I know this has probably been covered many times ,but can I purchase and original General Motors Holden body ID plate blank . As most long term members will know I have a Holden built 48-51 L Model Vauxhall Caleche which has for many years run a series 1 V6 with auto and is registered through the ASRF. During Covid lockdown like many others I spent many hours thinking and working on my cars . I have decided to go for a more drivable set up with a more vintage [more original ] appearance . I am now running a 2.6 Mazda Bravo engine and 5 speed with a 308 diff on high profile 14" . I am now considering maybe leaving the ASRF and would like to remake the  Holden ID plate as the original has 3 drill holes in it . I don't think they are original . Also does anybody know where I can find information not in the workshop manual as to why these holes are in Style .....and Top..... . Just thought that may not be an accident when plating a convertible .

You are correct Kevin . I guess you could remote the booster somewhere [under the guard or in the boot ] and just take the after market filter off ,the ignition coil can also be relocated . Like you said, It come down to how much work you want to do .

Somebody asked me at a swap meet if there was anyway to put air on a grey motor . Well I have made a passenger side bracket to swing the compressor above the generator . But this person said they were running an electric fuel pump and triples and wanted it on the drivers side . Has anybody ever removed the backing plate behind the timing gears and tried to add a bracket to it to support a compressor ? Just an idea .

My old FE sedan I drove from the late 70's until the late 90's had a grease nipple tapped into [through] the plug so you could use a grease gun to fill it .

I have put aircon., on side plates before using a bracket [adaptor ] from the water pump backing plate . I was asked last Sunday at a swap meet if I could put a compressor on the drivers side . The engine has the fuel pump blanked and runs electric fuel pump . So here is what I was thinking . If I was to weld enough extra plate on the edge of the plate behind the timing gears to attach another plate at right angles down the drivers side of the engine block and secure it at the fuel pump bolts and capture nuts to mount the compressor ,I could then use one long v-belt and the alternator [generator] tensioning bracket would adjust the tension . Anybody out there got any ideas? 

I did plenty of chassis kits into early Holdens or kits that went from subframe to front of rear leaf spring eye hangers . But on my FC Van [as the floor was really pristine ,I just fitted[welded] a short rail either side of the gearbox from subframe tapering off under the hump below the seat . The rails were RHS gusseted to fit the floor ,but have a section of angle attached to the inside and drilled with a selection of holes to mount various crossmembers . Originally I put the Celica box in but have [many years ago ] changed to a Borg Warner 5 speed which is longer even than the Toyota . The platforms created by the angle helps when lifting [fitting] the gearbox .

Ken your right ,I have one of each hanging up in my shed at either end with frame and indicators and headlights .

A smear of copper based grease on the gears will help with the whine Harv speaks of .

Yep, thought as much . When I wrote here I neglected to tell you that the parts I was referring to were available through a company GKN . The company no longer exists in Australia ,but are still large in England and supply through most of Europe . I brought a rare water pump off them just recently .
 

Yep ,captive nuts broke loose . In my FC this happened ,I went right through with crush tubes and bigger bolts .

I have run a 1981 Datsun Bluebird booster for 30 years on my FC Van with HR brakes rear and front . Just an option if you can find one .

Different .

Here is a thought , not sure if you guys have done this before but, many years ago when restoring a FE sedan and having the seats recovered ,I decided to recover the back parcel shelf with carpet to match the floor and on the front of the carpet I got a matching skirt of vinyl to hang over the rear seat and tuck in either side ,this protects the top of the rear seat from the sun and can be easily replaced . Just an idea .

I have a question for you Ken  . Obviously not as Holden accessories were made by Nasco but what sparked my interest was that I used a set of round mirrors on my Caleche and I had one left over so I gave it to a mate to put on his LC  XU1 as he never had a mirror ,but the screw hole and the locating hole were in his drivers door . What I found most interesting was that my 2 mirrors had the Nasco logo on them but the third one had the Holden part number and the Nasco Logo . 

Ok ,I have been out of touch for awhile , but I am just wondering what you guys use for a power steer rack , after the V6 conversion . I am very familiar with the shortened commodore racks . Do you shorten the commodore power steer racks ? Or do you use something else . Is there a power steer front mounted rack suitable ?  I just have OCD when it comes to early Holden modifications that's all . I would appreciate any new ideas . Thanks . Haydn .

I remember an old panel beater friend of mine complaining that his WB ute was only a few years old but the parts he needed for putting his passenger door back together were no longer available [obsolete]. As if by the early 80 lack of replacement parts was unusual to him .I was working for a Holden parts distributor at the time and driving a Torana and rebuilding my[was my Mums] FE sedan .

I replaced one a while back from rail to rail . Just folded up a new one and spotted it back where it was . Keep it clean and keep it neat and it is not that hard .

Commer S15 Superpoise around 1950 . Just a guess but if you google the info off the ID plate or google Commer S15 Superpoise and maybe wiki after it you might find a link to a Kiwi owners club .

I have been asked to help with an engine swap in a little old Commer Truck 1948 [show quality]. It has a really good clean "B" series sideplate that will be removed and replaced with a red motor and taller LS diff gears . Just that the owner asked me if anybody would need it . You guys know how to contact me . Ok the replacement motor will be on its way to Lismore [that's the location of the little truck].

If you are using Loctite 454 it would be best to buy 2 small bottles rather than one large, as you will need the bottle fairly full along the top of the door openings . Fill one bottle from the other and make it easy on yourself . Just an idea .