FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi guys (and Kathi)  ;).I decided a long time ago that the Black FC rebuild was going to be mainly stock as in grey motor,three speed,stock brakes, original front end and steering set up and with the only exceptions of twin carbs,electric wipers,slightly lower stance and wider rims/tyres.I intend to drive this car a lot and not just on weekends and club cruises but obviously won't be setting any new land speed records or hot laps around a race track.The rebuild is at the point where I can make it go either way as I have a HR front end lying around,commodore diff,red motor and trans/gearbox and lots of other bits and pieces that could make things just a little easier or more comfortable to drive.For those of you who don't know,I also have another FC sedan which I intend to heavily modify as it has already had some mods.So the question is,who of you out there have a basically stock FC/FE which you drive on a regular basis and find all of the standard configuration satisfactory (comfortable/reliable) on a day to day basis?Keeping in mind that I have not driven a stock FC on a regular basis but have had plenty of people tell me I should do this and that....All comments appreciated.Cheers,Jamie.

Jamie

i drove my old fc sedan with stock grey around for about 3 or so years as my daily driver .
i only drove 20 mins to and from work which was an easy drive .
i had a booster fitted and heater ( melbourne winters are cold ) .
it also had the stock front end , all brakes were stainless steel sleved .
but remember its a slowish trip wherever you go though  :-\ and that to me was a downer !

i found i was concentrating a bit more while driving , braking earlier and always in the
left lane .

cant give you any comparisons about red v grey motor in one cause i havnt driven the red .

just my thoughts

c-ride  :)

Keep this one stockish and go for it on the other.
The FC Wagon I have had a grey and three speed I enjoyed driving it as much as the 202/auto FE. The grey/3 speed will be going into my EK Van  ;D

Back in the late eighties I drove a stock EK Hydra-matic Wagon as my business vehicle. Sydney and suburbs for about 2 years.

All of what Jamie said is correct re slow, being careful, keeping in the slow lane, braking etc, I had the added burden of the "EK leak" on your knee... when it rained (wrap around windscreen) Copped a bit of abuse for going too slow too.

The crowning trip was taking it to a place called Weethallie with a heavy car trailer in tow to collect an FE Ute one long weekend.

All went well, albeit slooowwwlly till we got to Victoria Pass in the Blue Mountains on the way home, half way up the pass & at about 8pm the old Hydra-matic slowed down to a stop.

Had to wait an hour for a good samaritan (in a F@&D ute) to help out,(couldn't leave for help as Ben was asleep in the back) took a rope or two off the ute tie downs, hitched the whole lot up to the back of the F@&D & off we went. 

I couldn't believe there was someone crazier than me! The  F@&D, towing the EK, TOWING the ute on the cartrailer, UPHILL!

Taking off was the trickiest, as when I felt it starting to die, the only spot to pull up was the opposite side of the road, so we were going against the traffic & in the dark as well.

As we neared the top of the pass I started the engine, put it into drive & what do you know, it went, so after a very many thank you's we were able to complete the epic journey under our own steam.

Our next holden was a stock EH Hydra-matic Wagon, I used that for about 18 months & I have to say there was not a lot of difference between the performance of the 2 cars

Good luck with it Jamie, I am using our newly finished FC grey powered wagon a fair bit locally now & it's a lot of fun, hope to take it to swap meets as well.

Gary

Hi Jamie 

My FE was my daily driver for 8 years. I used to drive from Salisbury North to Old Noarlunga and back twice a week with half those trips being at night (for non South Aussies that's about 70k each way). 

The FE was effectively as it is today - stock standard mechanically (but with twin carbs) and with no mod cons.  That meant a non synchro three on the tree crunch box, no heater, a generator and no electric wipers - I learnt very quickly how to "force" my wipers to work going up O'Halloran Hill when it was pouring! Oh yeah, and no radio at the time - I cruised many miles to the gentle purr of the big block FE series 132.5!  8)

In winter, without a heater, I drove wearing layers and mittens with the 1/4 vents open to "try" and stop the windscreen fogging.  For the rest of the year, the factory option solar heating (black car) was great - until it hit 35+ degrees! 

You have to really drive them, you can't just sit in it and cruise, at least not until you get used to being totally aware of everything else that is going on around you (idiots cutting in or spoiling your run up to a hill forcing you to stop and change back to first).  You can easily keep up with traffic but you have to adjust your driving style to do so - you become more defensive and you tend to drive the car quite hard. But, having said that, after a while you don't realise you're doing it because it becomes second nature and you really start enjoying the experience.

I drove my FE daily for 8 years day and night, rain or shine, peak and non-peak hour, short and long distances and I absolutely loved it - but I was younger and fitter. I also had a V6 FC but I always preferred to drive my FE.  If it weren't for my left shoulder injury, I'd have no hesitation in driving it daily again - but I would definitely install a few mod cons like a heater, electric wipers and definitely get better padding in the seats!

In then end, only you can make the decision whether driving a stocky on a daily basis is right for you!  But I will say that it is a completely different experience.  ;)

And in relation to maintaining a black car you want to use everyday - it's a lot of work but, believe me, it's well worth it!  And, BTW, when is it gonna be finished so we can go cruisin'?  8)

Kathi  8)

BTW Jamie - I know it's a little O/T- but did you end up getting that hat case I found you?  ;D ;D ;D

Have been driving my ute around quite regular doesnt miss a beat, but cant wait to get my other one on the road red 186 tripple carbs ;D, will dust most things driving around now, but for now steady as she goes.

Recommend workin fuel gauge(mine currently not workin)carry 5l container , standard brakes not the best.

On the up side had some girl flash her boobs at me while i was drivin along :o;only i couldnt catch up due to lack of power(and running off the road almost :).

