FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Well I didnt make phillip island so the rush has slowed a little, I now have 2 years to finnish it but i cant see myself waiting that long.
here are the 2 most current pics.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/4013.jpg)
here is a bunch of parts being stripped of paint, first they were soaked in a bucket of thinners, this worked excellent on the acryllic stuff, was pretty weak on enamal and did near nothing to 2k and red oxide primer, its good for getting acrylic of anything that was plated becuase it doesnt damage what is under the acrylic. not sure of a proper way but i follow this with a wire wheel then a cup brush then sand it with 120 then use a scourer with acid. A sandblasting device would have made life more pleasant but i dont have one.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/4012.jpg)

OOOOhh a new thread, just had to be the first to post on it.  Not limiting it to complete drivel though.  Have you tried using Molasses for stripping.  I have never tried it myself but have heard good reports.  Apparently it takes a bit of time - you have two years ;) but does a great job on old paint and rust.

I think there is an article on it on Ozrodders if you are interested, it's been a while since I read it so don't quote me on it.

Keep up the good work work Leon, it is starting to come together and the finished beast should be fantastic considering the attention to detail you are making.

Cheers,
Mike

There are some cheap blasting nozzles out there at places like Super Cheap. Very messy though and considering your neighbours, it would be out of the question.
Although, I've had an idea about using an old dishwasher and one of these kits to make up a blasting cabinet, I have all the bits it's just a matter of getting a free day or two to try it out.

A friend of mine uses straight molasses and it works a treat on all rust removal ad general filth. I am not sure about paint though and as soon as use take it out you must seal it straight away or it will rust worse than before. The parts can sit in the Molasses for months if need be!
Brett

Molasses is great for rust removal.  Won't remove paint though.  Also parts need to be cleaned (no grease etc) first.  Otherwise the molasses can't get at the metal under the grease & oil.  Neat molasses is okay, but mix about 8-10 parts water with 1 part molasses for a better brew.  Use warm water helps mix the molasses, especially coming into winter.  Use a bucket and suspend the parts on a bit of wire so that the molasses can attack all sides.  I have a half plastic 44 gallon (200 litres for those metrically inclined) which can fit most parts in.  It is acidic, cast iron and steel can be left in for a while, but careful with aluminium- it might disappear!

Electrolysis is another option- a google search or a look through a few vehicle and engine restoration forums will turn up some clues.

I fear we might be getting a bit off topic though.  Good luck Leon FCCOOL.  My hat goes off to you for the great job you are doing in your driveway.  I occasionally whinge about not having enough room in my shed, but then a reality check reveals I have nothing to worry about at all.  Hope to catch up one day.

I have read a bit about using molasses but just used what i had here, Maybe on the next car,  i ended up soaking the parts for about 6 hours in a diluted mix of deoxidiser, then used it neat with a scourer, some rust was sanded again and recleaned with the acid, then after the final rinse and dry i rubbed everything again with a scourer so all the parts were mainly dull silver with a gold tinge here and there.
Ill never learn, I just got the primer on (9pm)the parts, about 11 hours to late, first i couldnt find the masking tape, then the roll ran out and i had to look for a alternative.
then my smokes were lost, i needed one bad from the stress of doing it so late, found them and opened the new tin of 2k etch and it was hard and dry in the bottom (bought it last weekend) so i had to look for more, found a tin with a little in the bottom and thought it would do with a real light coat on everything but it didn't work running out halfway through. next i mixed the new tin the best i could and finnished it of, then i applied the 2k hs primer, and knocked my source of heat over leaving me with no lights, bugger.
Always the way, spend all day prepping stuff and leave no time for the primer, leave it to the next day and i have to repeat half the work. any way I knocked over the colum and scraped all the primer on the side of it, also i didnt leave enough time between fliping and the fuel tank,  diff housing and sway bar stuck to the stands.
I figured if i paint these parts now i wont miss them in the rush once the body is painted and motor starts, speaking from experience of last time were i just about stopped sleaping as soon as the motor fired into life becuase i was to keen the go cruising in it.
Anyway, i went past my limit with the council of 8pm, hopefully nothing will happen but chances are i might get another letter in the mail.

Keep up the great work Leon, i cant wait to see the end result.
Cheers.
Deano :)

well all that batch off parts is now done and its time to start all over again with a second batch with front end, rear door and lower tailgate hinges and what ever else i can find, then its back to the body.
pics probably dont show the best detail but this has the glosiest diff centre i have seen, i might clean up and paint all my centres so i have a good range of shiny diff centres to put in, fuel tank still needs a little work on top and a return line fitted, reason for the two top alternator brackets is to ruduce movement at high rpm, this was how the motor was when i bought the FE that first had it in it, all the grey painted stuff hanging of the stand with the tank on top are the rest of the parts for the motor bar the thermostat housing that i cant find, i have decided to go with chrome bolts for the outside of the motor so i dont have to worry about painting bolts, luckily the local robbos carry's a wide range of chrome stuff for old holdens, when i say that i mean they even have chrome bits for 48's as well as chrome grey motor rocker covers and sideplates. Try finding that in supercheap.
there was big bunch of parts painted white last weekend like the hinges, diff housing, colum etc. once this thing goes back together it should be a bit more pleasant to work on and clean underneath but its not top notch show quality.

Glenn (FC-V8) dropped in today with his v8 wagon, i think my wife now wants to do a chev conversoin in hers, if this takes over a year and a half to build i will need to try and do that one in a year, with her car i will probably get a little stuff done outside like sandblasting to speed things up a little, ofcourse i wont have to worry so much with that one about getting hassled about how much money goes on it
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/5001.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/5002.jpg)
Parts are currently in the garage with the heater on listening to some cool music while the family freezes in the house with no heater.

Leon, looking good, those bits are shiney!  Have you considered stainless allen key headed bolts for the outside of the motor rather than chrome bolts?  I know I found that I could get a box of these cheaper than chrome bolts to do my sump, sideplates and rocker cover on the last red I did.  I bought them from a specialist fastener wholesaler.  They also don't tend to develop rust after a couple of years like chrome ones do around the edges where spanners have cracked the chome.

Keep up the good work,
Burnsy

yeah i was trying to find stainless becuase of the way the chrome ones evntually go orange inside but all those specailty places around here seem to only be open the hours i work, i bought a allen key sump bolt set for $32 at robbos wich is pretty dear but the sump takes a lot of bolts and most of the other sets were much cheaper to do the rest of the motor, they also have sets of gaurd bolts in chrome for $20, I noticed a fastener specailist the other day on the way to work, I just have to round up a bunch of bolts to take down and match up in new stainless and high tensile, one thing i am having trouble finding is good hinge screws for the doors, a few god damaged when i took the doors off.
The dear bolts are inside the motor were there is about $400-$500 spent on studs and bolts

Hey Leon,

Like the shiny painted stuff...

I get all my stainless stuff from "Mr Stainless"

Victoria Road Drummoyne, they may have other outlets.

they have varying grades of stainless too.

Cheers

Ed

(http://www.the-rumbler.com/ratday2k3/fcwagon.jpg)

found this whilst going through some old pics...looks the goods  :o think it was from the rat day around 2003/4?

its not the best time of year for rapid progress but im still ploding along.
Not much has happened but here are some progress pics.
first is a batch of parts getting preped for primer and paint.
Second is a frontal shot, not much has been done to the car itself lately.
Third is were I am stringing up the parts for etch primer followed by HS. In this pic I am attaching the tailshaft to the tree with mig wire, you can only use trees on a still day.
Fourth is of some priming happening.
I guess you think Im pretty clever taking pics of myself, its easy, I record on video then take the pics of the recorded tape.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/engine2008.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/engine2010.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/engine2011.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/engine2006.jpg)

^^^
^^^
Is this the rat day pic you went to post tourque?
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/fcwagon.jpg)
Sorry, I kind of stole it from you.

Hey Leon.
I had heard that that Cougar stuff would strip the paint off car parts....guess this confirms it.
Why do you always wait till it gets dark to paint??  :D
Keep the progress happenin'.
Regards
Alex

Don't worry Leon, he stole it from the "The Rumbler" site, looks like the rumbler forgot to pay his hosting bills  ;D

BTW, How are the taillights going, any more work on them?

 Stinky, the tail lights are pretty much finished, but I am going to rub the primer back in a few spots back to tidy up a little with more filler or blade putty.
Alex, I aim for putting the paint on at around 11am so it can bake in the sun, something always happens and it never works out as planned. I have now gone from fast hardener to super fast, its working well but I still am worried about how well its bonding and how well it will last. The Last batch of parts look good but after painting I noticed S#$tloads of water coming through the air past the reg/water trap, the second inline trap and the last chance disposable trap.
I run the compressor till its full then drain that and the first two traps but I think the late afternoon dew was being sucked into the compressor as I was painting even though the compressor is in the garage.
After cleaning the paint off with couger rum you need to give them a thorough rinse, Then you  treat the metal with some rtd bourbon, rinse it with vodka and dry it, some people use jack daniels but this car is being done on a budget and woodstock seems to be doing the trick.

update-
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend.jpg)

the front end is nearly ready to paint, the snout is now notched for the HR sway bar but I am still going to box off the bottom of the snout.
all the other parts that go on the front end are already painted in 2k silver, I fitted new lowered bump stops to the lower control arms and bought some shorter shocks listed to suit HQ.
I am trying to decide what colour to do the front end and tail shaft.
I am not trying to look like a show car underneath, it will be to low to see, just want it to stay clean and fresh for as long as possible.
I have a choice of silver, black or white in 2k for parts I have underneath, most showcars now have everything underneath in the one colour but I already have painted bits in different colours.
my control arms and steering parts are all light silver, the rear leafs and diff centre is black and the diff housing and underside of the floor is white.
I probably will do the tailshaft white but cant decide the colour for the front end.

Hi Leon,
That notch for the HR sway bar looks impressive. Been trying to work out whether I had to do similar or not. What brand of bar were you looking to fit?

I had a look back through my photos and found the one below from Jindabyne. It's Jason's (FEVanV6) from Cairns and has a Whiteline BHF5 bar fitted. Looks like it clears OK so was planning to give that a try. Maybe if it was fitted the other way around it would foul the outrigger??

