buggy fun

my mates Justin & Jason took my buggy to the extreme today, cant believe that I caught this on camera and fortunately they were wearing their seatbelts - awesome

rear end removal & disassembly

Diff out and springs apart. Went to see the local acid dipper -he informed me that caustic does not remove rust, I didn't know this, he suggested soaking metal parts in a tub of molasses. the things U learn!

rear quarter

things look good panel wise, though there is always going to be some rust - here is one of the 3 areas on the shell

silhouette of the rear end

diff is about to come out, leaves are in extremely good order so will only need the Dulux overhaul!
will pull the centre out and inspect, lets hope that we can get away with just a clean

humpy's stable mates

'73 HQ in sunburst gold restored to original

2005 VZ ss with leather. nice toy!

original repair manual

While very good at pulling things apart, will need all the help available to put things back together, this book may become my ute bible

door bits!

I think that the dog has been locked in the ute at some time!
cream leather inserts will be much nicer!
door & window handles are removed using a file to push the release pin

rear tray

except the spare carrier, the first holden utes had no metal floor under the wood paneling, just bracings as can be seen.
few rust traps and easy to clean and paint

55 year olds start to show a wrinkle or two!

the quarters on utes always get knocked around - north central panels will weave their magic soon enough

rust free vent

the below windscreen pop up air vent was an awesome 50's symbol but it was inclined to be a rust trap.
Fortunately the ute has no rusting in this area, I certainly am lucky to have a virtually rust free project

I.D Plate

Utilities were originally designated the model number 50-2106 (STYLE NO.), as opposed to the sedans being 48-215. The utes however today are also universally known as the 48-215 or FX
This tag tells me that the ute is painted in Brewster green, was fitted with walnut brown trim, and importantly the body number tells me that the vehicle was made in October 1951, all original, all genuine

guages

the old guages look great. The speedo still works a beauty - I put the drill on it and clocked over 40,600 miles!

rear springs

The 48-215 and early FJ's used narrow rear leaf springs which were enclosed by gal. covers, don't think that I can use these again!!

dash

dash is now stripped, everything unbolts easily. On the front of the glovebox is the name of the original GMH retailer in Lonsdale st. Melbourne!
Beadblasting of the interior will be easy, then one coat of red oxide followed by satin black

front glass

Wow! - fossilized windscreen seals, thank God all rubber is available repro!
Imagine if Holden went retro with commodore utes and fitted two piece glass?

front subframe

Front is off - bottom bolts were very tight. Will sandblast & paint the front subframe in black
It is so light, I wonder how V8's can be put in these cars?

front end removal

front end is out. It seems very tight and in good order, i.e - no play in the king pins at all
everything is coming apart with ease, no nasty surprises as yet! Next - front subframe

tag & bag

It is best to bag and tag everything, otherwise when things go back together there are always bolts or nuts or bits left over!

open heart surgery

everything has to be removed, replaced, repaired or simply cleaned and repainted
ratchet ring spanners are brilliant and I highly recommend them!

engine out

Removing the gearbox first made the donk removal easier. In total, a simple job that took around two hours
everything (except the handbrake arrangement!) is so simple - a pleasure to work on

front end texture

nothing that sandblasting wont fix!

donor car

loading a '51 48-215 sedan which will be ideal as a template in putting together the ute after painting.
car would be good except for significant sill rust. what is tired on the ute, is good on the car and vice-versa!

more dust than paint!

These old holdens were painted in NC(nitro-cellulose) lacquer, a type of acrylic
lots of coats and polishing from the factory to make the paint shine. being a farm ute at Culgoa, polishing , yet alone washing, was rarely a consideration
the paint simply faded away in the sun, exposing surface rust, adding to the fact that not many good examples exist today

intro blog!

my new project, its a 48-215 ute, made in 1951.
the ute has had a short life on the road, having been retired before I was born (I am 39)
fortunately it was put in the shed due to a blown motor and has not seen rain since the mid sixties
will keep you posted