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AU Noob 

 

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 Post subject: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:27 pm 
Fordmods Newbie
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Age: 37

Posts: 5

Joined: 15th Apr 2011

Ride: AU1

Location: Canberra
ACT, Australia

Hi all,
about two weeks ago got my hands on a '99 AU S-pack for pretty cheap as my old car had a sudden case of the 'cook off and explodes' (NEVER buy euro again...)
So the mod bug has bitten in deep whilst giving the old girl a bit of cosmetic surgury and was wondering where I should start modding under the bonnet?
Looking into finding a balance of performance/fuel economy.
Mechanically she's pretty good considering the 225,000k's odd she's done with the old owner.
Cheers for any advice guys.
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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:07 pm 
Tyre Shredder
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Age: 36

Posts: 365

Joined: 22nd Nov 2007

Ride: FG MK2 XR6T

Location: Bexley, Sydney
NSW, Australia

With those K's, first thing I'd be doing is doing a flush of the transmission and installing an external cooler if it doesn't already have one. Gbox is intended to be sealed and there is a good chance it's running 12 year old fluid. Alternative to this is convert to manual. Parts should be about $800 for an AU if you can fit it yourself.

Other than that, just the usual pacemaker extractors + 2.5" exhaust & xr6t snorkel. This should all keep you busy.

 

_________________

Formerly LV XR5 Turbo, AU Fairmont Ghia V8 & EBII Fairmont I6.

Now......
Feb 2012 FG MK2 XR6 Turbo
- Manual
- Luxury Pack

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:10 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Age: 33

Posts: 727

Joined: 13th Oct 2009

Gallery: 5 images

Ride: EL XR6

Location: Parramatta
NSW, Australia

Cam change on these is pretty easy too. j3 chip can unlock some power too.

 

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LOW, LOUD AND LUMPY

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:23 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Age: 40

Posts: 3405

Joined: 7th Feb 2005

Ride: AU2 Ute

Location: melbourne
VIC, Australia

A turbo and 6 speed conversion would really wake it up.
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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:29 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Age: 33

Posts: 727

Joined: 13th Oct 2009

Gallery: 5 images

Ride: EL XR6

Location: Parramatta
NSW, Australia

Lol dan are you looking for someone to offload your parts to by any chance?

 

_________________

LOW, LOUD AND LUMPY

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:30 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Age: 40

Posts: 3405

Joined: 7th Feb 2005

Ride: AU2 Ute

Location: melbourne
VIC, Australia

Well it would be silly for him to buy it elsewhere when the hard work has already been done. :P
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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:57 pm 
Fordmods Newbie
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Age: 37

Posts: 5

Joined: 15th Apr 2011

Ride: AU1

Location: Canberra
ACT, Australia

Thanks for the info guys and quick resonse.
Exhuast is a definate since having just discovered a lovely
Dog whistle noise from the back end of the car.
What are the pros and cons of having a pod filter?
Been reading through the forums and whats the go with
All the filter box mods people talk about?
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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:31 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Posts: 890

Joined: 1st Apr 2005

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: EF XR6 Wagon, AU2 XR6 VCT

Power: 148 rwkw

Location: Auckland
New Zealand

The induction side of the AU 6 is quite restrictive, so it's a good place to get some easy gains. It's only 50mm (2") at the airbox exit. How much you do depends on how much you want to spend and whether you want to retain a factory look or not. Here's a couple suggestions:

Stage 1:
- BA/BF or Territory (best) induction tube
- 3" PVC pipe bell-mouthed airbox exit tube (see thread
www.fordmods.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=100117)
- XR8/XR6T snorkel
- Performance panel filter (Simota, K&N, Kingdragon, etc)

Stage 2:
- Add F6 Typhoon lower snorkel to airbox OR
- SS Inductions Big Mouth snorkel
- pod filter in airbox (3A Racing tests well)

Stage 3 would be an aftermarket or custom airbox. There's lots for the BA/BF (Growler, Blue Power, etc), but I don't know what's available for the AU. Probably not much extra benefit unless you're going for serious engine mods too.

 

_________________

95 EF XR6 wagon, 17" FTRs, DBA rotors, KYB/Koni, AU bottom end, ported EF head, backcut valves, SS Inductions, Territory intake, 10.2 CR, Auckland 1258 cam, vernier gear, PH4480 headers, no cat, Tickford 2.5", 2800rpm stall, J3 chip

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:41 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Posts: 890

Joined: 1st Apr 2005

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: EF XR6 Wagon, AU2 XR6 VCT

Power: 148 rwkw

Location: Auckland
New Zealand

Here are some other threads that might help:

www.fordmods.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=99973

www.fordmods.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=100840

www.fordmods.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=100500

There's a wealth of ideas and experience on Fordmods. Search is your friend :)

 

_________________

95 EF XR6 wagon, 17" FTRs, DBA rotors, KYB/Koni, AU bottom end, ported EF head, backcut valves, SS Inductions, Territory intake, 10.2 CR, Auckland 1258 cam, vernier gear, PH4480 headers, no cat, Tickford 2.5", 2800rpm stall, J3 chip

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 11:00 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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User avatar

Age: 36

Posts: 1507

Joined: 14th Aug 2009

Gallery: 12 images

Ride: BA XT V8

Location: Gosnells, Perth
WA, Australia

BlueDevil wrote:
Looking into finding a balance of performance/fuel economy.



lol. dont be silly. more power = worse economy.

if you want more power then keep that in your mind and just see how the fuel economy pans out afterwards.

if you wanto keep the economy then dont even put the word power in your mind.