Regards,
Trevor B.

(http://members.optusnet.com.au/blackct/HPIM4907.jpg)

that looks like a better idea, too late now.
Mine dips down not forwards but is about the same thickness, ive looked at one already done simular to mine so i know it should work.
cant remember the brand of the bar, all I remember is the sticker said "our bars stay harder longer"

Hi Leon,

To prevent the moisture reaching the gun, I used a long hose with the receiver-dryer attached to the gutter of the house. (the higher the better).

Regards,
Mal.

front end is now boxed under the snout.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend001.jpg)
here is a new transmission crossmember on the right to suit the changes under the car wich I had fabricated by jaymetals in seven hills for $40.
A bit of a missunderstanding led to incorrect measurements wich would leave the transmissoin sitting 8mm to low at the back so I might make a aliminium shim, I would have got them to redo it but it looked too pretty so I just went with it.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend002.jpg)
crossmember on the left is the old one, reason I had to get it done outside was becuase you need a massive press to fold 5mm steel, up till now pretty much everything else was made in my driveway.

another update, pic is a bit dark, here I have strung up the front end so I could paint it in one go but the gravity feed gun didnt like painting the bottom like this so I now need to do it in two go's.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc007.jpg)

Bad kitty, all my doors now have cat piss damage, one was ready to prime with filler in wich now will have to come out, now I know why alex microwaves them.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc006.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc009.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc008.jpg)

here I cut holes to put in the plate and nut for the seatbelts, not thinking, I forgot that I wanted the seatbelts low and proceeded to cut the holes up were the old belts were, after cutting the holes I took a step back and remembered so then I had to cut another hole down low and fill that top one. but then the bottom one seemed to low so Im gonna chop down the back legs on the front seats.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc001.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc003.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc005.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc004.jpg)

I lost a whole day making a flush pushbutton for the door,, sometimes I get to lazy to measure things and this button turned out a disaster, I couldnt really find suitable bolts being a sunday and the smooth part of the bolt was two long, if you tried to fit this button it would sit 1/2 a inch to far out, the spring has been left uncut here, they cost $5.50 each so i dont want to cut it till i know everything is rite but the button part of this will probably be heading for the bin. I had a magazine with a article on how to do this but I lost it.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc011.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cc010.jpg)

Notice the way the key hole is cut out, this door is the drivers door of my old fe wich was a standard sedan, my seats, engine, dash and drivers door are all of the FE so now it will be like I am driving the two in one.

Hey Leon.
Nice to see progress.
The joys of owning a &*$#@ CAT!!
Discovered a new use for the cat.
When you finally get around to painting the car, strap the cat to the buffer and save $$$ on buffing pads. If you accidently drop the buff, it will always land cat up and avoid damage.  ;) ;D
Oh, if you can't wait for the paint stage, try this link.

http://www.petrest.com.au/
(http://www.maddogproductions.com/_borders/earl_animation.gif)
Regards
Alex

thanks Alex, I'll send them a email regarding prices and see if I can get something sorted asap.

Leon,.

I sent you a 8.5MB PDF guide on buttons.

hope you get it OK and i didnt stall your POP server.


Cheers

Ed

 ;)hey leon heres my cheap and easy way to fix the cat problem!!!!cheers jamie(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/fe_hotrod/untitled.jpg)

Leon,

Catch it and ware it as a hat.Like Danniel Boon and the "Coon Skin" (Thats Racoon Skin)

Rusty.

What, scare them to death with acid wash denim slacks, flip-flops and socks and a weird hat ?  :P ;D ;D

looks Like an Ivan Milat dress up party.

 ;)yeah but i wouldnt tell him that if that handpiece was pointed at my head!!!hehehe ;)

I took a week of starting from last friday, havent got anything done yet, went to ross engineering to find out about getting pulleys made and they said I will need a threaded hole put in the end of the crank to put a bolt in otherwise its going to spit the balancer and pulley, main hassle there is I cant get the friggin engine back into the car to take it somewere to get done so the crank will probably have to come back out.
the whole time Ive had off the car has been getting saturated with the rain and wind and it looks like I will now have to take of all the primer as rust is starting to show through in a few spots. ive now used all my holisays and wont be able to get time of again till the middle of summer.
I thought rather than let time get wasted today I would go and replace as many bolts as possible with stainless, I went to mr stainless in drumoyne wich was a bit of a mission to find and park and when I finally got there with my big bag of nuts and bolts the dickhead didnt want to serve me becuase it was 20 minutes to closing time and told me to go to the boat shop next door to get my nuts and bolts, I walked out and lit a smoke and a customer walked out of the shop and said dont worry about that wanker, if you get anything he will rob you anyway and recomended a place in penrith.
My landlord rang while I was gone and said he is coming on thursday to do some repairs, Looks like I will be using the days left to clean up and try to somehow hide the FC and vk that we keep saying wont be sitting there next time.
Making things worse I get stuck inside with my missus for 4 days being roasted about how much time I spend on the car instead of the family, this is how most of the day is usually spent when I do get clear weather anyway and it sure makes it hard to get motivated, ive been trying to get the thing to a rolling stage so I can try and squeeze it in the shed so at least if I had a break from it, it would be safe from the weather.
Anyway I quit, the car is probably worth more in parts than as a hole as nearly everything is new in packets and cost heaps, I doubt I will get half of what the motor cost me.
I might get something later on the road like another old holden or maybe even a cadillac or something but at this stage of my life its too hard to rebuild a car, I could have bought a good caddy now with the money thats gone into the pile of shit in the driveway and I wouldn't have wasted nearly two years of my life.
Anyway, time to get pissed.

Hey Leon the place in penrith is called Nepean Boltmaster 42 Borec Rd Penrith 47223034 ive used them heaps and they always are really helpfull and dont mind chasing different bolts and they are reasonbly priced
Ben

Dont even think about quitting leon.............

Get it in the bloody shed Leon  ::) then take a break for a bit .
Surely you can arrange 4 blokes to lift it in and fill it full of the junk that is currently in the shed.

People dont give up on their wives when they get too hard to deal with do they OH NO !, They replace them untill they realise what they lost  ;D

i'm with Harko

Don't allow yourself the luxury of thinking it is only two years of your life that has been wasted.What about the rest of us who have been following this project for the last two years?

Ok so the boss is giving you grief over it, is this the only thing she has ever hasseled you about?Wasn't she even helping out at one stage?Just tell her about all the good times the whole family will be able to enjoy once it is finished. Didnt she have a good time at Phillip Island?

Get the car under cover,take a short break,spend the time with the tribe and then get back into it later with renewed vigour.

Here endeth the lesson :)

I hope i haven't come across as too harsh. That is not my intenton. I understand what a bit of depression can feel like and would hate to see you regret things later on.

Just my tuppence worth.


Denis

Hey Leon, remind Michelle how good it was criusing in my car at the nationals, and let her know that it took me 13 years to create my car. Just persavere.
                cheers Scott

hi Leon
I haven,t any answers :(.
As anyone who knows me knows full well that I can,t do a fraction of the things that you can do. Actually I would have trouble pulling a car apart let alone rebuilding one.
Yes I for one would love to see your car back in the carpark at club meetings etc, but only you can decide as to what track you take from this point.
Whatever decission you make I admire your determination so far. I like a lot of others  hope to see you & your family in a FC in the future.
Good Luck
Bruce

Stick with it Leon,

Good things take time.

take your time to plan the jobs and give things priority.

What i do is make a list.
top priority at top of page.
BODY
-strip paint
-fix rust in doors
-finish headlights

MOTOR
-make pulleys

ETC ETC.

although it can appear daunting initially when you start ticking off the tasks it does feel good.

Also, only start jobs according to space limits. like you i had no garage and my wagon was under an awning enclosed by tarps.

I would only do 1 panel at a time and made sure each panel was etched before storage for the following week.

it is slow but avoids duplication of effort.

don't give up on it, the world needs to see your creation.

Cheers

Ed

Leon,

I'm with Ed.It all takes time and is very frustrating at times.I started on the resto/ mod on my wagon in about 2002 or 3. It is starting to look a bit like a car now which makes me want to finish it as soon as I can, but I have no intention of rushing it and buggering something. So, put it away for a while and take it up at a later date, but don't give up.

Cheers Rusty

Hey Leon,
Don't give it away just put it away for a while. You've come so far from when you first started.Rome wasn't built in a day mate you'll get there.
Cheers,
Graham

thanks for the motorvation guys, I have had a crappy week but I am back in buisiness again, it was supposed to be a week of getting the car closer to finished but I seemed to have just wasted my holidays, after a crap begining to the week, tempataion to call the scrap metal people and nearly losing the family I dragged myself back out to the rusty pos and spent the day cleaning it back up, there is so much to be done that when I start in the morning now I spend 3 hours and 20 cigarettes working out were to start. the too hard basket is overfilling and the amount of money needed to finish it seems to go up and up everyday.
I guess half the users of this forum have been through it all before and if I ever do finish this thing it my pay off after a while once ive forgotten what a pain in the but this thing was to build.
At the moment I am trying to get all the panels to fit, bigest problem at the moment is the front passenger door that wont go forward enough to completely shut, has big holes in the top hinge witch may have previously been drilled out but still cant get enough forward movement, I made alot of the area around the top hige by hand as well as cuting the a pillar at the bottom of the windscreen so I hope I have stuck it together properly.
here is some pics, through the week off with basicly no progress
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/holidays013.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/holidays002.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/holidays009.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/holidays005.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/holidays008.jpg)

 I find it amazing that now when you can see the car , You loose motivation ???

I was told by a very well respected personality and family freind once that Anticipation is the key to success .
Maybe use the theory leon and seal the doors before fitting them so if it rains you havent created more work .

Looking up and out of a situation is way better than looking at it all around you .

