NEW PROJECT FC UTE

[Mal W]

Finally got the ute to the sandblasters, a couple of hours later and it’s all done, then home to get primed.
She’s starting to go ahead in leaps and bounds now.














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[blacky]

any updates Mal ?

[Billy Blackarrow]

 I was wondering how he is going as well BLACKY It has been a while since his last update hope he is doing better than me

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

There are some updates on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/862124657272742/user/100000074020024/

[Mal W]

Sorry guys, can’t keep up with the updates and have been posting on the modified FE FC Facebook page


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[ipg]

we thought you'd been banned from the forum 

[Mal W]

Hey all, been a fair bit done to date.
All the floor is finished.







The air con, battery tray and power steering pump is in the hatch area behind the seat wall










The lift up floor in the back is done.



I made quick release hinges for the lift up floor lid














The strips I made for the back I had chromed



I made polished stainless rods to hold the tailgate to replace the old rusty ones.
Each side was made up of 5 pieces all welded together and then polished.










I’ve repaired the tailgate inside and out and the tail light panel











I also made up these little trims to go on top of the tail lights. These were ground down from sedan trims.








I made and fitted hidden tail gate hinges






















I’ve made a hard cover for the back that’s operated by electric rams.







The hinges took a fair bit of working out but I ended up using VN Commodore bonnet hinges









Instead of using gas rams on the lid I used linear actuators







Then I designed and made quick release top actuator brackets in case the electrics failed. These were operated by a cable similar to the bonnet release cable. When you pull the cable the top bracket drops down and allows you to lift the lid by hand.























The top will be covered with water proof vynal.






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[my8thholden]

Brilliant Mal , just brilliant..Vern

[mcl1959]

Your design and engineering work is brilliant.  Absolutely stunning

[Errol62]

Thanks Malcolm for going to the trouble of posting it on here. Looking on Facebook isn’t the same. Custom work with the tailgate and hard lid is brilliant. The rest of your work is simply outstanding of course. Inspiring stuff.


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[ekute]

Great engineering Mal keep posting. Love your work


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[FireKraka]

All I can say is WOW absolutely amazing work.

[Mal W]

Thanks guys for the supportive comments.
Another little bit I made was a stainless trim to go around the number plate recess.
This I made out of 2 EJ Holden cowl-panel moulds.
The 2 trims were cut into 3 pieces and welded together with stainless wire in the mig.



















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[Mal W]

Just finished off the release cable for the hard cover.










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[Errol62]

Great work Malcolm. Free room and board at my place any time you are in Willunga mate!


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[Mal W]

Thanks mate, I’m planning on putting some K’s on the old Ute when she’s done.


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[Errol62]

Shameless plug for the FB EK nats at Nuriootpa June long weekend


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[Mal W]

Got my new gauges for the Ute.
They look great. Came from Classic Instruments in the states.

That will be my next job I think doing the mods to the dash to fit the instruments

I had the made with the red needles.








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[Mal W]

Finally finished off the new dash, started with separating the inner and outer sections
.

Then fitted the new speedo, this just needed a bit of trimming to make the hole about 3mm bigger all round





Then made the new section for the other gauges and warning lights







Then welded them in





Next was to modify the plastic facia. I wanted to keep with the original look.
The facia was cut into 5 pieces to start with.









I sanded all the inside and outside of the plastic and taped it in place to the dash where it had to go. I then joined it all together with normal body filler. I also filled in the back for a bit more strength.



















Once the facia was finished I did a bit of tidy up on the dash panel



Starting to take shape





Then for a bit of primer, I also sprayed a bit of black on the facia to show how it will look all finished









Thanks for looking


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[zulu]

I'll take one!
This looks great Mal, a lot of thought and work there has paid off