Time to dust off my EK!

[parisian62]

Gotta love an old grey coming back to life. Nice work Marty.

Ditto that good advice from Doc Bob. If I had the option of a rolling rebuild with mine I would have taken it but the body was just too far gone.

[Marty K Bird]

Yep, she's not too shabby the old girl...not the healthiest but it's good to have it running again and it's in better shape then two weeks ago.

I appreciate the advice, and i do take it on board.....that's the reason I'm here
As much as i am inspired by the awesome full restoration jobs I have seen on here I'm not planning on stripping it all down or getting ahead of myself (or my abilities)...it's many small steps before it's walking back to the tarmac. The main focus is cleaning it up and getting it rolling and stopping and preventing it from rotting away anymore. The work to be done to it is a long list and my pockets are running on the smell of an oily rag at the moment.... but there are a lot of things I can tackle myself....for free

I did have a stage two plan to remove the front cross-member to clean it, paint it and replace all the rubbers, but in doing that i figure the motor could do with a strip down at the same time...but the costs say ...noooo not yet.... its running ok so i'll leave it alone.

To do list
Fit new thermostat and temp sender, inspect water pump (?).
Dump and replace the new start up oil.
Clean it all thoroughly including underneath in all the rust prone areas.
Put on stands, remove the wheels, clean like crazy, inspect rubbers and seals and just replace as necessary.
Get brakes working, not sure but id say i will need the whole 4 wheel cylinders redone... this will be my first biggest outlay. I think the handbrake cable might be seized up at the rear too.
Clean, inspect and repack wheel bearings.
Replace clutch slave cylinder.
Replace the diff fluid and gearbox oil and re-grease all grease points.
Fix the wipers and washers up.
Clean up and repaint five original rims, track down two hubcaps.
Replace rear indicator lenses.
Replace valve stem seals, rocker cover gasket, manifold gaskets and get exhaust sorted.
Clean up the interior and have front seat fixed up (one small crack and coming apart at the seems in three spots).
Swap parts over from the spare car: handbrake handle, bonnet badge, bonnet bird (mine has two extra holes drilled in it) over riders (mine has holes drilled for spot lights ), and any other bits that are better on the spare.
Buff it and shine up the chrome.

By then I hope it might be good enough for a rego check and once it's passable might consider club plates so i can start giving it a run.

Down the track I will tackle the bodywork myself, I'm no expert but i should be able to neaten it up for the time being....and maybe get in some professional help when needed.

In the longer term id like to rebuild the motor, repaint the engine bay and crossmember and fit a new rubber mat floor and scuff plates and fix the rear quarter panel roof trims. Perhaps buy a rubber kit and replace the window rubbers and others.

Hopefully then it should serve the next few years well, whilst I save for a bare metal restore oneday.....far down the track!

First thing is to find the bloody keys! I cant open the boot!! I hope my workshop manual, one door trim, and the original spare wheel is in it.

[Aussie Bob]

First thing is to find the bloody keys! I cant open the boot!! I hope my workshop manual, one door trim, and the original spare wheel is in it.

To save search time, pop the door lock out and drop into a locksmith and have a key cut.

Steve

[Doc Bob]

If you haven't already been there Marty.......take the time to read Stewart's (Parisian 62) story about his family car.(Old Timer)
The link is at the bottom of his signature.
You can see what he means by

If I had the option of a rolling rebuild with mine I would have taken it but the body was just too far gone.

An amazing story of someone who did stick with it and managed to keep another otherwise lost EK on the road and in the family for many years to come.

Every time I run out of steam or get frustrated with things, I just have another read of his story and it brings the inspiration back every time
Sounds like you have a good plan going........stick with it

[Mick]

you can also easily access the boot by removing the back seat

[Marty K Bird]

If you haven't already been there Marty.......take the time to read Stewart's (Parisian 62) story about his family car.(Old Timer)
The link is at the bottom of his signature.
You can see what he means by

If I had the option of a rolling rebuild with mine I would have taken it but the body was just too far gone.

An amazing story of someone who did stick with it and managed to keep another otherwise lost EK on the road and in the family for many years to come.

Every time I run out of steam or get frustrated with things, I just have another read of his story and it brings the inspiration back every time
Sounds like you have a good plan going........stick with it

Yes I have seen the thread and read up to page 8.(but i have peeked at the end)... it's one of my favourite builds, and one I have shown some friends as an example of a "proper job". To me it's the ultimate restoration but one i know i couldn't tackle at this stage....

But yeah come to think of it, it is interesting to read of the preference to a rolling restore... and from what i have read that seems to be a common theme.

Getting it running, rolling then rocking no matter how rough the paint looks also seems popular.
I once thought i needed to strip the whole thing first before I did anything... now i know chipping away at it is something i CAN do!

Today was a good example.... went to my local Autopro in Young, and picked up a new thermostat and gasket and two new battery terminals plus some wire brushes.
Also priced some other bits: a VRS kit at $75 seemed ok, wheel cylinders $99 each (think i'll try the sleeved option), temp sender $50 (seemed about the going rate).....clutch slave $90 (bout $60 on fleabay).