Geez Ive got a lot of wisdom for my age  ::)
I bet you dont reply to this comment  ;D

Leon,
          I got first dibs on the twin head light guards!!!!!!  Just kidding , get the bloody thing finished so i got someone to cruize with at a few hot rod shows.  I cant wait to see the finished product, will be a real kustom, now get it finished

                                                                       tayz

Leon
        take this from someone who has been through it, look at each task as it presents itself and do it to the best of your ability then it will take no time to do. Time dosn't matter because when it's finished there's plenty of time to reflect. Good things come to those who wait.

sorry Leon i just read my post and it sounds like you have no ability, but its not what i meant. I meant that things just fall into place once the small jobs start getting done. Mate I can't wait to see this old girl on the road so we can criuse together,
                          Cheers Scott

 ;)Leon,must say it looks pretty kool!!maybe instead of going hammer and tongs trying to get the wagon done,spend a whole day re-organising stuff and just cleaning up,as a tidy workplace will make it easyer to see the end result!!and make you happier to go out and do some real work,i find if im not organised it takes for ever to find stuff which makes a small job take for ever!!and i loose motervation real quick....stick with it dude it looks real good the work youve done so far!! ;)cheers jamie ;)

And Leon,
               Remember the GOLDEN rule.... when youve had enough and want to through it in go to the fridge and grab a beer or six then try again..... :P :PCheers mark.   Hmmmm maybe thats why i dont get much done on the van ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Leon...if you need any inspiration, there are two Super Golden Rules:

- Don't look at other peoples finished jobs..it just depresses you how much more you have to do on your own, whilst they are all smiles cruising around in their finished rides.

- Look back at YOUR old photos, and just think how much you have already done, and how far you have come.  You'll surprise yourself how much you have done and what the car used to look like.

I'm 4 years plus into my build, and still not finished, and although I like to look at other peoples finsihed cars, I always got down thinking about how much more I had to do ( and still have to do ).

But every time I look back at old photos of my car, It never ceases to amaze me how far I've come.

You have done a huge job and you are probably more inspiration to a lot of us than we are to you.

Keep at it mate......you'll get there !

Mark

here is a update, over the weekend I ended up getting nothing done, I had to go out for materials on saturday morning, bad timing as craig wilson and Ed Ho both turned up  but Ed left me some bits and instructions that should provide all the info I could need for the door buttons.
Strange thing I noticed is my cats can piss upwards, I dont know if they lay on their back to do it but they actually piss up on the floor under the car wich sits pretty high, I dont know if all cats can do it or if our cat is specail but here is a pic of piss on the floor under the car.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00728.jpg)

Anyway, Sunday came and I had planned to get some paint on some bits to get this thing closer to rolling but it was a little breezy, the wind kind of kept getting worse and then the carport blew to peices, remains of its bones were banging all over the car, at one stage while hanging on it nearly picked me up but then it just ripped the part of I was holding, now its a pile of ripped tarp and snaped poles.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/windyday.jpg)

Well the rest of the day was spent trying to buy a new carport but everywere I went didnt sell them anymore, with bunnings being the only place open after hours of running around I ended up buying a tarp.
On monday we got a new letter from the council, I thought them guys must have died becuase I havent heard from them in ages but they are obviuosly still around. this time it says its a first complaint so I must have had my slate cleaned, yipee.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/morejunkmail.jpg)

my wife rang up to ask about it, now I am to scared to use the grinder when it starts getting dark becuase I know the police will be called but this nice old gentleman next door is telling the council that I am grinding after 9pm, I think he needs to re-adjust his clock buy 4 or 5 hours, gotta love sydney.
I am having a break this long weekend, heading of to my mates place in orange, I wont be completely away from this stuff as he also is building a custom FC wagon.

Leon,

Here is the answer to your problems:

Step 1 - shoot and kill all cats in your neighbourhood (Alex will support this move, and supply bullets if required.)

Step 2 - 'discuss' remaining issues with your neighbour (Ben Wall can help)

Step 3 - vote for car supportive reps in your next council election (call Liberal party for assistance)

Step 4 - insure your car with Shannons

Step 5 - buy a 5 litre can of petrol

Step 6 - USE YOUR IMAGINATION :-)

Just joking mate, keep at it because EVERYONE can't wait to see this thing finished.

Cheers,

Craig.

or get a stop watch and turn the grinder on ALL DAY between allocated hours

What were the hours anyway?

My neighbours come round and give me a hand if I'm up late..... different area I suppose

leon the other week end we was there your car was looking awsome cant wait  to see this thing built

Had a builder that I knew do something similar... He was building a set of townhouses and the neighbour across the road protested every step of the way for any approval on these units. Eventually he got a similar letter stating the allowed times for the use of generators. So next morning at 7am on the nose 12 generators were started up at the front of the units and promptly shut down at 5pm. I think this happened for about a week to get the point across. End result, not too much more complaints from across the road.  ;D

Hey Leon.
I think you need to attach some ropes to the jack stands, with the other end to a winch. Next time the cat is pissing under the car, hit the start button on the winch.....problem solved. I think cat blood is less corosive than cat piss.
Can you move all work using the grinder closer to the neighbours fence?
Regards
Alex

looks like I had a few more things to add to the re do list, the motor has to come back apart so I can take the crank to have the end drilled and threaded, I thought I could do this with the crank in but aparently its to risky to drill freehand.
I also found out the spot putty I have been using is not really compatible with the 2k primer, I cant remember were I put it but I have used a fair bit so it looks like I will be doing a fair bit of rubbing back.
I just looked at my old crank and it has the hole drilled and taped, I thought this was only done to supercharged motors but it must have just been a common modification. It would have been nice if the engine shop said something before, after all they have done work on every supercharged holden six i have seen at eastern creek.

I couldnt believe it, I had everything I wanted to paint preped and ready by 11:30am, it was a dead still nice warm morning and it all seemed to good to be true, I went inside for a bathurst update and a bite to eat, came out, gathered my tins and gun, ran the compresser through a cycle to drain it and then woosh, a sudden change to gail force winds, I had checked the weather earlier and it said 7 knots but I forgot to scroll down to the bit were it said it would change to 33 knots at midday, my boat nearly blew out the driveway into the road, and the tarp freed itself from the ropes holding it to the car and some new sheets of sandpaper found a new address.
I waited for a few hours and thought stuff it, paints going on. My silver parts sprayed up nice with the parklea markets gun but under the car I used a supercheap 2.mm suction feed gun wich is a heep of s%^t, never use a super works gun,, I know the 2.0 is too big for 2k colour but its all I had that I could get uder the car with, the size isnt the problem, this gun has never been able to spray out a consistant flow of paint and uses about 20 times more paint than the $100 parklea markets gun. end result was lots of missed spots and runs just trying to do touch ups and no 2k white left. any way you are supossed to keep it above 20 degrees for 24 hours for it to cure but I just went outside and its raining.
Anyway, although my previuos experiences with por 15 were not very good I have given the por 15 alloy wheel resto kit a go on some of my alloy bits, I used it at night after a quick sand and polish with the included autosol tube, cleaned and treated it with the supplied chemicals, mixed the clear/hardner/solvent and brushed it on, it was very easy to use, I applied it with the supplied brushes and it had a few strokes and slight sags but the next day it was all dead flat but not fully cured, after a couple of days it finally cured and its pretty hard to tell it has a clear coat over the polished alloy and there is no evidence at all of brush marks, hope this holds upto heat and chemicals.
A tip for next time, dont mix too much up as it seems to go a long way and ofcourse being two part you can not return the un used stuff back to the tin, I had to scrap most of what I mixed up.

Hi Leon,

I drilled and tapped my crank snout with the crank in the engine without any issues. My balancer is a ROMAC and came with the correct length bolt/thread. You will need a sharp drill, and a blind tap to suit the thread.

I only tapped a small distance at a time before cleaning out swarf and relubricating area. Everything worked fine.

I agree it would be better out of the engine but it worked for me.

Cheers,

Craig.

 Hey Craig, I spoke to Jeff Ramsey Who does alot of the fabrication for supercharged cars and he said he doesnt drill stuff freehand, I cant really see why you couldnt, did it say anything in your fitting instructions about drilling the hole?
I asume you would need a pretty good tap to cut a thread in a crank, did you need a fancy drill bit or tap, the guy at ross engineering sugested a arp/chev bolt but I cant remember the size.

sorry, just read it again, I think you answered my question.

Hi Leon,

Check this out.

http://www.romac.com.au/pdf/Balancers%20Fitting%20Inst.pdf

If your crankshaft is not drilled and tapped then do so as no warranty will be implied if the balancer is not bolted onto the crankshaft.
For example, Holden Six’s require a 7/16” UNC bolt or socket head of 1.5” long. Drill size is 23/64” or 9.4 mm drilled and tapped just
deep enough so as the bolt will not bottom out.

I used a HSS drill at mid speed, and as suggested used the bolt to draw the balancer on to the  crankshaft.

(http://i12.tinypic.com/359yfja.jpg)

Cheers,

Craig.

Thanks craig, thats spot on what I needed to know. i am going to buy a bit and tap and do it myself, the guy who I was going to get to do it is a bit of a perfectoinist, he is aka the blower guru by the guys at the drags but its not like my fc will be a 7 second car.
I bought a hq radiator of ebay and its not going to fit as easy as I thought if at all, the old radiator used to fit the bottom tank between the rails but this one doesnt, it's a 3 row chev v8 radiator and the inlet and outlet are not far of the 6 cyl radiator but If I am going to fit it I will need to do more modification to the radiator support panel. infact I will have not much of it left but what really sucks is that I already spent heaps of time modifying it to neatly fit a torana radiator and its already painted.
it also leaves less room behind it for the supercharger pulley so I might need to get a new harmonic balancer made that takes a ribbed or gilmour belt wich means getting a water pump and alternator pulley to suit.
has anyone ever fitted a chev/hq radiator to a fc?
good point I guess is I can fit larger fans, I plan to run 10-15 psi boost and the motor is on its last bore so keeping it cool is going to probably be hard.

Hello Leon.
               Maybe you could mount the radiator in front of the support panel to give more room for the water pump? I fitted a HR radiator to a Austin A40 this way.
     Brad.

The radiator sits higher than the catch panel but my custom grill leaves little room at the front and the closer the fans get to the expanded mesh the more visible they will become.
I was going to have a aliminium radiator made to fit what I had but this radiator was about $800 cheaper than that option.
I am tempted to go out now and start hacking up the support panel more.
Has anyone got a chev/kingswood radiator in there FE/FC?
I might take a pic to better show the situation.

here are some pics.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/1006004.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/1006005.jpg)

Hey Leon,

I cut down a VT radiator by taking off the plastic tanks, the getting som 50mm x 50mm box aluminium and making up the tanks myself after cutting the core down to the size I required.

