G'day again,

I assume the torsion bar is going to be different between FE-FC to FB? there was not a torsion bar on the car when it was bequeathed (disassembled) to me from a mate 20 years ago. I have both so assume I will need the FB one? Al 

Thanks Rob, that will be what is going on.

What a bastard. I have sandblasted, painted everything and didn't realise it was not the original front end. Trying to keep it as original as possible so this presents a bit of a dilemma. Not sure about the brakes, I will measure them tonight. It still has early stubs on it as has the earlier front wheel bearings. Any other complications with running a later front end (apart from not looking original to the trained eye) that I need know about?? Al

G'day all,

I started putting the front end back together for my FE restoration last night with rare spares parts at the ready. Not sure what is going on but the outer upper pivot pin is a bit smaller than the original one (which is still a nice neat fit int he control arm so the holes are not flogged out) that I pulled out so not a good fit into the threads of the upper control arm, anyone have any thoughts what is going on here? it is an early build FE (2236M) so did they change the size of the upper pin when they got further into production? I guess I will put the old one back in as they are pretty good for wear anyway. The other issue is the rubber bumpers x 4 that fit into the sockets under each of the control arm don't fit the sockets with the base part of the bumpers not big enough and lacking the shoulder that locks into the socket bit; any insight on what is going on here? thanks Al

Interesting question and one I have considered myself. Dr Terry; why do you reckon they left them out of wagons? My EK didn't have them fitted either but an FB wagon I wrecked a long time ago had them fitted from memory, interesting. Al

Better still, has anyone had to get Frankston Cream mixed and has the formula recorded somewhere? if I had a formula it can be cross referenced to another colour available from local supplier. Thanks. Al

Thanks for the quick responses, I am painting in 2k so the ebay 1 litre can, which would be a good solution will not do the job. I think some brands of paint do have the formula but the place in Ballarat I tried sell De Beer and PPG and don't have the formula. I guess I could order from somewhere else and get it couried. Al

G'day again,

I just rang my local automotive paints supplier to order a few liter of paint to start base coating firewall, door jams etc and he reckoned they do not have a formula for it. Bit of a shitter as I thought this bit would be pretty straight forward but old mate reckoned they have not formulated a lot of the older colours yet and not available. What is the story, has anyone been able to get Frankston Cream 6332 mixed without too much trouble. Any advice?? Al

G'day,

I have done a quick search and have come up with nothing. The tank out of my FE looks like it was plated and I could find any evidence of paint; what is the story were they painted the same as the underbody or were they cad(?) plated? Thanks Al

G'day again,

I have gauged through a search that this question has been answered before but just wanted to clarify. Ken has answered before that coils were painted black but I am interested in the turquoise colour on my spring from an early FE. What is the story as both had this colour on them. Only one good spring in the front end as the other one was broken and another front end that I pulled apart trying to find a replacement had both springs broken; probably a legacy of country cars I would expect. Al

G'day again,

After a big couple of days, everything is blasted and primed. Big job that one for those that can appreciate it but a great feeling to have it all done before winter so I can get on with all the panel work and hopefully ready for base coat when the weather warms up again. Not too many surprises under the paint but a few more weeks of patching and panel work with a few more digs and daylight through a few areas that were hidden by paint.



Al

Thanks for the responses. Ken, do you have a photo of how it is all plumbed in with the external oil filter as well? thanks Al

G'day all,

It will be awhile until I get around to needing this fitting as my car is still in the rotisserie but thought I would would check with you guys to keep me interested. I have a Wilsonia gauge to go into my FE and found this adaptor in my parts hoard. I have read that you use the standard type oil filter adaptor for fitting a Wisonia gauge but am interested in peoples thoughts on this adaptor as it has the small fitting that looks like an oil line fitting to me, what do you reckon? 

I will be fitting an oil filter also, could some one post pics of the way this was all plumbed in back in the day, trying to make it as original as possible.

thanks Al

Thanks Stewy,

so when / which model did they change to the tall ones?

Al

While I'm at it, I have been searching the forum trying to find out which tin master cylinder reservoirs were original to an early FE, I have a few tall ones and the squat short ones; what is the story here. Thanks. Al

G'day all,

I have been busy on my FE for about 12 months after finally getting a shed big enough to make restoration possible. It was a Melbourne car pulled apart by a mate in the 90's and stored ever since. I thought is was in fairly good order but after hundreds of hours of cutting and patching it is ready for sand blasting and priming. 2 x front floor pans, both outer sills, both A pillars, both C pillar bases and a thousand other holes and rust repairs....I thought I would post some pics to celebrate.




Al

Right oh, thanks everyone. I was going to throw the kit together from some spare Detroit strips that I have but if it is not an actual kit that was available I wont bother. Thanks again Ken for you insight, your a good fella to have around. Al

G'day, can someone tell me what this trim kit is called and if it is a Tilli, Canopy or Thorton kit



Thanks, Al

G'day,

I have done a search on this topic and not much there. I am doing both lower corner repairs on some FE guards and have bought the patch panels from the guy in QLD and the profile is a fair way from matching the wheel arch section of the guard. They fit nicely onto an EK guard but pretty poorly onto FE. Advertised as fitting both (with a fair bit of shaping I assume for FE - FC); are there any other options for me? is there a better fitting patch panel available?? Thanks Al

G'day,

I will take the heater tap if it is still available, let me know. AL

G'day again,

Finally picked up the FC wagon wreck last weekend; poor old thing broke in half when I winched it onto the trailer it was so rusty. Good chrome and a complete engine bay / drive train and a full oil filter set-up so worth the trouble.

FC229-5789M
Trim 312-852
Paint 256-7770
Insert253-7472
Top 256-7770






Al