THE RESTORATION OF MY FJ HOLDEN UTE 2008-11
In November 2008 I decided it was time the old girl got a bit of attendention as she was starting to look tired. The paint was now close to 25 yr old , rubbers where looking worn out and a little rust was strating to appear.
Firstly I bought the complete rubber kit being with a new glove box liner and door panels from "Betta Auto Rubber" on the Gold Coast QLD .
The interior is currently being redone by "Mr & Mrs SEW"N"SEW" in Kippa Ring QLD. I'm wanting it in it's original colour,so going by the compliance plate it was to be Mountain Blue. I searched high and low for the colour but had found out it's not called this any more. Mountain Blue is now called Deep Ocean Blue. So I got the seat , door trims and sunvisor retrimed (as it was red ). The hood lining is in excellent condition ,so I had left it.
4th Feb 2009 I picked up all the interior items which come up well. I have also ordered a new rubber floor mat and Nasco rear Mud Flaps from "Obsolete" in Victoria. Now it's a matter of waiting for the FJ to go into the paint shop. While it's sitting in my shed I decided I was going to make the FJ as origanial as could be . So I removed the indicators. While pulling all the wiring out from underneath the body I came across a large black object which was taped to part of the wiring. I cut it open. Bugger me dead it was the origanial GMH keys for the car. I would say they have been there since the origanial owner had the FJ ! Wow what a find. I also found that there seem to be a lot of build up of old mud up under the car. So I spent a few days removing it all and I recon I removed about 20 - 30kgs . Amazing how in has built up over the years. I then finished the under cariage , sills and chassi with fish oil.
The tyres on the old girl are radials which have been on for close to 10 years now and are very close to being unroadworthy. I have been thinking of replacing them with the old cross ply tyres of which they origanialy had back in the 50's. But have since been told they are quite unsafe making your car wonder all over the road. So I have desided to stick with radials. I picked up 5 new 165 x 15 Nexen Roadstone tryes. Just waiting for the FJ wheels to be sandblasted and paint then they will go on.
02/01/10 Sandblasted and Painted in the origanil colour MOSSMAN BLUE. 06/01/10 tyres fitted.
Due to the old tray boards looking a bit old and ruff, I have decided to replace them. I found a diagram (below) with the origanial measurements. Origanily Hard Wood and paint Mundi Brown,so I'm going with that. The back tray I have decided to paint it in Grey Panel Fleck due to it being a hard wairing paint as I will still be using it to cart things to car shows.
I bought 7, 2.1mtr lengths of Kwila wood. 23rd Dec 2009 Grandad and I routed the groves outs. I was told the colour Mundi Brown (Dulux) is not made anymore. So we rang Dulux which stated they do'nt have the formula anymore as it's from the 50's. So I went with the colour Coachwood.
7th of March 2009 the FJ went to Collin Parker of "PARKERS BODY SHOP" Clontarf Qld. It will be there for a good 4-5 months .So I'm going to look at getting the front grill plus a few other parts re-chromed while waiting for the car to be finished.
16th March 2009 I went to "Kunda Park Electroplaters" to see what there workmenship was like. They showed me a FJ Holden grill which looked quite professionaly done. So I went ahead and got below all rechromed. I went a bit over board with it as you will see below :-
EXTERIOR- Front Bumper, 2 Front Overriders, 2 Front Bumper Bolts, 9 Grill Teeth, Centre Grill Bar, 2 Eyebrowers (front grill), Bonnet Grill, Bonnet Grill Emblem Surround, 2 Bosch Headlight Rims, 2 Mesh Headlight Protectors, 2 nasco Extenion Mirror Heads, Lion Mascot Bass, 2 Window Wipper Base Surrounds, 2 Nasco Number Plate Frames, Rear Brake Light Surround, Nasco Locking Fuel Cap, 2 Rear Wibros Refector Surrounds, Outer Door Handles + Neck Rings & 2 Scratch plates.
