The not-so-classic AU!

[Commando]

Erm, yeah that's not normal. Are you certain it wasn't the brakes you could smell?

[BLC]

Have you washed it recently? Washed the engine bay? Sometimes old gunky oil/grease gets dislodged and can burn.

Maybe.

Auto needs a cooler. AU BTR's don't feel good when they're thrashed, must be the shift calibration. The ED auto always felt tougher, probably coz it was half farked.

[ClassicAU]

Actually, you could be right Dave. I probably should have mentioned the fact that I over shot my own driveway trying to pull up! I did do a couple of hard braking maneuvers, maybe that's what smelled so bad. Honestly I hope that's all it was, as I do know that the pads the previous owner put on are nothing special, and REALLY noisy! My mechanic also thinks that the standard brakes on the XR8 are no different to a regular Falcon.

I did wash the car during the day Rob, but not actually under the bonnet. Took it to Clean Bay, but I drove home a good couple of hours after I got back to my parents from there.

I might just chuck a trans cooler on there anyway, can't possibly hurt.

[nstg8a]

has the engine bay been detailed recently? some of the sprays can reek when they finally burn off...


but yeah, if it has crap pads then their probably the culprit.

[ClassicAU]

I have pretty much put it down to the pads. Haven't had a chance to test the theory yet, but I'll just take it out and do some easy driving to the speed limit and hard braking, see if the smell comes back.

Anyway, I thought I would ring Fraud for a laugh, and get a price on a new stock cats back exhaust for my car. I had no idea what I was in for! They list just the centre mufflers alone at $625.90 EACH! Plus $1275 for the rear section, that's over $2500 all up just cats back!! So looks like aftermarket it is then!

[BLC]

Bendix ultimate ftw. EBC greenstuff is good too.

[ClassicAU]

Both sound pretty good Rob, I am pretty sure I had Bendix on the 6 too. I will change the pads later on when I can.

Been doing a bit of ringing around regarding a new exhaust system. First thing I looked at was the Di Filippo website, their advertised system is a twin into single 3" muffler and 3" rear section with hot dog. So I figured that would be the normal for this car, seems not. The couple of places I rang all said twin into single 2.5" systems, which is apparently all that I need, and flows better than the stock twin system. I can get a twin 2.25" system all the way through, but it doesn't make that much difference.
I believe the single 2.5" system is an off the shelf Redback system, at least from one place, forgot to ask the other bloke. Now the obvious advantage there being its much cheaper to go single. I am torn as to which was I should be going, especially considering the standard Ford system is a twin all the way through. I want something that is going to last a while, and not melt my brain with drone.

[krisisdog]

Go for the twin 2.25s all the way, or a 3" all the way, however I think the 3" is more drone prone.
Redback have a rear 3" system off the shelf for the V8....

[EBOOST]

id go a twin sytem i picked up a noticeable gain in mine going from single 3 to twin 2.5 but mine isnt stock.
and the twin drones so much less and sounds so much tougher.
all depends what u want to do to it.
cheers josh.

[ClassicAU]

Thanks guys. I am leaning towards the twin 2.25 system all the way through, seeing as that is what it came with standard anyway. I'm sure it couldn't possibly sound any worse than it does now, which I am still impressed with. Should also eliminate most of the drone as well. The guy I spoke to said that dual 2.25 should still be fine if and when I upgrade to extractors and higher flowing cats. I will also make sure that I get some form of balance pipe in there too, just to even out the note.

Oh, and I managed to do a little testing last night, confirmed smell = shitty brakes! Maybe later on in there I might look at upgrading to something like a BA XR6-T brake setup, nothing definite though.

[krisisdog]

With your exhaust you should have an X pipe just after the cats, if you dont then thats how you get the old clapper sound, like an old 253.

[ClassicAU]

Cheers champ, thats the plan. Although I was thinking H pipe myself, apparently that gives a more balanced sound.

[ClassicAU]

Took a few photos today. The car is still dirty, but I am planning to get it professionally cut and polished some time in the near future anyway.

[ClassicAU]

So, I ended up going up to Heathcote for the AFF nats yesterday. Didn't win shit, but did some nice skidz, so had a bit of fun. Also ran a best of 14.76@95.95mph! I thought that wasn't too shabby for a basically stock XR8 auto! Only mods being the K&N filter, and E-Series-esk hole in the front of the air box! Still has the stock exhaust, complete with rusty tail pipes. I am fairly pleased with the times it was running.

[EBOOST]

yeah good times for a stocko auto mate very impressive i recon.
and yeah ur burnouts were impressive also ive got a video and some pic's of ur car i think.
cheers josh.

[ClassicAU]

Josh dude, I'm so sorry, I didn't even realise you were there too!! You should've come smacked me over the head and said hello or something!! Thanks for grabbing some footage though, I'd love to see what you captured! A couple of time I did go out just to rip a nice burnout. Funny thing was, both ended up in my slowest runs of the day!

Sucks to hear about your clutch dude, hope you get it sorted soon, so then you can have some real fun with it!

[Michael (HYPOEB)]

14.76@95.95mph

whoa thats a very good time for a stocker!

[Bipolar]

plarse juan

Well done man.

[ClassicAU]

plarse juan

Well done man.

Exsquizeme? Baking-power? Thanks!?

By the way, I am interested to find out if anyone knows what these things ran when they were new? Someone wouldn't happen to have like Motor or Wheel magazine test results by any chance? Would be cool to see how close I am to them!

[Commando]

(+1)

Nice time for an auto stocker, beat my old n/a time by 0.02 seconds!

