mine & dazzajay's FB ute

[MeFB]

You can drive it straight away and get on with the fun part.

Maybe sometimes the fun part is doing the resto more than the driving? Up to the individual I guess. I like both

I have to agree completely with Bootlegger though. If the aim is to simply to have a well restored car to drive around in, then stop now and buy a good one. Steve J may still have one of his utes for sale at not much over 20K for a minter. It will also have the benefit of being unrestored and original. Job done

If you want to spend some time with your partner doing something together that you'll remember for the rest of your life, and you're happy to take your time and even make the odd mistake, then just keep at it

Personally, I and I really mean this, if you can afford it, do both I bet you'll find most people on this forum have more than one FB/EK for exactly that reason.

[choppedfan]

You really need to work out a plan for this car. Fiddling around will get you nowhere.
Look at parisians blog. I doubt there is a more thorough account of a complete resto by an amateur on this forum.
My advice is tear the car completely down.
Catalogue everything, take the body to a professional beater that knows what they are doing and get ready for the twenty grand bill just for the body and paint. Plus the other ten grand for the rest.

Alternatively go to the bank borrow $ 25000 and buy one that is the way you want it. You will probably pay $ 200 a week and You can drive it straight away and get on with the fun part.

Talk to Samprinci on this forum about his ute. He started out much the same as you guys but he took a route somewhere inbetween these two bits of advice.

Last week I looked at an unfinished project that effectively destroyed the car. It was a windowless panel van that had a mint body. They had it sandblasted and then left it outside for years. It was a mess. I wish I had found it before a dreamer had got to it.

It can be an expensive hobby, but I think this point has been made before and I hope you don't take offence. I guess Bootlegger, myself and others who have been around are only letting you know what to expect.

Step back and take Bootlegger's advice and work out a plan, then set achievable goals with realistic time frames and goodluck with it

Mick

[holdenutechick]

Initially set a target at the start at we'd get it done in a year, then as work progressed set a more realistic goal of 2 years, due to unforeseen circumstances at work and Daniel buying a house and moving into it in it's going to take longer I'm sorry I made an observation that we're going to go over the budget set aside for rust repairs and for some reason you guys see our decision process to be "fiddling around"

[bootlegger]

Initially set a target at the start at we'd get it done in a year, then as work progressed set a more realistic goal of 2 years, due to unforeseen circumstances at work and Daniel buying a house and moving into it in it's going to take longer I'm sorry I made an observation that we're going to go over the budget set aside for rust repairs and for some reason you guys see our decision process to be "fiddling around"

Don't take my advice the wrong way alison its just I've seen this patern time and time again.

Step one start with the dream.
Step two the search begins
Step three the holy grail found.
Step four the euphoria of the adventure picking it up.
Step five going around showing everyone.
Step six going around the car and sering what's there and what it needs.
Step seven start pulling stuff off it or pulling it completely apart.
Step eight start doing a few things
Step nine realising its a big project and way above your head.
Step ten life gets in the way car gets pushed to one side ends up on ebay as an unfinished project or sold off in parts.
I hope I'm wrong in this case.

[Mick]

i know dave and have also been around a long time and i've also seen way to much of what he has just described, but it does seem that you do realise that it won't be finished next week and will take time and also cubic dollars, if you want one straight away buying one is the best option and cheaper but if done correctly you should have a better car by rebuilding the one you have as you have found out you don't really know a car till it's pulled apart

[holdenutechick]

As I have said from day 1 I want to do this, you can help or keep telling me that I can't do it, I'm at step nine reached that point when found the guard was welded on but have continued to push on.

I much rather go broke trying then give up and not try at all.

[MeFB]

Will still take a fair bit of work time and money but she'll be worth it in the end!!

You did indeed say it on day one and have gone into it with your eye's wide open

Can't wait for the next set of pics. Those sills sound pretty nasty

[bootlegger]

Ok now we all know that you arent going to give up. Thats great. Now you have to eat sleep and Sxxt your car. Nothing else can distract you. Only then will you get it done.
When Ive got a project on the go I leave in the morning and I dont come home till midnight. I do that everyday until its done.
If you are working you come home eat and go out to the shed.
There is way more rust in your car than the sills. You just havent found it yet.
replacing sills isnt the end of the world. replacing an inner and out is between a day and two days work for someone that knows what they are doing.
each floor pan is about 4 to 6 hours. The rust that you will find in the tray are hopefully isnt btoo bad but no repo panels are made for there.
Under the dash is another arsole part to fix.
Ring me if you get stuck. Dave 0413766501

[holdenutechick]

Tray is 99% rust free and looks to have had the fish oil treatment in behind the panels only rust in the back is a piece near the fuel tank which was covered with a piece of fibreglass which we found when doing an assessment on the condition of the fuel tank a few months ago.

