I'm the most recent new staff writer at Street Fords Magazine so you should see some small tech articles on the car in the future hopefully! Only been here for about 3 months now but it's a great lot of fun every day.
I'm also Fev off the Fordforums.com.au - if you visit there you've probably seen me around.
I bought it about 3 weeks ago off ebay. I picked it up on Saturday from Wagga Wagga, NSW and drove it straight home. All 500km's in about 6 hours. Only problem was the ENORMOUS amount of fuel consumption(45lt in 100kms hehe) It made it all the way to my driveway before dying on in the middle of the road in front of my home. Turns out the power cable came off the starter motor. I was very lucky it happened when i got home haha
It's a 1978 XL with a 2L Pinto and a 5spd Sierra gearbox. The front suspension i've found to be all replaced with new Pedders gear which i was happy to find. The interior hasn't got a mark or stain on it. All black and it came with a CD player and stereo already installed which i'm fixing.
The rims are 15x7in Dragway's with 195 tyres on the front and 225 tyres on the rear
looks very old school tough.
I've now added a few bits and pieces. Repainted the front grill black and added a genuine Rally Pack chin spoiler i found.. I know some people don't like the rear wing but it's grown on me. And if i take it off the boot will need to be resprayed which i can't be bothered doing.
Heres the latest photo of it.
Now the engine bay is a mess! The mechanic that worked on it over the last few years thought he might be an autoelectrician but in reality i think he was slightly nuts. There are wires everywhere, ones that go no where, others that have been cut and replaced with different, smaller gauge wires which have burnt through etc etc. I dumped the coolant and it was literally water and rust - no coolant included hehe.
It's also leaking oil at high temps - it's coming from somewhere around the dipstick - or it's coming out of the dipstick itself. It's actually spurted up onto the bonnet!!
The carb needs a service bad - It all but chokes the engine with fuel and leaves black patches of unburnt fuel all over my driveway since someone cut the exhaust off at the axle to fit the drop tank.
If you look closely you'll see the taillights are filled with mud - The one on the right is more obvious. I replaced them and when i pulled them about about a handful of mud fell onto the floor! There is a large gap between it and the taillight due to a smash some years ago i think. I'd hate to see the body if i sandblasted it!
Anyway, let me know what you think! It's a bit of a toy at the moment. On the weekend i'll be doing the spark plugs, oil, oil filter, air filter and see how it goes. Hopefully it will start after that, it's developed an annoying habit of not starting until after about 10 mins of kicking over.
I've already replaced the fuel filter, distributor points(they were pitted and destoryed almost. Surprised it ran) as well as the heater hose which had a leak.
I've just received twin sidedraft 40mm Webers with linkage, originally off a hot L18 Datto. Just need a manifold and get the fuel lines sorted(Some are cracking. They will be replaced ASAP before it burns to the ground)
I guess i'll need an exhaust system and headwork/cam to support the bigger Webers hey? Any idea's where i can get that sort of thing done around Sydney's north west?
Thanks for lookin!
Hopefully my other Autobarn i go to have them
