Graham,
If you are stationary, the outside temp is 35º, and your temp guage is holding 80º, you have a damned good cooling system.
Most standard motors/radiators, under these circumstances (assuming at idle/no load) would over time tend to creep up to 100/105º, and only if you are loosing water (leaks in water pump, cap, cracked head, cores, hoses etc) will temp run up enough to flick on the temp light and give you grief.
If you are towing a van, or climbing a mountain, things could be worse!
Cheers Geoff_K

I am curious to know why you only need part of the rubber kit!!!
Geoff_K

The fuel pump is a 'mechanical' device, and is 'completely isolated' from the electric 'fuel gauge dash unit & associated in tank sender unit.
Your problem with the gauge is co-incidental.
Check your wiring for 'loose connections, shorts etc', or let your trusty auto-electrician check it out.
A lot of original gauges & tank units are now (after 50 years) somewhat tempermental / faulty, and if this is case take BOTH units as a set to an Auto-instrument and they can nearly always fix it for you.
Geoff_K   

By my calculations, if engine is original, car was assembled Oct-Nov 1959
I have found a car that appears to be very close build, Sydney / Brisbane < Body No, Chassis No, Engine No >
This other car would suggest that the Body No FC-225-56040-S, could be FC-225-59040-S <when you review the numbers>
Regards, Geoff

If you define currently available 6-40-13 crossply's as 100% (assumed 3.89 std Diff),
[My Original Dunlop 6-40-13 (Full Tread, never used) is 101%, and a Bald Original Dunlop is 99%]
then 185/80-13 radials are 98%.
and 185/75-13 radials are 95%.

If you change your Diff to 3.55
then 185/80-13 radials are 108%.
and 185/75-13 radials are 104%.

Cheers Geoff

Pete,
I fitted a cast iron Celica 5 speed into my FE without cutting out the floor!
This was started in 1973 to fit a RT104 box (main box same as Celica) behind a 202. In 2006 I changed to Celica 5 speed.
Engine sits slightly lower, clearances are tight, and now fully 'Engineered'
Bench front seat visually std, and adjustable.
Geoff

Very tricky boys, but guess what, Geoff's still in the dark!!!

Can anyone shed some light on this key!



Geoff

This is something I never ever heard of before, but it does make sense of a really tricky problem.
Look forward to getting the story on this detail!

Geoff

Hi,
To answer this a few more details are needed:
º Red Motor Spec
º Manual / Auto Gearbox
º Mech / Electric Fans
º AC ?
º Type of Use > Street / City Crawl / Race
We have seen and done a few radiator options.
Cheers

Hi Richard,

We did see the Family Van with lights flashing and internal waving on the Road to the Batman Bridge.
Trust all is well with you, our version of your Elk Blue FE, certainly got your attention.

See you in Hobart, if not before, as we drift down the east coast.

Cheers, Geoff & Sue

Graham,
Very carefully quarter turn the dome light securing tangs, and drop out light assembly.
Check wire ends and take switch to bench and (all a bit agricultural) get it all working.
At this point you have access to both ends of orange wire, check for continuity / shorts etc.
The other wire(s) all go back to earth (door switches) and you gan check them all out as well.
(This switch was probally removed when your roof/headlining was fixed a few year back)
Geoff

Hi Weddo,
Can I please order 2 lunch packs for Good Friday
Thanks
Geoff....Entrant Nº 098

Thanks Josh,
Have checked out Hobart parking, and thinking about what else we can do!
Geoff

Just modify the sump, and keep the HR drag links and steering std.
Much better that original FE-FC.
Worked for me in the 70's.
Geoff

Bill,

How 'open for business' will we find Hobart (and surrounds) on Good Friday?
If say, we took a little drive to say Cygnet, Huonville, Snug etc on Good Friday, would the tourist shops be open?
(and, what's available at Sandy Bay on the Picnic Run).

Parking in, and around Hobart City - are there any secure parking stations available for the general public should we want to look round the city in the week before the Nats?

Geoff

My guess is the other number is 253-7770
Geoff

Pillar Switch FE-217
(possibly from FE-217-526-A parts box!)
Geoff

There are now 2 56 Elk Blue Specials here in Sydney, with the 'thin 56' chrome look strip within reproduction rubber.
Currently both have a 'plastic-chrome look' spreader insert.
I do not have the exact rubber profile part number at hand, I think it is a Jaguar profile, and I just purchased a length from Spectrum Rubber.
When I removed the original, all the mild steel clips were intact, including the 4 special corner pins.
To complete my install, and reinstate the original thin chrome trims, I have had made up custom ss retaining/spacer clips. The plastic spacer bead will be removed, and replaced by the original ss trim, all held in place by the custom ss clips.
It is do-able!

Geoff_K

Hi,
I have to disagree: FE's had different windlacing colours for the various trim codes (as to how many, I will have to look up my records, but I believe it to be 7!); FC's had less colours, but still more than one (and different to FE's).
As it is almost impossible to get an 'off the shelf match these days', get your trimmer to source from the thousands of available upholstery fabrics the match that you think best matches the original, and make your own windlacing. Almost nobody will know it is not an original spec.
As to Red Windlacing, on a Blue Car: London to a brick on, something is not factory original.
Geoff_k