Fitted the terminals and pulled off the thermostat housing to find no thermostat in it! Cleaned the housing then repainted it

Also found out why the brake lights are staying on..... the black push in bit of the switch has crumbled with age... will consult the spare car or investigate it to see if i can fix it.

Tomorrow I fit the thermostat after i flush the radiator and block and later fill with coolant

As for the keys they are here somewhere!! lol ...but getting the numbers to a locksmith sounds like a plan

[parisian62]

Thanks Doc Bob.

Marty - I have been fortunate in lots of ways - I found Luis who did the welding, Dave who did the painting and all the support and good advice from this Forum and the NSW Club which I am a member of.

now i know chipping away at it is something i CAN do!

That's a great approach and attitude. Have you checked the back of the couch for those keys...?

[WayneXG95]

Young! ..Dam this poor guy lives in cow town.....

Not far from a few of you guys....

[wot179]

The fastest way to find the keys will be to get a new one cut.

After you have spent the money,the old ones will magically appear, probably in the glovebox.

[Marty K Bird]

Hi Stewart, yeah lots to learn here in the forums, wish I had of looked for it years ago! I had been into rc cars and planes for a while...and im a big believer in forums for the sharing of knowledge...really helps when u live far from anybody else doing similar~
Also looking to Join a car club, lots from here join the Cootamundra Car Club, but the NSW FBEK car club looks good but not sure if i could club plate it through them?

Young! ..Dam this poor guy lives in cow town.....

Not far from a few of you guys....

Hey hold up the pity boat lol!
I live a bit further out from Young closer to Kingsvale/Harden

Spent 10 years in Canberra, returned and love it back here.... but yeah probably far from some good parts supplies and services.

Today i have flushed the block and about to put the thermostat in and fill with coolant. Also rang about getting the wheel cylinders redone Stainless tube style ...nice price

Rang the locksmith he quoted $51.50 to cut a new set...probably an ok price.

[WayneXG95]

I really shoundn't talk my floks come from Grenfell....

[Marty K Bird]

Grenfell is a nice place, I used to go with my folks to there for a Sunday drive....infact i remember stopping to take a pic of a restored FB/EK parked beside a pub many moons ago....might have been yours?? Will have to dig the pic up oneday~

Come to think of it I havent seen an EK on the road for years besides a nice old original ute still floating about in Young.

[Marty K Bird]

I have done a few little bits to the old girl over the last few days. Got a new radiator cap and ordered a water pump gasket so i can remove it to check it out.
Also set about fixing the broken brake light switch that was missing the end bit. Checked the spare car and its switch was also broken but someone had previously welded a screw to the brake pedal as a fix. Pulled one off my HK Ute that looked about the same and it should do for the time being.
Finally found a key to fit the boot!!! But unfortunately there wasnt a lot in there besides some rust dust, a bottle jack and a few bits of rubbish.
I was hoping to find a workshop manual, the missing front passenger side door trim and a spare wheel with a hubcap.....but alas there was none !!

Was a bit miffed about the whole missing door trim that i fear maybe never made the journey with the car during a house move some 17 years ago... especially since i had called in to see an upholsterer in Young on Monday to enquire about covering the arm rests and fixing the drivers side of the front seat.... two seam stitch splits and a small crack.
The spare car has different coloured trim but the passenger side door trim is repairable and will help fill the gap until i can track an oringinal one down .... and two hubcaps. If anyone spots some give us a holler. `

Decided to clean the boot up, I took all the crap out then swept up the rough bits before airblowing and vaccuming all the crud out.
Gave the rubber mat a washdown and it has a few splits that i might try to mend.
The boot seal was like charcoal so i removed it and cleaned the channel out.
Had a good look at the rust areas and seen that they are as not as bad as i suspected.

Will post some pics up later~

[wot179]

Someone here should have a stray doortrim floating about.

[Marty K Bird]

Hi Tim, yes its blue trim...like was in your argosy one.
Be great if you did have a spare one you wished to part with ...i wonder what one might be worth?

Heres my drivers door.


Does anywhere sell the trim used on the arm rests ... it seems different from the rest of the trim and more like the material on my parcel shelf. Also checked my parcel shelf .....thankfully its completely rust free!!!

Heres afew other pics of my problem areas.

I always thought it looked like the boot wasnt alighned properly and my dad bogged the gap at the top left of the boot to neaten it up.

Tried realigning the boot but its a gap that wont close up.
Not going to attack it yet but im intrigued as to what would be the best way to tackle the problem ....im handy with a wire brush and welder!

Keen to rip the paint off this bit ...but for now i'll leave it ....




Dosent seem to be too bad .... might be able to patch it...

Heres my hubcaps, assume the odd one is a FC cap .... my caps look different then Tims minty on page 1 though. How many different EK caps are there?