Search found 1143 matches

by ardiesse
Sun Sep 06, 2026 3:11 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Hot grey 2.0
Replies: 26
Views: 742

Re: Hot grey 2.0

Fud,

Yes, the industrial motor will have the EJ main bearing caps, and the conrods with the long nuts too. Because it's got all its original accessories, it won't have been molested, and you might find it's a fairly low-hours unit.

Pushrods: Grey motor pushrods came out in two (well, three ...
by ardiesse
Sat Sep 05, 2026 12:52 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Hot grey 2.0
Replies: 26
Views: 742

Re: Hot grey 2.0

Hello, trainspotter here . . .

Holden kept making grey motors for industrial applications for quite a while after the introduction of the red motor. I reckon this engine is a 1965 build. By the way, take a look at the distributor rotor. Some industrial grey motors had a centrifugal cutout rotor ...
by ardiesse
Wed Sep 02, 2026 4:43 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Are you Bored? Bang for Buck Engine recipe required.
Replies: 93
Views: 54679

Re: Are you Bored? Bang for Buck Engine recipe required.

Ed,

That is definitely the wrong spark plug. Waaay too much reach. You want something like the Champion J12Y (13/16" hex, 14 mm thread, 3/8" reach). Grey motors take the same plugs as small-block Chev V8s, but with a different heat range.

ETA: 3-1/8" bore, 3-1/8" stroke equals 143.8 cubic inches ...
by ardiesse
Sat Aug 01, 2026 7:18 pm
Forum: Suspension and Steering
Topic: HR wishbone spaces
Replies: 10
Views: 5759

Re: HR wishbone spaces

Brett,

If the fore-and-aft position of any of the control arms changes, then your caster will change as a result and you'll have to tweak it back. Camber and toe-in should be relatively unchanged.

Do the work and take the car for a drive. If the car pulls to one side (thinks . . . HR front ...
by ardiesse
Sat Aug 01, 2026 4:30 pm
Forum: Suspension and Steering
Topic: HR wishbone spaces
Replies: 10
Views: 5759

Re: HR wishbone spaces

Brett,

If there's equal spacing between the lower arms and the crossmember front and rear, then the arms are in the right position. If the bushes haven't been screwed all the way into the arms (hex hard up against the arms), then "just" screw them in until they're home. If you have to start all ...
by ardiesse
Sat Jul 25, 2026 6:48 pm
Forum: Driveline
Topic: EH diff assembly into EK, what needs to be done?
Replies: 8
Views: 4560

Re: EH diff assembly into EK, what needs to be done?

Without meaning to be too much of a smart-arse, the answer to your question is "that depends".

I gather you want to swap the entire EK rear axle for an EH rear axle.

If you are keeping a king-pin front suspension with drum brakes, then in my opinion swapping the EK rear axle for an EH rear axle ...
by ardiesse
Fri Jun 26, 2026 3:27 pm
Forum: Suspension and Steering
Topic: Shorter column for an FE/FC?
Replies: 6
Views: 2842

Re: Shorter column for an FE/FC?

Harv,

What Clay says.

In an FE/FC you can use an FB/EK steering column with FE/FC steering wheel and indicator stalk. Good idea also to use FE/FC indicator switch.

If you go an EJ-HR column you lose one of the three mounting bolts at the steering box end, plus you have to use a different steering ...
by ardiesse
Fri Jun 05, 2026 10:16 am
Forum: Other Events, Shows etc
Topic: Elle and Clay trip to 35th Nats in Stanthorpe 2026
Replies: 69
Views: 12595

Re: Elle and Clay trip to 35th Nats in Stanthorpe 2026

"CSIRO radio telescope array is a sight more interesting than Parkes imho"

- except that the visitors' centre at Narrabri is unstaffed. And you got there during the every-two-years radio astronomy school too.

You didn't perchance use the little steerable parabolic dish to troubleshoot your ...
by ardiesse
Sun May 31, 2026 4:23 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Welch plug size, rear of cylinder head?
Replies: 2
Views: 2658

Re: Welch plug size, rear of cylinder head?

Harv,

One-and-five-eighth inch. Unless you have a very early head, in which case 1-1/4".

Rob
by ardiesse
Sun May 31, 2026 12:05 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Are you Bored? Bang for Buck Engine recipe required.
Replies: 93
Views: 54679

Re: Are you Bored? Bang for Buck Engine recipe required.

Ed,

The founding father of the Humpy club in NSW made a dog-leg shape adapter bracket so he didn't have to change front engine mount plates when putting later grey motors into FX/FJs.

You'd bolt it straight up to the late front mount plate. The adapter would be shaped so it bears hard up against ...
by ardiesse
Sat May 30, 2026 4:37 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Are you Bored? Bang for Buck Engine recipe required.
Replies: 93
Views: 54679

Re: Are you Bored? Bang for Buck Engine recipe required.

Ed,

I just noticed a reference to modifying an FJ front engine mount plate to suit a J-block. Here's what you need to do:

1: The oil drain holes in the EJ front main bearing cap are lower than in an FJ. You'll need to rework the FJ front engine mount plate to suit. If you have the EJ front engine ...
by ardiesse
Sun May 24, 2026 9:52 pm
Forum: My FB EK
Topic: Grecian White/Apache Red 225
Replies: 473
Views: 176384

Re: Grecian White/Apache Red 225

Craig,

What you said about coolant temperature swings on warmup: My FC's got an improved head gasket and a three-row radiator core. Coming back from WA one year, I started off from Ouyen when the ambient temp was about ten degrees and saw the same thing. Coolant temp in the cylinder head went up to ...
by ardiesse
Sun May 24, 2026 3:12 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Crankshaft Harmonic Balancer
Replies: 15
Views: 5127

Re: Crankshaft Harmonic Balancer

Steve,

I haven't read all the thread, but my experience with the aftermarket "grey" harmonic balancers isn't good. The only one that's been on a motor of mine fractured the hub and was quite loose as a result.

"Officially" I recondition original equipment grey harmonic balancers. But car-related ...
by ardiesse
Fri May 08, 2026 7:41 pm
Forum: Driveline
Topic: 1963 EJ Clutch questiion
Replies: 55
Views: 11717

Re: 1963 EJ Clutch questiion

I use 80W-90 in gearboxes and diffs. The capacity is a litre, give or take. The correct level is within a quarter-inch of running out the filler plug hole.

Rob