FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Well it has been along time coming... my project has just started and because I have used this forum so many times to find information on trouble areas, I thought I would join in on the project pain and gain.

Over the last 5 years I have been getting the 57 FE ute to a very reliable state so I can drive it to work every friday without any issues, i.e. no fuel because of faulty fuel gauge, no ignition because of faulty ignition module, and the list goes on.

At the moment it has 59k miles and org paint and interior. It has a red 202 with three speed synchro, hr discs and diff, 15 pursuit rims with hr centers, and lowered 2 inch all round.

The plan is to pull the red 202 out and fit a red 253 and join in on club track events. He is my story...

 Hi Perth  Ute  If your serious about going around corners I am not sure you would want all the weight of a 253 over the front  ??? ??? ::) ::) ::) they are a much better balanced car with a 6 cylinder in the front ....FC427......

OK time for an update...

This is a couple of pics of her with a red 202 and 3 speed floor shift. I have spent most of my time on suspension and reliability.

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/DSC04432_s.JPG)

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/DSC04431_s.JPG)

and then the move into the shed.

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/P5240028_s.JPG)

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/P5240027_s.JPG)

couple of pics of the red 202

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/P5240004_s.JPG)

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/P5240005_s.JPG)

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/P5240006_s.JPG)

and then no more 202

(http://martinfields.com.au/david/P5270029_s.JPG)

Sweet car seems a shame to rip the old six out

A 253 is a lot of work for little gain maybe the sound
 you could just simply build or buy a hot 6 and have it in within a couple of weeks.

Good luck she looks in good nick.

Too right Pete, this ute would scream with a hot triple-Webered 202 on board. Best of all, the foundations are already laid. Stick a five speed in, beef up the drive train and you're good to go. Best of all, it'll go around corners and there's less engineering hassles (when compared to a V8).

Josh

Ol_Girl_58

I hear you about the weight but really want the sound of a v8 just a shame about the size constraints with licensing. I have had fun fitting the whiteline sway bars on the front and rear and lowering 2 inch along with pursuit 15x6 with hr centers with 205x55.

Anyway bought a 253 today with alot of great parts so will pull it down tonight and check it out. Thinking of fitting 4 speed instead of the supra box then don't need to mess with the tunnel and drive shaft.

What a clean looking ute.  Hope the V8 conversion goes well.  Doing a v6 conversion into mine and the site is not only full of good advice, but their is plenty of inspiration to be found also.

*************************************************************************

Wow.  The engine bay is going to be as tight a fit as your car is in your garage.  :P

Next time I get frustrated by my shed space, your post is there to remind me there is someone out there always more worse off.  Still Ive see car rebuilt on dirt driveways with temperary make shift tents as their only protection.

i don't wont to show you my last work space... at the end of the day happy that I have somewhere to tinker and get some time to myself after a long day at work. Oh the drive way has a slight slope was a laugh rolling the old 202 down there with the crane.

Not much progress due to the amount of issues in getting a reliable 253. The first red 253 $300 thank you very much,  was a boring dead standard engine and auto out of a HQ. Big mistake was not hearing it running as it was totally corroded and bin job. Let’s just say the crank would not turn over. I put this one down to learning as I was able to sell the auto for $250 and I kept the exhaust manifolds and downpipes.

Take two, I found a very nice red 253 with new heads, chrome rocker covers, new manifold, carb, flat tops along with receipts of all work. Cam was too big so that would have to change all for $700.  A good friend who I bug most of the time recommended a quick inspection and gasket freshen up before putting it in. Wait for it… one of the head bolt sleaves on the block valve train was snapped off. I was told that the block is a bin job again and I was not happy. I then spent the next couple of week nights due to kids and wife, stripping the engine and selling all the parts. As with the first engine I was able to make my money back.

Take three, well if history is correct I normally have problems in fours but three it is. I found a guy selling a stripped down HX panel van. Red virgin bore 253 with M20 manual for $750. Again I pulled the heads off and it looks ok except for some bad gasket ideas on the intake manifold and other places. Got the crank machined for $170 and rod/crank ACL race bearing for $110. What a pig getting the rear rope seal, took two goes and yet to really test it in the car. Gearbox looks like it was rebuild about a year ago with lightened flywheel but standard clutch. I spent $200 on gaskets and $50 on a hydraulic bell housing, so hoping my 3 speed synch hydraulic slave fits. Now I have a standard tidy red 253 with M20 which should be ok for licencing as I am hearing more and more bad stories here in WA, especially cars from other states that do not have full and I mean full engineering certificates. Sign of the times hey!

