Popular Post Threeonthetree Posted December 18, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 18, 2014 Discussion Thread Ever since I bought my Holden HG Belmont wagon a few years ago, I have owned and driven a steady stream of old Holdens. Large Australian cars have always captured my interest so naturally I was never going to settle for just one. Throughout my time dealing with buying, selling and repairing parts to keep my old cars running I've often encountered the nostalgic seller or enthusiast who still remembers the memories they shared with their beloved Australian tank. Be it Ford, Valiant or Holden the bond is the same. Sadly for most, the dreams of owning the car of their youth has evaded them. No longer are HQ Holdens available in exchange for a box of beer, XY Falcons abandoned where they were crashed or Valiants for sale for a few hundred dollars. With this in mind, I've decided to try and futureproof things for myself. Rather than waiting until I am old and responsible (hopefully) and financially better off, I have decided to buy my dream cars while they're still relatively cheap. Sure, they're usually worse for wear and need a hell of a lot of work but I've got time on my side. So here is my latest acquisition: I saw this advertised here on OS and knew I had to go and check it out in person. I'd always considered Valiants to be on top of the big three (Holden, Ford, Chrysler) Austrlain car hierarchy due to their rarity, performance and outright style. I've longed for a Valiant for as long as I can remember but up until recently had all but given up on that dream. That all changed after the OS Drag Day 2014. I cruised down to Hamilton in the HQ (Which ran a blistering 17.02 second quarter mile time hahaha) with shakotom and zebradude. We had a look at the wagon, kicked the tyres and talked a whole lot of off-topic rubbish. A deal was done and the following week a good friend generously helped me organise collection of the wagon. We were pressed for time as the owner wanted it gone by the weekend but I was working all week. Plus if we'd delayed things a bit sooner I couldn't collect the car until after the new year which would seriously hamper my Kumeu car show accomodation plans (this car will be my hotel, fingers crossed!). Thankfully we sorted collection before the deadline and when I turned up at the high-tech storage facility after work this is the sight that greeted me: I won't lie, I spent a bit of time sitting in it and making engine noises. When I stopped daydreaming I fiddled around with it a bit and got it running. Bigfoot and zebradude were there to give the car it's first road test. Apart from having almost no brakes (infact it had NO brakes on at least a few stops) the Valiant performed gloriously. And that sound! I love it. It's powered by a 265 cubic inch Cast-iron straight six. It's non-crossflow but unlike the Holden and Ford sixes of the era this Valiant six has a much better standard carburettor, better head and intake manifold design and a whole heap more displacement. As with any Valiant it has rust and loads of it. But as far as rust goes, it's not as bad as it could potentially be. I'll document the repairs as I make progress. So the plan is to get this wagon running, driving and most importantly braking properly prior to the Kumeu swapmeet early next year. Then after a good clean I will use it to sleep in over the Kumeu weekend. It needs a bloody good clean as it's filthy. Definitely seen some action too. So first things first, it needs: -Brakes -A fuel cap instead of that horrible emergency cap -A good engine tune-up and service with new parts/oil/filters etc -Right front hub has one broken wheel stud. Some gorilla must have tightened the front nuts as I had to use a 1.2m power bar to get them off! -Lights and functioning indicators. The headlights and taillights work so far. Screwed the taillights in after the photo was taken. -Replace the diff oil and trans fluid/filter/gasket -Install carpet of some description -Get some roadworthy tyres. These ones are cracked and perished. -Install the dixie horns if time allows. -tidy up the wheels (clean, polish and repaint centres) -Raise the rear window. It's a power window so I may just lock it in the up position for now. Once that is done I may chirp a wheel in triumph. Oh and her name is Valerie. I'm not a car naming person but she came to me already named. Just need to find a Steve Winwood Cassette and crank 'Valerie'. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Threeonthetree Posted December 19, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 19, 2014 I had a little bit of time to dash out to the car after work today. Here she is with a Ford and Holden. Hibernating. I jacked her up and removed the wheels to refurbish. It was difficult getting them off as the hubcentric rings had rusted to the hubs. But I got them all off in the end. Just finished cleaning the wheels and removing the last traces of broken centre-cap. I'll polish the lips and repaint the centres black. I really like Hustlers and I think they suit the car perfectly. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 I had a bit of time this weekend so I retreated to the garage, cued the music and got to work on the wheels: For a quick job I'm content with the final result. The existing wheelnuts on Valerie were damaged, missing washers and cross threaded. Thankfully I kept the wheelnuts that came with the disgusting Cheviot Turbos that were on my HQ. I just need to source some tyres and get them changed over now as the tyres currently on the rims are badly cracked. Here's how She sits for the time being (That's so slammed etc): While I was with the car this evening I drained the engine oil and was about to change the filter and refill the 265 with new oil. But then Zebradude and I became carried away with trying to get the bonnet of his 1974 Ford Fairlane 500 open. It was closed, the cable was snapped and even climbing under the car and into the engine bay wouldn't help. So we found a grinder lying on the floor nearby (that's handy) and cut a hole in the bonnet. Long story short, the oil change will get done tomorrow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Living next to Otara has its perks. Cheap tyres being only one of the many: So now I can cross wheels and tyres off the list. Time to take a rubbish bag and some thick gloves and clean out all the rubbish from inside Val. