FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

HI all when putting an Hr front crossmember in an Fc, is all you have to do besides changing engine mounts to suit, is take the outrigger off and weld the Fc one in the same place as i was told, if so is this easily done or best done by the professionals
Thanks Gordon

How well can you weld? there is an article on the web site that details what is necessary to complete the job  http://fefcholden.org.au/techinfo/tech002.html ($2)  this should help  Good luck!

Hi thanks for that, it doesn't say if you can or should use the origanal out rigger of the FC it only says an EJ/EH one is a good fit ??

If your using a grey motor run the fc outrigger so you have the holes for the front engine mount of the grey motor.

Hi Draperblu,

If you need the crossmember welded FC / HR, I can do it for you no charge. You just have to bring it to Newcastle.

Send me a pm if it helps you.

Andrew

I have to disagree - the FE FC outrigger is not an easy fit. I twoulf have to be cut up and joined to fit. The EJ EH and the FB EK outrigger is a perfect fit. So for a grey motor - use an FB to EJ outrigger.

Ken

Hi Ken

Do you have to weld the EJ EH and the FB EK outrigger onto the HR crossmember as well. either way I would make a jig of the FC for perfect alignment. 

Yes you weld the outrigger on - if you remove the donor outrigger carefully without wrecking the mounting flanges you don't need a jig - 2 bolts at the bottom and it just goes straight on.

Ken 

Wow, I'm in Newcastle and have a HR front with an EJ outrigger that needs to be welded on. What are you doing next week  ;)

Draperblu, I can post some photos if you like to show what these guys mean, I'm in Sydney on Friday if you want me to bring it up to Newcastle for ya. (really wish I could weld)

come and rip them stubs off and ill weld it on for you.

Your the man Pete!  I have heaps I need to weld..... new posts for engine mounts, gearbox tunnel and fuel tank neck. Might have to make a day of it. Let me know when your free.

Draperblu, sorry for hijacking thread. Did you want me to bring it up to Newcastle?
Cheers

Hi thanks for all the advice and offers, I'm a boilermaker welder by trade working at a bus building company so welding is not a problem. As my plan is to fit a 253 with Trimatic it sounds like i need to get a EJ/EH outrigger ? (anyone got one for sale ?)
Thanks again Gordon

Hi Gordon,
p.m sent.
ACE  8)

Hi Gordon,
I would go with the advice of Ken, use an FB-EH outrigger.

I know someone  ;) who is doing one at the moment using an EJ outrigger (like the other 2 I have done) and it works well.
Click on the images for larger version.

The folowing photos may help:
(http://s18.postimage.org/lr9zvkqph/P1050991.jpg) ($2)
HR Front end with original outrigger removed i.e. prepared for grafting on new outrigger.

(http://s15.postimage.org/sz4l0g1x3/P1050992.jpg) ($2)
EJ outrigger ready for installing.

(http://s13.postimage.org/g71nf45c3/P1050994.jpg) ($2)
Outrigger on front end - I use a couple of 5/16" coach bolts as replacements for the rivets... these are more for the look that anything else as they look like rivet heads and align the top of the outrigger.

(http://s16.postimage.org/cuimqfn69/P1050996.jpg) ($2)
A bit of weld applied (OK, I am not great at welding  :-[ hence quantity rather than quality)

(http://s16.postimage.org/eovh86a6p/P1050998.jpg) ($2)
Some bolts thru the bottom holes as Ken indicated. May need to apply some force via clamps etc to align holes.

(http://s15.postimage.org/vqx1ijf7b/P1060001.jpg) ($2)
Weld down each side (now enough weld to hold about 5 tonnes  ;D)

(http://s8.postimage.org/aojljkssh/P1060003.jpg) ($2)
Job done  :)

Hope this helps you understand the task ahead,

Cheers,
Trevor_B

Thanks all and Trevor B the photo's are great just what i was looking for, this is such a great forum for information
Thanks again

Hi all,
 
I've got the outrigger sorted but not the engine mounts for a red. I'm monkey see monkey do, meaning I'd like to see some pictures if some one would be so kind as to post some. Advice on positioning would also be appreciated. Can you use standard mounts or do I need to fabricate something ?

Thanks

Mark

G'day everyone
Have a question about wether the outrigger is essential to a HR conversion. My ute (FJ) has a John Keen engineered HR front end and does not have the outrigger on it.

I know the purpose of the outrigger is to prevent the front twisting under braking loads, but my car has been on the road for 14 odd years without a problem ...

Is it dependant on power of the car and braking performance expected rather than being an absolute necessity? My car has been engineered but standards change.

Cheers
Doug

Yeah same here Mark any photo's of engine mounts for 253-308 would be good, And Doug good question do i really need the outrigger ?  hope to get a definitive answer to this
Gordon

Rubber mounting for FX FJ was solider than FE EK so never had an outrigger - not even stock front ends have outriggers. Mind you handling in an FX FJ is not what you would call ideal :-\
FE to EK should have an outrigger as the front end will not be stable enough without it.

Ken

Thanks Ken

Thanks Ken, got to agree the FJ isn't the greatest handling car in the world  ::) ::) ::)

But not to bad, just needs to be driven within it's limits. ;)

Hi there....if anyone else has a spare EH or EK outrigger laying around, I am at the same stage and need to weld one on my front end....