 

_________________

BA XT V8. Ice Mint. 18" Speedys. XR6T LSD. Full Pacemaker twin 2 1/2inch Stainless Steel system. Custom CAI. Black XR interior with white trimming. Powerbond underdrive kit 25%.
13.65@102mph. 2800 hi-Stall.
230RWKW@5250 rpm. 625NM.

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:32 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Posts: 807

Joined: 28th Oct 2008

Location: melburn
VIC, Australia

^^ not always the case...

it depends on how the car is built as a package.
as long as the cam isn't too aggressive and everything else is matched to it (ie not too big or small an exhaust and correct headers) with a proper tune, economy can remain or improve to a degree.
obviously not if you are hammering it everywhere...

 

_________________

XG Panelvan
mild engine, EL ECU & J3, HI6 & MSD coil

in the shed - .595" lift cam, GT4202, forged AU engine, ems 4424 ecu, glide & 5500 stall - next-bellhousing

XH ute daily - DOHC BA XR6 engine, T5, AU3 ECU, J3 chip, wideband & logger, ported BBM, 3" intake

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:38 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Posts: 890

Joined: 1st Apr 2005

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: EF XR6 Wagon, AU2 XR6 VCT

Power: 148 rwkw

Location: Auckland
New Zealand

Freeing up the exhaust and induction will improve both power and economy (if you can resist using the loud pedal more). Even a step or two hotter cam shouldn't have a noticeable effect on economy, as the stock cam is quite mild. A chip will normally fix the factory over-fuelling problem by leaning up which will produce more power AND use less fuel. If the head is coming off, giving it a skim will increase compression, helping both power and economy.

I get better fuel economy in my EF than in my AU, even though the EF wagon is slightly heavier; both have the same trans and diff ratios. The AU VCT is basically stock, other than induction mods. The EF has headers, mandrel-bent exhaust, hotter cam, increased compression, J3 chip, SS Inductions Big Mouth, high stall torque convertor, etc. So, more power and more economy CAN go together if the mods work together as a package and you don't go overboard.

 

_________________

95 EF XR6 wagon, 17" FTRs, DBA rotors, KYB/Koni, AU bottom end, ported EF head, backcut valves, SS Inductions, Territory intake, 10.2 CR, Auckland 1258 cam, vernier gear, PH4480 headers, no cat, Tickford 2.5", 2800rpm stall, J3 chip

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:38 pm 
Fordmods Newbie
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Age: 37

Posts: 5

Joined: 15th Apr 2011

Ride: AU1

Location: Canberra
ACT, Australia

Once again thanks guys for the tips and tricks.
Forgive me if im now posting in the wrong place
But since im working on the car...
The low coolant light sometimes comes on when im driving.
But got a full coolant tank.
Also my airbag light stays on but isnt blinking or anything.
Any clues boys?
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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:21 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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User avatar

Age: 36

Posts: 1507

Joined: 14th Aug 2009

Gallery: 12 images

Ride: BA XT V8

Location: Gosnells, Perth
WA, Australia

coolant sensor in the tank crappin itself. Or possible wiring related. most likely sensor dieing.
As for airbag light i dunno but somone else will.

 

_________________

BA XT V8. Ice Mint. 18" Speedys. XR6T LSD. Full Pacemaker twin 2 1/2inch Stainless Steel system. Custom CAI. Black XR interior with white trimming. Powerbond underdrive kit 25%.
13.65@102mph. 2800 hi-Stall.
230RWKW@5250 rpm. 625NM.

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 Post subject: Re: AU Noob
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:01 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Posts: 890

Joined: 1st Apr 2005

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: EF XR6 Wagon, AU2 XR6 VCT

Power: 148 rwkw

Location: Auckland
New Zealand

Coolant sensor (EF type anyway) has a hollow plastic float that gets brittle, cracks, fills with coolant, and sinks - indicating low coolant level. Common problem.

Normally, the airbag light will flash the error code a few times before going solid. If not, start with the obvious places: fuses, connectors, etc. Don't really know what could do that.

 

_________________

95 EF XR6 wagon, 17" FTRs, DBA rotors, KYB/Koni, AU bottom end, ported EF head, backcut valves, SS Inductions, Territory intake, 10.2 CR, Auckland 1258 cam, vernier gear, PH4480 headers, no cat, Tickford 2.5", 2800rpm stall, J3 chip

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