All you need then is someone who can weld aluminium, for the tanks to get put back on.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/Fevanv6/jason010.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/Fevanv6/jason020.jpg)

You can also see here the standard Vt thermo fans that fitted nicely.

Cheers
Jason.

fevanv6 that looks like a cheap way to get a aluminium radaitor but I dont know if it would cool my motor, the radiator I have is a 3 row, the main advantage I would get out of the v6 radiator would be weight as the new radiator seems to weigh double what the old one did, the chev radiator inlets and outlets almost line up with the red six ones and will probably use the same hoses although I dont know yet what water neck I am going to use till I decide were the supercharger belts are going to run. If I ever do this again I will spray the car with epoxy and trial fit everything before any paint goes on, being impatient can waste alot of time.

The front end is kind of going together, yesterday was to hot outside and today was to cold but I have been rebuilding the front end in the kitchen. the neighbours probably think the council has stopped me from working on the car, little do they not what is happening in the house.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend8007.jpg)

I tried going of the specs in the rebuilding a hr front end thread but then when I did the lower control arm bushes I went ti tight, I usually tighten them till the arm stops swinging then back it of a little but this time I wanted everything tourqued, I have a fealing the specs for the lower control arms might be from a hk or something becuase it lock up the arm and then when I backed it of I noticed now sometimes the bush turns in the control arm, I will fix this another day, I get worried as one day on the way home from work my lower control arm came of on the great western highway in peak hour and tuck a front wheel up under the gaurd wich was pretty embarrasing and hard to bring to a stop with wiping out the cars next to me.
The new lower bushes I bought from american auto's were a llittle too small and sloped around in the lower control arm holes so I had to use the old ones, the bushes on the upper pins were the opposite being to big and tight in the holes and one is still not screwed all the way in waiting in the to hard basket till  another day when I am either smarter or stronger.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend8006.jpg)

Leon,

Ive used an HQ radiator, however it had to modified to sit under the radiator support panel.

cut down approx 2 inches, used a commodore filler neck and added 1 more row.

should cool your 6 adequately, I was towing a trailer in +30° heat with no temp troubles.

the ally radiators are supposed to be more efficient, just make sure there is no stray current running through it.

nice radiator Jason, clever.

Cheers

Ed

Any progress Leon?
The Nats aren't that far away y'know.

I havent done much lately, if its not too hot its raining or just heaps windy or i have no money for parts or materials becuase my two sons and wife all have their birthdays in janurary and we had christmas in december, next month my wife and i just have our anniversary of our first date wich was at the Newcastle burnout masters in 99.
I was donated some nbrand new lowering blocks from greame and fitted up the springs, i had some hassles with a striped pin, i thought it was a dodgy pin but i now think it was becuase the parts the pins go through were slightly bent cuasing the pin to bind up so i straightened it using a bolt.
i now have the springs and diff in.(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/Picture112.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/Picture163.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/Picture184.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/Picture164.jpg)

I am experimenting with spray can white walls, i used vynil spray, i heard of someone having succsess like this but cant remember if they used a adhesion premoter, i decided not to so i could save $15.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars021.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars022.jpg)
sorry about the finger in the shot.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars028.jpg)

G'Day Leon,

Like everyone I always watch for updates on this thread. Its a credit to you for the effort you've put in on this car, under clearly difficult circumstances. Building a car in a driveway can't be the easiest thing.

Keep at it.

Cheers,

Craig.

Hi Leon
Looking good, I have not checked your progress for a while now you have come a long way since I last looked.

Cheers Jim

Thanks Leon,
Its good to see your still progressing.
Keep it up
Bruce & Jan

As usual i am not having heaps of luck, i couldnt find all the bits to put the rear brakes in so i just chucked on the drums and rims and decided to get some work done up front.
anyway i found i didnt have all the subframe to crossmember bolts, 2x ready, 1 needs to be sprayed matching 2k silver, 1x destroyed while being seperated from the sleeve that was rusted on but the crossmember is hanging up with 2 bolts.
I then went to fit the rotors, put in new bearings and got to the second rotor and found i had lost one of the washers that go between the bearing and the nut so i decided to put that on hold till i could get to the wreckers and do the calipers, i finally got the calipers together but couldnt get the dust cover rings in one so i pulled it back apart and lost the o ring somewere in the front yard that goes between the two caliper halfs to seal the fluid gallery so that caliper is on hold wich is for the side wich the bearing got finished on so i still didnt get any calipers on so i went to the wreckers to get a washer and the oldest holden with wheel bearings was a hg so i figured that was as close as i would get but when i got home the washer was way too big so i still cant do up my bearing and fit the 1 caliper that is complete and ready.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0388.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0389.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0433.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0391.jpg)

Looking real shit hot Leon, LOVE those whitewalls

                                                          tayz

finally 1 calliper has made it onto the car.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0451.jpg)
here is a commodore m90 on a 4bbl manifold, if the supercharger is mounted here it will need a spacer machined from a big chunk off alluminum between the manifold and blower for becuase the supercharger outlet is a few inches infront of the hole in the manifold when the pulleys are line up.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0455.jpg)

You're not going sneek up on anyone with that setup   :o
Straight Cuts and a blower, do you want some cheese with that whine?  ;D

Leon once again i take my hat off to you. ;) ;)
it is looking bloody fantastic mate an absolute credit to you.

keep at it

dean

i held off this weekend, i had planned to bog a door and get it in primer, the wether has been unpredictible, windy and everytime you think its going good it pisses down so after i prepped with acid i stopped.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0460.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0459.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/IMGP0457.jpg)

Ok, I saved up my holidays and now have two weeks to get through some work on my car, its the first day and its allready rainning as usual, hopefully today the sky will empty out so the rest of the time of my holidays it doesnt rain.

Jeez, Leon, it always seems to rain on you.  Will you please come to SA to work on your car - we badly need some rain too.   ;)

I see you're hoping to go to Wintersun.  Hope it stops raining for you and you're able to get 2 solid weeks in.  I, like a lot of other people, want to see it finished

Martin

2 days gone and its still pissing down, hopefully it will dry up tomorrow or the darn car might float out the friggin driveway, the tent thing it is in now has a lot of big holes in the roof but still kind off has a greenhouse effect inside due to the ground under the car being a average of 1-2" deep in water.
I was hoping for a dry 7 days straight first up so i could get some parts on the car and eventually have enough room in the garage to squeeze the car in as i am now starting to get rust through some spots of the primer, this weather in sydney is bulls$#t, its near impossible to do anything without rain wrecking it and it takes friggin ages to save your holidays back up for another attempt at getting some dry free time.

I am pretty used to this crap now, everytime i tried to start doingtoday anything i would take out to work on would get wet and of course its all bare metal.
i had planed to get the over 3 doors in primer by monday night but so far i just have a power window switch hole cut out in a door, i had done this earlier in the project but the door was cactus so this is a different door, rest of the time has been spent trying to keep the tent intact as the tarp material has become very delicate and has heaps of holes and rips.
here is a pic of my work area and all the work i have done, i also got the water neck in primeron saturday morning but i may have to use a VK one if this doesnt clear the pulleys.
has anyone had luck asking a boss for a refund on holidays becuase it just rained the whole time?
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars056.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars057.jpg)

finally, a rain free day, i got some welding done on the doors and tailgate through the week but ive been too scared to get into the bog and metal prepping with grey clouds over my head everyday but today i got started on a door, it should only need a little more filler in the morning and get some primer at lunch time, i also today got my oil pump and thermostat thingo painted but i tinted it a touch to dark. Man oil pumps are tricky, trying not to let oil out or paint in with just masking tape.
if the weather continues good tomorow i will end up with another door leaving only 2 more. glad i dont have a 6 door.
There was a bit involved in getting the doors ready becuase i radiused the square corners and made flush push button buckets, cut out speaker holes and the fronts are cut out for power window motors and switches, the rears will be getting power windows too but i will do them later. offcourse there was the rust repairs in all doors except the NOS rear door too.
the old mig that always gave me hell has done hours of welding this time without jambing up once, I must have it all bodged up just rite now.

I hope this weather continues next week, i might get to get some visible progress done.
next week i hope to get this door jamb sorted out so the front passenger door will fit, and then get some doors out of the garage and back on the car, maybe eventually the whole car will fit back in the garage.
i will eventually get some pics up of some bog and stuff.

stuff it, i will just put pics up now.
here is the tailgate, after scratching my head for two years trying to figure out how to fix my busted nuts, paint inside, and line the tailgate with deadner before fitting the speakers I decided to cut out two holes, these will have steel speaker baffle of thicker metal screwed in, i never new about the bracing and had to cut it, I then run some rod around the cut edge and did a continuios weld between the brace and the rod. the speakers are diamond audio 6x9 60wrms, they are hand made in USA and will run off a small zapco amp, i like listening to music, the tailgate is a fb-ek one, i have welded its holes and did some rust repairs, i then gave it a bit of a sandblast iside but my supercheap blaster doesnt do the best job and it started raining in the middle of it but there is no loose rust or anything like that, I am just painting inside thae panels with killrust and a brush, i got some can on clearance for $6 i thin it first to seep it into the edges, then paint it straight out of the can.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars065.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars067.
jpg)
bog isnt in yet here, just a little fibreglass filler on the welds.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars070.jpg)

Its lookin good Leon keep at it.
Cheers,
Graham

holidays were bad timing, i got perfect weathe rin the last two days, the last day i had to go to my brothers 30th and also pick up my transmission.
i have now got epoxy on the outer of the rear doors and tailgate, they should be soon ready to hang back on the car.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars080.jpg)

i actually like the colour of that primer  :)

i  debated painting my car sherbert orange (like sherbie lolly colour) with a grey/silver roof

what transmission are you using?
did you get it rebuilt?

