FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Bought this fe about 8 weeks ago but have been away since then.

(http://s9.postimage.org/l3uvd7lob/P6140354.jpg) ($2)

(http://s18.postimage.org/wodfsmb9h/P6140355.jpg) ($2)

Looks like the previous owner had started stripping it a few years ago and left it out in the weather.

FE-225-7118-A
Trim 204-467
Paint 256-748
253-7478
Chassis 6-2088P
Eng L300264

Gary

Good to see an enlightened purchase  ;D
Looks great!

Ken

Things are progressing on the fe , thought I might share some pics of the project.
(http://s23.postimg.org/srxo3h2qv/004.jpg) ($2)

(http://s3.postimg.org/vcc8h41pb/006.jpg) ($2)
Best thing I ever did was take the time to build a rotisserie next.(thanks to info gathered on the forum)
(http://s23.postimg.org/yc1f603s7/006_Copy.jpg) ($2)
Some of the usual problem areas
(http://s9.postimg.org/ewfl468vf/007_Copy.jpg) ($2)

(http://s21.postimg.org/5t7e3srv7/009.jpg) ($2)

(http://s2.postimg.org/q6rjrhtmd/011.jpg) ($2)
Thanks, Gary.

Looks like a pretty good body .

usual rust spots.
Rotissere  makes life easy and its amazing how much crap falls out when you roll them.
Would be good to get it blasted and primed makes things easier to see whats ahead. and is easier to weld steel not rust..

Keep the pics coming they give you a bit of enthusiasm to keep going when your down..

Pete

G'day Gary

Great looking body mate...where did you find that one...I Have lost my details of earlier cars that I had recorded

There was one from Fremantle that I looked at about 10 years ago and one from Como that ended up in Karratha. The Karratha one is now up for sale ..or was
Both were the two tone Blue

CFheers
Gary

Hi Gary, the fe is the one that was advertised through the wa club by a guy named Brendan.(Duncraig)
He took it to Malaga Rust for a quote then decided to quit the car
Pete,here it is on the way to sandblasters and your right about being able to see what your dealing with.
I stripped the roof and rear quarters by hand first.
(http://s22.postimg.org/iv9zffdpp/004_Copy_2.jpg) ($2)
At the sandblasters
(http://s4.postimg.org/xn4deu4ih/006.jpg) ($2)
When I got it back I found that they missed heaps of areas and primed over the top of original paint.
So I had to spend hours stripping their primer off before I started on the areas they missed.
If I took another car to any sandblaster I would not get them to prime it before I looked at it.
(http://s4.postimg.org/cvghxl36h/009.jpg) ($2)
Thanks,Gary.

Couple more pics, in the pic below if you look close you can see all the old primer and basecoat the sandblasters missed and primed over.
(http://s12.postimg.org/iy6qgp93t/001.jpg) ($2)

(http://s15.postimg.org/yg3gz19bb/008.jpg) ($2)

(http://s22.postimg.org/65cyppnal/002_Copy.jpg) ($2)

(http://s23.postimg.org/fkgdwa3hz/003_Copy_2.jpg) ($2)
Thanks, Gary

A few more pics
(http://s23.postimg.org/ef98eqs07/002_Copy.jpg) ($2)

(http://s16.postimg.org/4lialo6td/004.jpg) ($2)

(http://s12.postimg.org/k8fw77ofd/005_Copy.jpg) ($2)
Floor is finished and roll cage in
(http://s18.postimg.org/wrrx19b9h/002_Copy_2.jpg) ($2)

(http://s24.postimg.org/662exg4lt/001_Copy.jpg) ($2)

(http://s18.postimg.org/4hgaxmt6t/007_Copy_2.jpg) ($2)

(http://s11.postimg.org/fwpgcp6bj/FE_Safety_Cage_Registration_Form_page_1.jpg) ($2)
Thanks, Gary

looking good!

(http://s1.postimg.org/k0lid3z97/untitled.jpg) ($2)

(http://s14.postimg.org/8c61to9od/002_Copy_3.jpg) ($2)

(http://s24.postimg.org/3rnhqm9ch/001_Copy_2.jpg) ($2)

Gary

Nice work Gary.

Keep the update coming.

Cheers

Craig D

Nice work Gary, the old girls coming together quickly, the rear sway bar is the type i was talking about to someone on here a while ago, they are a good idea as you don't have to have any mounting points on the body.
     Pedro

Hi Gary;
Where did you get your rear swaybar here in WA

Regards
Neil

Neil, I got it on ebay through onlineperformance.
Not 100% sure but I think it was $265, not cheap really.

