Frankie's Restorations | aircraft & boat

Frankie's Restorations

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25.01.2022 It’s been a while but I managed to get lots done on the ute this weekend, the doors are finished just need there skins now, also made a permanent battery tray with hold downs and put the panel behind the seat back in but not on an angle straight up and down. Also made the fuel filler extension and fitted the fuel door unlock lever, so all in all a great couple of days work cheers Frankiej.

25.01.2022 So I decided to take on the worse side first so in theory the drivers side should be simple haha, anyway very happy with how this came up I got good lines and gaps so can’t ask for much more cheers Frankiej.

25.01.2022 A very happy couple today picked up the S Series thanks again Frankiej.

23.01.2022 Well it was a bitter sweet day today the conditions were perfect for a shed respray and after the first coat of clear we had a ten minute burst of wind and that stuffed it up a bit, it could have been worse but all I need to redo is the bonnet and one guard as can be seen in a close up photo I took, the roof will take some cutting but I think it will be ok, anyway the colour is on and I really like it cheers Frankiej.

22.01.2022 Well the sleepless nights have started I’m fitting my front panels now that I have my door skins on, also put the motor back together with all new gaskets and it ready to fit once the engine bay is painted cheers Frankiej.

22.01.2022 Just a quick post of how I finished my tailgate off I decided to fit a panel rather than try and repair the inner skin, it also has Toyota hilux ends that I have massaged into the sides. Anyway just a quick update cheers Frankiej.

22.01.2022 I managed to get a few more jobs done on the ute which means it won’t be far of until I fit the engine cheers Frankiej.

20.01.2022 It has begun and I’m super excited I’m now starting to put colour to the ute parts I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel cheers Frankiej.

18.01.2022 Had a big weekend on the ute I denibbed the whole car then sanded through a few stages of sandpaper, started with 1200, then 1500 and finished with 2000 grit, it was worth the effort because it made buffing a lot easier and I am blown away with the shine and dept of the paint you can even see the powerlines in the reflection happy days Frankiej.

18.01.2022 Well the bonnet is on but it isn’t pretty, I suppose you have to start somewhere hey wish me luck.

18.01.2022 I’m one happy lad today my glass showed up from glass4classics nathan has done an amazing job, my custom one piece door glass and v butt windscreen with new rubber, it’s a good feeling getting to this point. Oh and I fitted out the bonnet just for fun cheers Frankiej.

17.01.2022 Keep ticking of the jobs on the ute and I now have the steering rack in and chassis to subframe strengthening bars in place, also blacked out a lot of the underside. Managed to paint all my tub panels as well and hard cover hinges so at this stage the body will be painted next weekend it’s fully rubbed down and ready to mask and paint cheers Frankiej.

17.01.2022 Just thought I would do an update on the ute, I have been busy doing small jobs but today I decided to pull the rear springs out so I can reset them by 2 inches I’m going to have a crack at them myself. I had a mishap as well on the quarter panel so a small repair was done, the rear wiring is in and the taillights are wired up and fitted but I have also been playing with the boat because we can go fishing now. Anyway I have marked the leaf springs at 50mm increments and I have a piece of railway track and a large hammer so any tips or hints on doing this would be awsome before I take to them with a hammer cheers Frankiej.

17.01.2022 Well I’m convinced that fj holdens were never built to be modern but we do love modern equipment don’t we, I reckon this door owes me 40 hours and still not finished but happy now I have everything working, the door striker, electric window, central locking and intrusion bar all fitted and clearance everywhere, that was the biggest challenge. So now to get the skin on and move to the drivers door cheers Frankiej.

16.01.2022 All fixed now I’m happy cheers Frankiej.

15.01.2022 I just had a novelty number plate made for the ute and thought I would share it cheers Frankiej.

15.01.2022 I had a great week on the s series and even managed to get it painted on the weekend before the Xmas break, very happy with the look Frankiej.

13.01.2022 Woohoo the S Series Valiant is finished thanks nuggets for all your help mate and also Adam findley it was much appreciated, also a big thank you to Kim and Kath for the opportunity to bring this old girl back to it’s former glory and I even painted some colour in the back door trim area at a request from Kim, Essendon supporter he is. I’m very happy with the end result and now you guys can go and drive the wheels of it and enjoy. Thanks again frankiej.

13.01.2022 Had a little play with the wheels last night after I dropped the car down to a better working height for the bonnet......I like it cheers.

12.01.2022 I decided to take a break from the bonnet gaps and made a hard cover frame and hinges, it come up well and now to get a sheet of aluminium cut to glue onto the frame. Does anyone know if you can get stronger gas struts but the same length as these ones don’t quite hold the frame up and it will get heavier when the cover is on cheers Frankiej.

