E to the B is back in the E

[ClassicAU]

How things work out hey! The XR8 is long gone, but I still needed transport. So thanks to Justin for giving up his daily, I am not back in the E-Series!!

Its a 1998 EL XR6, factory 5 speed, completely stock! Even has the Ford 6 stacker! It's been sprayed, but the job hasn't exactly been finished. Needs a light sand back and a polish, and should come up pretty mint. Other than that, it drives fine, goes ok for what it is. Hopefully it lasts me for a bit. Here's a few pics Justin took before I taxed it from him!



Anyway, future plans? To spend as little money on it as possible!! Might put a dodgy arse stereo together like back in the day, but thats about it. Might have a line on some SL springs, give it a tougher look. I wouldn't mind getting the pin stripes back to black, I think it would look better that way.

[private9]

So you haven't blown the clutch yet? Your mechanic would be proud!!!

Yeah, I reckon definitely paint the moulds black again, will definitely look better.

[Kyle the ED4LTR]

Congrats on the purchase Ev, looks really nice, got any plans for it or just leaving it as is

[ClassicAU]

Nah man, clutch is still alive, I am doing well!! Cars don't like me very much. Dunno how hard it would be to do the black stripes, maybe easier to just take them off and put black ones on.

Cheers Kyle, like I said mate no real plans other than to just make it last as long as possible!

[jarryddelany]

nice. Every car is a project one way or they other. The bug wil bite and you wil wana change things and do it up haha.

[ClassicAU]

Well, the itch to do something bit and started out fine, but of course as is always my way, something fvcked up! I got started in putting in the dodgy stereo setup I managed to put together, but for some bloody reason I have lost some electrics! All I did was change the head unit, take the door trims off and remove the standard woofers from the doors. Now my dash lights are all gone, no indicators or rear lights! The head lights seem fine, and brake lights come on, but no rear park lights. I must have blown a fuse or something. The central locking in playing up too, not sure if that could be a cause.
God damn E-Series!!

[EFFalcon]

God damn E-Series!!

You can't blame the car if you stuffed with it!
God Damn Ev!

[Dansedgli]

Sounds like a fuse. Did you disconnect the battery before installing the headunit?

[ClassicAU]

Hahaha, how about shut up John! You're probably right, trust me to take something simple and mess it up!

Nah, didn't disconnect the battery Dan, should I have? I have done systems before, and never had to disconnect the battery. I hope its just a fuse. I don't have time to check now, gotta leave for an interview in 20 minutes.

[Dansedgli]

You have touched a power wire and an earth somewhere and blown a fuse.

It happens a lot when you dont disconnect the battery.

[ClassicAU]

But I bought a loom adaptor thing from Supercheap for an EL, so didnt cut into the original loom. Maybe one of my joins to the aftermarket loom came off. Funny thing is, the head unit still works. I'll check it out, thanks for the tip.

[nommic]

Could've been as simple as two pins that weren't meant to touch connecting while you put it together.

I *always* disconnect the battery when playing with anything electrical in my car (except if I need the power on to diagnose a problem). Two seconds to disconnect the battery, and you stop any potential dramas like the one you just encountered.

[NUT347]

the headlight dimmer wire for the standard radio has shorted somewhere, check it out

[Rollin]

The car looks great - black moulds are shit. Not 'the shit', just shit.

[ClassicAU]

It's ok everyone, ITS OK! Turns out the ground wire for the stock head unit is separate to the loom, took me 4 fuses to figure out though! Got it all going again now with the shitty Alpine unit in it. Its only an old CD player, but I hooked up an AUX cable to it, so just use my MP3 player through it instead.
I've already dropped an 8" sub into the rear shelf, not hooked up yet though. Got a set of splits and an old 4 channel amp. Just gotta chuck them in, hook it all up and I've got dodgy premium sound! Only thing I can't figure out is how to get the amp power cable through the fire wall, any suggestions?

The car looks great - black moulds are shit. Not 'the shit', just shit.

Thanks dude, you're the first person who has said that though! You recon it looks better as is? Maybe I should take the wing off too and slam it!

[Rollin]

Lower it, fit EF tail lights and leave it alone.

[BLC]

You sir, are cursed.

This is a nice car.

