Project 2.

[Errol62]

The X2 186S GTR XU-1 etc headers come up regularly for anything from $250 to $500. I’m not aware of any after market, though maybe Aussie speed or sonic injection maybe? Alternatively fit 12 port head and factory twin outlet. In fact just fit blue or black 202. Literally the utimate factory Holden straight six, excluding the Nissan thing. They have all the refinements. Fully counterweighted nodular iron crank, star fire rods, XU1 spec valves, twin cast headers, factory 2bbl carb, electronic ignition. All they need is a mild cam to wake them up and tweak the dissy advance curve. The factory cam was retarded to reduce emissions. Alloy timing gear at the same time. Bin the pollution gear, bar pcv and maybe the carbon canister which are good things. I’m planning a blue 202 for the van. It was in my sedan.


Regarding the exhaust you are best getting a shop to bend one up. It is a custom application even though it has been done so many times. Not that dear. 2 inch is the go. Too big and bottom end will suffer.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[ardiesse]

Brett,

I think you may have the no.1 body crossmember repair piece a little too high where it joins the inner sill on the passenger's side. The bottom of the member sits about 1/8" higher than the bottom of the subframe outer leg (reference: "Found Object"), and the floor pan comes to within a couple of millimetres of the upper "step" in the inner sill where the subframe bolts on. So I think the top of the no.1 body crossmember is supposed to be level with or just above the "step".

Rob

[Errol62]

Could be an optical illusion in the photo. I did notice today that said member on my van does appear to run upward toward the centre.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[Brett027]

Looking at this again now, I'm confident that the crossmember is in the right spot. However I think that the kframe outer leg is sitting too low. The kframe assembly was all bolted up neatly to the firewall and pinned to the other mounts and the outer arm mount pad was positioned to fit the free outer arm which should have been right. But, I'm thinking that while it is in the right spot relative to the outer arm, the outer arm is bent down a bit. This k-frame was one I purchased so may have had a rough life since it was removed from its car 40 years ago. I'll pull it off this morning and check with another k frame. Not the end of the world if I have to slice through it and do it again

[Blacky]

I don't think a chassis kit is required or needed for a red 6 conversion , i didn't need one for a V6 conversion here in WA

[FireKraka]

I've fitted two knock off kits one to my FC and one to Frankenstein but I don't know the legality of having to or not as Blacky said you may not need one for an inline 6 better to ask an engineer Brett
Photo of Franks for you

IMG_0240.JPG (116.94 KiB) Viewed 531 times

The K Frame strengtheners go underneath but I've never bothered to fit them

[Brett027]

Thanks for posting that Neil. I like the look of the gearbox mount- very neat and effective. Might have to copy that design

[FireKraka]

By all means Brett that is actually a V6 Conversions one designed for the TH700 Auto.
Neil

[EK283]

Hi Brett,

If you look at this page of my build you can see how the Hadfield chassis kit comes in useful for hanging all the accessories as well as the gearbox cross member, tailshaft loop etc etc.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=882&start=480
I have welded in the stiffener plates on the front end also and used the front chassis ties for the Torana front end mounting points.

The extra weight is no big concern to me and the car is now quite rigid, which means handling should be better.
This page has the subframe with the chassis ties and stiffener plates.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=882&start=390
Greg

[Brett027]

Thanks for that Greg. Awesome build! There is so much going on it makes my poor old head spin. I am going to put a kit on: as you say it will stiffen the ute up and it will give me everything I need to mount things on. While it doesn't tickle my fancy to put a V motor in, it gives the next owner a few options as well.

[Brett027]

A bit of progress. These outer sills cause me a lot of grief. The front end tab and closed section never fits properly onto the A pillar outer without surgery and the sill inevitably ends up right on the outer edge of the inner sill bottom at the rear end. It took me about 4 hours of mucking about to get the door and front guard alignment good enough to tack on and in the process the rear quarter is going to require a unique install. None of this matters in reality, but I think I will try adjusting the inner rear half after the outer is set up forward of the B pillar and see if that makes it easier for doing the drivers side.
A photo of a bit of rust work on the way as well.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[Errol62]

It is all progress Brett. I must have been lucky, but I am using repaired original A-pillar bottoms. I did put a lot of work into replicating the original shape and it is noticeably different to yours. The only surgery I require at the front is a few hammer blows and ream out the bolt hole. At the rear I have the same issue you mention at the inner sill bottom but using g-clamps and a bit of cutting of the z bottom of inner sill, easily rectified.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[Brett027]

Do you reckon I need the sill tab for the kframe bolt? I'm thinking I might just weld the edge straight on to the pillar where I've tacked it and leave out the tab I had cut off to get it to fit.
I might have a chat with Sasha Stark about the shape of the outer patch but I reckon he'll tell me it's already how it should be. ☺
Looking forward to some simple rust work tomorrow. Don't enjoy all this exact stuff.


On the home front, the colour committee has approved my sample of Electra Blue (ie Kate has agreed) however there has been a recent request without notice by the naming committee (Kate) to change the ute names so that this one changes from Fred (apparently Fred was less than desireable) and now becomes Barney ( a much more likeable fellow) and the black ute is now Fred. Brett is not bothered by this development.
There has been a bit of rumbling today about selling the black ute by the finance committee (Kate) but I am just smiling and nodding at this stage. The black ute has it's motor and upholstery ready and is not so much to do so I wanted to make a windfall gain on it and retire from car playground with both grace and a wad of cash.

There has been a recommendation by the work and safety committee (Kate) that my shed needs air-conditioning, so I am investigating now if my wiring can handle the pressure. As Blacky wisely said many months ago, take the opportunity when it arises

[EK283]

Ha !

You work like me Brett, Every tool at your feet ready to be used.

Great Job mate, it certainly helps heaps when you gave the right gear and replacement panels.

If I get a chance to do another car it will be my 66 Stang,I have every panel ready to go from full floor to a brand new inner and outer cowl.

The yanks have all this stuff sorted, we just don't have the market volume.


Greg

[Brett027]

Yes Greg, I've noticed that the Mustangs have everything in the US shop! MGBs are pretty good too in that respect.

I have all the tools on the floor 'cause that's where I hang out. It's a struggle getting up and down, up and down. Much easier to chuck everything on the floor and reach out. Sometimes I just doze off on my padded mat and Kate gives me a nudge as she passes by to see if I've passed. ( I made that last bit up)
You can tell it's been an easy day today...