Family Affair Ek Ute

[Blacky]

Any photos of how bad it is mate? They are all in need of repair these days to some extent.

[Sneezy1211]

Any photos of how bad it is mate? They are all in need of repair these days to some extent.

Not yet mate will go have a look at it tomorrow or Friday. The panel beater reckons about 3 k to fix it . I guess we would know it's good then and not risk getting another that needs work

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[Harv]

Take as many photos as you can Sneezy, and post them here. A few of the guys have partial subframes kicking around, and if you are lucky the bits you need are still on their donor subframe.

Cheers,
Harv

[EK283]

Yep, unfortunately if you cant do this sort of work yourself then its open wallet time.

This work is laborious and not for the uneducated in metal work, hence the cost.

Usually the lower legs, front bottom cross brace under the radiator and the wing sections that bolt to the body are the culprits.

$3000 if you havent got it is a lot but by the time you buy all the equipment, welder, bender, grinder etc it gets to $3000 quick.

Harvs right, there may be some bits lying around peoples yards that may assist in repair or even as a template.

To be honest the body on your ute looks in good condition.

Keep going

Regards greg

[ardiesse]

What Blacky says.

The Rare Spares subframe legs and front tie members are pretty good quality, and a competent panelbeater should have no trouble with the repairs (if I can do it, then surely a panelbeater can). Plus you get to keep your chassis number, and you know that your subframe fits your body.

In this case, better to repair than replace.

Rob

[Errol62]

I bought a “rust free” subframe for $800, then spent a week fixing bodgy repairs that had been double skinned, bogged and painted over, including cut and shutting my original chassis number in to the new subframe


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[Sneezy1211]

I bought a “rust free” subframe for $800, then spent a week fixing bodgy repairs that had been double skinned, bogged and painted over, including cut and shutting my original chassis number in to the new subframe


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

That's what worries me in buying another , probably best to repair what we have and know it's right

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[Blacky]

Old mate Pegleg Paul over here in Perth wants $5k for a refurbished subframe

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/west-sw ... 1324632134

that's an EH one but he was advertising an EK one a while back - maybe it sold

[ardiesse]

. . . for that sort of $ I can see an opportunity here . . .

Rob

[Blacky]

. . . for that sort of $ I can see an opportunity here . . .

Rob

Yeah - if you had a ready market , if you had to sit on it for 6+ months to sell it then it wouldn't be worthwhile

How many people are out there that would pay that sort of money for one ??? From what Paul tells me the bulk of his stuff is sold to panel shops for insurance work and heads over east

[Brett027]

Sub frames are the easiest repair going.

I think I have the centre section Rares piece that you can have for the postage cost if you need it. I don't think there is much of a problem with the subframes being swapped from one car to another ( I have moved 3 between cars and they all fitted without any fuss).

The only thing that becomes a bit tedious is dealing with the chassis number, but that panel rarely rusts out and can be swapped out if need be. The battery sides for mine required some extra metal work. Lining up the legs is about the only task requiring a bit of patience if they need repairs.

My only concern would be if the subframe is really badly rusted there will have to be more lurking elsewhere. Hope not. But if so, welcome to the club.

[Sneezy1211]

Evening gents , was a bit late to get decent pictures but heading back out to catch up with the panel beater on the weekend to put a proper plan in place .

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[Brett027]

At the risk of being a smartarse, what you are showing there is pretty standard subframe rust. Legs and the angled bits are all available from Rares ( I might even have the short angled radiator support pieces as well for postage cost) and easily replaced. The panels look pretty good and easy repairs there too. Probably about $400 worth of bits and about 30hours of fab work- maybe less. Easy to see the money being spent if you are paying others to do it.
Seeing the fairly ordinary repair on the leg reminds me of Wilma.

[Sneezy1211]

At the risk of being a smartarse, what you are showing there is pretty standard subframe rust. Legs and the angled bits are all available from Rares ( I might even have the short angled radiator support pieces as well for postage cost) and easily replaced. The panels look pretty good and easy repairs there too. Probably about $400 worth of bits and about 30hours of fab work- maybe less. Easy to see the money being spent if you are paying others to do it.
Seeing the fairly ordinary repair on the leg reminds me of Wilma.

Hi mate , not a smart ass at all. appreciate the input . The ute isn't mine any more it's my younger brothers if it was still mine I'd be chipping away repairing if I had the time . I don't have the time neither does he but he's happy to pay . Bit of a win win I get to build the the family ute into something great with him and he foots the bills hahaha . Would be definitely interested in any parts you would be willing to part with

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[ardiesse]

And I'll second what Brett said. You'll get 3/4 of the way there with subframe legs, tie member and "dumb-irons" (the short sections with the stabiliser bar mounts). The rusted-out bits at the "triple-junction" where the idler arm bolts on are fairly easy to fabricate from sheet metal. As are the upper parts where the subframe skirt attaches to the body.

The Rares inner LH subframe leg section won't quite be long enough to fix the rot in the inner LH leg, where the old grey motor engine mount brackets go, so you'll need to make a short repair out of sheet. There's a pair of crush-tubes and a strengthening piece in there; but if you are not going back to a grey motor, the repair will be easier.

Take a look at https://forum.fefcholden.club/index.php?topic=27433.200 (and a few pages onwards)- it shows the repairs I did to my current project's subframe.

I reckon if your panelbeater can repair the subframe for $3k, it's money well spent.

Rob