Sounds very interesting, but I can't find it on the Tafe site. Do you have a specific course name and/or number and which night and time are enrollments? Thanks

Thanks Jamie, I have had a look and while it helps it still creates more questions. As Ken suggested I have started to remove the outer sill to get a better look but I am working around past repairs where  sections of floor have been welded up to the top of the sills. I am trying to get a clear picture of the best way to remove the outer sill and from what i can see there is very little left at the bottom of the A pillar: your photos help (photo no.s 733,789,865, 886) and more details of these areas would be good if you have them. Thanks again.

My bad, I used the calculator on the site twice, I made that mistake of FE the first time and then of course, thats the one I copied to this thread.

Ken, thanks for the information. As far as I know the car is an FC standard and talking with Richard I believed it to later 59. However, it has been through a lot in 50years and it is possible the subframe changes were made when it was resprayed (in 1990 according to some receipts I have). The chasis no. is certainly stamped on the rh subframe rail. It has already had some pieces welded in the bottom of the A pillar before, which is partly why I am uncertain of the true structure in the bottom pillar.

By the way i didn't say that Norman is a Standard 215

NO:   FE-215-5185-S
TRIM:   169-638
PAINT:   253-0700
    -
RPO:      TOP


Other Details
Chassis Number:   FC-38885-S
Engine Number:   7412817
 Results and ExplanationFE-215-5185-S   Vehicle is an FE Standard Sedan, the 5,185th manufactured in Sydney, NSW.
169-638   The Exterior Trim Code (169) describes this car as Single-Tone: Granite Grey.The Interior Trim Code (638) refers to: Fall Red.
253-0700   The paint colour is Unknown colour code 0700 (in DUCO Lacquer)
FC-38885-S   The vehicle was assembled during 1959, and was the 37,885th FE (in any bodystyle) assembled in Sydney, NSW.
7412817   Manufacture date (based on engine number) is Unknown (Not an FE/FC engine no - should look like Lnnnnnn)


Geoff already has these numbers and thinks there is something not quite right with the paint/trim details.

Gentlemen, I have been reading and enjoying your comments for some time now. Your knowledge and enthusiasm is infectious. Now, I have an ‘I don’t get it’. I have had Norman for 12 months and was hoping to keep him on the road for a while – not to be.








I started pulling him down when the engine died and rego ran out.







Of course I found plenty of rust!!!










The front floor, sections of the cross member, inner sills and A frame need repair.













Which brings me to my problem – the bottom of the A frame – what does this look like when healthy? Does the Rares’ inner sill run all the through to the front lip of the pillar, does it have the shaping/housingfor the subfame or is that part of the A pillar, does the sill finish behind the A pillar? What does the bottom 100cms of the A pillar look like is it one piece? I am a mug and have done very little metal fabrication so don’t want to go cutting too far until I have more of an understanding.

Al, I'm a newbie to the site and have learnt lots looking through all the great info offered by real enthusiasts and now parts as well! I am interested in motors if you have any still available. contact lbgorman@tpg.com.au or 43622063 many thanks