Bigbird's FB Rebuild...FINALLY UNDERWAY !!!!!

[rosco]

As far as I know, this is the case..... there's far more qualified/knowledgable people on here than I.....

In the HD factory workshop manual, reference is not made of the ball joint front end at all.....nor of disc brakes..... there is, of course in the factory HR manual.

I am of the opinion, as is often the case (red motored EJ's for eg.) that as production proceeded with the HR, whilst HD's were still "pending build"... some HD's became available with the disc/ball joint front end after the release of the HR (or in the case of the EJ ... the EH) .... but I have suffered from the fact that the upper wishbone to both units differs......

What I post here is as best as I have been informed... I have absoluteIy no written or confirmed documentation that this is gospel and would be ever appreciative of any others who can document otherwise....

I have the Master Parts catalogue.... mine covers all from 48/215 as far as the "supplement" for HD.... but no information for HR and beyond... other that what comes in factory manuals....

frats,
Rosco

ps - I;m very much hoping Dr. Terry will enlighten me to any of my errant understandings.....

[rosco]

Thanks Tim,
I was hoping someone with facts would jump into this.....
It is different to what I was told.... but my source was someone from a "grey" era.....

frats,
Rosco

[Bigbird]

At the risk of sabotaging my own thread I will give you some details of what has been happening.

As some of you know this car of mine came into my possession with a 138 Red Motor which for the six years I drove the car I refused to look after, maintain or service as I always thought that blowing this motor up would be the impetus for the car's rebuild.

This unfortunately never occured and it was really neglect of brakes and suspension that made the car too dangerous to drive and so it sat for some 5 years whilst I concentrated on other things.

I am now making an attempt at breathing life back into the old girl and part of this process was to ditch the 138 boat anchor for something with a bit more oomph.

You know, usual stuff, big red, HR front, auto so on and so on, but my how things change.

About a month ago I put the red motor up for sale thinking that if it made 5 bucks at least it wouldn't be coming back as a "Great Wall" ute or Mahindra 4x4.

Well, to my surprise some bloke really wanted this motor, and after some reassurance that I actually had a 138 red he offered me 2 grey motors in exchange as he had bought these in error.

Could I say no?

Anyway, pulled the red out of the FB yesterday and plonked it in the back of the ute. Threw the apprentices in the car at 0530 hrs this morning and made the 600 odd k round trip today, in our back breaking 1 tonner. (2000 Mazda B2600) This was its first trip interstate.

So, after all the research and conjecture regarding front ends...This car will retain its king pin front end, because I drive like a grandma these days I don't have a problem with drum brakes, and I can still put a trimatic behind the grey.

I will take some snaps of these new procurements (Probably next weekend) as there appear to be some very small differences between the two block and head castings.

Basically I want a cruiser that I can get back on the road before I am a grandfather.

I reckon this is one of the best ways of doing it, and I can put my time and money into other things that will impress just as many people when I am stuck in the traffic on Lygon or Chappel Street at 11PM on a Saturday night.

I am also a firm believer in practising what I preach, so if any of the young blokes are watching this thread keep an eye on this space.

I am ahead of the game as I bought the car some 11 years ago for only $3000 and at this stage apart from rego and insurance for six years it cost me nothing else.

Since the project has commenced it has cost me about $160 in fuel to pick up the engines (But then I got to spend a heap of time with the kids on the drive so it was money well spent) and $35 to hire an engine crane.

Just a tip on hiring tools and equipment.

Find yourself a joint that is only open 6 days a week. If you pick up on the Saturday, they will probably be happy for you to return on the Monday Morning.

That way you get 2 days hire for the price of one.

I will include costings of all developments as It will probably help alot of newcomers gain an understanding of what a "simple" rebuild/restoration costs.

Anyone with experience will tell you that it only gets more expensive from here.

Now...Rosco, you may continue. HAHAHAHAHA

[Stygian]

...What I post here is as best as I have been informed... I have absoluteIy no written or confirmed documentation that this is gospel and would be ever appreciative of any others who can document otherwise....

frats,
Rosco

ps - I;m very much hoping Dr. Terry will enlighten me to any of my errant understandings.....

Don't sweat it rosco... I'm not that pedantic... I for one cannot stand those loud mouth A-holes at car shows who carry on that "I know everything there is to know about (insert make of car here)."

