fbekholden.com

Ahh, where do i start....

I have my hands close to a modified ek hydromatic body


It now has bucket front seats with seat belts, disc brake Hr f/end, 202 motor, trimatic, 15'alloys, holley, and basically thats it i think. Last registered in 1991 as a stockie.

The current owner indicates an engineering bill of $300.. is this a myth, would there be things required that i must look for ie two speed wipers, windscreen lamination etc.

Please advise me as i have a bit of red paint left and i want a modified car before i tear the fb apart and wreck a good car.

i'd be more worried that the mods have been done correctly ie: mounting plates for seatbelts (100x100x6mm from memory)
what year is the 202 and does it have the poloution gear in place
ect ect.
cheers tom

i have just been though this with my ek i had it set up for a chev when i rang around i found that i got all differnt answers.I got told last i asked that i was looking at around $800.It also seemed that every time i rang them the rules had changed due to all of this i went back to stock as a rock out with the chev ,I dont know what would have been easy keep going with the chev or going stock going stock seems to be giving me a hell of a time aswell ie.finding parts.All i can say is that im in vic and all i can suggest is just phone a engineer and stick with that one and dont upset set them because they can make your life hell.These are just my experiances.

Hi Retro,
I haven't been far down this road yet........... but have a little bit.
I have an extremely modified FJ ute which was purchased for a retirement project.
It had not progressed far beyond basic assembly and needs years of work to complete.
I first called a systems engineer and presented many photographs of the vehicle from almost every direction and angle prior to purchase.
He clearly indicated it possible but there were multiple issues with the tilt front section (not fitted yet).
In answer to your question, I would suggest making contact with at least two of these engineers clearly stating what you have and enquiring as to what has to be done - and by who.
It seems to vary from state to state, if the vehicle has been registered with the larger motor and when, and also if the registration has lapsed.
I'm sure others will undoubtedly have further issues which may present themselves as you work through this.
If you have an original FB and this one which is modified, to my mind - there isn't a question - leave the original as is.............. I have regretted modifying mine since day one.
another 2 cents into the money tin............

frats,
Rosco

From what I can find about N.S.W laws there is a set of modifications to fit a 161,173,179 and 186.

No engineers report is needed for a 138 or149 red motor.Basically as long as the new mounts for the 138/149 are welded in correctly ( ie-: no chookshit welds ) then the car is able to be passed for rego by a "blue slip " station with no other mods required.

The list of mods required for 161 to 186 are listed in the N.S.W RTA website ( or maybe the DOTARS site ?? )

I'm pretty sure that additional mods are required for 202 fitment on top of those needed for 161/186.

These are ( from memory ) dual circuit braking system and collapsable steering column and one engineer also mentioned reversing lights to me as well but not sure on that one.

And as Tom said, if you fit a pollution 202 then technically you also have to fit the pollution control parts that motor came with from the factory.

If I was going red motor with that car retro, then I would go the 186 instead of the 202 because less mods and money would be involved.

My thoughts, and I'm happy to be corrected if anything I've mentioned is incorrect.

Terry.

Hi all,

check your local reg site, as most of them have the info for modified cars.

I contacted 2 local engineers in Vic and both suggested around $300 for the report, there main areas where brake performance test, dual master cylinder,2 speed wipers.

Mine is a 186 with HR disks hadfield chassis.

i enquired about fitting of seat belts and was told just do it according to info on vic road site and ill have not problems.

for victiorian check this site it has info on most mods ..

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Rul ... formation/

David

im in NSW and my ek is now modified in this way
186 with auto
HR front end
commodore disk with hq calipers
commodore diff
new seatbelts
2 speed wipers
and my engineers report is $275 so i guess its up to the
engineer on cost

engineers charge what ever they want there is no set charge, also they all have there own ideas on what you should and shouldn't have and then enforce that in varying degrees
standard stuff from most engineers for 161-186 are
disc brake front
2 speed wipers
seat belts in all seating positions, can't remember dimensions of anchor plates but wasn't much i think 70mmx70mmx3mm min for non retractable and more for retractable
heated fan forced window demister you don't have to have an actual heater
left and right external mirrors
if you have a 202 or bigger in my case a 308 you also have to have
collapsable steering collum and dual circut brakes
and as most know i've just had mine done and this is all the engineer i went to wanted
if the guy is offering the report for an extra $300 take him up on it and see if he stalls on it that should show how genuine he is

thanks guys, i went and got the car today, might get some advice on who to use soon. I decided to pull out the 202 and jam a 186 into her for rego reasons. But that may wait until mid next year now when i sell rosie. Will post pics soon.