[26,000]

G'day all,

Unfortunately this is not an FE/FC, but thought it might be of interest to someone out there in Holden cyberspace

This low mileage ute (26,000 original miles ) was fully restored by the late Trev Roberts (of this forum)in 2003.

Trev's widow, Carrots, is reluctantly selling the vehicle.

Not fitted with a towbar (there is one available), so rebuilt grey motor has never been under stress. Trev. rebuilt the motor at 19,000 miles.









The only modifications to the vehicle are twin carbs, 'Globe" mags (one wheel cap missing) and varnished jarrah, tongue & groove floorboards in the tray. All these mods are removable.

Unfortunately there are no log books, however, the son of the original (lady) owner is still alive and can verify the vehicle's history. The vehicle is in WA and registered.

Any serious buyers (asking $19,500) can PM me or send email to chris_dagg@bigpond.com. More photos are available 

Daggsey

Condolances are extended to Di and family on the loss of Norm

I called into to see them in May last year and despite his debilitation, he took us on an extended tour around the Young district.......

Norm was a great "on-line" mate of the late Trev Roberts and they communicated regularly in the early hours of the morning.....

Vale Norm Dawe

You were one of a kind

Daggsey

There was one other issue, but we sorted it eventually.....the bottom airconditioner pulley hit the sway bar (which is bigger than normal). We had to pull it forward and block it down under the chassis to give clearance.

In regards to the efi system, as someone else (I think Ed) said some time ago, once you've got it working, you'll never go back to carbies......trust me!! . Having said that, I am carrying a spare EFI module and fuel pump .

[heating/cooling]

Hi Ed and others,

As I said earlier, the airconditioning unit I fitted was basically made up of components that I bought. The unit itself is an underdash that is heating/cooling. I looked through a catalogue at Ashdown-Ingrams (a division of Repco) in Perth (I think they have branches in other states) and picked a condensor with the right outlets and the right dimensions to sit between the radiator and grill, bearing in mind that the grill actually sits at an angle.

Because of a console that is fitted in the car, the unit is mounted under the glovebox. Unfortunately this meant that I have lost the fresh air lever. The heater cable goes where the choke cable used to be (no need for that now ).

I originally looked at fitting an aircon unit out of a japanese car because I thought they would be smaller.......wrong! Because most Jap cars have east west engines, they generally have a huge area under the dash and no hump in the firewall like the FC. Consequently, it was almost impossible to find something secondhand that would work.

By going the way I did and with my mechanic mate who got trade discount , the all up cost of fitting the air/heat with brand new parts (including the compressor) and getting it gassed with the new gas, was about $1000.

And because the cabin of an FC is relatively small, the cooling does the job. Tinting also helps.

Daggsey 

Hi Fatboy,

Used the Commodore bracket and pushrod, but did have to drill new holes to accommodate the bracket. The only small drama is that the Commodore booster normally sits at an angle, so consequently, because the booster sits flat against the FC firewall the fluid reservoir is now sitting at an angle. I hunted around for another reservoir without any joy, so I just keep my eye regularly on the fluid level, mainly to make sure it doesn't leak out the front.

A couple of other points worth mentioning if anyone is considering this conversion......

1. Battery had to be located in boot because of space issues

2. Couldn't use the original Commodore airbox because of space issues, so airflow meter is fitted to inner guard and we had to make up a system using one of those wanky airpods. The flexible tube (brilliant invention) goes from the airflow meter to the chrome tube which you can see goes over the engine to the throttle body.

3. Have used all of the emission tubes, vacuum hoses etc which the General fitted originally, mainly because these are necessary for the computer. The charcoal cannister is fitted underneath the wheel arch.

4. Original wiring harness was used, but stripped out all the unnecessary bits (dash etc).....had to get hold of a VK efi wiring diagram to make the job easier...almost impossible without it

Because the Celica gearbox and bellhousing were already in the car, the choice of the straight 6 over v6 was really a matter of convenience for me, and like I said earlier, less hassles for registration purposes (in WA anyway). Similarly, the 202 over the VL Nissan motor was easier to fit (and who wants a Japanese motor in a Holden anyway ).

