XLE wagon, did they make them?

[xespack]

Looking for a new project/fun car and wanting a wagon. Dont the mind the cortinas so i'm wondering if they ever made a TC or TD XLE wagon?

[fjw]

From memory - no. Certainbly wasn't a regular model, but there was the factory Rallye Pack which you could option them up with. There's no reason why you couldn't retro fit out an XL wagon with the XLE bits such as dash, trim etc. its always intrigued me as to why they didn't build them in the first place ...

[xespack]

What are the specs on the XL wagon? Sorry i dont know my cortinas. coming from falcons etc and wouldnt mind trying something smaller and different. In the TC/TD wagons do the seats fold down flat? Big enough to sleep in? Was the 250 available in TC/TD in other models than the XLE? Manuals all 4 speed with 1:1 4th? Take much to get a T5 in there?

Aaron

[fjw]

ok, relying here on a TD brochure printed in '75 (the later upgraded TD model had rectangular lights). The XL had as standard:
2 litre, 4 speed manual
deluxe pushbutton radio
woodgrain finish on instrument panel
glovebox light
electric clock
fully carpeted load area
styled wheel covers
console with storage bin and package tray bertween the front seats
bright metal mouldings on wheel arches door glass surrounds

Both the 200 and 250 six cylinder were optional with a 3 or 4 speed manual or 3 speed auto. the GS rally pack which was optional and consisted of:
unique wheel treatment
leather bound sports steering wheel
tachometer
LHS exterior mirror
simulated (!) leather gearshift knob
vinyls body side stripes
halogen headlights

Yep, rear seat folds flat - not sure if you could sleep in it, depends on how tall you are! yes, top gear (3 or 4 speed box and auto too!) is 1:1 Between the two, my preference would be for a TD (nicer dash), however, my personal preference would be for a TF Ghia wagon with 4.1, auto, power steer and air (I like my comforts these days). Good luck with the search!

cheers fjw

[xespack]

Thanks for typing all that out.

Were the 250s iron headed? Elec or points dissy? Same weber adm as xe/xf etc?

what does a wagon and sedan weigh?

[fjw]

hey, no worries! yes, the 6's were iron headed-non crossflow and points. The carby from memory was a single barrel, (and don't quote me) Stromberg or Email ... Weight isn't quoted in the brochure, maybe 1100/1200kg at a guess, but the length is given and is 4260mm for the sedan and 4361mm for the wagon.

[xespack]

Thanks. I thought the TD XLE might have had a crossflow?
I have a XE here with a carby 250 thats done less than 100ks from new so thinking it might go nicely with a t5 in a TD wagon.

Were they leaf spring?

[fjw]

the crossflows didn't come out until the TE, and they were still points dizzy with single throat carb (and woohoo, did they fly with a 4.1 in them!). The crossflow should slot straight in (I think its only the head that is different, the block is the same) but I'm not sure about the licensing implications re. a later motor in an earlier car - you may still have to meet the emission requirements of the XE motor ... your plan sounds nice tho ... a sweet combo.

Maybe think about beefing up the front end, all the magazines of the time pointed to nose heaviness with the sixes in the Cortina with its fair share of understeer! Having driven two TEs with a 4.1, I can't say I noticed anything unless the car was pushed beyond its limits.

[TaraHymen]

great idea, do it!!! go the TC/TD cos they had more style than the later cortinas. they got curves or ladybumps and didnt look like a mini xd

the iron head crossflows first appeared late TD. there was no hard and fast rule which engine u got when. u could have 2 td's same month/year and have a xflow and log engines fitted. the paperwork just listed it as 250cui. all te's were crossflow. the ironheads were all points dizzy and the block are in fact very different. they changed engines in the tf using the same engine as an xd ie:alloy head, elec ignition etc but still a single barrel strommy.

the only thing u have to do to bolt in a later model 250 is change to a cortina sump/pickup and use the engine mounts out of a cortina. the rest is all straight forward. the twin barrel weber manifold had clearance issues between the front heater hose outlet and the battery tray but thats bugger all.

the rear seat in the wagon did fold down to form a "bed" as such but i wouldnt sleep on it. it's not completely flat for starters.

i dont know for sure about the xle wagons as ford never listed them in thier literature. technically speaking they never made a XLE wagon however they did make XL wagons which had all the XLE goodies fitted.

flw is right about beefing up the front end to counteract the understeer, rumour has it they understeered like a real bastard from factory. i've had several cortinas of different shape or form the only time i ever felt understeer i dont think any other car would've done any better. i dunno about you but if i wanted to build a car which handled perfectly i wouldnt pick a car from the early 70's.

one more thing, u have to modify the tunnel to fit a t5 as the gearstick comes up further back than the original shifter. it's not difficult but a pain in the . p100 has photos of this from when he did his and no doubt will post them up when he sees this. edit: his photos are here http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...18&postcount=2

[xespack]

So the seat doesnt fold down level with the back? I was hoping for something i can sleep in as i surf and it would be handy.

Cutting a whole in the tunnel sounds easy enough but then do i need to modify the crossmember and get a custom tail shaft? I dont have a garage so i cant start getting to adventurous like making a new member etc. I need more bolt in type stuff. Are there any 5 speeds that would bolt in?

Or is there a kit available to do the t5 that comes with crossmember etc?

[TaraHymen]

yeah it does fold down but not completely flat. you could sleep on it but u'd at least need a swag or sumthin cos it doesnt fold down completely flat and there are metal plates and seams and stuff.

with the crossmember you redrill the cortina one to suit the t5 mount, no biggie. the tailshaft and speedo cable from the cortina will fit in the back of a t5. there are plenty of different 5spd conversions available but none that will bolt straight in with everything perfect and no mods required. only the falcons had 5 spds from factory and the shifter is in a different position to a cortina.

[fjw]

good info - i wasn't aware of the x-flows in the later TDs, glad to see someone is on the ball and knows their stuff!

[xespack]

Thanks guys!

Does the back seat fold down in 1 piece or 2/3?

so the tail shaft doesnt have to be shortened fot the t5?
So all that needs doing it to bolt the member to the box then re drill and bolt the member in a new spot on the car?

What about clutch and pedal stuff? I havent played around with manuals before so i dont know much about this stuff. Will the stock cortina manual pedals work with the t5? did they have hydraulic or cable clutches?

[fjw]

right, I can do the easy question, the rear seat folds down in one piece ...

[TaraHymen]

bolt the crossmember to the body, and redrill where the studs on the t5 mount want to come through. tailshaft will do fine, it'd be nice if it were 40mm longer but thats life. for the clutch cable i modified the top of the clutch pedal and adapted it to suit a falcon clutch cable. if you're switched on u could probably do the conversion in less than a day.

[Jim5_0]

Originally Posted by fjw

good info - i wasn't aware of the x-flows in the later TDs, glad to see someone is on the ball and knows their stuff!

Yes typically the 200/250 powered TD's had "6 cylinder 200/250" badges on the front guards and the 3.3/4.1 Crossflow powered TD's simply had 3.3/4.1 on the guards (Ford never referred to the 3.3 and 4.1 crossflows as 200/250)