INTERIOR- Nasco Cig Dash Rack, 2 nasco Quoter Window Locks, 2 Inner Door Pull handles, 2 Window Winder handles, 2 Inner Door Handles, Glove Box Button & 2 Quoter Window Frames + Handles.
Unfortunitly when it was time to pick it all up some of the parts where not done properly and chrome had come off in places. They did re-do the parts BUT the quality had dropped. I would'nt recommend them to even chrome my dogs nuts.
17th May 2009- Collin Parker from "PARKERS BODY SHOP" discussed with me what they thought would be the best out come for my FJ Holden Ute, which was to do a bare metal re-spray. This would mean for the car to be sandblasted. So the FJ is booked in for the 25th May 2009 at "ODRA SANDBLASTING" Clontarf.
Over all the body was in quite good condition. The floor in the car is very good. The front drivers guard was a bit ruff being repaired at some stage in it life. So I replaced it with a better one.
4th Oct 2009-Due to the other Front Frog Mouth not being to straight after being sandblasted (left side pic), I went on a hunt to find better. I was very lucky picking up another in A1 condition. (right side pic)
Had the usall rear bumps in the back. Hay what do you exspect, it's a UTE.
Passanger side sill had a few small holes, but over all quite good.
Where the rubber stone guards go, was a bit of rust. This was from the origanial stone guards as they had a metal plate in the inside of them giving them there shape. Over time the plate rusted coursing rust to the main body of the car.
The bonnet was'nt the best due to having been repaired in the front at some time in it's life. There had been a hole about 10cm in diamitar welded up. In the early days they would put a hole like this in the front of the bonnet for a air tunnel to the carbie. As I wanted min bog as possiable in my car, I went an purchased a better bonnet.
11th August 2009. The car is now back home ,due to Collin Parker of Parkers Panel Shop Clontarf quoting one price (on paper) then trying to change the price once job was half way through. Would not recommend this company to even paint my sons go- kart.
25th September 2009. Arrived today in the mail was my brand new complete wiring harness from Vintage Wiring Harness in Victoria (www.vinwire.com.au). They make them like they where in the old days being with the old genuine cotton covered cables that the FJ Holdens originaly came out with.Very pleased with there services.
24-09-09. This week I sat there for hours degressing the front end. Scraping of grease that had set like concret with a stanly knife. After being cleaned I replaced the Shockies, Bumper Controll Arm Rubbers , King Pins,Front End Mounting Rubbers and Tie Rod Ends being with new Boot Covers.
This picture was taken after I gernied under the whole car. This orange colour was the colour of the old rust proofing paint. This would explain to me why the body is in such good condition.
7th Oct 2009 - I bought a repoduction FJ Ute tail gate skin, as the one on my ute is'nt to straight and Parkers Body Shop just bogged it up. 25th Oct 2009 picture taken of the inner tail gate,being with the old skin off.
"City Powdercoating" of Kippa Ring powdercoated the items above. On the left where done in the colour, Precious Silver Pearl. On the right being the Venetian Blind was done in the colour, Primrose. I also got the AC Oil Bath Air Cleaner, Nasco Dual Horns, Radiator Fan , Battery Bracket/Bolts , AC Oil Filter Bracket and the Tappet Cover Oil Cap done in Gloss Black.
Starting to get there 19th Dec 2009.
The Headlight Reflectors where looking pretty rusty, so I removed all the old Silver Plating then wipped Rust Converter over the reflectors. I then sent them down to Melbourne to be re-silver plated. Got them back 18/03/10. As you can see they come up a treat.
Just finished doing up my shed. I went down to a old house in the out back that a demolition company was knocking down and graded about 15 peaces of old corrugated iron of the roof of the shed near by. Got my Wayne 605 Bowser the other night delivered (02-04-2010) which I bought off ebay from Melbourne. Over all it took me 3 days to complete, but it was well worth it as she looks sweet. All I need now is my FJ Ute sitting beside it.
