Hi Dr Terry,

Yep 100%. It is definitely a balanced coil type gauge. The needle can make a full sweep so there is no impediment to movement. When power is applied at 5 ohms the needle instantly responds to where the E symbol would be, but as the resistance is increased the needle moves below the E. I have switched the resistance to the power and ground side of the gauge as well with no discernable change. As the gauge moved in the wrong direction as the resistance increased I also changed the polarity to see if I had that incorrect and there was no discernable change in the system.

My understanding is that balancing coil gauges use competing magnetic pull from the two electrical coils to move the needle one way or the other. The difference in current flow and; therefore, magnetic pull, between the two coils is determined by how much resistance is created by the sending unit in the fuel tank. I expect that one of the coils is faulty so that when there is 0 resistance it moves to the E market but as the resistance is increased gravity is taking over and pulling the needle below E as opposed to pulling the needle to F as the field strenghts change due to the increase in resistance.

Hi Team,

Just started the restoration of my FC Ute and my evening tasks include cleaning and testing all of the electrical components. I'm a sparky by trade so understand the DC fundamentals but lack depth on the instrumentation side of things.

Any way I have pulled and cleaned the fuel gauge and searched the forum to find the supporting onformation needed to test the gauge. In short positive to the threaded side of the unit, via a resistance to replicate the sender, and the bullet style termination to earth. The resitance values I have replicated is 0 ohms - empty; 15 ohms half a tank and 30 ohms full tank.

The readings I am getting are quite odd. O ohms - Empty but as the ristance goes up the needle indicates "more empty" until I get to 150 ohms where there is no needle deflection (up agianst a hard stop I expect). So instead of the needle moving from empty to full it continues to move left as I step up the resistance.

Thought I would reverse the polarity to see if that made a difference - no discernable change so it is definitley not a polarity issue.

Wiring and coils look good - thoughts on where to look next?

Cheers
Jolls

Hi Errol,

Thanks so much for the info. It is gold and sets me up for success - I'll look into it all as I progress.

I have the cape on the back of the seat, I assumed it tied into whatever was at the back fo the seat - but now you describe that it ties in with the window the wierd looking roof bow I have makes sense. I trust that I can simply have the curtain material replaced with a "Fall Red" vinyl.

You are 100% correct in the cigarette lighter department as well!

Not sure how original I want to go yet - I have found some after market door cards for specials with arm rests that may just cut the mustard.

Thanks for the lead on the floor covering - wasn't going to go carpet it is a ute afterall - having said that my VY SS has carpet - more of a poser than a real ute!

Hi All,

I have been doing a lot of research in preparation for the resto and I think for as many questions that I have answered others have popped up.

So for a bit of background I owned a couple fo FC Specials in the 80s. One I sold on, the other hard a worm grey, then a hot red, was the car my wife and I used at out wedding and was unfortunatley written off in an accident around 85. This search for a suitable project car started back in 2017 when I discharged from the Army and ended up here some 6 years later. I have only owned specials so some of the questions I am about to ask are based on a bit of ignorance in relation to standard/commercial vehicles and a lack of information on the web.

My reseach tells me that I am looking at a 59 model and it is likely that the engine supplied with it is the original donk that was fitted.

FC-2106-3116-S                                Vehicle is an FC Utility, the 3,116th manufactured in Sydney, NSW.
352-648                                                The Exterior Trim Code (352) describes this car as Single-Tone: Cape Ivory.
The Interior Trim Code (648) refers to:    Fall Red.
256-2158                                               The paint colour is Cape Ivory (in DUCO Lacquer)
FC-40432-S                                       The vehicle was assembled during 1959, and was the 39,432nd FC (in any bodystyle) assembled in Sydney, NSW.
L560726                                               Manufacture date (based on engine number) is April 1959

What is left of the door card is Fall Red with a grid pattern. I assume that pattern was for the standard vehicles as both of my previous FCs were specials and had the two tone cards with chrome trim. I have not identified anyone advertising door cards in this pattern; although my research hasn't been extensive. If anyone knows of a trimmer doing this style of card it would be appreciated if you could pass me the details.

I have looked over the electricals and have done some limited testing. She seems to be in pretty good order electrically. However, I was surprised to find that there is no indicator switch or flasher can and there is a NASCO blanking plate where the mechanism in the honey pot would normally be. I assume that the standard/commercial vehicles did not have indicators fitted at the factory and mine remained that way. Can anyone confirm this for me?

