Hi Team

I have gone through the wiring and I definitely don't have any of the optional fittings. I do want to add reversing lights and indicatos for practicality.

It is my understanding that the reverse light switch is the same through to HR. Can anyone tell me if the mounting brackets are the same too or if I need on specific to an FE/FC?

Cheers

Craig

You won't have wiring all the way through to the taillight and park lamps, but the loom in the car should have the wires ready to attach to. You'll need to change the globe holders in the park lamps to twin filament like a Special has, but there's no obvious external alterations required. (Unlike an FE, which has the parkers in the headlamps like an old VW, and so the blinker bodies just aren't there at all on Standards and commercials).

Your ute predates the introduction of orange rear lenses for the indicators, so what wiring there is would be configured for the flashing brake lights. You will need to run more wires through the body and tray if you plan on using the lower part of the taillight for indicators. Rares may have the lenses in clear or orange, or you can use orange globes behind the clear lenses.

If you don't have the FC Workshop Manual, you should get yourself one. (The original Holden one, not the Gregorys type). It will pay for itself many times over. It has wiring diagrams, and much other useful info.

cheers RET

We get a couple a day on the FB/EK forum RET, how many do you have to contend with ? I remember at one stage we were up around 30 a day 

It goes in waves - sometimes none for several weeks, and then dozens appear. I've probably deleted twenty or so attempts to register since implementing the approval process, can't speak for how many the other admins have done.

cheers
RET

Hi all,

With the volume of spam accounts getting created here as compared to the number of real new registrations, we've disabled automatic registration. Anyone wishing to register on the forum will now need to be approved by one of the Admins.

Hopefully this will be less work than deleting the accounts and posts of all the spammers.

Apologies in advance to new participants who will be mildly inconvenienced.

You are a national treasure, Rob. No doubt about it.

Yes, there is some variety in how each knob is attached. Some are attached to cables, some have grub screws and so on.

The best answer is to check the Workshop Manual, which explains each one in depth. I can't recommend enough having a copy of this book if you own an FE or FC.

cheers
RET

Any thoughts on what you saw?

Yes, definitely originally oil bath.

cheers
RET

Check your PMs, Clay.

Edit: never mind, I just realised how old this request was. I imagine you've got it sorted by now.

In my modified FE back in the day I put a pair of 4" speakers side by side in behind the radio grille. You get the stereo content even if not exactly the stereo effect. (Not that there was any stereo in the original radio..)

Mount them on a piece of masonite, and tack a piece of thin black material over the front to obscure them if they're modern speakers that look garish through the grille.

cheers
RET

Paper element air cleaner came in around September 1959, so would depend on when your car was manufactured. But as always, The Good Book (the parts manual that is) has the definitive word.

If the chassis number on the inner guard is original, then if it's higher than the number shown below for the relevant suffix letter:

15518A
22002B
52826M
11764P
56061S

.. then your car had* a paper element air cleaner.

*Probably. The oil-bath was still sort of an option for applications in "very dusty environments". I'm not aware that it had an RPO code, but the details from your ID plate would be useful info.

The exact colour of the dash-top has been posted here before. It's Cinder Grey with a flattening agent added. See this thread: https://forum.fefcholden.club/index.php?topic=27325.0

cheers
RET

The official Facebook page for the 19th Nats can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/FE.FC.Holden.Nationals.2023

Lots of photos and videos available to peruse.

Hi Newby,

Welcome aboard!

The answers to some of your questions can be found in our Tech Info area, where you'll see there's a ID plate decoder that you might find useful.

Long story short though, yes, the details on the ID plate should be sufficient to identify the layout of the colour scheme, along with the chrome and stainless trim (or the holes where it was). If your car has holes on top of the rear quarters near the back window, then it would have had the chrome extensions for the late 1959 style. If it has holes in the "C" pillar where the roof meets the body, then it would have had the short piece of stainless separating the colours for a mid-59 style.

The ID plate will have a TRIM code that describes the colour combination (eg in your case it's probably 311-xxx, meaning India Ivory over Fountain Blue. The xxx is the interior trim colour). Then it will have PAINT, and possibly TOP and INSERT, which will help you to know what exact colour went where. The page linked above has all the details.

Also, there's no direct correlation between the ID number and the chassis number, so need to worry about that. The chassis number is what gets used on your registration papers. The ID plate on the firewall is just details for when the vehicle was under warranty, being serviced, or repaired etc. It's not a VIN in the modern sense, it just helped the service department correctly identify specifics about colours, trim, factory fitted options, etc.