Anyone considering this conversion should grab a VK now.....they are getting harder to find as wreckers are generally getting rid of this stuff to the metal crushers......and of course, the majority of VK's were carburetted.

Smithy,
I was lazy......I read earlier posts on the site about converting 186's etc to efi, and thought, the easiest way is to get a 202 efi....hence the VK.
In WA, we are still lucky enough not to have annual inspections . I did query the swap, and was told that as long as the engine size was no greater than what it was registered with (3.3 litre), engineering did not apply....it was just a matter of recording the engine number. No doubt, if I had asked someone else in the Transport Department, I may have got a different answer . This car is an ex-Canberra car and was inspected 3 years ago when it was first brought into WA.

The choice of the HJ ute fuel tank (could have been HQ through to HZ, but that's what I could get at the time) was because it is similar in size to the original FC.....had to cut about 30mm out of the floor at the back and add about 40mm to one side. The FC fuel gauge reads quite accurately, but you need a HQ fuel sender for this to happen. Had to have a fuel return line outlet welded in to the tank and the fuel filler moved. Luckily, the VK fuel pump is external, so that is what was used.

As far as the aircond. goes, I did make an enquiry on the forum, but got little response (obviously not an everyday addition ), so made up the system myself, underdash (actually, under the glovebox) using the VK compressor.
 
Cheers
Daggsey58

Hi Stinky,

FCCool asked in another thread what was under the bonnet of my FC (towing a vintage caravan). I am running a VK 202 efi, which was totally rebuilt last Christmas with HQ flat-top pistons and a mild Wade cam.

I got hold of a doner car and pretty much transferred everything out of it including the original computer and GMH factory extractors (which did have to be modified to clear the subframe).

The motor it replaced was red 202, so engine mounts were not an issue. As has been discussed on other threads, the fire wall was indented about 20mm to allow for the intake manifold. The only other modification was to cut and widen the radiator support panel to allow for a crossflow radiator which was ordered with the dimensions I required via fax from Aussie Desert Coolers in Melbourne. This replaced the original radiator and thermo fan and the motor now runs the standard Commodore fan. Overheating has not been an issue since, and included towing a caravan across the Nullabor in 40 degree heat (just prior to Nationals at Mt Gambier) and running an airconditioner.









This car is fitted with a 5 speed Celica gearbox, a 3:08 diff, 72litre HJ ute fuel tank with a HQ fuel sender (which will be read by the FC fuel gauge) and cruises at 110kph at about 2200rpm. I am getting about 20mpg towing a 12' caravan that weighs about 1200kgs (loaded).

A VH brake power booster just fits (the VK was too wide) between the clutch reservoir and the inner guard and has been modified to a dual-circuit system.

The fact that this car was already registered with a 202 (3.3litre), it was simply a matter of advising the Dept of Transport (WA) of the change of engine number and no engineering was required. If I had gone down the path of a V6, that would have been a different matter.

In case you wanted to know, yes, the black motor was painted grey

I believe that it may have been the only straight 6 efi motor at the Nats (that I could see), but someone might correct me on that.

So far I have travelled from WA to Dalby in Qld (via Mt Gambier) towing a caravan and the only problem I have had was a broken valve spring in Eden NSW. These were all brand new and apparently could happen to any vehicle at any time, even brand new cars.

Cheers
Daggsey58

Hi Mike,

We're leaving Dalby tomorrow and heading west to Miles, on to Charleville and then to Longreach and back to Rockingham Rockhampton . The plan is to do a pre-run for a vintage caravan run that is being planned for May 2009, we're checking out the parks and auto gas outlets as we go.

Daggsey

Howdy again FCCool,

Fuel prices are a concern, but unlike most of the "grey nomads" out there complaining about the price of diesel etc, I'm not touring the country in a $150,000 plus rig. It really irritates me when I hear these people whinging about fuel prices and then they talk about the $80,000 caravan they are towing .