I have ordered a rear rack and pinion from V6 conversions non exchange for $700. Not sure about $250 for collapse steering column change over and $250 for engine mounts sounds a bit steep not sure about making my own. Found a guy in Perth who is fully into V6 conversions, trying to get him to help with V8 without success. I will upload some photos shortly. Next is to get the engine bay ready to make the new engine fit.

I am selling cable bell housing with fork and plastic cover if anyone is interested for $50.
I will be selling my HR steering if anyone is interested.
Has anyone had to strengthen the cross member?

Must be a run with 253,s we bought a chassis with motor for a mates ford jailbar conversion sweet runner apparentlly well no one thought about cranking it till 6 months later siezed solid rocked it free rings are torn out of it so mark 2 is a red one seems ok .

With your conversion i think you will find WA is like NSW so chassis kit, strengthen lower control arms,, 2 speed wipers bigger brakes ,


That old 6 is sounding better everyday.. LOL


Pete

it would be cheaper to buy an iphone or ipod, download a 253 v8 app, hook it into a massive twin sub woofer sound system and im sure it would sound better than the real thing. or in pete's case, there is an app that connects to the car via the pod/phone and everytime you change gear, it does a massive popoff sound or turbo wastegate sound. u can youtube them, funny as man  ;D

no thanks

So we will see a fc taxi floating around going woooooooosh might need a cannon on it too.....




Have you tracked down a decent 253 yet???


Pete

Isn't that an oxymoron ha ha. I still have a soft spot for the Lexus aluminium v8. sucks hey how its getting strict. My engineer is woosing out big time

Sorry bad day syndrome... Yes have finished the 253 and 4 speed M20, will post some pics shortly. Wife and kids have been keeping me busy so not much progress. Found a guy in Perth that is doing V6 conversions strange enough, yes in Perth! going to see him this week and try and confince him to help speed up my conversion.

car shows and other projects allways give you a bit of a boost


I have blokes at work doing rods so i am getting the bug just need them shed builders to hurry up and finish.

Good to see another v8 going in. Keep up good work. I look forward to pics. I'm a bit lost knowing  what to do. I have the hilux chassis with a v6 already in it. Maybe I could adapt a golden body to it.

Deano its been done before so why not go for it !!!!!!    :)    Grubby

Perth_ute

Good to see another having a crack at the V8.

I am fitting a 304 Injected. Slow and steady ::) ::) :'( ;D
Keep the updates coming.

Cheers

Craig D

Scary looking at the last time I updated this thread but have been very busy getting it completed in the last 12 months.

well I don't see any photographic evidence  ???

Some photos would be great

I'm with the other guys lets see some photos and have you had an engineer have a look yet?

Regards
Neil H

I have completed the mechanical side

front end completed with HQ front brakes, HT booster, custom cross member and alloy radiator.

Lots of updates but will list the horror and and positive.
The 253 and 4 speed all fits. Went to start after sitting for a couple of years and it just would not start. After grabbing a cool drink the investigation started. Found the fuel had separated with water going to the carby. Drained the fuel tank and carby and went to start again. It then got good fuel and massive back fire which was caused by the dizzy being 180deg out. Then it started but very rich. Huge amounts of black smoke was caused by power jet in the carby being damaged from the back fire. Then it started and allowed to settle but it blew a welsh plug. After drinking most of the cool drink from the fridge now and removing the engine changing all welsh plugs and fitting it, she now runs and idles.

Called around Perth for a radiator and was shocked by the quotes. I bought an alloy rad with spal twin fan fit and hidden overflow from group in Vic.

radiator
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Radiator_s.jpg)
Painted the custom cross member
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Painted%20Radiator_s.jpg)
Brakes
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Brakes%201_s.jpg)
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Brakes%202_s.jpg)

But some horror. After mechanically working I pulled it all apart and sent it to a shop in Malaga (Reaper Ripoff Customs) to have the frame holes filled, radiator cutouts welded, and firewall smoothed.

