Clay’s Wedgewood Blue FB Ute

[Errol62]

Ok. Checked the snail mail this arvo and there was a letter from Transport Services requiring the fitting of 228x44mm drum brakes with front brakes being duo servo type. Looks like I will be chucking my HR disc front in and Torana rear I have with the 3.08:1 centre. More mucking around with hydraulics oh goody.

I could change the centre but the tall diff will be good for the trip to the woomba. Looks like might have a set of freshly reserved wheel cylinders up for grabs. Well must be nearly three years fresh by now.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[EK283]

Hi Clay,

I used standard sedan leaf springs in the ute I built and it sat very nice and rode very well. Back in the day I used air shocks if I was going to carry a load but that never really happened, only used it for an engine or two and that's about it.


Greg

[FJWALLY]

Rares have new u-Bolt kits - good insurance I think as mine when removed were badly corroded they would not have been safe.

I also kept my Ute springs if you get stuck but the sedan ones I had made are soooo much better ride and it lowers it naturally as well.

Went to trailer supplies this morning. Didn't have any U bolts or shackles to suit. I have a collection of these so will choose the best, clean up and reuse. Maybe run a die over the threads and get new nuts.

Trip wasn't totally wasted. Apart from a nice long driving lesson for Raff, sourced clutch kit. 220mm plate to replace 200mm, fits in the bellhousing with about 2mm clearance. This will go off with the flywheel for balancing.

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Errol62]

Plenty of springs thanks rob


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[Errol62]

Painted springs and bits in jet black gloss 2k urethane left over from the steering wheel.

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Errol62]

Old and new. Cable flexible conduits are 100mm longer on the torana diff, probably EH. The plastic is half gone but cable looks good. If the length works I may use it and adapt the conduits.

Ironically my 7" Sampsons foul on the drums. They look to be HR commercial ones and the edges stick out past the mounting face.

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Errol62]

Random shots

FB ute driver, EK van project

[ardiesse]

Clay,

I'm not too sure that the handbrake cable in the Torana rear axle is EH: EH handbrake cables have exactly the same style of mounting with a clamp and screw as the FB/EK ones. I'm thinking HD/HR. Does it look like there's a collar on the front of the conduit that you can slide a brake hose retaining clip over? If so, then HD/HR.

One option is to grab the rear handbrake cable mounts from an HD or HR and weld them to your floor in the most suitable position.

Or, wander up to Salisbury and have a chat with Simon Pinnegar. This option is to use HKTG hardware, which will be a neater installation as the rear handbrake cable runs up the transmission tunnel. The KTG rear handbrake cable comes in three pieces: a pair of cables in conduit, and the long centre section, which is plain, with ball ends. This would be an easy item to get custom-made if the original length is wrong for your ute.

Rob

[Errol62]

Thanks for the ideas Rob. Probably right as I vaguely recall that I may have used a HR cable on my EK sedan last time I did this conversion. If I don’t use the setup I have here I will likely just order a custom cable from auto cables retro spares or what ever they are now called at Eltham Vic. I believe they will make up a cable if you specify the body and rear axle combination.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[Errol62]

Measuring up with non-machined 7" Sampson and 215 65 14 rubber on the torana axle, there is 7mm clearance to outer tub at full bump. The track is 1364 which is 20mm less than original. While I don't see this as a problem, I wonder if road transport division will.

Options then are run EH diff which I have, with the machined rims and possibly get away with 205 60 14 tyres, or else run the deep dish 14" HT rims on the torana axle which will bring track out to stock. These are fitted with huge 235 60 R14s currently. Would probably need to go a bit narrower to get good clearance.

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Errol62]

Looks like these will work for the inspection.

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Errol62]

How's the dish

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Errol62]

https://www.retrospares.com.au/products ... e-ek-to-hr


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

[Blacky]

Clay, when I put the Torry diff in my ute i rang Autocables and asked them about a cable and the response was, " we have done heaps of them , we have all the measurements we need , will send it out to you tomorrow"

Couldn't have been easier

[Errol62]

Thanks blacky. Did it bolt up to the FB body fixings?


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie