fbekholden.com

Thanks for all the comments guys. It's greatly appreciated.

You're right there Greg. It has been a long hard slog and eaten up a lot of hours and $. Hopefully now I can repay them back with the family by going away for some weekend and ejoying the EK together.

Trev - I hope I've been able to share the things I have learnt along the way. I've had a lot of good fortune and people to help me along the way and so my rebuild thread is one was I can help others too...

I had a bit of drama with registration in that the RMS knocked me back because...the handwritten receipt I had from 2001 didn't have the sellers address on it... Not to let a little thing like that get in the way I organised a statutory declaration saying that what was written on the receipt was a true and accurate record and that I was not able to contact the seller - I had rung him but not been able to make contact.

With that I fronted back up to the RMS and 40 minutes later and $90...these were mine...ALL MINE!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!



The family and Luis drove over to Dr Terry to pick up Old Timer...Many thanks to Dr Terry for advice and help over the years...


Miles of smiles...









So with rego papers and plates Luis, Thomas and I hopped in and I started her up. With the Pertonix starting was no problem. ...first go and she fired into life. Finding first was a challenge though...second, third and reverse are OK but first took a little bit of searching. I aimed her up a quiet street just to get a feel for the column and finding first and then ventured out. Having driven the stock FB for 20 years I really noticed a difference with the extra power on tap with the worked grey. She wanted to go and she goes alright too. Very driveable even with the triples and lumpy cam. Plenty of power on tap. At 50 miles she felt really comfortable. Not as much body roll as the FB too...benefits of being lower I guess The main thing is it's idleing waaay too high though. Stopped at the lights you can hear the engine racing. A few back fires too. First gear is still hard to find. I also noticed the blinkers are not always cancelling out. So have a few things to sort out which is expected.

At the end of the day I'm stoked and can't wait till the next drive. I've got a bit of video too just have to remember how to upload it.

A superb effort Stewart. Your family is no doubt proud of you.
Will you bring it to the May club meeting?

so cool surely there is a club run tomorrow
the RMS can be such a pain with there papertrails I had the same drama once, asked what is stopping mefrom going out to the car park and writing my own receipt she said nothing so I asked could I borrow a pen and some paper she gave them to me and laughed some of them have a sense of humour I guess
I had to do the stat deck on a motor one time aswell, I said I've had it for years and no clue who I bought it off or where he is today, so I had to go do a stat deck saying that what a waste of time

You couldn't wipe the smile the smile off his face when I saw Stewart this arvo. The car looks suberp

Well done Stewart, family and friends . Have really enjoyed following your build over the years and I'm sure this wagon will keep you smiling for years to come.

nice 1 stewart!!! WOW! awesome

Excellent news mate , and thoroughly deserved

Your grandfather would be proud of ya , and so should he be ...... looking at the before and after pics you have bought something on the brink of unrestorable back to life and done a bloody good job of it , you , Bootlegger and everyone else who had a hand in this job all deserve a bloody big pat on the back.





I dips me lid to the lot of ya .......

Thanks blacky. Im pretty proud of this car and stewarts sticktoitness. Its been a long road for him and his family. Well done stew

Congratulations Stewart , your family, and all your helpers, As "Bootleger" said your "sticktoitness" is a lesson in itself for us all as at times it does all seem too hard, but now the finished product and smiles on faces really does make it all worthwhile.
We hope you and your family enjoy cruising many miles in this wagon ...(but... don't forget the fb... )
looking very much forward to catching up at Wangaratta.
kind regards
Roger and Lesley

Well done Stewart, Louis and Bootlegger! Its great to see it finished and it looks fantastic! Hope your family enjoy it for a very long time.

I reckon the Ek's story should be on one of those cars shows.

Also reckon it'd be cool to do a then and now pic of you and your wife standing in front of the car like you did when you saw it for sale on the side of the road.

Cheers
Wayne....

Great work Stewart looks groovy
Pete

Great work stuart! One beautiful finished product. Not only have you spent heaps of hours in the build, but have also spent heaps of hours taking the time to post and share it here. For that and probably on behalf of many,I say a massive thankyou.

Without people like yourself taking the time to post/share, forums lack and suffer.

Again great work and a big thanks.

Sam

Awesome, truly awesome! A credit to team 'old timer!!

Not just the welders, grinders, spray painters and mechanics that made it happen, but also to the home front as well. Smiles all round! - Kel's wearing the 'he's cooking dinner for the next ten years' smile

Hopefully now we'll see an end to this thread, and the beginning of 'the adventures of old timer'.

Now what am I going to do on my annual visit? eat christmas cake I guess...

Again, great work Stewart, a credit to your tenacity and willingness to learn. Enjoy!

Matt

Stewart and family,

It takes a lot of guts to go where most men fear to tread, not to mention the grit and determination to grind your way through when most of us would simply give up the ghost.

Hats off to the Tánaistí and determination you’ve displayed culminating with those plates going onto your Grandfather’s pride and joy.

A great many enthusiasts have shared the highs and lows of this re-build. Hats off for your willingness to share your experiences with people both forum members and also the many guests that visit this site, most of whom you’ve never even met and/or are not likely to meet.

While writing this an image came to mind,
With his elbow hanging out the window driving the wagon down the road 50 years from now, I wonder what your grandson will be thinking about his grandad..


Just in time for ANZAC day....


Hats off Stewart..

And so, here we have arrived... just a mere 61 pages (how timely) of angst, pain, expense, effort and expertise.... but above all - determination.. justly rewarded.

There will forever be a "someone" watching over you whilst you enjoy a parallel ownership of "old timer" Stewart... and, as it has been stated above - your dedication to this wonderful restoration will undoubtedly live beyond your years... through generations to come..

Sunny Tim posted the most applicable three pix of all - and by the lack of written comment, said more than any of us throughout the thread..

Congratulations, Stewart - "team Old Timer", your understanding and supportive family - but above all, you Stewart -for your dedication to bring this wonderful relic from an age you fondly recall to its rightful pride of place in your life... and that of your ongoing and long-lived enjoyment..

frats,
Rosco