The dash and part of the interior has stripped of paint and etched primed. In the standards was the entire interior/exterior painted in a single colour or was the top of the dash in black as per the specials?

I don't have any remnants of the roof lining, bar the ribs. However, I do have four visors in poor condition that appear to have the standard white longrain finish. Can someone confirm that that would be correct for a 59 ute and if you have a link/giude to some reference materieal that would be even better.

 I don't have any remnants of the floor covering or the finish behind the seat and up onto the parcel sheld. I assume thas would have beenblack vinyl with a GMH symbol in the centre of the floor where the inspection plate is. Can I buy this style of covering? (I haven't found it in my research so far). Does this continue up behind the set and up onto the parcel shelf or is there a different finish or material.

My last question is parts related - I have working locks in the ignition and glove box. I can't get the passenger door to lock yet but that could be gummed up but I expect that I can get the wafers redone to match. What I don't have is a lock for the spare tyre gate. I nearly fell over backwards when I saw the prices on Fleabay. Is there an aftermarket solution at a reasonable price until I can find something with a price a little more in line with reality?

A lot of questions up front I know - but that should be the big download. From here on in I trust that I can push forward with limited reachback - but great to know this forum exists in times of need.

Cheers

Jolls

I have a very good rear floor section  in Adelaide, and travelling to Bendigo in early November.
It may be what you need to repair around the fuel tank, although if it is only minor, it may be overkill. I also have a bumperette that could be repaired for rechroming. Passenger side.

Anyway, good luck and look forward to seeing progress.

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

Hi Errol
Thanks - the rust overall is minor so I should be able to TIG/MIG in some plate with no worries. My bumpertte is in similar condition pus a dent. I will see what I can do to get it back into shape and weld up for rechroming and see where we go. Jus tnot sure I'll get the crease out. I will certainly give you a bell if I have no success.
Cheers

Hi Team,

Been lurking on this site for a long time wating for the righ project to come along. Finally after many years of searching I found this old girl wating to be restored to her former glory.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T0w7g0-KF_1VIOyzHuSuFvSqHmkoUdih/view?usp=drive_link

She is an honest FC ute with a tiny bit of rust to be repaired at the base of the pillars and around the fuel tank. She came complete with 95% of what is needed to get her back to life including a full rare spares rubber package.
On the parts fron she is only missing a front bar, the spare tyre tailgate lock and the choke cable. However, one of the bumperettes is damaged and I doubt if it can be saved. She also didn't come out with indicators, a radio or a heater so I will look to upgrade her in those areas. The door cards and kickers are shot so will need to replace them and there is no floor coverings. The seat is in good condition but covered in some hideous curtain material so will need recovering at some point.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14qaKnkewniVSldXG7T3Y1308Pb99FPBP/view?usp=drive_link

So after the small rust repairs she will require a lick of paint and a refresh of the grey and the box and she could be back on the road.
I plan to redo the head to have larger ports and 202 valves to match with a set of triples (yet to source) and extractors.

Looking forward to getting this old girl back into work as our "quote ute".

Hi everyone,

I guess first I should introduce  myself as I am new to the forum. I am the former owner of a couple of FC sedans. One I restored and sold on back in the early 80s and the second was a sligthtly modified daily driver; crane cam package, twin strombergs, HR front end, exttactors and rewired for an alternator. This was my pride and joy. My wife and I used it as our wedding car so we have gresat memories of her. Unfortunately she was written off in an accident in 1986. I was in the Army and continually moving so I couldn't cart the project and kids etc around the place. I transferred my interest to restoring classic bikes as I could get them moved with me if I bribed the removalists with a few beers.

My service life ended last week after 35 years and I have purchased a little dirt with a shed and a small house. I am now keen to rekindle my relationship with the FE/FC. I am open to all offers; however, simply can't afford to buy a restored car at $25K or so.

My preference is for project that is either complete or a rolling chassis. I would love to build another 100mph grey but not sure the parts are as readily available as they once were. I could easily be persiaded to run with a small block conversion. If I had a choice I would build  a ute that I can use in my business for quotes (I started have started a residential construction business); but I know this is a big ask. So what do you have in the shed that you would be prepared to part with to fill the void in my life?

Thank  in advance for your consideration.

Cheers

Jolls