The Ecotec V6 is certainly an interference fit, they usually come out with little fuss.

Fantastic work there, I love seeing the engineering that goes into peoples projects, it's the stuff you can't appreciate at a car show!!!

Righto, Christmas is over, bit tired of body work so onto the fuel tank.

Massive thanks to Greg (gmhwagoon) for finding this in Ballarat for me, it came out of an FE wagon wreck. It still had fuel in it!!
Needs a few repairs but nothing major. Carried out an internal clean with KBS aqua blast which looking with a torch seemed to do wonders.
These pics are of cleaning all the paint and body deadner off, mineral turps works a treat on deadner.







So a couple of questions for the gurus, what was the tank coated in originally? is it galvanised or some sort of lead coating? There seems to be some silver paint on the filler neck that was under the deadner, is that correct? What would be the best process to restore the outer part of the tank to make it appear original?

Thanks guys!

That'd be great Jolls.

I'm not a panel beater but here we go...






This mess is gonna be fun, I recon someone picked this up with a forklift at some point 







Probably doesn't look like it but that came a long way out, I think i'll gently heat it to get the rest. Old metal it tuff as!!

Scored this inspirational piece -





And got the rear quarter bare metaled and prepped

No worries, all those parts are available, PM me if serious

Gareth

Last night I raided Greg's shed and scored a mint original warning light guage, now just to find the glass for the fuel. (I'm not super keen on stickers)



In other news, I'm about to start harvesting this poor old girl for parts, If anybody wants anything yell out.



I was 40 years too late pulling it from the farm  Tin worm has proper finished it but there is tonnes of good stuff. All the drive line is there and is stock, it has a RH weather shield in 8/10 condition. Also has a full set of pull handles. And clearly lots of stainless.

Second spring done, waiting on leaf pad rubbers and I'll assemble the rearend.

Blew the dash cluster to bits for service/repair.



Has anyone got any ideas on how to "renew" the white lettering on the glass panels?

One down, one to go... 

Had a very productive weekend, finally have an A pillar!!!

G'day,

Thanks for the thought, but my intension is to restore this as close to factory correct as possible 

I'm sure I'll be looking for a while for a tank 

G'day,

Yeah pretty expensive but pretty good quality also, yes I am fitting the inners as well (you can see it sitting on the crate in the second last pic)


I'm still looking for a ute/van fuel tank if anyone has any leads?

Righto, speedway season is over, back to the van!

Bare metaled the cowl and removed the vent drain






The old one is waaaaay past saving as can been seen in the middle left of next pic, the cowl is gonna need more work than I'd hoped too 




Started repair on the lower A pillar too

Very tidy looking ute!!

Can't wait to see more pics

Gareth.

Legend! Thanks Greg!

Certainly, I'm not an expert by any means, I am a mechanic by trade and have completed several award winning concourse Holden restorations however.

The doors and glass weren't from an early car, the job on the front guards (bogged up to look square) was pretty shite but would probably (and sadly did) fool some. The floor welding was interesting and was selective where it was carried out. Ultimately metallurgy proved that it was done with materials that weren't likely to have been used in 1940's era.
I was very interested in the 2 speed diff, I had read about them in books from a young age and it was great to see one with my own eyes. There was very obvious, deliberate, mud and dirt under the car to make it look aged/original. There was spray tar EVERYWHERE!! That was a dead giveaway.

Ultimately, it was a car that had some very rare old parts, if he had of offered it as a 'replica' it wouldn't have flown either but he wouldn't be in prison.

I believe that this was the second vehicle that this person had rebirthed. 

 

Some pics

Yep that's them, bummer, I've seen kit in the past for sandman vans but can't seem to find them now 

Any thoughts on the steering column colour?