The sills, floors and frame seem to be where allt he rust is.

[MeFB]

Now you have to eat sleep and Sxxt your car.

You're going to need a lot of tomato sauce (and some laxatives)

[DazzaJay]

Can't wait for the next set of pics. Those sills sound pretty nasty

Sorry for the Low Quality pics, No light other than a crappy lead light in shed, it was night time, and Allison was using a Phone Camera (Forgot the good one)

what we have here is showing a rust hole in the drivers side sill, grinding the weld off the passenger side guard, lifting the guard off, Allison drilling the pop rivets out that held on the Bicycle dring bottle holder (Which will take place on my 2002 Apollo Summit later) and such.


Cant wait to get the ute into the new house in February. as currently its a 30 minute drive away, in Berrigan, in a shed with a dirt floor, and no lighting.
The new house shed has lights, windows, doors big enough for caravans, space for at least 4 cars (WITH working room) workbenches, CONCRETE FLOOR! and all that stuff.
Hell, it even has a working toilet in the shed. I don't expect to see much more happen with the ute till its in the shed, on the nice clean concrete floor.
(The shed was one of the major points that i was looking for when buying just have to wait the 60 day settlement, so early February.)

Pic of new house and shed:

[MeFB]

Congrats on the new house! I'm sure the shed will get a lot of use

[WayneXG95]

Mmmm Big shed, collecting holdens...

Do I sence a "stephenie Jackson" in our mist?....

Con grads on the shed guys.....
Oh and the house...

[Sputzwagon]

OK here's my 2 cents worth...
I've been looking at this thread for months now and the comments from everyone (on both sides).
It seems that this ute has become a subject of controversy (also on both sides) and tempers have flared up every now & then over what should be done and exactly how to do it, but what I see is that there is & never has been a GOAL for this car.

Alison & Daz, you guys have admitted that you are new to the car scene and need advice on this forum as to what is the best way to tackle your FB ute. That is commendable, but also remember that each & every one of us here has a car of differing repair, condition & use. Some of us can build a "show/concourse" standard car because they have the decades of experience & are tradesmen of exacting standards. Others here (put me in this bracket) can do most things of various (or maybe that should read dubious ) quality, to keep the cars on the road or get them good enough to register.

I recommend you both sit down and look what you have, what you need & what needs to be done to get this ute on the road FIRST. It does'nt have to be an all out show stopper... because let's face it, if that is what you are expecting you should have bought a car that is already registered and in fantastic condition in the first place. There are very few people who have the means & abilities to make such cars from near wrecks.

I read your bottom 'signature' of you thread and it reads & I quote...
~Allison
weekday driver: '05 Holden AH Astra
weekend driver in progress: '60 Holden FB ute
..if you want a fun car to get around on the weekends & go to the FB/EK Nationals with just do the best you can with what you've got..but mostly ENJOY THE BUILD UP right through to the time you put the car on the road.
Do it to the best of YOUR abilities (that includes the odd mistakes and bits you know can be done better next time) because remember...these cars are a "continuous project", and will need something or other done to 'em from time to time.

I love my EK and I know that there are bits that need a better job done (next time), but it does'nt stop the sheer enjoyment driving it every day.

So if you folk ask for advice..don't think the comments are put up here to attack you personally! You are asking a wide & varied bunch of very talented blokes & girls here for 'their' advice (which you can keep or leave).

I know personally many folk that you have been upset with here over the many pages & if you met them in person you'de find them the most giving & helpful folk you could ever meet. So from now on, ask a question and stop getting upset if you get a response that dose not agree with what you had in mind..because you asked.

I hope this comment helps you to understand that we are here to help & not hinder the project..now get out to that shed and get to work and bring life back to the ute will ya!

Feel free to shoot me down in flames if you feel the need ( but in the end the effort would be better spent on the ute, plus I know who I am and don't give a "tinkers cuss" what people think about me.)

Scotty.

[WayneXG95]

Saw the green machine flying through Lake Taboune a few weeks back Scotty
Nice machine..