12.01.2022 This weekend managed to get some more done on the ute, I had to make a clearance panel for my fuel filler and looks like it has come up ok. Also got the front bolted back on so I can get some panels sorted, and got the drivers door wiring tube and plate fitted, so exciting times coming up I will get the door skins back on and front panels as well cheers Frankiej.

11.01.2022 I got some work done on the ute and managed to get some primer on the tailgate and inner tub panels. Also started roughing up my door skins with flush handles, I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming up just have to get it on with not to much weld pull, see how I go Frankiej.

09.01.2022 I decided today to polyester the side I primed yesterday it’s one of those things if you do or you don’t but I want it straight so I did cheers Frankiej.

09.01.2022 Just an update on the ute progress, I finally have the hard cover sorted and a new position for the gas struts also radius on the side of the fuel filler, by tomorrow night the car and all it’s parts will be in there final primer and the plan is to have the car painted by the end on March so onwards and upwards cheers Frankiej.

09.01.2022 Just thought I would share a tip, I’m unsure if anyone else does this but when I’m colour sanding I use a dry glide guide coat in between sandpaper stages, so after each stage just wipe it over and use it as a guide for when you sand it gives you the best indication of knowing that the whole panel is sanded well, hope that helps some about to colour sand. Oh and the fuel tank is in also cheers Frankiej.

09.01.2022 Just thought I would do a collage of before and after photos of the last 4 years hope you all enjoy the pics cheers Frankiej.

08.01.2022 I knew there was something wrong with my bonnet lock panel, because I have fitted another one and not one bit of pressure. The other one was under so much pressure I just couldn’t use it, so pretty happy with myself for making that decision. Also fitted the Chinese 3 core radiator, it required some tweaking but it fits so another tick of the list, I will fit the condenser the next time I work on it. Cheers Frankiej.

08.01.2022 I have just had a major setback it was only discovered today while fitting the VL diff that the shocker mounts on the body are In the wrong way, now I have to cut them out and fit them back in and the car is painted aarrrggggg.

07.01.2022 Well I have to say I’m pretty happy with my week, I managed to get all the Inside panels into paint and I think it looks great looking forward to painting the body next, that should be in about 2 weeks time cheers Frankiej.

07.01.2022 Finally got some steps forward on the ute, I managed to get the left hand door lock mechanism sorted and looking at home, also replaced the bottom section for a rust free door. Got the electric window working very nicely as well, so now to fit an intrusion bar and get the outer skin on can’t wait Frankiej.

07.01.2022 I’m now ticking of more boxes than I thought I would, I have now got the drivers side into polyester so that’s both sides now and so far very happy with the panels and the gaps cheers Frankiej.

06.01.2022 Just showing how it was and how it is now

04.01.2022 Well I thought I would have a go myself at resetting my rear springs without a big hammer and so I made a jig using my porta power and in 2 hours I had both sets at 2 inches lower, then I refitted them and a really noticeable difference, I have a before and after shot thee as well but I want it lower and will wait until it’s fully fitted out before I decide. Happy with my success now to move onto other stuff cheers Frankiej.

04.01.2022 Well ladies and gentlemen this is it the last time the ute is being primed, I need to let it dry and then get it rubbed down for the colour to go on, needless to say I’m excited ( like big Kev ) and can’t wait to get it painted it should be by the end of March cheers Frankiej. Oh and just a footnote I added 2 more photos of what I was playing around with to enclose the fuel filler area cheers.

04.01.2022 It’s been a while but I have finally got the gaps on my bonnet done and very happy I am, also some other little tricks in there I have put my bonnet catch in behind the grille and devised a pair of pins that will keep the bonnet locked down safely. Another thing I did was move the fuel filler again as I was not happy with were it was on the quarter panel so it’s now incorporated into the hard cover and will have its own opening door......watch this space cheers Frankiej.

03.01.2022 I managed to have another good day on the car and fitted the condenser and receiver dryer, also got the transmission oil cooler in there without to much trouble, just need to get all the hoses made up now but forging forward to the light it’s starting to get bigger. Cheers Frankiej.

02.01.2022 And just like that the engine is in, I have had an awsome Easter with the car first I managed to get the front end bolted up and steering rack also the sway bar, I checked the rear spring hangers as well and they seem correct but the car sits high at the rear and to low at the front, I fitted 2 inch lowered king springs but thinking I should have used standard springs because I have hq stubs that are lower than standard, anyway all these things happen to try us cheers Frankiej.