FE Modding Questions.

[Heino]

Hello ppl.

Since i can remember i have dreamt about doing up an old car, and i have finally got myself and old FE holden Sedan.
Since this is my first time ever doing up a car i was looking for a little help or suggestions, from the experts. What i have in mind was the following...

I wanna put a V8 in there with an auto transmission.
I wanna change the front end so i get disc brakes, and maybe power steering.
And i would have to change the back diff to fit the bigger motor aswell.
Other than that i was planning on keeping the car in original condition.

my question is to you guys, how do i go about this project in the best way. Which motor/gearbox and so on is the easiest to fit and work with, and not costing all my hard earned money. And if there is any conversions anywhere and maybe even links to places that sell these.

Any comments and advice would be nice, being that i am very new at this game.
I will take some pictures and so on when i start the project, so you guys can follow my adventure.

Cheers
Heino.

[RET]

Heino,

Welcome to the forum.  If you have a hunt around in this Modification Board, you'll find any number of discussions about V8 conversions.  There are two manufacturers of kits for V6/V8 conversions:
Castlemaine Rod Shop
Pat Gardiner's V6 Conversions

There are also other manufacturers that specialise in specific components: R&P steering, rust repair sections, brakes etc etc.  Everything on your list is covered (and most of it is required for a V8 conversion anyway, whether you want it or not!)

You'll also find quite a few blokes on this forum who have done it before and might be able to give you advice.  The more you can do yourself, the cheaper it is, because it's a very time-consuming process to get all those parts working well together.

You should also check with your local authority about what can be legally registered (because every state has different rules) before making any decisions, and talk to an engineer.  And you might as well give in now as far as the hard-earned money is concerned.

cheers
RET

[mcl1959]

Heino, make sure you do a budget before jumping in the deep end because you may end up with something you can not finish.   We have guys in our club who have built similar cars to what you describe almost entirely themselves for between $15000 and $20000.  If you have the majority of the work done by others, it will cost you in the region of $40000 to build a compliant V8 FE or FC.
The most commonly fitted combination would be Chev 350, Turbo 350 or 400 and Ford 9 inch.  HR front end with any number of different brake options.
Depending on your supply of money and available time, and the condition of the car, you could be looking at quite a build time as well.
If this is indeed your first attempt at a modified car, you have bitten off a VERY big bite and my suggestion would be to start with a simpler modification first such as a red motor.
Ken

[Heino]

I do know that it is a big project for a first timer, but i do like the challenge. I was planning on pretty much doing everything myself from panel beating to painting. I can do welding, machining, milling and so on mysef. so i kinda know what i'm doing, i just haven't done a car before.

You suggest a Chev 350, is there any reason why this would be better than a holden 308 ? are they any different to fit ?
I'm more thinking that maybe a 308 with an auto T400 would be a bit cheaper than going for the 350.

I must admit that i was hoping to keep my budget under the $5000 mark, which is gonna be very hard

what are the Chev 350 with a T400 shift kittet auto worth roughly ?

Thanks
Heino

[the_love_god]

Good Luck   l thought it was going to be a lot less what l spend with my Custom FE ,my car is call TERESA its up for sale under CARS FOR SALE ,am  pro painter and beater custom body work and design wood work etc my self and it cost me over 30G and thats not a V8 injector 202,alll the best cheers from AlfioM

[GOA350]

This is just a suggestion, if you are only budgeting $5000, FORGET IT. 5 grand wont even get you the bits.
                   Good luck
                                  Scott ( been there done that )

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

Welcome aboard Heino,
for 5 gorillas you might be lucky to get a Red 6 in and registered if you do all the work yourself and pick up a few bargains along the way.

My black FE cost WAY more than $5000 to finish and that doesn't include the original purchase price of the car or the motor and trans. You'd be surprised how much all the "little" things add up to.

As a first-timer KIS, keep it simple, once you start modding things it's like dominos and everything else down the line needs modifying.

I would suggest doing up what you have and getting to know the car, at most fit up a red motor and disc brakes. Try for the V8 conversion later if funds allow, it's not much of a cosmectic change, so what you do to the car beforehand won't be ruined when you swap.

[Heino]

Well by the sound of it, i'm not off to a really good start. I think i might have to do up the original motor and just fit a disc front end, and maybe even a 9" diff on the back and leave the motor gearbox till later. Since i only paid $100 for the car, and it's my first time, it's prolly wise to keep it a low level until i get the hang of it.

anyway thanx for you help and advice, ill get back to you with progress reports and pictures next week.

cheers
Heino

[Ed]

Hey Heino,

I'd like to wish you success for your conversion.

the budgeted 5K is a little lean as you may have gathered.

to complete the conversion on a budget you would be best to buy a complete car with all the bits you need for the conversion.  sell off the bits you dont need to recoup some $.

Sounds like you have access to good equipment so maybe you wont need to buy any "kit" stuff and you can save significant $ here by making your own.

I reckon it's doable.. just closer to 10 - 15K if the base you have needs no further repair/work etc and you fab all the stuff you need.

