Old Holden Restoration ( with a few modifications )

[Bacchus]

At home with a bit of time on my hands so decided to throw a few photos together documenting the rebuild of my 1963 EH Holden it took 2 years and was completed Nov 2013.

I am very interested in restorations of old cars , motorbikes , tractors etc so please post any before / after photos of ant projects you have completed.

Cheers Bacchus.

As she was , my daily driver for 5 years , mates thought I was a nut and I hated summer

Every nut , bolt and screw removed all prepped and the painting begins colour is an original 1963 Holden Premier colour , Valley Mist Green metalic with a Fowlers Ivory roof

Wheels were customised with a couple of extra inches width welded in , 14 inch from the standard 13's to fit the disc brake front end and painted in Fowlers Ivory to match the roof , we needed to mini-tub the rear wheel arches to fit the wheels in , then started to modify and fit the interior.

Polishing and fitting the grill ( very fiddley ) the seats are from a VK Calais ( front buckets ) and the rear bench is the original , all restored with reproduction vinyl from the 63 premier range

New glass all round and fitting of more interior , badges , chrome etc

A few more bits to bolt on then off to the mechanical engineers

Knowing the motor would run hot we opted for an oversize alloy racing radiator and twin thermo fans sourced from a Mitsubishi Lancer

We needed the strength of a Celica steel box 4 speed to cope with the torque and a modified gearbox mount

The front end was from a later HR Holden as by law It had to be Disc Brake to cope with the engine output it was powder coated prior to fitting.

The motor was built by an old Adelaide Holden legend , Chris Milton , it was to the spec of a 1973 GTR XU1 Torana
The Carburettos are Triple 45 mm Webers as was fitted to the E49 Charger of the era at the time the fastest 6 cyl car in the world

The finished product and my pride and joy , running in and tuning was done by West Torrens Dyno and fastest 1/4 mile to date is a 15.2 second run , the pearl steering wheel was my 50 th birthday gift from my beautiful wife

Thanks for looking hope you enjoyed and please post your resto photos

Cheers

 

[Ramjet]

Very VERY nice Bacchus. Top class work. EH, my 2nd fav Holden.

 

[Digger Danny]

Good job Rick, what rear end are you running. I had an 63 EJ and the only thing that was EJ was the shell and interior. This was in 1977 when the car was considered an old bomb. Everybody said I wasting to much money on it, I wish I still had it. If you check where the floor joins the firewall there is a seam which I manage to split which is still a mystery to this day, as far as I know I am the only one that has done it with out crashing the car. Mate I hope you enjoy your your old classic Holden (not plastic as we say).

Cheers, DD

 

[stoyve]

One word for it Bacchus.
AWESOME

 

[Bacchus]

Thanks for that Ramjet , your an FJ fan I bet . G'day Danny , believe it or not still running the original Banjo and can't blow it up , we have access to a heap of Old Holden parts so tested a 2.78 / 1 but settled on a 3.55/1 Which it seemed to handle the best
Thought it would be impossible to split the middle seam without giving it a good belting but there you go , thanks for comments

Cheers

 

[ozziii]

Great looking EH & great job restoring it.
My cousing & his old man done one a couple years back, similar to your's but a light blue type colour, (original EH Holden colour).
It turned out really nice, think they may have done up an old grey motor for originality though. Cousin handed it over to his old man as a gift, still has it but not sure if it gets driven much now.

Also had a mate do one up, from a rusted wreck in a paddock, first it was standard & original, then some different modified 6's went in, then a 350 chev with chassis mods etc, last I heard it was running mid 8's on nitrous, mid 9's without. Body wise & interior all still looked stock & was full engineered with rego, that was one tuff EH.

 

[Ramjet]

Thanks for that Ramjet , your an FJ fan I bet .

Cheers

FC ute is my Favourite Holden. I had one and a sedan many moons ago.

 

[Baldy]

I just need a few more parts to Finnish ...lol..Nice build..

 

[Bacchus]

Cheers for that Stoyve and Ozziii , Baldy , gotta start somewhere mate cheers

 

[jamie]

very well done mate, looks amazing , i had an Eh once then a EJ(?) both speedway cars tho so not as nice and shiny as yours

 

[silver]

Awsome story with excellent photo shoot.
I had an EH years ago,... so I really enjoyed this a lot Bacchus.

 

[Baldy]

This is the second Alpine I've owned..Fins and chrome...James Bonds First car...4age 20 valve Toyota 1600cc twin overhead cam motor..165bhp. 8000rpm .5. speed supra box..30 first 60 second 100 third mph...2 gears to go..Rock and roll...Jaguar British racing green..1961..

 

[DrDuck]

Great restos, both, congrats boys. That Sunbeam would surprise a few people off the lights!

 

[Bacchus]

Don't know why but can't quote/reply to you post mate , sweet job , gotta love going topless

 

[Metamorphic]

She is bloody beautiful Rick.

Triple SU's?

 

[Sandta]

Bloody awesome Bacchus
Sweet sweet sweet

 

[Bacchus]

Cheers Dr Duck and Sandta , triple Webers Meta , SU's were very popular when doing up a Holden Red motor and was the other consideration for a carby set up but went with the Webers in the end , I am a bit intoxicated by the sound they make but boy they chew some juice , the Toranas came out standard with Strombergs but aren't a patch on SU's or Webers

Cheers

 

[Metamorphic]

Stainless braided hoses and anodized couplings.

I love it mate

 

[Baldy]

Duck I think 179 s Eh would give a few a fright at the lights too.nice motor build...pppperfect..

 

[Bacchus]

very well done mate, looks amazing , i had an Eh once then a EJ(?) both speedway cars tho so not as nice and shiny as yours

Cheers Jamie , speedway would have been fun , it used to break my heart years ago when the demolition derby was full of Eh and Ej's

Thanks Silver , glad it brought back a few memories mate