Cheers

Ed

its a ebay one, its a commodore 6 trimatic, it has apparently run 13's in a torana, chirps second and come with a stall convertor wich has no brand on it but is the same comlour as a dominator, it was $70, it should do for now, getting  good box built will cost over 1k so that can get done later when i know exactly what i need.

Been watching your rebuild pics, great inspiration for my wagon.  

 Man this weather has been rediculous, humidity has been sitting between 70-92%, everytime i lift the plastic off the car it gets wet and i have about 4 days left of daylight savings.
i finally got my passenger door fitting in using a porta power borowed from maco, i had about 6 unsuccseful attempts  but then stuck it between the A pillar top hinge and on the bottom of the window line on the B pillar and it all went into place, the passenger door has always had problems so i spent about 10 minutes after that just opening and closing the door in amazement, no longer will i have to shut the door for the missus before i get in.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars087.jpg)
I squirted a little epoxy inside the doors but it didnt seem to do what i wanted it to do in the edges and stuff, I ended up painting inside the panels with rustgaurd enamel, so far were i have used this stuff it is holding up well but were i used por 15 has all orange rust coming through in spots even through the tie coat.
you just have to remember not to get any other paint over the top of the rust gaurd or it will fry, also the enamel stays soft for a day or two after you paint it.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars083.jpg)
This is how the weather nearly always seams to look around here when its not raining, notice now my plastic shed has a smashed window, might need to get some cling wrap, the roof has become so bad that it has just about torn the length of the roof in the centre.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars084.jpg)
I dont think that the epoxy could have been a uglier colour, i hope i dont get any stone chips, as soon as i put the doors on ofcourse it pissed down and they got wet, allready were i got a scratch in the epoxy it is rusting, man i hate rust.

Leon your a ledgend.i will never complain about not having enough room in my shed again.its roughly 20mx20m and im about to put the plans in to extend it by 13mx20m......cheers mark

You might need a new tarp i just got onto some ex army over surplus ones for 300 each 6m x 9 mthere brand new i bought three for work
cheers fatboy

it keeps raining on and off here so taking on filler and primer is risky, i got this part sent from Jamie (fehotrod)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars089.jpg)

and wacked it in,
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars090.jpg)

after that i had a accident with may left hand, right wrist, the grinder and a cup brush and just decided to drink bourbon for the rest of sunday evening.

Hows the wagon progressing leon??  keep us updated, this is the best topic on the froum!!

                                                                               tayz(any chance of some pics of the guards?)

Hi Leon
I am with TAYZ on this one, its been a while since your last update,.
I can not believe that its been raining for this long.

Cheers Jim

its pissing down, the carport thing it was in has now lost its roof, ive painted the dash but i found a run in the white under the pearl so i let the paint dry and rubbed it flat and then put more on but the dash ended up with too much pearl and went gold, all the steering wheel, colum, horn buttons and glove box hinges came up real well but straight after the last coat i ran in for dinner becuase we had a visitor and my wife had cooked for us and when i came out it had been raining and the paint was stuffed i tried to get the head on my motor last week but my wife wasnt happy about me going outside, i nearly ended up with no family and spent saturday sorting that out and missed the sunny day.
hopefully in a few weeks i can get back to were i was a few weeks ago.

My hat really does go off to you leon, I thought my bloody shed was small......  This wagon is worth its weight in GOLD!!!

nice wagon ;D ;D ;D

BUMP, C'mon Leon how about an update?

ok stinky, here it is, i havent done heaps, i reprimed the roof, i rubbed it down just with some dry poweder guidecoat and was amazed how bad the roof was but it was originally primed the day i finished striping it becuase the car stays outside overnight. we are getting mega due here and i already have some rust spots showning on one corner of the roof, i will strip that back soon and try and work out what happened.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2003.jpg)
i had a bit of a break, or just kinda slowed down a bit as i had been spending too much time on the car and not enough with the family.
I started putting the engine together and spotted a crack in the block, i contacted the engine shop and they assured me it is a common crack and they dont break so i put the haed on, here is a pic were the crack is, its to blurry to see it but its between the water jacket and stud hole.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2022.jpg)
i got this BIG leak in the roof of my new shed too-
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2004.jpg)
soon these guards will be welded to the car!
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2001.jpg)
here is the latest pic of the fron, yesterday-(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2021.jpg)

looking good leon keep up the good work

cheers fat

Great work with the car Leon, I think the garage needs some attention though  :o nothing a roll or three of 100mph tape wouldn't fix  ;D

Leon, that looks so good! Can't wait for the grille!
Colin

 ;)

Leon,

Working in conditions like that and producing the results you do ,you deserve a big pat on the back. Keep it up, and like everyone else I can't wait to see the end result. Good on ya.

Rusty

Keep going Leon your doing a great job. The wagon will be awesome when its finished.
Cheers,
Graham

Leon
Gee that new shed has taken a beating, I did not realise that cyclone when that far down the coast. Maybe you could put in a natural disaster claim to have the classic car workshop rebuild.

Its been a long hard road your taking but you will get there 3 rd time luck Jindabyne, Philip Island Mount Gambier look out here come FCCOOL.

Hope I am there to finaly meet you the family and car.

Cheers Jim

got a couple of days off work, cant believe it didnt rain, back again tomorrow.
then back off at the end of the week to head to wintersun, wish i could tow the car up and keep working on it up there.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2030.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2023.jpg)
it was a releif to find the headlights screw up into there spots, first time i tried them in with screws. top head light is in a deaper holder and the bucket is on a funny angle to compensate for the angle of the headlight surround leaning forward and canted, wont know how well it works till i can get it into work and check them on our headlight alingning thingo.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2025.jpg)
now having problems as the rocker cover doesnt fit with the headstud nuts and guide plates.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2034.jpg)

Do you have any reliefs cut into the rocker cover to allow for the roller rockers? I had to modify my Thomas Cover to suit the Yella Terra rockers I have.
Thanks to one of the other forum members (whose name escapes me right now) I have some pics of where to "operate". Do you want me to send them through?

Stinky,
the rocker cover does have some bits that are machined out but it still hits down the distributor side i think on the guide plates and possibly the rockers too, if you send some pics it might be a help becuase i can then see if they are in the same spot.
did you have yt rockers or street terra?
did you you guide plates?
i wanted a thomas cover but this is what i had and these are supposed to have more height to clear roller rockers but it wont go on.

Hey Leon,

Looks like may hours spent in the front clip, its starting to take shape.

Are yours Crane or YT roller rockers?  I just bought myself some Crane items which are adjustable.  I was surprised at how the adjustment is made... by turning the nut on the mounting stud.

i would have thought an adjustable pushrod seat would be the go.. maybe on the higher end models?

the engine painted grey is a neat touch.

Cheers

Ed

I think they are Street Terras, the motor was built a very long time ago  ::)
The email is on it's way.

hi there have u got an more info on that commodore supercharger on the 6 im curious

just noticed my rebuild was getting so dead that it had slipped down to the second page, its just too cold to get anything done now.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2081.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars2083.jpg)
That m90 supercharger is just sitting on a 4bbl manifold, lots needs to be done to fit it up and probably some expensive outside fabrication but i finally get to see how it fits and that i have room around it to go either efi or carb without too much drama, i could still start of with the toyota blower or just run it with a carb na till i get the m90 set up.
its probably a bit early to put the motor in but i need any space i can get, i now have the car squeezed in the shed thanks to the extra room but its still too packed to work on the car in there, just in time but, i pulled the tarp off the car on saturday morning and found the tarp was holding water on the primer and inside the roof wich is still bare metal was all wet with condensation, with the thick ice weve had on the cars here this week in the morning it would have been a tough week for the FC in the driveway.

[ Edit by RET: Photobucket has done something really weird with the URLs lately, with this ¤ funky stuff in them. If you remove the " ?view=t¤ " string from them, they seem to work as usual. No extra charge ;) ]

by the way, the rocker cover is sticky taped on, it still doesnt fit, ive been um'n and are'n about this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HOLDEN-6CLY-ROCKER-COVERS-EH-HR-HQ-COMMODORE_W0QQitemZ110149717233QQihZ001QQcategoryZ50139QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem i just am not sure about the look.

Hi Leon
I thought I would give you a bit of a kick start, Whats going on with FCCOOL, we have not had an update for a couple of weeks not and I am a little curious.

Cheers Jim

Ok Leon
Its been a month and one day since your last update whats going on.

Cheers Jim

I'm guessing Leon is working on the FC this week..... because it's pouring in Sydney again!! ;D ;D

I guess in one way thats a good thing "RAIN' thats is. Not that good for Leons rebuild.

Cheers Jim

well, i got sick of trying to fit that rocker cover and lashed out on the sheetmetal rocker cover that is supposed to clear all.
 its well made and comes with bolts and a thermostat housing extension but the friggin thing doesnt clear the arp head stud nuts.
 i give credit to those with hot motors that got things to fit on it, its like all the performance parts are only made to fit with standard motors.
 i can tighten it down and it sits 3-4mm above the gasket!

should get a 5mm ally plate laser cut to shim it up?

Cheers

Ed

Hi FCCool

Try  http://www.rocketindustries.com.au - they make spacers to suit rocker covers.

regards
Weddo

PS: have been following your build and I am amazed at what you have achieved, hope to be able to see it at the Nationals.

 i bought a new muffler and some pipe the week before but the mig shroud stuffed up and fried all my tips so everything got held up till last weekend, i did some running around on saturday to get a shroud and tips and a can of cold gal spray but no one seems to have any anywere anymore.
 i got home and my uncle had got into trouble with the law after his neighbours mate punched him in the face so i went down to the holding cells in blacktown to try and sought stuff out and then had to get home to get the kids befors the misus went to work and the rain started, ok, so i figured i will have to do everything on sunday but it just pissed down.
 what is strange is that i cant ever remember driving around to get parts or materials in the rain ever since i started but everytime i go to paint or weld it rains.
 any way, i got a message from the guy i got the rocker cover of and he said he does a spacer to clear the head studs for $25
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/rockercover002.jpg)
 here is a pic that shows how close everything comes tho the rocker cover bolt holes wich is why the first alloy cover didnt fit.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/rockercover001.jpg)
here is a pic of it sitting on, resting on the headstuds.

the blue motor manifold is on to run in the cam with a varijet carb, it had to be ground to fit with the also modified red motor extractors.