[ClassicAU]

I like how you think Rollin!! Other than the black stripe, thats exactly what I was thinking! I cbf spending money on this thing other than to keep it running. I'll only lower it if I can get the SL's off a mate I know who has them.

Don't say that Rob, you'll mozz me!! The lights thing was less curse and more stupidity on my behalf though. Thanks anyway mate, I just hope it stays a nice car for a while.

Oh, by the way, does anyone know how to change the head light bulbs on an EL XR? I had a look, and for the bloody life of me can't see how to get them out!

[BLC]

Also, you won't last a month before buying an exhaust or modding the suspension This is a sign of a healthy mind

[stav50]

nice car mate, only thing im curious about is whether justin has an LMCT yet or not haha.
gl with it.

[nstg8a]

what the hell? go away (well, spend more time on another forum anyway) and miss everything..

what happened to the XR8? did you kill it?

[ClassicAU]

hahaha, I didn't have the XR8 long, so its not a surprise you missed it mate! Nah, didn't kill it, lost my job and sold it for the cash. Just got this as a cheaper option to get me by. As is always the way though, I am kinda kicking myself about selling the 220 though, as it seems its a lot more desirable than I thought. I had 4 blokes ring me about it in the week after I sold it! (Forgot to take the carsales add down.) So those machines may turn out to be collectible or something, who knows.

[nstg8a]

pity about your job, but at least your still in a ford, and the best of the e series at that

[ClassicAU]

Thanks mate! Yeah, I flirted with the idea of defecting to a Commodore, or even a Toyota!

I have just been adding to the stereo install here and there, in between interviews and what not. Managed to find a way of getting the amp power cable into the cabin. Its dodgy as fvck, but as long as it works i don't care!
Got some splits installed, Jaycar FTMFW!!! Can't go past them for bang for buck performance. The 6" woofers drop straight into the door like stock too! Just gotta find somewhere to put the amp, and hook it all up.

[ClassicAU]

Horay for being unemployed! I finished hooking up the stereo today, sounds bloody good as for something that cost me $190 in total! Needs more bass, but I'll deal with that later when I actually have an income. At least it sounds a lot better than stock, and I have AUX input too!
Next on the agenda for this thing will be to address a few issues that need attending to. Well, the mechanic will anyway, just waiting on finds as well. Needs a new head gasket, as its leaking at the back. Also needs a new welsh plug on the passengers side of the motor. Apparently the entire intake manifold needs to come off to get to it, so will do it all at once. Also needs further reinforcing of the firewall on both sides for the clutch, and I will be getting a better condition pedal box. I'll see if he can chuck the SL's in to too while its there! Might as well, with all it needs it will probably be there for a week!

[private9]

Horay for being unemployed! I finished hooking up the stereo today, sounds bloody good as for something that cost me $190 in total! Needs more bass, but I'll deal with that later when I actually have an income. At least it sounds a lot better than stock, and I have AUX input too!
Next on the agenda for this thing will be to address a few issues that need attending to. Well, the mechanic will anyway, just waiting on finds as well. Needs a new head gasket, as its leaking at the back. Also needs a new welsh plug on the passengers side of the motor. Apparently the entire intake manifold needs to come off to get to it, so will do it all at once. Also needs further reinforcing of the firewall on both sides for the clutch, and I will be getting a better condition pedal box. I'll see if he can chuck the SL's in to too while its there! Might as well, with all it needs it will probably be there for a week!

Good work on the stereo Ev, I'll have to check it out when I come round on Monday!

WTF at head gasket?! That biatch was just done recently by the last owner, couldn't even be a year on it! The rest we knew about when your mechanic inspected it before you bought it, but the gasket's a nasty surprise! Is it using coolant or anything? Maybe you could leave it for a while?

[ClassicAU]

Tis cool dude. She is seeping oil at the back of the motor. We had another good look at it the other day when it was on the hoist for the RWC. It appears the gasket is a cheap stock E-Series one, and wasnt even put on properly. No biggie, the motor needed to come apart for the welsh plug anyway.

[ClassicAU]

Fail (or Win, depending on perspective!) as this is now sold.

[Kenaz]

lol wtf?

What next..?

[ClassicAU]

A job would be next hopefully, then, who knows with me!

[EBOOST]

u could buy my eb ill sell it to u cheap?
cheers josh.

[ClassicAU]

Thanks mate, but if I don't find a job soon, I will have to go without a car for a while.