I understand that Dr Terry is the Herodotus of the Holden world.

[rosco]

BB - I wrote a book on what I did to mine..... if you need specifics including part numbers - throw up a q and risk your hand....

Stygian, in all my experience with Dr. Terry - he has shown impeccable response to any question put up on this forum.....

I hope we never lose him....

frats,
Rosco

[Bigbird]

Rosco...I am well aware of the phenominal attention to detail you have treated every aspect of your relationship with your vehicle.

I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. Where I would just send of some bumper bolts to be rechromed, if memory serves correctly you invested hours for each one polishing till the their heads shone like mirrors and then clear coated them.

I remember how you restored the cars original number plates to a standard that most of us could only hope to reach on our cars. Most of us would have simply ordered up a new set and lived with the fact that the letters used these days are not the same.

I remember the radiator support you brought to the christmas party one year so that the rest of us could appreciate the standard you were trying to achieve for your engine bay. That finish and detail you achieved on what most would seem a mundane item was nothing short of inspirational.

Rosco, I, and I am sure many others here, if not most will only ever be able to walk in your shadow as restorers and enthusiasts. If I get to within half the standard you have achieved then I reckon I will have a pretty good car on my hands.

As always mate, my hat is off to you and I consider myself unbelievably fortunate to know people like you and have your great breadth of experience to draw on.

Thankyou for leading the way for so many of us.

[Stygian]

Love the way you express yourself on the forum BigBird... Why use 1 paragraph when half a dozen will do?

[Bigbird]

Thankyou.

[rosco]

BB - I don't deserve the accolades you bestow apon and furnish me with....

I like to "play" with what I do.... it is not a labour... more of an obsession....

There are more faults in my efforts than achievements... but it's been fun along the way.... and to those who "gloss" over the general appearance... what I have managed to achieve is probably acceptable..... trust me - there are flaws in everything I touch... they drive me crazy each time I look at or clean up the old bus......

I was going to out-do your post to "draw" flak away from Stygian.... but I believe the forum deserves a rest from my endless banter... and incessant "speil"....

Harry, don't rush through the build.... yes - great to have it on the road and join in the folly..... but my suggestion to you (and all others in "build" mode) is not to loose enjoyment in the journey..... it's our passion - and one from which much satisfaction can be taken during the "build"..... not to mention the reassuring knowledge of where you have journeyed with the build is beheld when back on the road....

This is how many of us enjoy the "aura" ..... I do very much hope that you reach this appreciation....

frats,
Rosco

ps - there, did I "outdo" BB's paragraphs....?.... nah - nowhere near it.... I'll try harder next time....

[Bigbird]

Havent had much time in the garage the last few weeks, but I finally got back in there tonight. Got the front subframe off only to discover a number of small rust holes which I am sure that upon closer inspection and poking will become large rust holes.

Also got the diff seperated from the rear leaves and the passenger side leaves out. Tried to remover the fuel tank but the screws were rusted and the heads basically shattered as soon as I took to them with the screwdriver. I will have to attack them some other way, but by that stage I had had enough. I am not on a deadline.

Basically the fuel tank, RHS Leaves, fuel line and brake line and that is it, then I gotta start fixing stuff.

Let the games begin!

[Sputzwagon]

Go for it Bigbird...nothing like repairing the car for piece of mind later down the track.
I'm so glad it did it to mine...
I look forward to more repair photos..

Scotty.

[Bigbird]

I should have known better than to poke stuff with a screw driver. Damn Damn Damn

[V8EK4us]

BB it is better to find it now rather than after it is back together and painted. It is a reasonably common spot for rust, one of the front clips I had was virtually non existant in the same area but I couldn't see it because it was covered over with paint......I nearly used that frontend on Sue's EK ...... lucky I poked around with a screwdriver .
At least when you have fixed it you know it will be 100% and as Scotty said it good for your peace of mind. Keep up the great work.

[EK283]

Yep,
Rust from the inside. That part is the the thinnest from the stamping because it has been stretched to make the shape.
Pitty the technology of rustproofing wasn't an option to car builders of the day. Actually its a relative easy part to repair because the shape holds itself while your welding it. Cut it all out and replace with new and there will be no looking back.
Keep the pictures coming !
Regards Greg