How is it coming along Leon?  Eager to hear more news!

Dito ????

Very Very Quiet.

Jim

yep, there isnt much that looks different, ive been getting the motor ready to break in the cam but keep coming up with little problems, i still need to hook uo fuel and fans and fit the radiator and buy a few bits and peices and hook up a battery and earth leads.
 the ign is hooked up, vh blue motor dizzy and crane cames hi 6, no module is needed anymore, i had trouble finding polarity for the wires from the pick up wich normally go to the module, then a guy from work gave me a copy of the ign cuircuit from the proper workshop manual, "-" is the small terminal with a black wire and "+" is the wide terminal on a black wire, other than that the ignition (crane HI-6) is pretty easy to hook up with a thin red to the switch (ign on), a thick red to batt, dk blue to earth and black to earth and black & orange to the coil and purple & black to the dizzy pick up.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00064.jpg)

here is a pick of how the motor is looking now, i got the spacer for the rocker cover but it brought the base of the cover up to close to the guide plates so it is now sitting on two gaskets.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00058.jpg)
 I am at a stand still atm, i lost my spark plug socket and will have to wait till i can get to a shop on thursday night.

getting there Leon,

how about some updates of the front end body work?

Cheers

Ed

reason why is i havent touched the body.
 here is a recent shot, kids are inspecting the mill.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00074.jpg)

here is the bottom supercharger pulley on, i am goinfg to first run the litttle toyota blower. sapce for the belt looks scary around the bottom radiator hose.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00078.jpg)
here is a pic of the engine now as it sits.
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00079.jpg)
i still havent wired the alternator properly, the harness was a new vintage wirring harness (electraloom) about 8 years ago, it was ordered for alternator, a few wires no longer seem to work, i first found when i tried to hit the starter but the "SOL" wire doesnt work so i will strip the harness again and just completely replace any cactus looking wire, good oputunity to wire in a inhibitor switch.
 i tried shorting across the starter but just got click click click click, i am hoping its becuase i have no earth to block yet. starter is a new mini bosch

this looks amazing
i remember doing my best work in the big blue shed (back yard) EK convertable, EK wagon converted to delivery all side glass and back doors welded shut, EK sedan chopped and 2 doored
now i have heaps of shed space and do nothing

Hey Ratbox
I would love to see you start up a new thread and show us pics of these cars from your past.
I think I may have seen a few of them, but always interested in seeing this stuff.

Oh, Leon.....less than 5 months to go....will it make it to the Mt?

Regards
Alex

any up dates

this is a pretty poor video done on my phone in the dark, sound isnt real good, i think the sound from the car was way to loud for the mic in the phone to take, the 3rd time i played it back on the phone the distortion blew the speaker in the phone but here the motor has come to life.
Y-DdBqesGtE

Sounds great, there's nothing like the bark of a Holden 6 8)

Leon,

Sounds like a caged animal!
Is that with the huffer?

It looks like you're reaping the benefits of your persistence and determination.

well done.  8)

Cheers

Ed

no the supercharger isnt on yet, just a varajet II carb is on it being fed by a electric pump and a 20l can of fuel on the ground., ive already gone through 15 litres!

woohoo, brakes work, transmission works, steering works!
Qi8ttnFAe6A

great to see leon ;D

that sounds just sooooooooo sweet!! Looking forward to seeing (and hearing!) it at Mt G
cheers jack

 ;D ;D ;D

that's great leon

sounds pretty peaky!

Cheers

Ed

yeah, then i did this.
e3i4Rzs6pYQ

way to go,been guilty of around the block as soon as the motor goes in too,sound bloody nice too.

man cant wait to here it when it is completed keep the posts comming as us tassie people dont get to see all the cool cars that often

                                             Cheers Damo58

good hotty sixs sound so sweet 8)

Great to see the progress.
You'd have to have the most anticipated car on the forum, if you count both threads over 22,000 hits.
Remember March 2005 ??
http://fefcholden.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,6186.0.html

yeah its been draggin on for a while,i have met alot of people at events and they say " are you that guy building the holden in your driveway?"
 I am pretty disapointed with not getting anything done today, i really need to get stuck into it, looks like i am going to be doing a lot of my bog in summer weather  :(
 Anyway it felt pretty good driving up the road in the FC again after having it sit for so long as a bare shell and cut to peices and welded back up, it seemed to drive well with all its new bits and there was i nice breeze coming in were the windscreen normally goes.

hey leon, (fccool)...

its matty martin from ekfb forum, just finished reading your lifes story... wow, you have achieved alot mate, also in some poor woork conditions... anyway i'll be watching closely from now on...

hey where did you get that rocket cover from... i NEED one...

found any close up pics of your door button for me yet...

thanks
matty martin

Man,
you are a farking insperation to all us fellas out ther hacking away for months on end, i'm just stunned at how fat the build is for ya driveway.  :o

i got to tell ya, i went out a scorced a FC wagon after first reading this post a few weeks ago.

so now,it's time to build a Tuff red motor,had a ripped 14 years back it went like a cut snake in a little LC Torana. ( just bought another LC today  ;D )

so ay gteing an old fella off his ass and playing in the back yard again man, thanks. ;D

Kind Regards, Brett ( BundyFC )

Hi Leon
Its great to see your car making the major forward movement, it has been awhile since you last drove it, seem that you had a little difficulty reversing the old girl back down the driveway.

But hay who wouldnt like to stay out on the street blowing away a few rice burners with that sweet sensation.

Cheers Jim

Hay,
is ther any chance of giveing us a more detailed run down on whats been done to the donk,am very keen to learn more.
Kind Regards, Brett - BundyFC  ;D

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY,

leon, whats been happening to the wagon of late...


any progress...


matty martin

Leon did you get the SC14 mounted up yet I may have a manifold to suit a DCOE Weber that may suit you..[not my IDF Weber set up off my blower ].......FC427.........

well i was about to start making brackets, then i started thinking maybe i should just go with the m90, i then pulled the bonnet down, the sc14 is still sitting in the bay from when i was going to start taking measurements.

 I have taken the week off to try finishing of the bodywork but it seems its just going to keep raining all week so ive been shopping and trying to clean out the garage to make usable space, we had a clean up last week were i chucked a bit and then i filled another bin on sunday night with mainly broken crap laying around.
 went shopping, had to go to penrith to get some washers, then homebush to get some sewing mashine needles then blacktown to get some o rings etc etc, a big day of running around to get a handful of stuff.
here is a pic of the front, i still need to do a bit more work on the areas between the headlight and bonnet.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00232.jpg)
here it is on the road.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/DSC00238.jpg)

trying to decide weather to keep the flash, the two tone bit is going to tricky at the back now with the new tail lights, also trying to decide on wich blower i will run.

gee, its been so long since i put it together, i cant remember, it has

179 block bored and tunnel bored and o ringed

3.3 crank machined for 179 and balanced.

3.3 rods, closed, honed,
 
acl race series bearings,

 camtech blower cam ( i can get you the specs if you need)

straight cut timming gearset

solid lifters

manley pushrods

yella terra yt 5008 rockers on ARP studs with yella terra guide plates (dont use the yella terra guide plates in a FC becuase you have have a pain in the arse with rockers covers)

ARP main studs

ARP conrod bolts

acl race series pistons (with the dish machined further for lower cr)

copper head gasket

jp hv pump

ported 12 port head with pep pro os valves, chambers ccd (for lower cr)

ARP head bolts

crane cams hi 6 trc ignition.

Leon,

I dig the front sheet metal.  8)

It reminds me of those factory concept cars the Yanks used to do in the 50s and 60s.

Surely this has to be one of the most (if not the MOST) anticipated car on the forum.

Keep up the good work.

Kind regards,

Ol_Girl_58

One more thing Leon,

How low is this car, and what are the wheel dimensions? Do you have any clearance/turning issues?

It looks cool  8)

Cheers,

Ol_Girl_58

i only have 185 75 13 tyres, i want to go 14 but am worried about it getting to high, i did have clearance issues with the tailshaft, i have opened the tunnel up at the back a little and just welded in a filler peice abou 1" wide, i will find out if that help, i also chewed out the front bump stops, i now have shorter ones, a couple of times on full lock coming into my driveway ive herd something like a tyre scrape, but my wifes calais with fe2 suspension does it all the time, other than that the exhuast can scrape easy, i get around this by having air shocks hooked up to a compressor with a valve in the dash.
 I now have a much thicker sway bar on the front and no space for one at the rear so i need to work out some kind of valve set up for the rear shocks so the pump up even but dont transfer air from one side to the other on the bends.
 my rear springs were reset about 2 1/2" lower, then i got the eyes reversed, lowering blocks are 2", it must be 5 or six" lower, still looks high so i am going to get some lakes pipes.

 I have a mate up in newcastle with a very low car, here is a link to it.
http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2518&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
he has cut the tunnel out and replaced it, iits a seriously lowered car, the crossmember is cut and boxed.

fcool,
I don't see how the rim diameter has any effect on your tailshaft clearance.
Are you trying to get a bigger rolling diameter with lower profile tyres, or .......
If you want your car on the ground just select lower profile 13 tyres, or delete the tyre altogether ......
Confused... GeoffK

hey leon, just to let you know that when i ran 15's i used 195x50 x15 on the front and 225x55x15 on the rear this brought the rolling diameter back to original specs  ( i think it was out by 3 mm on the rear only front was so close to orig it didnt matter )

just something to keep in mind.

ther are a nice set of 15's to suit early holden stud pattern on evil bay at the moment but they are very dear.

Thanks for the info, Leon.

That EK in the link you posted is insane ...

nah, i want nice big sidewalls no less than 70, any less just looks to modern on a old car imo, i want to run steel chrome wheels with crossplys for shows and low speed runs, 14 is the cheapest way to go becuase you can get after market chrome old style chevy wheels in chrome for $200 each. Alternative is to chrome some hr ones wich requires finding late model 13" outer donor rims, having them chromed, welded and trued.
 bigger wheel diametre means you need to raise the axle height to keep the car at the same height.
plan is to one day own some wheels and tyres like these-
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/marquiscustomcar4-vi.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/P1010025vi-vi.jpg)

photo's from- http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/

fair enough leon, just thought id let you know roll diameters.

keep up the great work mate... ;)

yeah i remember someone was real low in the front with dropped spindles. think it was greg gleeson and he was running 15"s and he reckoned they cleared ok so i figured the 15's  must get as low as the 70-sr series.

hey leon

mate where can i get some of these from... actually what power window kit are you using...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars057.jpg)
[/quote]

thanks
matty martin

nice to see progress Leon,

Did everything work out OK with respect to the alignment etc?

