Thread: Tiny bit excited

Regarding the chassis modifications for your radiator Joe, I hope you haven't created a well where water and mud will collect and eventually rust.

Very good point - put a drain hole in it, at least 25mm.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Very good point - put a drain hole in it, at least 25mm.

I'd suggest that a drain hole at each end would be the minimum required.
IIRC the cross section of the chassis modification for the Holden conversion was normally done as an 'L' and not a 'U' if you get my drift.

no thermostat fitted as yet. yes it should be a L shape channel but because of the engine being already fitted could not do a L shape for welding purposes so did a U channel not the best idea but will have to include a drain of sorts

1. U section or channel welded into position

2. front grille section cut back to less width

3. grille and radiator fitted into position, trial fit here

4. needs a little more to do make fit better, but getting there slowly

Not much room for the headlight bowls.

to answer your question johnboylandy ...

1. again all temp fitted the headlights and they fit with a little room to spare, drain holes - drilled two (one each side), radiator and headlights do all fit now, bonnet is sitting mm above but i can live with that one. i will need to get a elec fan though and think there is enough room behind the grille to fit one (on the to do list).

The more i do, the more there seems to be needed to do to finish off this beast.

What I would with the front panel would be fit a thicker rubber packing between the panel & chassis mounting lugs slot the holes were the radiator mounts on the panel so the radiator is lower than the top of the panel , that will close up the gap between the bonnet & front panel . You would also need to slot the holes at the side of the panel were the guards bolt on so the guards don't sit high . You don't want the bonnet rubbing on the radiator . The other thing you can do is just fit a thicker rubber strip across the top of the front panel but if the gap is too wide it may look odd.
There are some quite thin electric fans available you just need to make sure the fan you get blows air through the radiator & dose not suck air through the radiator. Is there not enough room at the back of the radiator with the Holden fan removed.

Back in 1979 I put a 161 in my 86". Basically would not fit even with cutting the front cross member in putting in L piece. The issue was the radiator panel and the light bowls. I tried mounting the radiator right up to the panel (not the 6" back and it all just fitted but the headlights did not then fit. I left it there as I went away on a 6 month deployment with the Navy.

When I came back from deployment - the conversion was all done but not quite to my liking.

My Dad had cut out the front cross member completely but leaving the steering relay where it was and had welded in a great big hunk of angle iron (must have been 6x6) as a new cross member a few inches further forward. He then made up a new bracket to hold the radiator so it sat in the angle iron and pop riveted a new grill panel (with a series 3 grill) to the radiator bracket. As everything was moved forward about 3" the bonnet was extended to suit.

That wasn't all so bad but the lights still did not fit - so they were installed in the front guards, late series 2a/series style.

It all worked a treat but the front end was a bit frankinsteinish and not to my liking but my Dad thought he had done well.

So with your vehicle and where you are at now - I think the main issues will the the lights and bowls. To save some butchery, I would have a look at modern lights - like LED housings that do not require depth and bowls - when all together the whole lot will look original and you will have better lights.

Garry