Still only time she has stopped is when she has run out of juice. Faithful to the end.

Jamie
My FC Sedan is pretty much stock, the head has had a little work done and converted to unleaded, JM headers, brake booster, alternator and electric wipers. I will be fitting twin carbs one of these days.

When I moved to WA she was my daily driver and only means of transport for quite a while. Either I am a lead foot or the old girl just likes cruising. I have never had a problam keeping up with traffic around town or on the highway.

Whilst I would like to have a modified FC I would not give up my stocky.

Cheers Jim

I drove my FC for day in day out in all weather for 10 years as a stocky, not even seatbelts fitted. The only addition was a set of wide chromies.
You get used to the cars 'issues' and adjust your driving. I used to drive  the car hard and had no trouble keeping up with the red mtr cars on club runs etc. I even drove the car interstate on the occasion. I later dropped in the HR front and rear, but still grey and crashbox. Drove it this way for another 4 years before the red conversion.
1 thing I noticed was that I went through a couple of motors and even more boxes and the odd diff in that time. So if you are prepared to fix the odd breakdown, I would say go for it.
Regards
Alex

Sounds like you're in the position to have the best of both worlds, one nearly stock and one custom, if you do them both custom what is the point of having two cars, I'm doing the same thing, the wagon I'm building now will be stock apart from some performance gear, the next will be v6 powered, there's nothing like the feeling of getting out of a modern car and driving an old car with a column shift, it gives you that back to basics feel, what they lack in power they make up in charactor.
                              Pedro

 ;D

  Hi all,

  Jamie,
 
  Our FE sedan is driven each day ( for 5 years now), as is the FE wagon (since 6th march this year). Both cars are stock apart from the Disc Brakes. Both run the powerful 138 Old Grey and with so much grunt, required disc to slow them to a stand still and in a straight line. The fun thing with them is when you stop somewhere , someone will approach and ask questions and 9 out of 10 would have owned one at some stage. We get a lot of enjoyment out of them both.

Cheers Rusty and Rosalyn

Hi Jamie

I have had the pleasure of both worlds and admittedly like both, I don't drive Effie as much as I should but every time I do I enjoy it but as everyone has mentioned they are stressfull in some respects especially braking and performance can be dangerous but in saying that they are enjoyable when driven. I used to have a Maroon FC with a red and 4 speed, Disc's etc etc fantastic car to drive I used it daily. At the moment I am building one with a small block Chev with mega creature comforts and I am looking forward to the day I finish it.

I also have an EH with a 350 Chev in it and I can imagine how it is going to feel when I finally get to drive the FC, every time I drive the EH I have a huge smile on my face and have a fantastic time where as in Effie I smile and stress all the time as in todays world people leave braking to the last second and boy do they pull up quick so you have to be on your game.

My suggestion is build your modified first and enjoy life and then build you stocker for the heritage value then enjoy both worlds.

Kind regards

Julius

Thanks for all the replies and the great stories.I have been easily convinced and especially after Paddy's reply,it will definitely be staying stock. ;D Cheers,Jamie.

Nice choice Jamie,
i drive my FC stocker every where as you know and enjoy it,plus the admiration from others and they are right 9 out of 10 that stop to talk have had one, now its time to pass it on to someone else to enjoy so i can get my stock FE on the road as my new daily.
cheers
Scott

 I drove my stock FE for 100,000 miles as a daily driver sometimes doing 1000kms/week in the Sydney /Blue Mountains. All I would suggest is electric (vs eclectic) wipers, H4 headlights, some good tyres to give the brakes a hand, and a towel for the demister (found that "flicking it" at the rear screen cleans that too).
Driving style needs a bigger braking gap and some concentration on whats happening ahead.  In that time never spun the car and never hit anybody. I finally got a second car (Holden Calibra) but always preferred the FE. The looks and admiration were worth it all.
Some great memories of pulling up Lapstone hill doing 70mph and undertaking a HSV - whose driver was looking at me saying WTF. Its also a lot easier to get off speeding tickets. One night I over took a car at a speed trap. Both got pulled over - driver ahead gets a ticket - I got a lecture on "nice old car - you need to take care of it" but no ticket.
Only drawback is risk of serious injury if you do have an accident. That was my final reason for bailing to a VT when I moved - as 1200kms/ week is a high fuel bill, lots of repairs (almost every weekend as Alex said), and serious risk of having a (nasty) accident.

Until 2 years ago I used my stock standard FC Panel Van as my commuter to and from work (only about 4 kms). I also have played in bands for many years and the Van was the Mule for at least 7 of them. Biggest trip ever done was Albury/Wodonga...ish to Deniliquin and back with all the gear! Went like a German band! Clutch has gone now and kids at Uni so she's on blocks! Cheeeeeeeers!

Kleetus, so....... fix the clutch, get it off the blocks and start driving it again!  ;D

Unfortunately as a mechanic I make a damn good muso. Can't justify paying someone to repair or replace the clutch v uni fees. (Hand Brake trouble of the "She who must be obeyed" kind you understand). So She's on blocks and going nowhere for now! Cruel but Fair!!!!!

I understand Kleetus - I forget that I think a little more like most guys when it comes to cars!  But I have been there and done that with not being able to "play cars" due to competing financial situations.   

Keep it on the blocks in the shed for a while longer if you have to, but just make sure you keep it - them little vans are mighty cute and usually pretty hard to come by!  The time will come when you can get the clutch fixed and use it again! And who knows, someone on the forum might be able to give you a hand in rather than paying mega-bucks to a professional!

Best of luck with it all

Kathi  8)

 ;D Thanks Kathi!
Believe me! The only person who will ever get hold of my Van is my eldest Son and that's only when I carck it!!!!!
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeers! Kleetus