Cheers

Ed

the front windows are 810 series bluebird LX motors butchered onto fc regulators, i am now trying to fit vn motors to the back doors.
 there is a little cutting and hammering to the door around the motor, ill put some pics up when the time comes to refit.
 the switches are 59-72 chevrolet, i think they are in some buicks and pontiacs too, if you can find 55-57 chevy switches they look more cool, especaily in a FC but the price is high.
i just had a week of to try and make a run for getting it ready for wintersun, ofcourse it pissed down all week, i cleared a spot in the shed and put on some floodlights and got a nice little work area going and just worked on the front, man that part has consumed some time.
 i havent touched the body for two weeks, car has been stuck outside wrapped up.
this pic makes it look like ive made more progress than i have, i put the first few coats of blue on to protect it, i am just going to paint all the blue bits blue and put it together, rub it down, flow coat it with a couple of coats of blue and then put on some pearl and lots of clear, if i tried to paint it all in one go it would probably be too much wet paint in one go.
 the blue is a bit darker than before, i think its too dark, i made it darker becuase i thought the pearl would lighten it right up, i mixed about 150 mls of pearl tinter into the 4L mix thinking it might help any aereas that i might not get enough pearl on like ariel and indicator holes and the guard lips, you can slightly see the white pearl all ready but not in this picture, it seems to be lighter from some angles but its also darker on some angles wich i forgot it might do.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/cars3036.jpg)
.

 I think the front is straight now, straight enough, the front edge of the door doesnt seem to have any problem, but while working on the passenger door of the car ive some how got the door dipping in about 5mm deeper than the door edges so that door is going to need to be redone, i also might need to somehow grind in the bottom front passenger hinge.
i learned something new the other day but reading the manual regarding fitting the crossmember, apparently there are different size shim tubes that go in certain spots, if they are sligthly out you should use a different shim tube, do people normally worry about that when they fit a HR front end or do we all fit them wrong or doesnt it matter as much with the hr front end having no rubber under the crossmember.

 Hey Ed, hopefully i will be finished with your stands soon.

the switch is also very simular to HQ power window switch
FCCOOL yor a champ i don't know how you work in those conditions
here's a tip don't get/use a garage ???since i've had good sheds to work in i don't really do much, did all my best work in the big blue shed (back yard) when i had no garage ::)

leon that front is looking spectacular mate, very nicely done  ;) ;).
cant wait to see it all come together.

keep it up
dean

You should set the HR front end up using rubber insulators similar to the way HR's were originally mounted, then this eliminates the need for the short spacers. If you were mounting up an original front end then the manual should be followed.

Ken

i have a feeling they are simular to hk-t-g
 i have a plastic hq repro one here, it was in the bargain bin at american autos, i figured it was obsolete stock, it was $5, i saw them in the counter the other day for about $150.
 does anyone want a hq power window switch for $5, they have sharper corners and the switches are closer together than the ones i have in the pic.
 anyway the guys at american auto's (rare spares homebush) swear that hr's dont have a 3rd rubber under the crossmember, only the two that go top and bottom on the subframe.
 my crossmember shim tubes are all the same, they came in my fe wich i originally used the hr front end out of till i wore it out. in the manual for the fc it says there are various lengths available, sometimes they need to be checked and swapped for different lengths, there are two different colour shim tubes aswell, one colour for the front and one colour for the rear, so do you just go down to the local holden dealer and buy one of the range of these tubes when you guys fit a front end or service your suspension?
 is this the same in a hr set up, should there be a rubber under the crossmember on a hr front end like on a FC. i lways had a 3rd rubber in the past but the guys at rares said there isnt supposed to be one.

Leon, are you reffering to the long tube spacers that pass through the sub frame.....or the short tube shims, these shims are easily thrown away as they often get stuck in the lower square insulator rubber, so if anyone is renewing thier rubbers, make sure you remove & mark where the shims came from .....front or rear

There are at least 3 colours, red, white & yellow, slightly different lengths, don't recall the method of working out which goes where though & HR is too modern for me so not sure if they ran them.

That front end is looking good Leon, sort of Dame Edna lookin :o  ;) :o just kiddin mate, keep up the pace, hope to see it sometime soon.

Cheers, Gary

that sounds like them, i thought the manual was refering to the long tubes, i never new anything about shims here.

Leon HR's only have two rubbers like the guy from Rares told you  one on top & one in between and nothing but a big washer on the bottom[FC -EK have the third square rubber and the shim]........FC427..... 

Leon, you need to use the FC long tubes, white to the rear and black to the front. This is because the chassis is a different thickness at the front compared to the rear. Don't use the HR spacers in the FC.

This should be the way you put the front end together;

Use FC bolts, long tubes, top insulator and cap, HR middle insulator and lower washer and nut. Don't use FC short tubes and lower insulators.

Ken

i am not sure what mine are, what is the length of hr and what is the length of fc, the rubber insulators were bought as a rare spares hr front end fe fc kit.

any new pictures leon

Hi Leon, (effcee's wife here). my husband has only just joined the forum and spends hours reading all the blogs  >:( and often drags me into the computer room to have a read. Cripes i'd always thought my husband was the unluckest guy in Oz. He has just brought an FC to fix up and says he will have it finished by xmas (I typically triple any time frames he gives me, when it comes to my husband! ) I have just spent about 1 1/2 hours reading all your progress and all I could think of was "you poor bugger" I wish I had the money to buy you a big garage. I'd like to take my hat off to your wife, she must be one amazing women! I managed to hold off my husband getting a "project" for seven years, but he finally meet all my ground rules and I couldn't avoid it any longer  :'(. Now after reading your blog I'm really scared, murphy's law would mean that my husband will have just as many problems as you have.  But in all seriousness, it looks like you have done one hell of an amazing job (coming from someone who can't tell the bonnet from the back end), seeing the start of your project, to where it is now is terrific and hearing about all the trials and tribulations along the way is wonderful not to mention entertaining, at least you can put a funny spin on it all. I hope we get to see the end result when it's finally finished (and i pray to god my husband doesn't have as much delays as you have) cheers  8) Sandra.

Hi Sandra

Great words of encouragement there for Leon (and his wife) - they are well deserved - he has done a marvellous job.  :)

A great part of playing cars is the journey on the way to the end result - don't worry, there is always an end result - it's just that sometimes it takes a little longer than originally planned.  But when you are out cruizin' that's when the trials and tribulations experienced along the way tend to "fade" a little.   ;D

If you don't feel that you can/or want to physically give Keith a hand, pop out ocassionally when he's working on the car and ask a few questions - he'll appreciate your interest and I'll bet you start becoming his "promoter" about what he is/has been doing. You being willing to spend a bit of time with him reading some blogs is a really good start, and from what I understand, I thought FC's were in your blood - I believe your mum and dad certainly knew the back end from the bonnet!  Nudge nudge wink wink - you know what I mean!  ;)  ;)  ;)  ;)

Kathi  8)

yeah - thanks Kathi, mum had great pleasure in disgusting me with that information!!  :-[ and when mum and Keith get together it's nothing but trouble for me.

I am looking forward to seeing the FC rebuild get started and progress along the way. Never been overly interested in cars, as long as they got me from A to B didn't care what they were, however hubby as introduced me to a whole new world especially when he brought me my XR6 (which I love) but seeing some of the classic old cars that he has shown me through the forum and watching the progress of them is amazing and I look forward to the day (probably in about five years time)  :D, when we can go for a cruise in his finished FC, which no doubt I will be really proud of his efforts and end results. P.S - we'll have to leave the kids at home!!  ;D

I think Leon has made a fantastic effort with his car, just to still be persisting with it after all the set backs is a credit to him, many I believe by now would have thrown the towel in, or at least moved to an area that doesn't rain so much  :D....Sandra

Hi Sandra

Nice to see you're gradually being seduced to the dark side as well as overcoming your aversion to FC's - yes, eeeeew, way too much information mum!   :o  I'm sure that both you and Keith will have an eventful journey to your first of many cruises in the FC - however long it might take!   ;)

Leon's efforts are truly inspiring and it's great to see him get some well deserved recognition in SM.   :D

Kathi  8)

Mrs Efcee, dont stress, just put all plans for the next few years on hold, buy some earmuffs, a couple of years down the track he might come to see you for a hand to fit the bonnet, that part is the hardest part to do on your own.
it is hell, however a large percentage of time on my car has been due to wanting to customise so many body panels, every one of them i have altered in some way, the car is now also set up to be supercharged, that added more to the job, i got some wild ideas and bit of more than i could chew but by hanging in its almost all chewed.
 I did rebuild this car when i was younger, not any were near as fussy, it only took a few weeks but it only lasted about 8 years.
 one thing i did learn the first time was no matter how much you do to the car its worth it, after spending years rolling around in the dirt getting showered with sparks and sanding the nights away and going to work everyday with blood shot eyes I know i can look forward to racing it at the drags, travelling up and down the coast with the family, club runs and picnics, nationals shows, drive in nights etc etc, it feels alot better to be driving something you put together yourself so yeah, the time to build the car really sucks but the end result pays off.
 it kinda took alot of hours to make the custom front, the car also has been changed to take the front and the body has lots of subtle changes, if i were just putting standard guards on i probably would have been finished a year or two ago.
 Also some creep has put a spell on my car, everytime i hook up a spray gun to a air line it storms, i have found it will rain without fail when ever i go to paint.
 you need somewere to store parts and panels while the car is apart, under the house is ok but if they are in bare metal or primer it would be better to have them in a shed, or the house.
 it could be easier when you strip the car to get it sandblasted and then epoxy primer it, this would have saved me alot of headaches and surprises.
 I would also buy him a quality mig if he doesnt have one, NOT a italian made one and dont go to mad on him if you come home early one day and catch him in the kitchen in the act with stuff like this spread out.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend8004.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/FCCOOL/frontend8005.jpg)
  It does cost money to. I research prices and nearly everything and try to get everthing as cheap as possible, i only clean cars for a living and am not heaps wealthy.
 Something ive found is you have to get used to disapointment, the weather will allways be against what you are doing, some things might go wrong and need to be redone after a couple of weekends have been spent doing it, you cant really back off if you get pisse of with it if you want it rite and you want it out of the way, you just need to keep going, the more you do the less there is to do and at the begining there is alot to do.
 neigbours may look down on your mess and noise but at the end whenyou hit the road you will be envied by people left right and centre, you will get waves, smiles and at every servo some old guy is going to tell you his life story.
 

