Ruby - my FC Ute

[camxsmith]

Looking good..  also great see you pressing on and doing a some really nice work

[Roybeth]

Been a while since doing some serious work on Ruby - revving up for the warmer weather - fun and games removing body deadener gooop

cabin floor by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[Roybeth]

Still working on that black goop on the cabin floor - but almost there, but also fiddling with changing over the diff - swapping out the original and putting in a HR diff - here I am getting my hands dirty with the HR rear end, next to put Ruby's rear end back together and back in the car
Getting the HR diff out 1 by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[Roybeth]

Getting the HR diff out 3 by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

yep I did get it out :-)

[Roybeth]

What is the best to do with these floor tabs - is it best to close up and seal so moisture doesn't get in under the floor mat or are they supposed to be open? they are also in the back.

floor tabs by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[ardiesse]

Leave them slightly open, but seal them up.  If you need to drain water out, pull the mats up and remove the sealant.

Rob

[Roybeth]

Well, eventually put the diff in the ute's rear end, put the axle's back in and leaf spring all painted and ready to go back in - dang is that oil I see at the pinion end. Looks like one more job first - putting a new pinion seal in.

leaf springs on by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[Roybeth]

rear end painted by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

Pity I didn't take note before painting it!

[ardiesse]

A pinion oil seal is a take-it-to-a-diff-specialist job.  For starters, the nut on the pinion flange is done up bloody tight, and on the EH-and-later diff centres (which is what you have), the pinion flange nut sets the pinion bearing pre-load.  Tightening the nut to "that feels about right" tightness will almost certainly be wrong.

But I'm more interested in the background of the photo.

Tell us about the blue and white FB wagon . . .

Rob

[Roybeth]

Yeah, friend who is a mechanic is coming around to do it for me, as you say, apparently its a little tricky.

The FB wagon is my hubby's. He is in the process of repainting it, we are the second family to own it. She is on club rego and gets out an about.

This is what she normally lookslike.

1232162edna by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[Roybeth]

Well the manual et al gives no clue!! scratched my head for a while and eventually a light globe went off! got those suckers in !!!

front leaf bushes by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

:-) !!

[Roybeth]

Well, spent the day putting the rear end in, rear shocks and rear wheels and at last I don't have to climb on a crate to sit in the back a few tricky bits getting everything to fit but don.

rear end and wheels on by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[Longman]

Nice work mate. What was the issue with the front spring bolts?  I'll be putting my rear end in soon.

Well the manual et al gives no clue!! scratched my head for a while and eventually a light globe went off! got those suckers in !!!

front leaf bushes by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

:-) !!

[my8thholden]

Well done Helen ,you look buggered but satisfied ..I can relate to that  ..Vern ..

[camxsmith]

Wow great work

[Roybeth]

Nice work mate. What was the issue with the front spring bolts?  I'll be putting my rear end in soon.

Sorry skipped over your question. -you may already know this but for those who haven't done it before it's not that obvious.
When you get the new rubber bushes - they are a tad longer than the length of the stud with the nut on, also if you put them both in the eye first - it will not go into the hanger. Worked out - eventually -  one bush goes in the leaf eye on the outside side, position the eye in the hanger, put the other rubber bush into the hanger on the inside side through to the eye, put the stud in on that side and then take some frustration out on the stud head and - evenly - bash it until the rubber is pushed through enough for the nut to go on, tighten up - voila!

[Longman]

Thank you, I was not aware, now I am!

Sorry skipped over your question. -you may already know this but for those who haven't done it before it's not that obvious.
When you get the new rubber bushes - they are a tad longer than the length of the stud with the nut on, also if you put them both in the eye first - it will not go into the hanger. Worked out - eventually -  one bush goes in the leaf eye on the outside side, position the eye in the hanger, put the other rubber bush into the hanger on the inside side through to the eye, put the stud in on that side and then take some frustration out on the stud head and - evenly - bash it until the rubber is pushed through enough for the nut to go on, tighten up - voila!

[Roybeth]

Okay - starting on the motor - score for me the ute came with a recon motor - though hasn't been started and has been sitting for quite a few years - hopefully just some tweaking and all will be good.
First up - push rods, lifters out and then out with the camshaft and off to Clive Cams for a bit of a tweak.
 

push rods are out by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

[Roybeth]

not a great pic but heres the recon steering wheel installed. There was a really little steering wheel on it and getting the boss of was FUN ! not.

steering wheel by Helen Sheedy, on Flickr

Can anyone enlighten me re the courtesy lights - I hear rumours the utes did not come with them installed, as you can see the holes are in the door jams - but there is no wiring for them that I can find.

[ardiesse]

Helen,

You're right.  You'd need to raid a Special for the door jamb switches and wiring.  And hopefully you don't have to run a wire up to the dome lamp for the courtesy switches.

Rob