I went there after one day and this was the result.
firewall horror
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Firewall%20Horror_s.jpg)
ps horror
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20PS%20Horror_s.jpg)
frame horror
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Frame%20Horror_s.jpg)

So I cancelled the job and picked it up but first was billed the full job.
You have been warned!!!!

Ordered a new gearbox tunnel to get fitted.
new tunnel
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20New%20Tunnel_s.jpg)

Noticed that Ripoffs have warped the front frame so spent 4 months on weekend getting it to fit again.
front frame repaired
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20Frame%20Repaired_s.jpg)

Found a welder and painter JC. He recommended the body and jams gets sandblasted to ensure a perfect job. So the parts such as spare tyre door, door hinges, and tray side panels to name afew were done first. Next was the main body, panels, interior were done. Really happy with sand blasters job and no damage.

before
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20Before%201_s.jpg)
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20Before%202_s.jpg)
off she goes
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20Leaving_s.jpg)
after
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20After%201_s.jpg)
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20After%202_s.jpg)
su3prises
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20Surprise%201_s.jpg)
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20Surprise%202_s.jpg)
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE%20SB%20Surprise%203_s.jpg)

From the sand blaster it went to JC all the way north to Bullsbrook. Will post progress of welding and paint.

The utes body isn't too bad, perth_ute. Shame about the panel shop  >:(

Where did you get the cross member? Fabricate yourself?

Keep up the dream, I'm about to start very soon myself.

Cheers
Marc

Going there tomorrow night to see the progress. The cross member is from a guy who does v6 conversions. Has power steering from a vp rack and short hq stubs. David

G'day David,

Love the progress on the ute - will be a great car when finished.  Also like the front cross member, any chance that they are available to purchase as a kit. I am considering going down the rear mounted rack path with my RB30 powered wagon.  Haydn has sent me a lot on info re setting the rack up correctly, but I would like to go back to the original sump with the motor and your set up could be the way to go.

Cheers, Graeme

Looking good David, you must be pleased with what you found after the sandblasting. Who did you get the radiator from, it looks impressive.
Cheers Ole.

It's really coming together now. Glad your blaster did a good job.

There have been alot of little things that have added up to more and more hours but happy that it will be done right.
Back end is nearly finished and should be in primer next week.
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/back%20nearly%20finished.jpg)
Found some rust coming through on lower side panels behind both doors. It was filled with oil so had to be all cleaned out. More time and money but nearly there and should be in primer next week.
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/side%20nearly%20finished.jpg)
The inner tray holes have been filled and dents removed. There is still some panel damage from rust on the floor but will need skim coat. Now ready for mini tub. Not sure what the best approach is here. Should I split and weld in strip or cut out and weld in new fender? Keeping the current fuel tank at the moment otherwise I am going to be kicked out of home $$$.
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/inner%20tray%20ready%20for%20mini%20tub.jpg)
Front panels are ready for paint in primer.
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/front%20panel%20primer.jpg)

That's what I call progress well done.

Regards

Wayneb

Big steps in few weeks. Great progress.

Not sure it was a good idea or not but have welded up the seam under the rear tail tights and the front panels under the indicators. Purchased BMW m3 seats in black leather so try to figure out how to fit them without cutting the floor pan too much. The side mounts from the bench line up perfect but the inside is going to be interesting. Any ideas would be great.

Next is to repair the patches on the roof from a past windscreen visor and clean up around the door jams.

Been reading other project posts and really take my hat off to them as it really is alot of work and $$. Have finished the roof now and along the way noticed it had a sun visor in a previous life.
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE_roof_s.jpg)
Ariel hole on passenger side filled and cleaned.
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE_ariel_s.jpg)
Now getting into the gbox tunnel
(http://www.payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE_gbox_tunnel_s.jpg)

Yeah who needs a radio anyway!!!

Good work!

Good stuff. All progress is good progress.

Regards

Wayne b

Still working on the front end frame around the new radiator mounts but the back panels are now done. Have the gbox tunnel in place but need to figure out how to fit the bucket seats without making a mess.
(http://payrollone.com.au/FE_UTE/FE_Rear_Gaurd_s.jpg)