Gary.

http://compare.ebay.com.au/like/140678992255?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes
http://www.whiteline.com.au/do_segue4.php?make=HOLDEN+%28GM%29&model=HOLDEN+FX-WB&model_final=HOLDEN+FE%2C+FC%2C+FB%2C+EK&vehicle=1956-61

(http://s24.postimg.org/pblahzgm9/003_Copy_4.jpg) ($2)

(http://s1.postimg.org/n8itpq8ln/015.jpg) ($2)

(http://s11.postimg.org/8pp6qvrz3/018.jpg) ($2)
I got that fuel cell at a swapmeet for $120, easier that mucking around with the old tank.

Gary

Good onya Garry, u might win the award for your complete build on one page the way you are going, unlike us possibly broke (periodically), possibly procrastinating, dribbling types who ramble on and on for years....and years....and years. A few people spring to mind  :D :D :-\

Have you tried that setup yourself before with the bar. I suppose u could play around with the location of the u bolts for rigidity? How thick is it if u dont mind me asking. Let us know next week when you do the test drive ha ha.

Deano, I started the rebuild in October last year and the pics are only bringing you guys up to speed.
With that rear bar I found it seemed to raise the car when you tension it to the rear of the springs,it certainly did stiffen the rear.
As for driving I hope to have it finished for a 2 day meeting in July at Barbagello Raceway but that may be optimistic

Thanks,Gary.

Well I hope it gets off the blocks. I love nothing to hear of another one rolling, preferably motoring out of the garage. Well done.

Hope you can get it ready for the meet in July. Not far away now. It is a great looking build.

Keep going.

Regards

Wayne b

Any updates Gary?

(http://s10.postimg.org/xaaegoulx/007_Copy_3.jpg) ($2)
I tinted the primer/filler
(http://s16.postimg.org/sjxtm0c7l/010_Copy_2.jpg) ($2)
final colour on door
(http://s18.postimg.org/6nd4qzxbp/021.jpg) ($2)

Gary

Gary

The colour looks great.

Keep the photos coming.

Cheers

Craig D

Looks tough with the cage. I suppose whens are next  ???

(http://s24.postimg.org/ap9k43v3l/004_Copy_5.jpg) ($2)

(http://s10.postimg.org/55ypaip45/004_Copy_3.jpg) ($2)

(http://s17.postimg.org/yap8mthzv/005_Copy_4.jpg) ($2)

(http://s10.postimg.org/hiy7vkrl1/003_Copy_7.jpg) ($2)

Gary

Hey Gary is that you on Gumtree in WA looking for bumper bars I have a front and back but they might need a bit of work.

Regards
Neil H

Neil, that is me on gumtree looking for bumpers.
I would love to have a look at what you have.
Pm me your phone no or give me a call.
0439 398 397

Thanks, Gary

PM sent Gary with my number give me a buzz

Regards
Neil H

Anything happening

Watching this build with interest, can't wait to see it on the track. Those colours are very similar to John and Alex's Miss Behaving.

Yeah I know, I tried to find a colour that would be bright like a race car should but different to all the fe fc race cars in existence.
I didnt want red, dark blue,white ,orange or black so I thought about monaro verado green with gold stripes and even had that colour approved by the WA historic touring car club scrutineer but I wasnt confident with 2 pack so I wandered down to the paint place and said yeah I like that acrylic lacquer bright blue.
I also always wanted a white engine bay, soon as I put the two together I realized shit this is very familiar,but it was too late.
Sorry Alex but it was unintentional.
Anyway the engine is running and sounds very good  I have started on the body trim and have received my door trims and headliner, thanks to Stinky.
So maybe will have it looking complete in the next 2 weeks but then its back to Broome till the end of October so no more progress until I return.

Gary.

I appreciate the detail that has gone into the engine bay. Looks great. ;)

Hi Gary;
Did you end up getting your bumper bars sorted I did send you my number but then realised you must have been away.

Regards
Neil H

Hi Neil, I have been away but collecting bits and pieces on ebay but Iam still short of bumper ends both front and rear and over riders.
Sorry I missed your call/message but I would still like to have a look at what you have if possible.

Gary

No Worries give me a call on 0423 827 973

Regards
Neil H

Don't wish to stick my nose in where it don't belong but....I have a similar swaybar on the back of my  van and it works really well but I have saddled [welded mounts] it to the housing because I found that the 'U' bolts allow the mounts to move under load and I was worried about the steel brake line being broken or if it twists and doesn't return the same on both sides it could sit the car up on one side. That said the build looks great. 

