Advice for a begginner

Sigs · Post by **Sigs** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:55 pm

Hi all,
I have got myself an ek ute in reasonable condition but stock standard. Drives well, not much rust (just the tailgate). Im looking to give it a revamp with mod cons but keep interior/exterior original.
Its for the boys when they get their licence in a couple of years (or for me if Im lucky

)
Anyway, Im happy to keep the motor as is but would like a bit more 'control' when driving, eg. disc brakes, suspension.
Ive heard that a HR front end is the way to go, also that a VL rear end can go in it.
I can get a hold of a VL with motor, rear end and front end. Is it possible to use the VL for the whole job? I've got no idea at this stage about this stuff but am starting to work my way through it. My old mans a panel beater spray painter and is keen to help out so I can get that stuff done. ITs just a matte rof finding out a starting point and going from there so any advice on the VL conversion would be appreciated.
Cheers,
By the way, love the pics of 'ekv8ute' in the gallery. Something along those lines would be a perfect result, although the V8 might be pushing it a bit far.

Post by **Blacky** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:18 pm

G`day Sigs, welcome to the forum. The VL front end is a mcpherson strut type front end and the HR is a double wishbone type . I have seen the Commodore front ends fitted to an early but it is a LOT of work. The HR front is a relatively straightforward swap, been done a million times and all parts are still available.
PS - lets see some pics of your ute, we love pictures here !

Sigs · Post by **Sigs** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:35 pm

Cheers Blacky, might stick to the HR plan then. Will put some pics up tomoz after work.

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:17 pm

G'day Sigs if you want to keep things simple I'd go for the HR front and rear to keep the wheel stud pattern the same for starters, a red motor and trans would have to be the cheepest and easiest option (my opinion ).
As far as a VL motor goes they are a long motor whitch posses a problem, I would think it would be easier to fit a chev V8 than a VL donk. just my humble opinion! Trev.

Sigs · Post by **Sigs** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:51 am

Hi all,
Just another question to help me get started. If I was going to keep the grey motor Ive heard you can put in a jap manual gearbox. Has anyone had experience with this? How easy was it, what gearbox was it and how did it make the 138 run?
Thanks again for any advice.
Sigs

Sigs · Post by **Sigs** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:06 pm

Heres some pics of the ute

Shes a good girl and will come a long way with a bit of loving I think

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:12 pm

Looks like a tidy ute sigs well done mate, The only non original gearbox's behind the 138 I've seen are the three speed manual out of a HG (this is an all sincro box)and the trimatic (whitch is what I will be doing soon) suposed to be a great improvement over the stock 3 speed box.

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:18 pm

Hi, the Ute there, looks like its had another tailgate put on it ,from FB with the Holden badge on it?If you could get another tailgate or fix that one, sell the badge to someone with a nice FB that really needs one?Put on what EK had, the Holden letters same as on the front, you can get them now ! And please don't modify that Ute in lovely Original condition...

Sigs · Post by **Sigs** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:44 pm

gordon wrote:And please don't modify that Ute in lovely Original condition...

Ah yes, my dilemma

to modify or not to modify, to modify or not to modify, to mo...................

By the way Gordon, I'll cut you a deal, if you can find me a tailgate without rust in it I'll let the badge go

blue ute · Post by **blue ute** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:11 am

Hi Sigs sent you a pm

Sigs leave it as is - half the fun is wrestling with the steering wheel & nearly poking your foot through the floor to stop
Cheers Nick

blue ute · Post by **blue ute** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:11 am

Gordon I think the EK ute had the same badge coz my ute had the same badge on the tailgate - I'm almost certain mines an EK tailgate coz when I took the hinges etc off the paint underneath was the same as the original body colour.

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:05 am

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:47 am

modify it, it's the only way to go leave the body stock but red motor, so it goes when you want it to go, disc brake front, so it stops when you want it to stop, lowered, so it goes round corners without feeling like it's gunna fallover

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:39 pm

FATBOY · Post by **FATBOY** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:51 pm

nah chop it tub it and put suicide doors on it lol

cheers fatboy

fbekholden.com