The chassis number is the sequence in the factory where it was assembled. The ID plate identifies the sequence of the specific body style in the plant where it was manufactured. (Some vehicles - like mine - were manufactured in one factory and assembled in another.)

You'll find there are lots of knowledgeable people on this forum happy to help you, so if the answer to your question can't be found in the archives of this forum, feel free to ask as many questions as you want.

cheers
RET

Found this pic of HUBERT from the cruise...



Photo by Sharyn Jordan, via FE-FC HCC NSW Facebook page

There is also this video on YouTube by someone not affiliated to the event.

https://youtu.be/y71rQV0QoRs

Watch this one quick before it gets a takedown notice for the music...

Hi Kevin,

There have been huge numbers of photos posted on Facebook, that can be found by searching for FE-FC Holden Car Club of NSW or Vic or the FE-FC Holden Nationals. I imagine they'll find their way here soon.

There's also a YouTube video posted by someone not affiliated with anyone, but came along to the Show.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bstIOCvOHZI

cheers RET

Team Thommo arrived in Broken Hill this afternoon. It's my son Ryan and I, and we took 3 days to get here. Unlike most of the Sydney contingent, we elected to take the southern route, doing Penrith to Wagga, then Wagga to Mildura, then the last leg to Broken Hill. So to get to the 19th Nationals we stayed in locations that were sites of prior events. (Since we live in Penrith, I'm not sure that counts, but we'll take it. That was 2001.) Wagga Wagga was the site of the 2nd Nationals in 1989, and Mildura was the 6th in 1997. There are a couple of other members coming this way, but most have gone the Dubbo / Cobar route.

And now we're here for Broken Hill 2023.

Ryan has never driven the FE before (and really doesn't have much experience with manual cars), but acquitted himself well. I think he has a new-found appreciation for my driving too, because I seem to be able to make taking off smoothly, keeping her straight and powering along at 65mph look effortless. It's the difference between 35 minutes experience with an old Holden and 35 years, I suspect! He was happy to back up for a second go today, and I was happy to let him, so it's all good.





So here we are under the funky green lights of our accommodation, and the Ol Girl is having a well earned rest. Fuel economy was better than I expected (we've got quite a bit of gear in the car, and we were doing 60-65mph all the way.)

All up we did 817.4 miles, and used 143.81L of fuel. That nets out to 25.84mpg, or 10.93L/100km. Pretty bloody good for a 67 year old car. She did well.

We're so looking forward to a great weekend with everyone.

cheers
RET

Omg tried to do the photos. That’s hard work. I’m sure it use to be easy 5 years ago.
Don’t think I’m doing photos this year.

Download the Tapatalk app for your phone, connect it to this forum. Uploading photos from there is absolutely dead simple.

I also did an interview with Jason Irvine of The Barrier Truth regarding the upcoming event.

It's live on the newspaper's website now, and will appear in tomorrow's print edition.

Broken Hill to host FE-FC Holden Nationals over Easter

Hi all, the following went out to all entrants today.


Hi,


Well, it's getting pretty close now. For many participants, departing is only days away. We look forward to seeing you in Broken Hill.

Attached is a sheet for you to print out if you are able to do so, to track your fuel economy. Make a note of your odometer reading each time you refuel on this sheet, and hand it in at Registration time.
If you don't have the facility to print this sheet out for yourself, you can just keep your own notes along the way and we'll provide the form when you get to Broken Hill.

If you're driving your car, we'd really appreciate you taking part in the Fuel Economy trial.

Yesterday I did an interview with ABC Radio Broken Hill to talk about the history of the Nationals, why we chose Broken Hill, and where we'll have cars on display to the public, that kind of thing. The interview is available for playback here.

We have now finalised entrant numbers with caterers, so it will not be possible to make further changes. However, if you have any questions regarding the event, just reply to this email and we will do whatever we can to assist.

See you in the Outback NEXT WEEK !!

Holden Together,

Richard Thomas
Director
19th FE-FC Holden Nationals

There is no one place big enough for everyone, so people are spread out throughout the town. From the info provided on the entry forms, here are the most popular:

Site	Entrants
Desert Sands Motel	17
Lake View Caravan Park	9
Silver Earth Accommodation	8
Red Earth Motel	7
Broken Hill Tourist Park	7
Gossan Street Units	5
Comfort Inn Crystal	4