#519 out of Sydney
A bit of history about her.
I found her for sale down Kingston Tasmania way in the paper classifieds ( when we used to hunt down bargains once a week when the paper came out!)
She was unregistered but compete as per the pic.
Same wheels and all.
Had a hr front end with drum all round
Towed her back to Hobart (yep I don’t recall tilt trays been that common and that’s kind of how you got a vehicle home that couldn’t on its own)
Problem was a cracked block from 1 to 6
So my dad and I hunted around the mechanics in Hobart for a spare block. 2 days later some guy said ‘yep under the bench there, been sitting there for 20 years’. $20 later and a sack trolly (8 blocks home!) I had 1 Ute and lots of cast iron and was keen to learn.
I was very fortunate that no more than 100 m from where we were living, there was an engine reconditioning shop. The guy there was very helpful and realising I was a student at the time was pretty accomodating on pricing ( I think he had a soft spot for the old greys. )
Turns out between the cracked block engine and the new block, with some machining and checking we transferred the internals across, new rings and bearings, plugs and gaskets we ended up with a grey with a capacity of 143 ci. Yep seems we had some repco sports pistons or such unawares.
Next was getting this Ute from the paddock over the pits.
Well, as it was, the servo across the road from the house did vehicle licensing. (Those that haven’t lived in Hobart, places are a lot closer together!). The mechanic there had watched my rebuild with interest and even dropped over to see how it was going. I got to know him and over the time I ended up with a pretty clear to do list to pass inspection!
Come inspection day, he failed it because it had no exhaust (extractors only). But, as he pointed out, I would now be covered to drive the Ute the 1 km to the bottom of Macquarie st to get the exhaust fitted.
So exhaust fitted, passed no problem.
For those in Hobart you would recall a guy just out of Kingston called channel wreckers. This guy had all things Old Holden FX to HZ. Was a good source for bits and pieces.
Also I recall we lived next to the Holden dealer ‘Motors’. I was even able to source a fair amount of NOS. Rubbers and seals and stuff. The parts guy just wanted them off the shelf, so gave great discounts, and yes even some in the little yellow and blue boxes. (Sorry all, back then they were just boxes that went in the bin).
I drove the Old Girl from then on with the grey, single stromberg, extractors, generator and a 3.36 diff ratio. Toured around Tassie during my time there.
I must have been a pretty cool guy with the Ute because I met my wife who was visiting Hobart, and took her out on our first date in The Old Girl.
Not sure still how much was the Ute or me, so to be sure I have kept the Ute all this time!
More to come.
Black dog
2021
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2002