Cheers

Ed

EDIT:
After further thought.. I reckon for a good result the cost will end up being over 25 - 30K for a good solid reliable performer after you spend $$ reconditioning engine, box etc

[RET]

Heino,

Good for you if you can do a lot of the work yourself, but as Scott said, $5K won't get you even the parts.  Have a look at the prices at the sites I mentioned earlier.

In answer to your question, the Chev is usually a preferred option over the 308 because the "V" angle in the block is narrower.  FE/FC engine bays don't have the real estate that later models do, and any V8 is a pretty tight fit.

Hope that helps.

cheers
RET

[Rob_FE_56]

    G'day Heino, I reckon you could do the basic conversion for 5 grand, (308, Trimatic, bw diff) if you were to use good 2nd hand parts.
  Obviously buying 2nd hand stuff is often a risk at best and many blokes get stuck with junk that needs rebuilding (me!). Thus blowing your budget right out.
  If you're thinking of having the complete project done (running gear, paint, hard/soft trim and rego) for 5k, forget it, not going to happen.
  I once heard a formula for building cars and it goes as such...
1.  Work out how much it will cost then double it....
2.  Work out how long it will take then triple it....
 And believe me these are very conservative estimates.
 
Some blokes who know where to source parts and are frugal can really build to a budget. I know a bloke who built a steel 34' coupe, registered for 5 grand, 350, t350 and 9" (all 2nd hand parts). It was flat black with no trim, steelies. He already had the grille and headlights before he started, and the body he got was a basket case, neally every panel had to be remade. Keep in mind he has been doing this for a living for 40 years.
 It all depends on what standard of finish you want on the car and where you source your parts from. I know if you bought commercially available front end and diff, you would tear up 5 grand before its out of your pocket.
  With the right info and hands on you could have them for around a grand, once again sourcing good 2nd hand parts.
  For me that's why I love tinkering with old cars, I won't pay for anything I can't do myself and I'm continually learning ways to do things better and quicker.
  If you do take it on you have come to the right place,
plenty of free, hard earned info and blokes more than happy to help you chase up bits and peices to see more Fe/Fc's on the road.
 Good luck (sorry for rambling on),
 Rob.

[Ed]

Rob,

could be done but is a first project.. so maybe not.

guess it depends how big the "parts bin" is.  the cost of these parts seldom gets counted as you've already paid for or obtaines the part.

for instance, I have a 253, trimatic, spare exhausts, brakes and clipers, essentially enough parts to build a 2nd V8 FE/FC.  If these were thrown together in a budget build then I could claim a V8 for under 5K too!

reality is tho, the parts are paid for either in cash, kind, swap etc.
a realistic figure does exceed 5K.

but I do agree with you there are some guys who can build cars on amazing budgets.. these guys are generally experienced builders with a big parts bin.

Cheers

Ed

[fccool59]

I did my car on a tight budget about 10 years ago, from the time I first did my car up I spent about $300, plus the front and rear ends out of my FE and a motor from a 202 lx torana that was sitting down the back of my nans yard, this was the time the motor went from red to grey and the colour went from green house paint to white car paint, It was white becuase colour was way out of my price range and white was only $40 for 4 litres, prior to the paint stage I was unemployed and had about $10 to do it up, I remember going for a job interview with a pink spray putty roof and grey lower half with zebra stripes, no headlights, bumpers or grill and the number plates taped on, I got the job, bought paint, thinners and sandpaper and convinced the boss to let me borrow the shop to paint my car in so I wouldnt get defected driving to work.
I dont know how I did it, I now am forking out hundreds left right and centre, when you start trying to replace all the bits and peices with new stuff it can go out of hand, I just got back from rare spares, they didnt have all the stuff I went to get but it still cost over $300 for another small bag of parts.
Anyway, guess it depends on what standard you want to acheive, will it be a resto, racer, cruiser or show pony

[Russ]

Heino,

I am also starting a big project as a first car, the only tips i,ve got are RESEARCH!!! which you've already started, this is a great site! , BE REALISTIC If your budget is all you've got maybe just tidy the car up "practice" a few things and plan for the future, Thoughts are free. And also find a good donor car, or buy an unfinished project that someone has done all the hard work on, i think there was one for sale on here last week for 4gs???

Thats my two bobs worth good luck

Russ

[NES304]

heino,
   this is also my first and I had aspirations of a V6 but due to budget constraints and a cheap grey for sale I am going original as
1. I can get it on the road earlier
2. Its on the road cheaper
3. I now have a more intimate knowelege of mods I can do
4. I know the car a lot better (parts etc) so modding will be easier
5. I can modify later and still drive it (of course telling transport)
6. I have the body done so a heart transplant later is quicker

But its totally your D. My car only owes me 1600 at the moment (for everything seen on NES138) I bought it for 300 and then spent a LOT of time on it. If I cant do it then I will always have a go at it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

[2brite]

Also Heino you didn't mention if you want it to be a show car/ really neat car/everyday driver  where you wouldn't mind the odd car park dent etc

ps   I thought my car would cost 10G back in 1990 to build,it went out to 20G and it's all stock

Do your sums first and if you think you can build it for a certain figure GO FOR IT