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MOTRS

FJ / FE / FC

1953-1960 / Sedan / Coupe / Australia

All FJ / FE / FC problems All workshop issues
Critical Body

Floor Pan Rust

Symptoms

Visible rust perforation on the underside of the floor. Soft or spongy metal when prodded. In severe cases, you can see daylight through the floor from inside the car.

Cause

Water enters the cabin through deteriorated door seals, windscreen seals, and the firewall. It sits on the floor pans, which have no drainage. Road spray attacks the underside. Seventy years of moisture exposure is relentless.

Fix

Minor surface rust: treat with rust converter, seal, and undercoat.

Perforated floor pans: cut out the rust and weld in new metal.

Reproduction floor pan sections are available from specialists.

A full floor pan replacement on a rotisserie is a major restoration job, budget $3,000-8,000 for both sides.

Cost mentioned in fix
budget $3,000-8,000 for both

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Other known issues

Common Body

Lower Guard (Fender) Rot

Bubbling paint, visible rust, perforation along the lower edges of the front and rear guards.
Common Body

Windscreen Seal Deterioration

Water leaks into the cabin during rain. Rust develops under the windscreen rubber and around the windscreen frame.
Common Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Worn Bearings and Low Oil Pressure

Oil pressure drops below 20 psi at idle when hot. Knocking noise from the bottom end, particularly under load. May also develop a deep rumble at idle.
Common Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Valve Seat Recession

Gradual loss of compression, rough running, tapping noise from the engine that gets worse over time. May develop a misfire.
Critical Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Overheating in Modern Traffic

Temperature gauge climbs or the engine boils over in slow traffic or on hot days.
Common Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Fuel Pump Failure

Engine stalls, won't restart, or runs inconsistently. Fuel starvation symptoms, the engine dies under load but may restart after sitting for a few minutes.
View all 17 FJ / FE / FC problems