Leon,

Your words sum it all up very nicely - especially your last ones as to why it's worth the effort! I hope you get accosted by many an old man - in the nicest possible way of course!  :o

Kathi  8)

I was going to put some pics up tonight but i lost my camera lead.
 i will try and get some up through the week.

Leon, what IN THE HOUSE!!!!  :o :o :o are you kidding.. i don't know what else to say.. I'm speechless, still gasping for air, god I think I'm having a heart attack. Divorce is the only word running through my head at the moment.

When I mentioned ground rules earlier, one and most important of those was,

1) must have garage to keep all crap out of sight.
2) crap must not come in side house, including crap on self (has bucket and soap out side, and must strip off outside too for all I care - no grease monkey smell in my house)

Only kidding... it's taken us a while (seven years) but we finally have a house with double garage, so in that respect he is lucky that he has some where dry and secure to work and keep parts etc, I'm hoping this will help avoid some of the delays you have had, it must have been hard. One of the other grounds rules was

3) must not sit untouched for more than 12 months

obviously you can tell my biggest fear is having the thing still sitting in the same place in the same condition in 3 years time  :( (not good). Problem with my hubby is Murphy's law always strikes him down too, he'll book a week of work to get stuff done around the house and inevitably one of the kids will get sick or it will RAIN and nothing gets done. (sound familar).... these are my fears... Another condition was

4) only one project at a time (but he broke that one) and brought two home at the same time, with the excuse that the second one is for parts (is that acceptable??)

Seriously.. I think you have done really well with the circumstances you have been given, I had to laugh when I read your first ever post earlier and realised this has been going for more than 3 years  :D.

The dreams for the end result sound terrific though, I look forward to my family being able to experience those times too, (and just hope my husband isn't too old to have his licence still) ;D ;D

Good luck with your project, sounds like you are not too far off the finish line. Your blog is funny and entertaining and I look forward to reading further updates....Cheers Sandra.

Leon,

I just bought my copy of the SM magazine. I don't normally buy it but I did buy this months issue to read the article that was written about you.

Every time that I read your posts, or read your story as was printed in the SM magazine I am amazed at your level of determination to see the project finished. Congratulations, welll done so far.

I will look forward to seeing further updates in the future, in the meantime I will have to keep myself content in re-reading your previous posts.

By the way, my wife Sandra now has her own user ID, Mrs EffCee. Stops her from posting under my ID

Keith

Ahem, yeah sure!  ::)  Check above your post Keith!  :D

Kathi   8)

Hi Kathi,

I thought that it would be better for Sandra to have her own identity when posting on the forum. Her identity was setup AFTER the previous post that you have referred to :D

Keith

Hi Keith

My computer's been playing up and not showing "unread posts since last visit" properly. Your (and Sandra's) 2 posts came up today as "unread posts" for me - hence my thoughts that she had used your ID!   :)

Humblest of apologies - but I'll blame the computer (tools) like any mechanic does!  ;D

Kathi  8)

I only buy ol skool rodz and sometimes cruzin and ck deluxe.  I NEVER buy SM, but when I seen daddy kool in there I had no choice!!!!  Great story Leon and yr wagon is going to cause a bug stir amonsgt the car scene when finished.  Last time I spoke to Leon and family they were in my FC at the 06 nats singing some kool ol stary cats tunes.  Best of luck to them and look out when the FCCOOL hits the streets!!!!!!   I just hope I get the chance to cruise with them at some stage. 8) 8) 8) 

Hi Leon
I did not relise it had been so long since your last update. I hope both yours and your wife injuries have healed ok.

So whats the go is it raining again ? holding up your progress ? not long till Jindabyne, Philip Island, Mt Gambier Orange.

Cheers Jim

so us some pic,s.......... ;D

well its got some primer patches again, i put the paint on to quick, didnt take enough time blocking out and didnt leave the final primer on long enough before painting.
 Ive started out with wiring, got a few issues-
 the new ceramic pigtails for the headlights dont jamb in on the lower headlights.
 the alarm i bought off a clearance table is missing the emitter antenna for the paging function and it cant be returned so should i wire it in?

i am trying to keep wiring minimal in the door looms becuase there is stuff all room in the front door jambs, these looms need to carry central locking wires, speaker wires wich are rather thick and power window wires, i am trying to work out how to stop the window motors when they are all the way up or all the way down, i was going to wire in two for door window closer kits but it would mean a extra 4 wires in each door jamb.
 I still dont have the holes in the back door jambs,
 who has run wires through there rear door jambs, previously it went through the door stay hole, i am not doing that again.

 also i need to get this power cable in without touching the twin exhaust.

hey leon, in regards to your door wiring problem have you had a look at some of the stuuf from painless wiring i know they do a 2, 3 and 4 pin connector for just such a situation. they use pressure contact points on both sides of the door so when the door is closed they create a circut such as this
http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=40025

you may be able to find something similar localy through a specialist sparky or similar.

dean

Dean I have fitted these 4 pin door contacts in an FC and it was a big job I had to make a rebate in the door to accept one half as they were to thick for the gap between door and body when the door was closed also on the rear door the inner frame needed modifying lucky I was fitting rear door skins so I had access .......FC427.....

yeah, i have seen those, my drivers door has the master switch for the window, 8 wires, the master door lock solinoid 4 wires and the speaker, 2 wires.
 

Leon time to put the master in the center consol ......FC427......

Leon,

I have run door lock wires into each door only.  The master locks on the front having more wires than the slaves.

It was a challenge to get them in there and to lie correctly without pinching up with the action of the door.You could try running multiple bundles of wires rather than all the wires in one thick bundle.  To obscure the wires I ran them along the front upper door hinge which prevents pinching and also allows a nice concealed entry into the door.
The rear door wires were run in through the door stay as you also have done before.
No doubt you will find a way around the prob.

Cheers

Ed

What about a ribbon strip where all the wires are joined in a flat strip? You could then run that flat on the door hinge.
I can also recall seeing a neat conversion where the door hinge was modified and the wires were run inside of it.

I don’t think ribbon strips could handle the current draw of the window motors.  It is really small wire, perfect for stereo faces and similar.
The door hinge was a Chev and from memory he embedded a small tube to run the wires.
Check out the late model cars how they have a rubber sheath encasing the python of wiring between body and doors.
Perhaps split it into 2 bundles and run one lot behind each hinge (for the front doors anyway).

What about contact points between the door and pillar for when the door is closed the points make contact then when the door is open there are no wires.
    cheers Scott

progress update ?? :o

http://www.ozrodders.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=13028

link only takes you to the sign in page

I guess you'll have to sign up to see it then  :-\

can't ::)

Just click on the logo

Neil

Can you give us a clue where to look?I have registered as a member but the site is telling me that the link doesn't exist. ??? What is Leons user name/what is his thread called?

- Go to www.ozrodders.com
- Register as a member or sign in if you are one already.
- go to "Member's Rides"
- The thread is currently on the first page "FCCOOL's FC wagon", about the 10th down or the link I provided before works when you are logged in to Ozrodders.
- Leon's username on Ozrodders is "FCCOOL"
Sorry guys, I can't do much more than that I'm afraid.

All good... ;)

Its a great read !!
Very inspiring

regards
Weddo

just read your story i origaninaly was building a hr ute under very simlar situation and gave up i know have a shed and an fe better story have you finished the wagon love to see pics of it complete

Ashfe,

These photo's was taken From Custom FC's thread on SOS from FCCOOL

To view the entire thread follow the link below

http://fefcholden.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,15504.0.html

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/customfc2/Holden/fccool1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/customfc2/Holden/fccool3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/customfc2/Holden/fccool2.jpg)

(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/5760/dsc08779.jpg)
(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8605/dsc08780q.jpg)
Regards
Alex

Man what an epic read!
I have been totally oblivious of this car and its  battler story. I'm speechless. I have only two  words to sum it up
 "Love It"
Way better read than most books I've ever read!

Cheers streetneat Andrew.

FCCOOL you should be running the country. What a great effort and inspiration you are, 99/1000 would not take on such a big modification. I take my hat off to you, great car and you are one clever guy.
Congratulations 10/10.
Red_ Devil

hey mate car looks cool, just curious do you have any engine bay shots and how did you end up with the blower i am trying to decide which waY i wanna go with the blower choice as well any advice

61zpe9XJX58

Something I thought needed to be brought back to the top of the pile for inspiration to anyone who thinks the build is getting hard.

Cheers
JB

 8) 8)  Awesome and inspiring, is there a part two?
            Pedro

How did you go fixing the guard Leon ?

JB
Thanks for refreshing our memories, can't wait to se Leons next project.

Jim

I'll be cruising up to Cooly Rocks with Leon on friday morning, first big run for my car since it's been back on the road.....can't wait.

Dean.

Yeah Where's Mr FCCOOL ?He's been very quiet on here... i enjoyed all his threads and Youtibe vids.... that guy makes us Aussies Proud... hav'n a crack in the back yard.... giving it a red hot go..... spraying his parts on the clothes line and painting the grass black at the same time... tools breaking down... Mig gas problems , than fires up such a sweet noise at midnight.... and a quick drive

than even getn up to Cooly last year ( with the call out for a spare tyre ?? )..... but after all the drama

what inspiration, what focuss.... i've seen the finished product and it's a credit to all his hard work

good onya Leon... you prove anything can be done good if you focuss and give it your all


FE 4 ME