FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

When restoring my FC I put Rare Spares kits through all areas.  Left over at the time, as there were no similar bushes, was a Bush Kit , GSBK001 .  The packaging description "Gearshift Bush Kit FE-HR"  I think it designed for the gear linkage at the bottom of the steering column.
There are two nylon pieces semi circular in shape with a groove around the outer side.  Where do they go, what is their purpose and can they be retrofitted to the FC?  My car was very original and had nothing like these fitted to it.

Keith

Keith,

These are:
a) the nylon trunnion that goes into the gear shift lower levers (under the bonnet, hangs off the steering column). The were introduced (from memory) on EKs, and take some of the slop out of the linkage. FB/EK's run fine without them, though if you have FB/EK NASCO reverse lights then they will not energise properly without the trunnion. From what I know, the nylon trunnions are not used on FE/FCs.
b) Rubber insulators to fo on the shifter lever (on the gearbox). The shifter lever hole used to connect to the gear shift linkage changed from 5/16” diameter (FX and FJ Holden) to 3/8” diameter (FE and FC Holden). The hole was then changed to ¾” in the FB Holden run (from engine number B169037) due to the need to eliminate metallic rattling on rough roads. The rubber insulator was installed into the larger hole. The large-hole lever and insulator continued to be used on the EK Holden (the lever is part number 7419060, with the insulator being part number 7419061). The insulators are not used on FE/FC.

Cheers,
Harv

Thanks Harv for the detailed explanation.  Much appreciated.

Regards

Keith

Are these the ones?   Introduced into FC in October 1959 along with the Orange indicators


(http://s22.postimg.org/tnj73fi4d/image.jpg) ($2)

Ken

Ken
That appears to be the ones.  It looks like they cannot be fitted without getting the modified lever from the correct model.  Mine is a
Sept 59 build and did not have the orange turn indicators.  It looks like mine was slightly too early.  I'll have a look and see if I can modify lever/plate.  Is this change worthwhile?

Keith

They are worth fitting if you are having problems with shifting gears. If your shifter is working OK then I would leave them as is.
The easiest way to get the later arms is get them from an FB or EK

Ken

Mine's an early 59 second gen. paint and when I stripped it out for the rebuild the gear lever had the two nylon bushes fitted. Although I have noticed the repo ones have a joiner strip to old them together which makes them easier to refit??.
Jim

Not sure when they changed but later ones were like the repro ones.

Ken

Thanks Ken.  My shifter is working fine.  It is easy to change gears and quite light so I'll leave it as it is however I'll try to find some later bits in case the may be needed.

Keith