New EK Wagon Owners

[Hodgo]

Hi All,

Firstly we wanted to introduce ourselves as we are new EK Wagon owners (see pics attached) and we want to form a relationship with other enthusiasts as we are neither experienced nor handy on the tools so we will be relying on some passionate auto specialists to guide us on the way.

We are located in Bendigo Victoria so firstly does anybody know who are the guys here to talk to in terms of mechanics and body/upholstery specialist?

She's a good old girl from what we can tell. it was adverstised on eBay last week and we subsequently purchased her from a wholesaler in Melbourne yesterday. Looking at the the rego plates and unusual (and first thing to go) paint details im sure someone on this forum may know the history of this car? The wholesaler had no information for us so we have taken a leap of faith!!!!

Our goals are to keep her in the family for life, so we will need to continually work on her to maintain, and hopefully restore her bit by bit.

Your advice, info, or even comments would be great.

Some questions we have already are:
Do they have dash lights as they are not working?
Is this a HR front end conversion?
How can we find out if its original paint or at least what it used to be?
Is it common for a 3 speed column to crunch a bit between 1st and 2nd?
We assume this is a grey motor? not sure on size though?
Do we need to add lead replacement to the fuel? should we be using high octane fuel?
Are there any non original items on this car that is obvious?

And lastly, any great tips on generally owning a classic like this would be ace. we are very excited as this has been 10 years in the making so we are in it for the long haul! we might even see you at the next club meeting

Thanks, Lucas and Naomi.

Front End HR?

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The Engine

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Who know's this wagon

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[MeFB]

Hi Lucas,

Welcome!

There's plenty of willing help here

First things first - that is indeed a fine example of the mighty grey motor.

It's pretty standard under the bonnet, but does have an aftermarket brake booster, and what looks like hoses going to a heater, which must be one of the under-dash heaters (commonly called a poor-man's heater).

If you post photo's of the ID tag and chassis number (stamped into the driver's side inner guard), then we can tell you a lot more about the car (where/when it was made, colour, trim etc.).

[EK JAY]

Hi Lucas and Naomi welcome
looks like you have brought a decent wagon there so thats a good start
the dash lights may just be turned down so when you pull the knob out
you should be able to turn it this will turn the dash lights on and off

im sure your other questions will get answered shortly once again well done on buying a
ek

Jay

[Trev]

Some questions we have already are:
Do they have dash lights as they are not working?
Is this a HR front end conversion?
How can we find out if its original paint or at least what it used to be?
Is it common for a 3 speed column to crunch a bit between 1st and 2nd?
We assume this is a grey motor? not sure on size though?
Do we need to add lead replacement to the fuel? should we be using high octane fuel?
Are there any non original items on this car that is obvious?

And lastly, any great tips on generally owning a classic like this would be ace. we are very excited as this has been 10 years in the making so we are in it for the long haul! we might even see you at the next club meeting

Thanks, Lucas and Naomi.

Firstly welcome and congrats on your purchase, looks like a great car

Can't see enough of the front end, has it got disc brakes?
Shouldn't crunch between 1st and 2nd changing up, changing down yes, this is why they are called "crunch box's" (no syncro)
Engine number will tell you the size, No letter before the number or L before number will be a 132, B or J before numbers is a 138.
Probably good to use led replacement, some don't. Same with hi octane fuel, if it runs well without I wouldn't bother.

Hang around on here and all the help you need should be forthcoming , Trev.

[WesternWagon]

welcome Lucas and Naomi

Sweet wagon, looks cool, I love the grey.

You are located in a top spot for a car buff.

Cheers

Gazza

[WayneXG95]

Welcome guys

Your EK Wagon looks the same as the one I brought a while back..Montana Grey/ Snowcreast White.

[Hodgo]

Thanks guys, great help. I just noticed that mine is missing the big emblem off the bonnet. did they all come with this?

It has disc brakes, I will take some more pics to allow for more responses, and yes I can't even tell where the heat comes out in car no vents?

In the meantime, this was the add on eBay, and all that in known about the car...stuff all.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221041021465 ... 651wt_1173

Thanks Guys,

Lucas and Naomi.

[Cal]

Welcome

I'm 99% certain this is the same car that was for sale in Sydney a couple of years back. The pinstriping is what I remember from the car back then.

Looks like a good buy for the price

[MeFB]

Disc brakes = HR front end = score

The emblem on the bonnet is a NASCO accessory. It's usually called a bonnet-bird, or bonnet budgie.

You have a nice NASCO handbrake warning light there (just near the ignition). You can buy replacement flashing globes for these on ebay.

Looks like a pretty solid buy for the money.

[In the Shed]

G'Day Lucas & Naomi,

That is a tidy wagon you have. I have seen a couple bonnet birds for sale on Gumtree.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/fulham/a ... /349112067

or

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ipswich/ ... 1002475703

alternatively keep an eye out on ebay.

Stephen

[Hodgo]

Thanx everyone. I think a bonnet budgie is a must. think ill start with getting the rubbers and window seals tidied up. Ive noticed that the left hand indicator is 50/50 too. ahhhh the joys! this is supposed to be my wifes toy, i'm an alfa man and have just told Naomi that I'm having a love affair with her holden. Think I've got the bug!

[EKjimmy]

That's a pretty tidy wagon, good luck with the learning curve and welcome to the forum - these old buses are not as tricky to keep running as people think. Number one tip is to get your hands on a shop manual, mine has proven itself invaluable

Be sure to put up a photo of the ID tag (looking into the engine bay, to the right of the engine on the firewall) and the numbers on the LH subframe skirt (left of the brake booster) for steve jackson's records, and he could probably tell you the original colour etc too

Jimmy

[Hodgo]

Hi Guys,

Here is the ID Tag and the numbers on the frame. Does this shed any light on the car? Is Steve Jackson the man to speak to?

Also, does anybody know who are good mechanics and body guys in Central Victoria?

numbers

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ID Tag

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[Sputzwagon]

G'day Lucas and Naomi...welcome to the forum and that's one good looking wagon you have there .
If you (Lucas) are an "Alpha Man" these old girls will be a snack to work on.. as has been stated earlier on, a workshop manual is a must but a lot of things you need to know is on this very forum in the "technical" section.
Your heater works very simply ..when the tap is in the "on" position (this is either opperated by a cable inside the car or under the bonnet by the heater tap) the outside air flows through the vent (right up under the dash in front of the radio speaker cover on the scuttle) then past the small heater core and down around your feet..not too bad in winter and much better than no heater at all!!
Indicators usually just play up due to a dirty earth (even mine occasionally loses the dash indicator due to this ).
As for a mechanic near your home in Bedigo I can't help (being in Southern NSW 'n' all) but there are quite a few folk on here that are near by.

P.S. love your folks home town..we had a blast at the FB/EK Nat's there 3 years ago

P.P.S. Your car was built in Melbourne..that's why the "M' at the end of your chassis number..


Scotty.

[OldMan's Lacky]

Hey guys,

Steve is definitely the go-to man in terms of codes however from what is on your ID plate the Paint is Garrison Grey with a Snowcrest Roof and the Trim is Grenadier Red & Athens Grey. These can be obtained under the "Body, Paint & Panel" category in the "Technical" section (thread is titled Factory Paint & Colours).

Welcome!!

Danny