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 Yesterday I collected a new 'Nice Products' (always gets a laugh from me) wheel stud from Davie Holden and went down on Valerie. I mean went down to work on her... ahem. My goal was to clean out the interior, remove the radiator and replace the wheel stud. I'm rather pleased to say that I got it all done. The high-tech storage facility has a bit of an issue with lighting at the moment in that it has none. So I set up a floodlight and got to work. This is the right front hub. You can see the broken wheel stud which has since been thrown in the scrap pile. I will also fit some new brake pads while I have the brake calipers opened up. Fingers crossed it should only be the master cylinder that needs replacing in order to restore any sort of braking ability. I'll also repack both front wheel bearings while they're accessible. The more I delve into this car the more it is apparent that it has been very poorly maintained - no surprises there. For example the transmission cooler was simply hanging in the void between the radiator support and the grille, the ball joints have collapsed many years ago, all of the bushes are either badly worn or non existent, front brake pads are completely worn out etc etc. But I think She'll be pleased that she's finally being repaired properly. The fact that the engine runs strongly is more a credit to the excellent design and rugged reliability of the Valiant six. Here's what came out of the radiator and engine: That dry grass was essentially all that was wedging the transmission cooler in place infront of the radiator. I've also rewired part of the starter and ignition circuits so now She starts much easier. Currently using 'choke in a can' (Start ya' Bastard) but will install a manual choke cable for lush starting without having to open the bonnet. Fired it up yesterday too with the rear axle sitting on wooden blocks and the front on bricks. TU MEKE 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 Here's a link to the discussion thread: Click the Hemi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted December 27, 2014 Author Share Posted December 27, 2014 The radiator needed some work: So I spent some time on it and it turned out like this: Except standing up the correct way. For some reason even when I rotate this picture it appears on its side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 The nosecone has been removed: Apart from the expected surface rust and the one patch of serious rust which needs welding in the left corner, the structure is sound. The nosecone will be refitted as it is. It's tidy enough for now. I also fitted these: As you can see, there is nothing but air where the brake master cylinder used to reside. I dropped it off to be re-sleeved and am expecting it to be ready before the end of the week. Then I can finally test the brakes. Or more like test to see which other parts of the braking system are leaking.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 I removed the lowering blocks: It now sits two inches higher which is much better. For now.... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Threeonthetree Posted February 20, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 20, 2015 So the wagon was running and driving but the braking left a lot to be desired. When the master cylinder returned from being reconditioned, I installed it, gave the rest of the braking system a general going over and quickly bled the air. What I didn't realise was that the brake pipe running to the rear axle actually runs through the inside of the car, coming through the firewall and making its way down past the lower kick panel on the drivers side. I noticed that I had a major fluid leak, but couldn't see where it was. It was only when I removed the kick panel that I realised the brake pipe behind it was cracked. Being hit in the face with brake fluid when standing on the brake pedal is not something I need to experience again. I was busy with other things so left the Valiant to sit for a while. But today I dropped her off to have a new brake pipe fitted. Sure, I could do it myself but it would take me a very long time to get around to it. So now it will come back and brake properly, hopefully motivating me to carry out more work on it and get it on the road sooner. While on the way to the workshop, I stopped in at the petrol station to inflate the tyres and top up the fuel. A group of guys emerged from a nearby VT Commodore (ex Police car of course) and gathered around the Valiant. I ended up firing it up on the trailer and drowning out the forecourt with the sweet music that is a 265 Hemi six. The exhaust is in need of repair which made it even louder and is another job that is being taken care of by the workshop. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 As per Clint's example on his Ute, I will be sealing up the plenum area once I have completed the rust repairs. This one has a fair bit of rust and previous repairs in that area and is a poor design when it comes to channeling water and leaves etc away. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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