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Hi all,
The passenger side stabilizer bar rubber keeps working its way out of the saddle? Has anyone had this happen before and found a reason and solution?

Cheers Graham

If you are having this problem, it is almost certainly related to an old bookmark for the site that you're using, that is the old 'http' version of the site and not the 'secure' one. A lot of browsers will no longer send credentials to insecure sites.

Just use the link https://forum.fefcholden.club to log into the site, update your bookmarks with the same address, and you should not see the "forever login" problem again.

Front bolts for the rear springs?

They're very difficult to remove.  If no joy with WD-40, then use heat.  Go in hard with a MAP gas torch on the bracket where bolt head goes through.  You'll need two people and two sledgehammers: one holding a hammer onto the inner bracket to act as a dolly and the second on the bolt.  Unscrew the nut flush with the end of the bolt so you don't moosh the thread.  With perseverance the bolt will let go.  If it doesn't let go, use more heat on the inner bracket.  Even up to cherry red.

(If you're not a good shot with the hammer, you may ding the sill.  That's the price you've got to pay.)

Rob

Made up the rear brackets today - 5mm plate and 5mm RHS off the bar mounting points. Raised it on the rotisserie and turned it over to have another crack at the front spring mounting bolts. After days with WD40 penetrating the rust I still couldn't get them out - either side. I think I will be forced to cut the bolts, remove the springs and work on what's left. Rotisserie woild well and thanks to the forum I was able to get the centre of gravity right first go.

I got the front mounted fine, using a level to ensure everything was good to go. I pulled the mounts for the rotisserie out and found that they aren't level but have a rise. I thought that they were raised so that the weight would pull them down to level. It didn't, but I was able to secure the front end and support it so I could get the rear end off and ready to mount. I will need to make up new mounts from the rotisserie to the front end that match the mounting system that was fabricated.

Moved the the rear end and was able to get the diff and spring shackles out pretty easily. I haven't been able to remove the front spring mounts yet; they have resisted all of my efforts. The manual simply says to knock the  frotn shackle pins out, but my efforts with the brass hammer and 4ib sldge hammer with brass drift have had no effect. Any thoughts on how to approach this? I am thinking about applying a bit of heat and then bashing away with the brass hammer again but if there is a better method I'm all for it.

I have rethought the rear mounting system and have decided to it from some 5mm plate I have laying about. One for each bumprrette mount with a 100 x 100 x 5mm RHS between. I will mount cross bar to the rotisserie first and then tack it to the plates so I have the angles right. Looking forward to getting that done so I can really get stuck into the rust repairs.

Is anyone else having problems with  “ the forever login “  I have to manually log in every time to enter the site ?

So an exiting day today. Started on the body of the ute.

The week before last saw the completion of the internal reno of the house and last weekend we had friends visit so I was busiy socialising. I took a day off work today and moved the bikes, shifted the wife's project (capri convertible) out, got the FC off the hoist and shuffled it all back around - wife's project on the hoist, bikes back in FC into the project bay.

That is about where the excitement finished! I thought I would take the front subrame assembly out and mount the ute on the rotisserie. Disconnected all of the bits that I needed to, got the old girl on some stands and started on the job. Three bolts and a couple of screws on each side, two bolts each side at the bottom and pull it out complete then strip away the crossmember etc on the ground.

Supported the assempby with a jack and some stands and started removing the bolts at the top - a few a little frozen bit get there with little fuss. Then to the bottom - only to find two nuts on each side. Seemed odd, one nut magically came off the other spinning on the bolt. Can't get to the bolt head as it is inside the sill area. Soaked it with some WD 40 while I had a think about it. Went back to the drivers side and tried to push the bolt in so I could get the assembly out, It would only push back a short distance - not enough to be able to prise the subframe over.


Went back to the passenger side and no luck, ended up pounding away with a cold chisel for about 1/2 hour and the nut split (so lucky). I was able to push that bolt back far enough to lever the sub frame arm out but the weight of the cross memeber made removinf the ineer bolts impossible. After wasting my time with jacks etc I removed the cross member and with a bit of persuasion and jiggling I was able to get the inner bots out. With a few more swear words I got passenger side of the sub frame out, rotated the frame a bit and was then abot to pull the assembly off the other bolt.

Both side had had rust repairs done - average work to say the least as you can see throughpinholes in the welds. I expect that the bottom of the A pillars were rusted out so old mate put bolts in from the outside. Glad he didn't weld them otherwise I would be up the creek. Anyway will have to undo his repair and weld in some captive nuts so I can get it back together. Didn't get an opportunity to get it mounted on the rotisserie as I ran out of time. Maybe tomorrow.

I found heaps of mud wasp nests inside the passenger side A pillar and more pinholes in the floor after using the persuader for a bit.



Still in pretty good nick for her age but now I have the guards and the like off some of the repairs coudl be better. He also welded the some of the sheet metal together instead of using screws. Looks neat but wil never be able to do a repair so I may have to chase some new bits. Once I cut out the bottom sill to remove the free spinning bolts I will have a better feel for how much work is involved.

Plan is to mount the rotisserie to the spring mounts at the rear and to the upper mounting points for the subframe at the front. With a bit of luck I will be able to get the mounts made up tomorrow and start towards getting the old girl rust free and ready for paint.

The last of the Mint Green "swirly" roof lining, I was saving it for my station sedan.
$450.00 Includes postage within Australia and 2 swatches large enough to do the sun visors.
I can supply the sun visor covers for an additional $60, no edge binding though.

 Nice work - looks great  Kudos to you for sticking with it and seeing it through to the end - so many of these end up getting parted out or scrapped because it is a lot harder than it looks on the shows on the telly ........

Congratulations mate