To look good or go fast...

[EFFalcon]

Deffinately engine work.. you'll enjoy it more.
as much as airbags would be DAMN GREAT! the engine just seems a better option :P

[needfordspeed]

Engine work or RIMS!!!

I think the mob have spoken!

[xdc351]

I'd remove the mud flaps and pin stripe. Lower it a little, mostly at the front but not enough to require avoiding speed humps and get a nice set of wheels.

Performance wise, all your mods are screaming bigger cam to me. Nothing ridiculos, but the factory 'EPA spec' camshafts are pathetic. A new cam would bring your mods to life. You might also want to look at a chip to make the most of the mods and the cam. A shorter set of diff gears would help too. As its a cruiser, 3.45:1's would bring it to life without ruining your economy.

Further on? With shorter gears and a decent cam installed, a shift kit and a 2500rpm stallie would be next.

[Barry_v]

I would have a really hard time handing over $2k for such a pointless mod as wheels. but if i had the cash to spare I'd get some Billet ones like these..



If it was a choice of those wheels or airbags, I'd take the airbags.

--->NOT GOING TO LOWER IT<---
I know it looks gay etc etc but ill be damned if im going to get my neck rammed into my skull on grand junction road just so i can look cool. 90% of people think its an NA fairlane like grandpa has anyway.

I plan to do the camshaft as part of the engine mods. thinking Crane 2030, Ported GT40P heads and either AU/Explorer or Pro. Products "Tyhoon" manifold. Might as well get the lot done while the motor is apart. I'm toying with the idea of alloy heads, but they're all so expensive.

3.9 gears would be nice. when travelling interstate/highway i actually prefer to sit on about 80-90kmph anyway. I would like to see the results in 1/4 mile or 0-100 people have had with their 5.0 with lower gears.

If anyone has ever parked their stark white car next to a white EF/EL you will know why i want to change to that colour. and because its still white i dont have to respray the engine bay etc..

To be honest, this car is unlikely to be sold anytime soon. its a keeper.

[EFFalcon]

park ur stark white car next to my white econovan...
its amusing ;)

[billyb35]

I vote none. get a new set of wheels. Not a real big fan of those.

[klawsterfobik]

If it looks good, but doesnt go... doesnt that make it rice? Is v8 ford rice possible?!

Go the engine work with your 2k, and just do little things that you can do yourself to make it look a bit better. Like has been said, clear indicators, remove mudflaps, remove the pinstriping and color code the door handles. That should cost you $100 max

[Barry_v]

well I had 121rwkw with just the headers and exhaust, should have about 130-135 now with the rest of the mods... so its no slouch. but i think i will do up the engine.

[LUXO_8]

get ya engine going, but once youve done that save a little more and get airbags......

[banarcus]

Get the heads and cam mate. Depending on the age of your springs/shocks, get something a little more stiffer with HD sway bars. At least then you can go quicker around corners in the boat.

[merlin]

I vote save your money and get a decent performance car - you said it already has an exhaust so at least it should sound good alredy

[Walkinshaw]

Barry, ditch the yellow indicators, pinstriping and mudflaps
Also, spend that 2k on a good set of heads. manafold can be done later ;)

Also your right, it does look stupid at its current ride height. (well not with the SLS buggered, now it looks good)

[ilsautomotive]

I'd agree with the others, the engine would be the best thing to mod as it would look fantastic with only the slightest mods. It's a scary money pit though.

Out of interest, you say airbags cost $2k? I thought you're merely looking at coil overs for that much.

[Barry_v]

Originally Posted by merlin

I vote save your money and get a decent performance car

so i can sit in an uncomfortable cramped noisy over priced "performance car"? I'll stick with the LTD thanks.

airbags would be a bit more than 2k after engineering, but the kit is around 2k. there is a mob that advertises in street machine all the time. I'm having a bit of trouble finding someone who has done an E series falcon/fairlane/ltd before though. some kits are universal but most are to suit commodores. I dont want the LTD being an airbag place's guinea pig.

yeah those egg yolk indicators need to go. undecided on the pinstripe though.