17th April 2010 the FJ had been spray painted in it's original colour being Mossman Blue.All thats left to be painted now is the back tray in Grey Panel Fleck and the engine bay in GMH Black. Ken Bond is the Spary Painter/Panel Beater.
30th April 2010 Home Sweet Home. Now the fun part, putting her back togther.
10th May 2010, have completed the left hand side of the car being with the front grill. 1 1/2 days just to complete the door. Have had to sand back the dash, steering wheel due to finding a lot of runs in the paint. So I will be respraying it myself.
The back tray was to be sprayed in Grey Panel Fleck. It was but sprayed on very thinly, so I have had to respray it again myself. 10-06-2010 I fitted the tray boards to the FJ.13-06-2010 I spent the day rust proofing the bottom of the body and fitting the Nasco rear mud flaps.
2nd June 2010 interior was fitted to car, but due to the door handles and window winders being re-chromed they where a tight fit which caused me to puncher a hole in one of the door trims. 12th July 2010 interior complete.
Had front windscreens fitted but due to the rubber bridging being incorrect it was not sitting correctly. After speaking to many windscreen fitters I'm now going to fit laminated glass to the front only, replace the original harden glass as I have now been told the harden glass is highly illegal in motor cars.
15th September 2010. I have fitted and completed the Wirring Harness . It took me 2 days to complete, but hay I did it on my own being with the FJ Holden Manual Book.
My Grandad has specialy flown down from Mackay Qld (4th Oct 2010) to Brisbane Qld to help me finish of the FJ that was once his. As I have had the 4 Wheel Cylinders and Master Cylider stainless sleeved, new brake linners fitted to the pads, new set of brake hoses and the Master Cylinder re-kitted, he started with doing the brakes.
5th Oct 2010 Brakes and Master Cylinder have been fitted. It was now time to get the old girls motor running. We first wanted to flush the motor, so we used 1 litre of Kero with 3 litres of motor oil. Once the fuel hit the carbie she started up. We left the motor run for a good 30 mins, then drianed the oil and changed the oil filter. Once the new oil was in, Grandad checked the timing, points and fuel mixture. She is now ready for the road, so Grandad and I took it for a run and after 2 years it was grate to have her back on the road.I still have a few touch ups on the paint to be done and a new tonneaus cover to be fitted.
3rd Feb 2011 took my FJ Holden Ute to "Sewfine Upholstery in Clontarf Qld" for them to fit a new tonneau cover to it. I had made sure they had done these before as I'm wanting to keep it original. I also took a picture in making sure. When I turned up, would you beleave they didn't it wrong. Now I have pins along the side that are in the wrong places, leaving holes once I remove them. Would you beleave they won't even take the blame. WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THEM TO A BLIND PERSON.
"HOW IT ALL BEGAN"
Before you check out how it all began take a look below. I was contacted in July 2007 by a company called ZOOM FILMING here in Brisbane QLD, wanting to use my FJ Holden Ute in the "New 2008 HOLDEN VE UTE" Television Commercial.Of course I said yes . It has just been released (Oct 2007)check it out. At the start is the making of it and towards the end is the Television Commercial. You will see my FJ Holden Ute at the start of the commercial parked in the driveway of the old house.
In May 2008 Brendan Nawrocki "Singer/Song Writer" contacted me (via this web site) wanting to use my FJ Holden Ute for one of his Film Clips for his new song "She Went By."I was over whelmed and more then happy to help. It is currently on Austar Country Music TV channel.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7r2tadYQLY
November 2010 my FJ Holden Ute was printed on the front of an "Official Holden Merchandise Tee Shirt", as an Australian Work Horse.
Well let me know what you think of my web site by writing a message in my Guest Book Comments above .Thanks and hope you enjoy the rest.
