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

Smurfin FK · Post by **Smurfin FK** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:41 pm

Sand Blasting is the way to go i found holes i never would have found before......looks like a wicked starting point, good luck!

Bigbird · Post by **Bigbird** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:07 pm

I have just finished reading through Sam's ute project and it is totally awsome that you have the cars history and details since it was new.

This is something I don't have for my green FB and something that caused me alot of grief in getting it registered.

Sunny Tim, I know that Craig bought the car from you, but if you would be able to supply me with any details regarding that cars previous owners or even a way of contacting them or there ancestors now it would be greatly appreciated.

I think Sam hit the nail on the head when he said that having an original car's history just makes it that bit more special than just having a nice car.

Bigbird · Post by **Bigbird** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:43 am

M8,

You are right, the last time we spoke was some 3-4 years ago and I remember you telling me that the original owners grandson got rid of all the original paperwork and a few other bits and pieces.

But we never ended catching up with any further info.

In fact if memory serves, I met some of the Queensland Members at the Nationals in Forbes (The last one I attended) I gave them my details and they were going to get you to call or email me.

I think it is just something neither of us got around to finalizing.

If you still have the info that would be great, but I don't expect you to go all Sherlock Holmes again on my account.

Bigbird · Post by **Bigbird** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:16 pm

Yep, that's all I've got as well.

Cheers

Bigbird · Post by **Bigbird** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:17 pm

I have just started a new thread under suspension and steering, but I thought I would ask the question here.

I had thought about using a grey motor with an HR front end, but considering what people are paying for HR fronts these days I really have to ask, will I see any huge benfit to this mod, considering I find my stock FB does everything it needs to on the odd occassion that it gets driven, and I can't see this car being used more than a couple of times a month.

Am I going to see any real benefit from the ball joint front, or am I missing something considering I would like to bring this car as close to the ground as legally possible.

I look forward to your input.

EKjimmy · Post by **EKjimmy** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:29 pm

The main advantage would be that it's easier to fit disc brakes to the HR front end, other than that I don't know of any advantages of ball joints over kingpins

Jimmy

Stygian · Post by **Stygian** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:45 pm

BigBird,

Try chasing up a HR drum brake front end...these usually sell less than the disc front end...also too the HD had a ball joint front end with drums and I understand they also sell for less (not being HR, you see). I believe it is rather straightforward to convert the HD HR drum fronts to disc brakes...most of modified crowd use the Torana discs...

Also, I think CRS or some other outfit make a kit to put Torana dics on the kingpin front end...

Andrew

rosco · Post by **rosco** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:55 am

It's an option, Andrew - the drum fronts would come up more often than discs...
The ball joint HD front end was disc only - it was necessary to do this for the disc upgrade..... and eventually led to the HR option.
Be warned, the upper wishbone length of the HD ball joint front is different to that of HR.... and if you think trying to find a HR ball joint disc front is hard...... try finding a HD one......

Advantages... main one I can think of apart from easy conversion to discs is that ball joints (especially the upper one) are quite easy to replace..... King pins and bushes....... yep - we all know that one....

frats,
Rosco

Stygian · Post by **Stygian** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:06 pm

rosco wrote:The ball joint HD front end was disc only - it was necessary to do this for the disc upgrade..... and eventually led to the HR option.
Be warned, the upper wishbone length of the HD ball joint front is different to that of HR.... and if you think trying to find a HR ball joint disc front is hard...... try finding a HD one.....

frats,
Rosco

Ahh, so a ball joint front end was an option on the HD... once again I've learnt something new on the Forum.

rosco · Post by **rosco** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:21 pm

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 · Post by **rosco** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:48 pm

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 · Post by **Bigbird** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:21 pm

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 · Post by **Stygian** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:33 pm

rosco wrote:...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 · Post by **rosco** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 5:32 pm

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 · Post by **Bigbird** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 10:22 pm

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.