My contention is if you sit at home putting off travelling because you're waiting for the price of fuel to come down, it ain't gunna happen.

My Effacy has a VK efi under the bonnet and I am averaging 20mpg towing the van. I'm happy with that.

Daggsey   

Hey FCCool,

I said making it public knowledge that I knew Reddo was very much said tongue-in-cheek , and anyone who knows Reddo would know why I said that

Daggsey58

[NO RULES]

.........and just by way of clarification fc59holden, we vintage vanners are a website, not a club..........NO ORGANISATION, NO TROPHIES, NO RULES except one......have fun

Best "non-club" I've been in

Cheers
Daggsey

G'day all,

Well spotted Sheriff . WA number plate, not NSW, but hey, I understand how the shock of seeing an FC towing a caravan would probably take your eye off minor details like number plates .

And yes FCCool, somebody that Reddo knows (should that be really made public )

I was at the Nationals in Mt Gambier, but was late registering. Did participate in the run to Port MacDonnell.

Thought if I was going to tow a vintage van across the Nullabor to the Vintage Van Nationals with an FC, I might as well continue around Oz, especially to celibrate the 50th Anniversary of the FC. Certainly helps us to meet people, especially when you're not just another white L.ndc..s.r and J.y.o Hor.z.n .

For anyone who is interested, the link to our story has been posted above by FE_Ute and I am updating as we go, or alternatively, you can go to http://www.vintagecaravans.com for any other info on old vans.

Cheers all
Daggsey



 

Makes you wonder what you actually got for your money when you look at the number of accessories

I am wishing to fit aircon into my FC sedan and have searched back through past threads to glean ideas but can't find a definitive answer as to what might work, other than trying something Japanese (Subaru was suggested). As some of those threads were a number of years ago, I am wondering if anyone has undertaken a recent fitting. I don't necessarily want to reinvent the wheel if someone can advise something that is tried and true.

The motor I am currently running is a red 202 which I may convert shortly to a VK black with EFI. Because I tow one of those dreaded vintage caravans, I am also going to fit the Commodore radiator to overcome some occasional overheating problems (currently run a standard radiator with a thermo fan).

Recent week-long vintage caravan trip from the deep south west of WA to Kalbarri north of Geraldton and return, culminated with my visit to "the site" to pay my respects to the late and great Peter Brock. I'm sure he is in Holden Heaven discussing the finer points of Holdens with Trev Roberts.  

RIP Brocky

Thank you Kiwi for reminding members of the 1st anniversary of the passing of Trevor.  As one of his closest friends, I can assure you all that he is anything but forgotten and the thoughts and condolances posted by Trevor's virtual family were truly received by all of us here in Bridgetown in the spirit that they were sent and were greatly appreciated.

Twelve months on and I can report that Trev's cars still remain in his family, with his eldest son David looking after the FC wagon with the respect that it deserves.

Many of you were recipients (mainly in the West) of Trev's generosity when it came to a sort-after part and there are quite a few parts of many models of Holden that Trev collected over the years that remain (one man's junk is another man's treasure!!!). At some stage in the future, sorting and cataloguing will be undertaken and possibily a post of what is available will be put on the forum.

David and I have what is known as "I've got to tell Trev" moments when either of us see something of interest (like the FC ute that David saw coming into town a couple of days ago). It was something that Trev used to do.....if he spotted a wreck, or an old caravan or something similar, my mobile would ring and a familiar voice would say "Boy, have I gotta deal for you!!". The tradition has continued.

As an aside, some of you may remember the article I wrote on Trevor for the "Holden Characters" section of a magazine put out by GMH called "Holden Quality Parts" (Dec. 2001 edition). Unfortunately, David does not have a copy and would like to obtain one. Should anyone out there have a spare (not their own) or know of a spare somewhere, please contact me via the forum or my mobile 0428 611 800.