General V8 and EL GT questions

[Frost]

ok fella's,
My little brother is looking at buyin a ef series 1 5ltr fairmont, it has 198XXXkms
The following items have been replaced:
Air conditioning condeniser, alternator, fuel pump, radiator and hoses.
it has also been serviced every 10XXXkms

Is it standard for fairmonts to have an LSD ??

What much can go wrong with these motors?

It also has what looks like EL GT rims, how do we tell the difference between originals and copies??

also how much is an original EL GT grill worth these days??

Any help would be appreciated.

[[Sterling]]

well there's an el gt down here in lilydale i had a chat to the guy, its worth 45k, im takin a punt that the rims would be fake, coz no one would seperate gt wheels from a gt, as for the grill would be worth a fair bit IMO coz there such a rare car now. As for the a/c i got qoted $600-$900 just to rip apart the dash and replace the condenser unit (even if it wasint the problem, turns out it was a leak in a hose wich was lucky) the LSD only come standard in the XR model unless it was an optional exrta? i have a 94 ef futura 6cyl and only problem im having at the moment is the sensor for the radiator fluid level, my father who owned it before me nothing went wrong with it, my car isnow pushing on 327XXXk's on the clock.if its serviced regularly then you shouldnt have a problem.
hope that help's

[slo_sprint]

I am under the impression that Fairmonts the slipper is optional and the ghia has one standard, could be wrong.

Just get under the car a check the tags on the diff, that would be the easiest way.

[Frost]

I am under the impression that Fairmonts the slipper is optional and the ghia has one standard, could be wrong.

Just get under the car a check the tags on the diff, that would be the easiest way.

yeah it does have one, i found that out when i looked under the car, i was just interested to know wether it was an option or not

[slo_sprint]

Good stuff, 5L + Peg legger = shit

[Nikk O'lass]

lol at a GT grill...sif you'ld find someone selling one. I think you can get a aftermarket lookalike...

...probaly the best thread on the Ozecruises forum is about a EL GT restore, and the trouble he had finding gen parts...

[LUXO_8]

theres an el gt grill that pops up on ebay every now and then that he wants 500 od for, its been chromed and looks shit, but you could rub it back and paint it.

[pHaT`eL]

ELGT copy rims have a silver Tickford centrecap, genuines have the gold coloured Ford one.
It is possible for it to have genuines, but there pretty pricey.

[Adumb]

im takin a punt that the rims would be fake, coz no one would seperate gt wheels from a gt

You could buy the rims from Ford, and as pete said the geniune ones have ford center caps and look better than the fakes

[[Sterling]]

i didnt kno you could buy gt rim as it is a limited addition car, although i have FPV GT Cobra rims, so i think its possible, as i said t was a punt!

[Frost]

i take it from the lack of on topic comments that a 5ltr doesnt have much trouble at all?

[pHaT`eL]

From what Ive heard, there pretty bullet proof. Dave's (Commando) EB is proof of that, lol!

[EDFalcon]

No problems with my 5L but i havent had it long (though i did buy it off a ford mechanic). pretty stong engine and can take quite a hiding.

[Commando]

The 5L's main reliability problems are:

The MAF hotwire can get dirty, or die, causing the car to run like crap. To see what a 5.0 runs like without a MAF, simply unplug it

They have cooling system leaks. I'm finding that I have to top up my coolant every now & then, but they're happy to run on low coolant.

They can ping on hot days, but this is more due to the choice of petrol rather than a reliability issue. Or if you're like me & have a frankenMAF setup (EB sensor, AU body)

My EB has been through a fair bit of crap & I'm still on the original motor (360,000kms). Abuse they can handle consists of the following:

1) Having the oil level so low that it doesn't register on the dipstick, you have valvetrain noise, and the oil light flickers when you pull out of an intersection or take a tight corner, or when you back off at 155kph after the finish line at Heathcote

2) Driving it fully loaded up steep hills on a 40*C day with 4.11s and a 3000rpm stally... AFTER the top hose has loosened & is pissing coolant everywhere.

3) Not changing the oil for 20,000kms so it resembles road tar on a hot day

4) buuuuurrrrnnnnnoooouuuuuttttsss!!!

5) >6000rpm in 1st when missing a shift (yes... in an auto )

6) city driving with no clutchfan or thermofans on summer nights

They put up with a lot of crap. Who else has stories to share about engine abuse?

[Sunboost]

They bust water leaks all the time from every which place. The overflow bottle caps are always dodgy on EB-EL too from everything I've owned.

[EFFalcon]

Timing case/Water Pump corrosion.

[Frost]

Ok, thanks for ur replies guys.

We rang up to make an offer on a 96 Fairmont had the following features

- 17 Tickford copies (we think)
- Sun Roof
- Replaced radiator, hoses, altenator, aircon pump n condensor
- Full service history
- LSD
- EL GT Grill
- 198,000 km
- one small dint on drivers door

in WA it was the cleanest cars at its price range that we looked at, most cars over here go for 1-2k more, it was 3500ish cause the kid was off to garden island in a week and didnt want it sitting next to the coast rusting plus he brought some daewoo. But he just took cash as we rang

But hes something that sucks over here in WA.

Say VS Commodore
260,000
Few Scracthes, tires n suspension need replacing etc
They are asking 3500-4000k and people are paying it.
Hell there was even a VN Manual wth Stockies on the back and 218,000 and they wanted 4k

Anywhoo thakns

[slo_sprint]

They put up with a lot of crap. Who else has stories to share about engine abuse?

Heres some wheezer abuse for you,

1) 200m+ Line lock on the rev limiter with a the harmonic balancer 180 degrees out)
2) Ran around for weeks without the clutch fan or thermos, used to just turn it off if idling for a while to stop it overheating
3) Blew a coolant hose in an "acceleration challenge" and drove a couple of k's (about 2) with very little coolant if any?

The engine always had a knock ever since i had bought it so had to be rebuilt which is why it copped the punishment, it still ran when i pulled it down and all the main bearings where down to tin on one side (harmonic balancer had been out for a long time before i got the car) but the big end's, rings, bores and pistons were mint.

The new engine has about 18,000kms, 3 quarter mile passes, lost count of how many street passes and so many skids its not funny and has never complained once except for blowing the clutch, 2 sets of rear tyres (not skid tyres) and a T-5.

Gotta love the truck motors

[simon5574]

man - these abuse stories are funny as ****, i'm pissing myself laughing!!!!!!!