Grecian White/Apache Red 225

[BILLY BLACKARROW]

What did you use to clean your strikers & catches as I was going to get mine recab plated but yours came up tops ( if you can do it so can I ) with your help it will be a lot cheeper
BILLY

[Craig Allardyce]

What did you use to clean your strikers & catches as I was going to get mine recab plated but yours came up tops ( if you can do it so can I ) with your help it will be a lot cheeper
BILLY

I brewed up a mix of petrol, degreaser that contained sodium hydroxide, and some mag wheel cleaner. 2lts petrol, 2lts of the degreaser, and about 200ml of mag wheel cleaner (contains hydrochloric acid). Let it bubble for a bit then drop in your bits and leave for about an hour then pressure wash.
My disclaimer: A couple of points, use safety glasses and gloves as the mag wheel cleaner acid is very strong. Make sure you use a test piece first. The strikers have a nylon block that could well disappear in the mix!

[BILLY BLACKARROW]

Thanks I will try that in the next few days
BILLY

[Craig Allardyce]

Picked up my chrome and stainless stuff this week!

mmmmmm shiny bits!

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[MeFB]

Looking forward to seeing the shiny bits and the oily bits back on the car.

When you're happy that the oil system is balanced, could you please put the details on the forum here?

I doubt that I'd put half as much thought into it, and would probably cook my engine on the first run.

[parisian62]

Bling Bling!

[Craig Allardyce]

Looking forward to seeing the shiny bits and the oily bits back on the car.

When you're happy that the oil system is balanced, could you please put the details on the forum here?

I doubt that I'd put half as much thought into it, and would probably cook my engine on the first run.

No worries Alan. I'll definitely post the results (all good hopefully!).

[Craig Allardyce]

Hi all,
I did a trial fit up of the weber yesterday on the EK ute.
All looks good, just some tube bending to do for new fuel and vacuum lines and some minor tweaking of the throttle linkage.
Measured up for the air filter and there shouldn't be any clearance issues with the inner guard and frame.

All together it will be an easier fit up than I originally thought............tuning might be the biggest problem, but that will be right up my alley
Cheers

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[Craig Allardyce]

A busy few days this week with some problems on the way.
First drama has been with the panel fit of the front guards as the gap between the windscreen cowl is too big on one side. Looks like the profile of a rust repair section fitted is up the shit. Not happy as I should have picked this up during the first panel fit up......
With that its been a shit two days pulling guards on and off, stuffing around with the guard rubbers and trying to realign everything. Its been tedious and slow as I'm being careful not to damage any of the paint work. Anyway, the left hand guard has to be reworked a bit..... another set back but only minor. Also in the process of closing and opening the bonnet, both bonnet springs let go. Lesson learnt, don't get the springs zinc plated as the process had made them too brittle. I was suss on them as they had to be plated twice as the first mob stuffed them. They may have done ok if treated properly once, but twice over is no good.
Other tedious work included stripping down the seats to unveil some shot spring work and dodgy past repairs. I have resprung the rear seats, just need to get some motivation to get the front finished. On the trim side I have had a major win at last. I have had assurance from a USA based company stating that they can replicate every part of the trim interior. This includes all the die-electric embossing for the door trims and headlining (correct star pattern - Southern Cross Arrangement), the vinyl and bolsters for the seats, and most importantly the red fleck for the seats. I would love to post some details but I will wait till I have it all back as I don't want to steer anyone else up the garden path if it doesn't turn out. Turn around is about 8 weeks. It will be a nervous wait!
On the side, I went to the Soda Blasters to get the seat frames done and come across this little treat!. An all fibreglass FB/EK ute body and tube chassis. Its been built as a drag car with 4 link rear end set up and needs the front chassis section finished. It is for sale so if anyone is interested let me know.
Cheers all.

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[WayneXG95]

Looks real nice Craig, I know what you mean by problems, im down to the wire to get to Wangaratta...

[Craig Allardyce]

Looks real nice Craig, I know what you mean by problems, im down to the wire to get to Wangaratta...

Thanks Wayne, yours looks great too. A real inspiration to others. Keep going mate, you'll get there I'm sure.

Maybe "Milkshake" & "Strawberries & Cream" for next years Nats!!

[vmx-mxr]

On the side, I went to the Soda Blasters to get the seat frames done and come across this little treat!. An all fibreglass FB/EK ute body and tube chassis. Its been built as a drag car with 4 link rear end set up and needs the front chassis section finished. It is for sale so if anyone is interested let me know.
Cheers all.

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Glass ute shell now on evilpay - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Holden-Ek-Ut ... 3cd1131d89

Your FB is shaping up well and everyone will be interested to hear about the US trim

Dave Mac

[Craig Allardyce]

Well the countdown begins today!
I've finally posted off all my trim samples to the states (USA). It will be a very nervous wait of 8 weeks.
Many thanks to Stewart for measuring up the bolster seat patterns for me as my originals had been re covered in plain vinyl.

Cheers

[Craig Allardyce]

everyone will be interested to hear about the US trim

YES YES YES!

Got confirmation and pricing from the states today as my trim had arrived (took 5 days with the biggest hold being customs over there and the weekend as well. Not bad I thought).

5 yards of the red fleck vinyl @ $75/yard = $375.00
15 yards plain red vinyl per sample @ $55/yard = 825.00
Fee to emboss rectangles into red vinyl for tops of seats = 175.00
Pre-made headliner in correct light grey random star material = 295.00
(this will include extra for visors)
Pre-assembled door cards in the correct materials and colours= 695.00
(We will be careful to pad as original)
We will prepare the headliner quickly, as requested.
We know the colour for the headliner/door card centre material.
Shipping back to you for everything is estimated at $250.00 at this point.

It looks a little pricey but this doesn't include USD to AUD which should work out less again.
Postage is the killer!!!!
All material (vinyl) is by 54" rolls. I've ordered a heap of excess in case I need to repair the seats down the track.

As soon as I have some pictures I'll post them.

Cheers

[Blacky]

I would be interested in some Gnome Blue to get the seat in my ute redone ?