"Boss" - EH Ute Build

[Sly Fox]

This story goes back over 40 years, I’ll tell you more about that later.

The latest part of the story started on Friday afternoon when Zuffen kindly hooked up the car trailer for an 1100klm return trip to Coonamble over the weekend, thanks Rod for making it happen.


This was our target, my wife’s grandfathers old EH ute that will eventually become my daily driver.

[chris spokes]

nice little project

[Harv]

Very nice. I built my daughter an EK ute a few years back. Good fun.

Cheers,
Harv

[Sly Fox]

Dreaming about scoring this car started about 40 years ago when I saw the car on my in-laws’ farm in Coonamble, when I first I first visited the farm.

My wife’s grandfather bought it as a new car and then passed it on to my father-in-law and it has sat in the same spot for over 40 years. The grandfather’s nickname was “Boss” so that’s what we’ve decided to name it.

I was stressing until I saw it was still there. The brother-in-law had been selling off other old cars, trucks and caravans and everyone wanted the EH ute but got told it was mine. It was located on the far side of the property with a back entry so it would have been easy for someone to drive in and load it up and it could be a week before anyone noticed.

With only 100mm of rain over the past twelve months it decided dump 125mm of rain in the week before we headed off, including a shower the morning we left, luckily for us we the rain stopped in time.

The plan is to make this my daily driver.

[zuffen]

Over the last 5 or so years I've heard about the fabled EH and was starting to wonder if it even existed.

We decided to take the opportunity to go and grab it before it disappeared.

All I can say we had a great time (even turned the music off) and just chatted for 7 or so hours each way.

Pete's Relo's are cool Dudes, and good for a chat and laugh.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, so much fun.

[hudson nut]

Man, I wish we had Utes here. Very cool car!

Dany

[FX Panelvan]

Hi Pete
The perfect motor for this project.

Regards
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/calound ... 1315049425

[Harv]

A mid-sized Chev (307, 327) would be cool

Cheers,
Harv

[Gojeep]

Nothing better than a project with a family history.

[Sly Fox]

Hi Pete
The perfect motor for this project.

Regards
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/calound ... 1315049425

Hi Brian,

The engine bay uncovered a little surprise, you'll have to wait for that part of the story.

[Sly Fox]

A mid-sized Chev (307, 327) would be cool

Cheers,
Harv

I like how you think Harv.

[spanners]

I've done several EH utes over the years for my father. As much as I like V8s my choice for a daily driver would be 179 or 186 with 5 speed Celica 'box. Less heat in the engine bay and lighter on fuel.

[FX Panelvan]

Come On Pete

Share the engine part of the story.

Another vote for a good 179 though.

[Sly Fox]

Last Saturday afternoon Zuffen and I had arrived in Coonamble and were digging out the old ute, it was trying to bury itself after sitting there for so long and make itself one with the earth.


Knowing how bad the wheels where we pulled an odd set together and took them with us, dug some holes to get the replacement wheels on and dragged it back to earth with the brother in laws 4X4.
It was good that it rolled easily as I thought it might have seized up, certainly made getting it on and off the trailer a breeze.


Gerard and Rod doing the work while I was grinning from ear to ear and taking photo's.



All loaded and ready to head home the next day.


After fourteen hours on the road over the two days, lots of good laughs and stories we were safely home, unloaded and the car up on stands ready to start cleaning and stripping the following day.

[Sly Fox]

Come On Pete

Share the engine part of the story.

Another vote for a good 179 though.

Hopefully tomorrow night, we can talk about the engine.