Thanks Hsv-001 point taken. Once I put my wheels on and  check ride height I will probably remove diff to reset springs again and will do something permanent as far as the bracket is concerned and add tramp rod points maybe. Knowing where to position the fixture permanent to the housing will probably take a bit of trial and error though as the tension will change when you shift the bracket inwards or outwards of centre. At the moment I can play around with it until Im happy (if ever).

Gary.

The only reason I noticed it was because its the same as mine [only I faced mine forward] and just recently broke a shocky mounting stud from the "U" bolt plate .The pressure placed on the rear axle when I lifted only one side of the car to remove the plate would not allow me to recentre the axle back over the spring centre bolt when I was replacing the plate [laziness].I had to put chassis stands under and disassemble and reinstall the entire rearend. Like I said on other posts I have been involved with repair and modification of old holdens [FE FC are my favourites] for more than 40 years so if you need any help advice or just ideas it not a problem.Cheers

Not being critical here but have you thought maybe facing it towards the front is what is causing your problems hsv-001, as i recall the instructions show them mounted to the rear, i had mine that way and never had any problems with it moving or anything and we lived on windy country roads at the time where if a car came the other way you had to get off into the dirt and potholes, it made a huge difference to how the car handled though there was no body roll at all.
   Pedro

As I have explained somewhere before this car was a one owner .It had been crashed and stored for many years prior to which it was an old mans holiday[caravan] tow vehicle. It was the mid 80's when I got it. From memory it had 8 leaves of spring plus an override on each rear so body roll was never an issue. I also recall having 4 other old holdens at that time so I am not certain where the swaybar came from so as usual no instructions. As red motor on HR frontends were only just legalized in QLD and front and rear swaybars were mandatory I put it on . Thanks for the heads up on the instructions though .I often wondered which way it was designed to go but as there are no clearance problems and I reason that mounting the leverage points closer to  the front of the spring therefore more like a body mounted swaybar could give greater stability. As usual I could be wrong or maybe it makes no difference. Anyway I still believe the mounts could be welded to the axle. I used rhs and captured nuts prior to welding so as to use original rubbers. When locating the rear axle it is important to position saddle rubbers correctly over the centre bolts so no , undo and redo everything is the correct way to do this.

Hsv-001

I have done exactly as you have outlined with the sway saddle mount.

Makes it a hell of a lot easier to mount and looks much neater.

R

Craig

(http://s7.postimg.org/ypfithzg7/image.jpg) ($2)
Nearly there now,just dramas with my wheels being wrong offset and hitting top control arm on lock.
I bought six of them and was promised they would be fine, I have been talking to Pete about spacers but it does start to get messy with studs etc.

Gary

Hi Gary,

That's one very nice looking FE you got there, congrats.

Cheers, Jack  8)

We did the first 25 mile at Collie Motorplex in the fe,they were kind enough to let me have the track for the day on my own.
My young bloke put some footage on youtube, Holden fe on track at Collie but I dont know how to upload it.
We took it pretty easy but it sat on the road quite well.

Gary

Cool



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVMppWfsFFU

Thanks Pete


Gary

Hey Gary I just saw the video the car looks and sounds great congratulations.

Regards
Neil H

Sweeeeeeet  ;D ;D ;D

Very cool vid of your fine machine.

Great job!

Very Very Cool   :) :)

Well I got my car logbooked and had my first hitout at Collie Motorplex and all was good.

Tuning day at Barbagallo before the Nightmasters race day and at the fastest part of the straight disaster.
(http://s9.postimg.org/ohnucv8bf/Tailshaft_1.jpg) ($2)

(http://s29.postimg.org/s8g9rv7kz/Tailshaft_2.jpg) ($2)

(http://s30.postimg.org/dq8x2294t/Tailshaft_3.jpg) ($2)

(http://s7.postimg.org/izha444l3/Tailshaft_4.jpg) ($2)

Now have couple of weeks to finish repairs before next meeting "Northam Flying 50'

Thanks,Gary

Instead of racing had to spend all weekend on repairs
(http://s27.postimg.org/fjbd74fyn/Tunnel_1.jpg) ($2)

(http://s24.postimg.org/taiddvey9/Tunnel_2.jpg) ($2)

Gearbox repaired and back in just waiting on new shaft (larger) to be made.

Gary

WOW

and a bigger tailshaft loop :o

Bloody hell

This one got under the radar... I guess now that it's on the track that close enough to being on the road and can go into the completed projects!
Another amazing example of a completed machine. Well Done!!
Would be good to see more vids as you go as well... We are all interested!

Cheers,
JB

Just finished putting a tailshaft loop on my hotrod chassis .Don't think a loop would have held that shaft though. Haydn

Sorry Gary I have been thrown some more curve balls and had not been keeping pace on here. Well done on your achievement. If your going to events, do you have a social media page separate to this?