[ClassicAU]

Aren't I just proud of that Dave, beating your time was all I ever wanted!!

SKIDZ!!!!!

[turdbox]

Thats a respectable (even great) time for a stocker!! Now its time to throw a manual in it!! The winnies strong suit is the first 50m out of the whole, the auto just doesn't cut it.

[FordFairmont]

4.11 lsd would make it a 14.5 or better i reckon.... might have issues with speed/rev limiter though

mine cuts out at 160kph, so maybe 3.89 diff could get you over the line without cutting out

[ClassicAU]

Thanks guys, I was pretty wrapped with it myself!

There will be no manual conversion this time. If I wanted another manual, I would have bought a factory stick shift car. It's run a great time, and I don't feel the need to do it again. I don't think the drive line like a full day of thrashing, so it doesn't look like it will be happening again anytime soon.

Its going in for some body work in a few weeks, which pushes the purchase of an exhaust down the list. I have been thinking about 3.9 gears in the arse, but that will only happen if and when I rebuild the stock LSD.

[ClassicAU]

Looks like I just can't help myself from FAIL!! It appears that the extent of the car not being happy with my day out at the track is worse than I expected. The trans has developed a knock now that was never there, when changing from P to D, and especially from P to R. My old man has had the car for the last week or so, and seems to thing I have munched the torque converter at least. Trans should be ok, as long as I dont take it to the track again. So it looks like I have put my special touch on what was yet another fine vehicle!

[nstg8a]

Looks like I just can't help myself from FAIL!! It appears that the extent of the car not being happy with my day out at the track is worse than I expected. The trans has developed a knock now that was never there, when changing from P to D, and especially from P to R. My old man has had the car for the last week or so, and seems to thing I have munched the torque converter at least. Trans should be ok, as long as I dont take it to the track again. So it looks like I have put my special touch on what was yet another fine vehicle!

ahh the joys of thrashing ones pride and joy for a day lol.... at least its only a knock and still driving fine. good excuse to get it beefed up a bit...

[Gozza]

I have been thinking about 3.9 gears in the arse.

[ClassicAU]

I have been thinking about 3.9 gears in the arse.

My sentimants exactly!!

ahh the joys of thrashing ones pride and joy for a day lol.... at least its only a knock and still driving fine. good excuse to get it beefed up a bit...

Looks like I don't have much of a choise now. I just hope I can control myself to not fvck it even more before I get the chance!!

[private9]

Don't worry too much about it Ev. Just get it serviced eventually. You sure the clunk wasn't there already? Kinda like a reverse placebo affect- ie you feel bad for thrashing it and you're now looking for anything wrong!

[nommic]

My old man has had the car for the last week or so, and seems to thing I have munched the torque converter at least. Trans should be ok, as long as I dont take it to the track again.

What exactly is it doing? Why do you think it is the torque converter?

[ClassicAU]

You're probably right Justin, or at least I hope you are!! Like I said, full service and external trans cooler will be happening on next service, from what I remember is in a thousand kms or so time.

Nommic, I am just going by what my old man was telling me after he has been driving it for a while. It seems slack a bit, especially when going for a kick down. Its like the converter can't keep up with the throttle response anymore, and it confuses the trans. It kicks down one too many a gear sometimes. Its hard to explain, but made sense when dad showed me. Also, the knock is most prevalent when changing from D to R and the car is on any sort of incline. This is still with foot on the brake.
Anyway, hopefully it should be fine for now, until service is up.

[ClassicAU]

No real updates on this bucket. Its gone in for body work yesterday, to fix the result of a brain fade i had a few weeks ago, and also get some of the larger stone chips touched up. Should be ready by Thrusday. I was going to get a cut and polish done while it was there, but that has been withdrawn as the car needs to be back asap.
My parents finally bought themselves a replacement for dads AU that got burnt in the garage fire, an 06 BF SR with all the fruit. Which was nice, until my brother took it out for the first time this weekend and copped a hit and run by some scumbag in a truck! He was pulled over on the side of the road, which even has a bike lane mind you, standing inside the back drivers door, and the truck side swiped it. Missed killing my brother by inches!
Anyway, that means they will have this thing until their car gets repaird. So I am car-less again for the next month at least! Anyone got a spare shitbox they are willing to lend a brother?

[ClassicAU]

OK, so the whole loosing my car thing was a bit of an over reaction. I have it back, and have had since it got fixed. Parents have a car now.

Anyway, yay for exhaust replacement! Boo for holes in dash cos they really don't belong inside the car! Long story short, picked up Tristan's old zorst off the T, chucked it in his wagon to get it to mine, i then had to get it to fitting place, holes in my dash.
Not so bad really, but serves me right for being impatient and half arsed. Should just waited till I could get a new one. Story of my life continues. Ah well, its on, its louder, its no faster what so ever. Didn't change the headers, as not that much different to warrant the effort, hence the sale.
In other news, I discovered how to change the modes on the bullshit "Adaptive Shift" auto. Tried power mode, and to be honest I actually prefer it in Econo-mode. It was way too frantic in power, but it still has enough lazy torque to keep it in econ, and still be able to overtake kents.

[ClassicAU]

And yet again, another AU gets sold. Sif this wasn't going to happen from the beginning. It was a mistake to purchase it, but I pulled a Sundeep and actually made money on it! Not much, but better than nothing.

Anyway, I doubt I will be replacing it anytime soon, as I need to find a new job first. Even if I do, it will only be with a shit kicker anyway. I have always had a soft spot for R31 Skylines!