Sorry to hear about your ute. Hopefully you get it back in one bit and the animals that stole it get castrated.  

Richard,

Did you get a response from Australian Better Business insurance.
If they are no good where to next?  

Jason.

Hey Ed,

I think Rick from Radical early holden might be able to help you, just not sure of the condition of the wreck he has at the moment. If no good down there try him
0740555091
Jason.  

Did teh sand blasting show a few gremlins?  

Thanks guys for your help.
I have the hadfield rack and pinion front end, but don't plan on dropping the car to the ground, just to the top of the tyres. Sounds like the Hoppers Stoppers way of doing things will suit what I am after because when I get the Commodore wreck I will already have most of the components.
Thanks
Jason.

 
That's really impressive Ken,
What is your educated guess for March '58 in Queensland?
Just toying with the idea of trying to put close to the original plate on the Van, as up here a personalised plate costs $1800, but for $175 I can get a plate using the first letter of N, O, or P and lucky enough the 'N' falls into the right catagory.
Another way will be to approach the transport department, but am not sure on how readily they will part with the information... If they have it.
I will have to think of some other trivia for you.
Thanks for the information.
Jason.  

I can't remember who it was that asked me about the brakes that I am planning on using on the van, but have located a company that might be of use.
EBC brakes in Thomastown VIC have commodore brake conversion hubs that fit VT/VX Brakes to HQ-WB stubs, including calipers and Rotors. There is also provision for ABS for those who are keen.
The telephone number is (03) 9462 3210.

Jason  

Just out of interest I was wondering what was some of the lettering of the original number plates in 57/58 in Queensland. Other states would also be of interest.
Thanks
Jason.

Dean,

I beleive that the struts were originally off a Ford  , but are fairly common... I came across them at the panel shop that I have the car so cannot give you an exact idea. But fitting the was very simple, the top of the struts fitted to the original holes in the upper tailgate, while the bottom went straight in the bottom of the two existing holes on both sides. I originally retapped the thread, but was not suitable so had to weld a nut into place. As it turned out the nut that I welded on was exactly the right spacing for the clearance of the strut to the body of the car.  
Jason

Don't know who this Van belongs to, but am hoping that mine should resemble something like this, but with Chrysler Wildberry as the colour.

After pulling apart the front of an old ute today I found a type of box fitting under the cowl vent.
The brand name on it was Cesco, manufactured by Cousens & Smith in Sydney.
Having not seen a heater set up in any vehicle yet, I was wonder whether or not this would be part of a heater, or used for something else. The ute did not look like any piping had been installed previously or heater ducts.
Regards
Jason.  

Have a look at the first photo thread before the photo section was started, this is how I working it out from Richards explanation
Cheers
Jason.

I had a look at my Van today, but there were no markings of any kind where you described.

Jason.  

The that's a beast!!!!!!!
Poo mobile to Poo rocket  

Here are the most recent shot taken a couple of months ago.

A couple of shots taken when I first got it home, and the work began, notice the Kawasaki bike blinkers.

Hey Alex,
Great set of photo's......Is there a book that has all of these in or are they individual photo's that you have obtained. I would love to get a copy.
They pose a few questions about how they went about building cars and how a person like myself would go about putting one together after a complete strip.
Colour matching would have to be pretty acurate for the guards and bonnet!
Did they put door rubbers on while the doors were fitted and obviously after painting?
What happened to all of the original presses that were used to make the components?
The photo with the FJ Ute also had an FJ Van entering the booth (I think).
I have some advertising that Richard kindly sent to me that would be good to add, or Richard may like to send them to you (don't want to step on toes if I can help it).
Maybe a collection of individuals cars would also be great for the album?

Regards
Jason  

The rebuild is steadily progressing, after a sandblast. Now welding the shotgun hole left over. I am putting the running gear out of a Vt/Vx commodore inside, but trying to keep the outside as original looking as possible. Hopefully only the wheels and exhaust will be the only difference. Am going to paint it Wildberry off a PT Cruiser....All of my small bits have been sandblasted and painted, and stainless nuts and bolts right through to finish off. Even manage to fit gas struts to the rear in the same bolt holes as the old strut.
Thanks to all off the people on the site who have answered my sometimes silly questions, as when I started this it was my first attempt at a rebuild.
Here is a pretty current photo....Still looking for a replacement subframe to continue.
Jason.

Here's my effort.
This is a photo of my Fe Panel Van, this is the condition when I found it at a place called Mareeba in Nth Queensland.

When replacing sections that have corroded I have noticed some kind of corking conpound to reduce that amont of water remaining in spots, or possible for noise reduction.
Does anyone know what would be the best product to replace the old stuff with?
Regards
Jason.  

If this works, I might have a go as I have been trying to use my own URL to no avail (yet).
Richard did you need to download something else to put the photo on you home page?, or could you just transfer the photo straight across.
Jason