I remember when I was around 9 yrs old my grandad bought this 1955 FJ Holden Ute from a Mr Weir west of Mackay Qld with only 32000 miles on the clock, in 1983. He restored it back to its original condition after Mr Weir’s had started to “hack into it” by starting to fit HR running gear and flaring the front guards. I guess you could say I’ve really loved the old Holden’s since then.I had always wanted the FJ. Eventually I offered to buy it from my Grandad in March 2000.
Grandad had long since retired from owning his own mechanical business, and during those many years sitting in his shed this once-proud piece of motoring history had deteriorated and was now a picture of neglect. Once it was in my hands the first thing I did was sand the paint down with wet and dry, as it was quite faded. Grandad had it painted in its original colour being Mosman Blue. I then gave it a light buff, which bought back the shine. I then had to work out what I was going to do with it, hot it up or leave it origanial !!! I’ve always thought the FJ Ute would look really nice with a set of fats fitted to it, bucket seats and a more powerful motor to replace the original 132 Grey that’s in it still. After many months of reading many different car articles in magazines, it seemed as though they’re where not many around in original condition or even in this condition.
So I decided to keep it the way it was but make it different from other FJ’s . So I thought of fitting the original 50’s accessories to it, such as Nasco, AC, Wibroc, Lucas and Trico features.
First thing was to get rid of one of the batteries under the bonnet as there was a 12 volt for the radio and a 6 volt for the FJ electrical system/engine. The 12-volt battery was for the radio, so out it went. To keep the car in as original condition as can be, I needed to find an original 6 volt “Air Chief” Valve Radio. Which was the standard one for the FJ back in the day. After many years investigating, I had found not only the much sought-after “Air Chief Radio” but also an original 6-volt GMH bitumen battery to go with the car plus many other rare accessories, as you will see in the photos. To go further I removed a thew things, like the Tramp Rods that where fitted, Tyres with radials (as the cross plies wondered all over the road) and placed white wall inserts, with Nasco Trim Rims to make the wheels stand out.
I removed Air Shocks from the rear replacing them with NOS Delco shocks. I left the indicators on that my grandad put, as I felt there for safety. I found reproduction of all the engine bay stickers, which I have placed on. At the same time I found that the 132 grey motor in my FJ Ute is of the period of it’s built time by researching the engine number being January 1955.
I replaced the spark plug leads with the genuine ones being copper leads. Also over the years I was lucky enough to find a replacement rear light lenes as the one fitted had been glued together many of times. After doing all this there was one thing I did stuff up, the under body was spray-painted in an orange colour which I didn’t like. So I sprayed over it with black BUT I have since found out that in the 50’s that it was the rust proofing colour. So now I’m in the process of removing all the paint that I put over it to try bring it back to its originality.
I still use the old girl to take loads of rubbish to the dump, people say I’m MAD but hay it is a Ute isn’t it ? I have also over the past few years started entering it in car shows and have won many trophies, most of which have been for its originality. My most prized trophy I have won was for "QLD GENERAL MOTORS DAY"-"CAR OF THE DAY" ,OCTOBER 2007. I love the old girl that much I have even gone to the existent of getting the FJ Emblem tattooed on my right arm and have also collected over the years a lot of the old Holden memorabilia items as you will see on the other pages.
Well I hope you enjoyed my web site and if you have time check out my other pages of rare old rusty FJ Holden’s I found in my travels, also some old advertisements, pamphlets and accessories from my collection. If you have any questions, information or want a chat about FJ’s or just Holden’s feel welcome to drop me a line at fjholdenute@gmail.com
IF YOU WISH TO COPY ANY INFORMATION OR "PICTURES" OFF MY WEB SITE PLEASE CONTACT ME FIRST. I WISH FOR NO PICTURES TO BE REMOVED FROM THIS SITE FOR COMMERCIAL USE OR LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
Thanks for looking and have a nice day.
I would like to say a "BIG" Thanks to my Grandad (Vic Moy) for all the time and knowledge he has give to me over the years in getting the FJ Holden Ute to what it is today.But not only for that ,BUT for being a great Grandad as well as my best mate and always will be.
