out to 3 1/4 inches and I don't remember having to throw away any blocks.
In the late fifties I purchased a very early engine with a four digit engine number starting with 6 which I intended to fit in my FE but it is still in my shed.
Mal.

The valve usually seizes in the open position.
To free the valve I spray each end of shaft with WD40 and tap the end of the shaft. It will move a small amount and then tap the other end, might take a few minutes and easier with a hammer in each hand.
The valve is in the open position when positioned towards the engine.

When I used to tow caravans some years back I ran the wires through the hole at the back of the boot where the number plate light wire goes through.
I drilled and tapped 2 small holes in the tow bar to attach a bracket for the plug.

Mal.

Hi Dean,

I'll look out for your FC/FE tomorrow at Cooley.
I don't have my FE with me but I will catch a Surfside bus to there.

Mal.

Hi Harv,

Do you still require an early casing?
I have one with casting No. 7400125, I will be going to Grey Prides on Sunday at Berrima if you want me to take it there.

Cheers,
Mal.

Hi Gary & Bruce,

Glad to hear you both arrived home ok.
Let me know if I can be of any assistance with the car when it arrives.

Cheers,
Mal.