[MrLandau]

Taking the pinstripes and mudflaps of mine is what gave it that clean look. I like the fairlanes / LTD's for what they are - keep the mods going towards the sleeper that the Love Boat is. Some 3.45 gears will certinly get the beast off its a** a lot quicker and you know where to find the 2030 cam :evilking:
Shane

[Barry_v]

well teh yanks seem to be keen on putting low gears in the 86-94 mustangs so perhaps its the way to go. would the crane 2030 move the power range up much so i would have significant benifit from new gears?

i was really thinking of doing something more drastic than 3.45, i already have 3.27 so its not a hell of a jump.

[MrLandau]

You could go further with the gears with the 4 speed auto and still have good cruising rpm, but I don't know how the TCM will change your gears. the sooner you can get the motor into its operating rev range the better (I get it there by blitzing the back tyres as you have seen). I know where you can find some valve springs for the 2030 too....
Shane

[montyv8]

do what i did, go and buy an AU2 200kw engine for $1800, its got the good heads (GT40P's) and Explorer manifold. You can port them, and with the bits already on the car, such as the MAF, exhaust, etc, you should have good power. even with the 3.23s. And you'd be surprised what a differance a small jump to 3.45's does for accelleration. Stuff such as removing mudflaps, pinstripes etc doesnt cost a cent, so do that NOW lol. clear reapeters are as little as $15, so do them to. and put some kings 'low' springs in it, drops it about an inch, and doesn't stuff up the ride. the paint, tints, and interior etc are all still really good so leave them for now.
But, ultimately its up to you.
Phil

[merlin]

Originally Posted by Barry_v

so i can sit in an uncomfortable cramped noisy over priced "performance car"? I'll stick with the LTD thanks.

Oh well each to their own - whats so cramped about an XR6 or SS though?

PS - the comment was not meant to cause offence ,simply stating another avenue you could look at. _2:

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by montyv8

do what i did, go and buy an AU2 200kw engine for $1800, its got the good heads (GT40P's) and Explorer manifold. You can port them, and with the bits already on the car, such as the MAF, exhaust, etc, you should have good power. even with the 3.23s. And you'd be surprised what a differance a small jump to 3.45's does for accelleration. Stuff such as removing mudflaps, pinstripes etc doesnt cost a cent, so do that NOW lol. clear reapeters are as little as $15, so do them to. and put some kings 'low' springs in it, drops it about an inch, and doesn't stuff up the ride. the paint, tints, and interior etc are all still really good so leave them for now.
But, ultimately its up to you.
Phil

my god thats a good price!

Im looking around for a AU XR6 VCT engine..best ive done so far is $2000!

This is the order I will most likey do my mods:

1. Thermos
2. Mags
3. LSD
4. Engine mods or new engine all together

[Barry_v]

[QUOTE=merlin]whats so cramped about an XR6 or SS though?[QUOTE]

I'm 6 6" and my brother and dad are taller. anything less than a fairlane/LTD and someone is getting their legs crushed.

I might buy an AU engine, take the heads and manifold then sell the block to fund a 2030 and valvesprings.

[LUXO_8]

take an XR8 for a test drive


borrow some things - replacing them with your own things

[Hoops]

A combination of both is always a good thing

[Steffo]

I'd spend the whole two grand on AFR 225cc SB Ford Race heads myself... get more power out of them then any GT40P/cam combo.....

The car looks good the way it is...

[Barry_v]

225cc???? thats for blown 351 strokers! bit big for my little 302. cost a hell of a lot more than two grand for them anyway.

[big_pete]

paint it black and get some gold plated 20 inch daytons, then some hydraulics and some hoes to pimp......

oops my imagination just went wild!

seriously, i would clean it up by removing all the grandfather accessories, such as the mudflaps and pinstripes, which would cost bugger all, then go the engine mods.

[Dez]

lol...wrong page steffo :

[Dez]

Originally Posted by big_pete

paint it black and get some gold plated 20 inch daytons, then some hydraulics and some hoes to pimp......

oops my imagination just went wild!

seriously, i would clean it up by removing all the grandfather accessories, such as the mudflaps and pinstripes, which would cost bugger all, then go the engine mods.

and just saw him! welcome to australia PETE!

[Paris Hilton]

Colour Coded EF/L door handles :P