fbekholden.com

Well, here is my first venture into restoring an early Holden, l picked this FBUte up on the weekend off gumtree from Adelaide. What attracted me to the car was its originality and the fact that it was complete and not to far gone. I probably paid a little more than l would have liked but it came with some good spares that l will be able to sell such as a FE ute drivers side door in good nic, spare rear curved glass etc.
It has a 138 which I'm hoping is the original motor as l would like to keep the resto as original as possible.I have attached a photo of the VIN PLATE and l'm hoping l can get some info from the experienced blokes that are on the site.[l have a couple of questions as well 1) where is the engine number located on the block and how can l tell if it's the original engine.
2) l have a spare scuttle plate with the car but it different to the one fitted, which I believe is correct with the chrome fins (FB?), whereas the other one does' not have the fins(EK?)
3) the spare tire door is "knackered" with rust and does' not have a key to open it, l'm just trying to work out how to remove the door without butchering the lock. l would think this is an hard item to find in usable condition? I see that rare spares produce a plastic door, has any used one ( l would prefer steel) and if so what's the quality like?
4) l'm just working out my budget on the car and pending on whether the motor is matched to the car is there any reliable members that can rebuild the motor at a reasonable price? I would be looking at a turn-key "solution". I would obiovusly prefer someone in Vic.
5) the 'y' frames are rusty which l would think is fairly standard for a car of this era, is there any one that does' the frames on an exchange basis? Or any members that can repair the frames.

Thanks in advance for your help and looking forward to getting to a view shows. I will also offer any spares that l have to club members first. I'm also going to list all parts l will need in the wanted section.
Cheers Shaun

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If the rear floor is out of the ute, you should be able to pop the lock on the spare wheel door from the inside.

Thanks oz ek, I've just found the color code - Wedgewood Blue.

Welcome to the forum mate ya gotta love a blue FB ute but then I may be a little biased

You should do a day trip to Renmark on Sunday June 12 , there might be a few of us there .....

no exact way of telling if that is the engine that came new with the ute unless you have the sales paperwork, the engine No is pretty much at the base of the distributor, as for rebuilding the engine rebuilt grey motor and cheap do not go in the same sentence
one bit of advice (don't know your car history) DON'T put a spanner on it till you figure what it will approx cost you and then double it and if you aren't willing to spend quite a bit of money (once again depends on your skill level and how much you can do yourself and what level of finish you want) to often they are torn apart with all sorts of enthusiasm then cost and work required hits home and they are for sale as a pile of parts

Welcome and hope all goes well with the rebuild .

Welcome Shaun,
Looks like you have got the bones of a good project there. Would be good to see a few more pics of what you have.

Regards
Stephen

Welcome Shaun
Good to see another ute coming back from the brink.

The scuttle plate fitted is the FB one so the other is more than likely an EK one and the chrome bonnet bar is an EK on your bonnet.

See if you can find the chassis number it should be on the inner fender in the engine bay on the flat behind the drivers headlight.

I have done repairs on my sub chassis and the rust repair parts are fairly good from Rares although pretty expensive and the legs are also available.

I have one of the Rares wheel doors and it seems ok but I suppose if and is say if you could get a good steel one I would prefer steel as well.

Keep posting some photos and enjoy the process.

Regards
Neil H

Looks like a good old ute Shaun.....good luck with the rebuild. Craig.

Thanks for all of your comments.
Here's a few more pics of the ute. Also l picked up a EK Panelvan resto and FB sedan for parts.
Had a good day travelling the country side, the sedan has a perfect 'y' chassis for the ute and a few other good bits!
Pretty happy with the body on the ute, just normal rust repairs. Passenger side quarter is a gem, drivers side has a 'ding', but rust free. Tailgate is spot on and all bolt on panels are good.

Pano is a big job, l'm rapt with it though, all there including original running gear, floors fair, sills and bottom of quater very crusty, but paid a fair and reasonable price for it and the sedan was a sweetener .

Enjoy the pics

A few more pics

Great stuff!... The ute looks to be in nice condition and the van is certainly worth saving!

How did you go with the spare wheel door, did you get it open?

Yikes, what happened to the rear of the van? Did someone lock themselves out then use a wrecking bar and prise it open?

Thanks for the additional pictures Shaun.

Regards
Stephen

In the Shed wrote:Yikes, what happened to the rear of the van? Did someone lock themselves out then use a wrecking bar and prise it open?

Thanks for the additional pictures Shaun.

Regards
Stephen

It almost looks like someone has backed into a tree when the top tailgate was open?......Either that or one very angry farther caught his daughter with a young bloke at the local drive-in.

Very nice pick ups mate,
Should be a good build/s