ED Dilemma…Help/Advice needed

[Jack-5150]

Hi there,
Just In case you’ve forgotten, I’m Jack, the year 12 student who inherited his pop’s white ED GLI.

I finally have an exhaust system for the old girl (pacemaker headers, hi-flow cat and 2 ½ inch redback exhaust), got the lot off ebay for $650 and asked my mate to fit it for me. Now, with the HSC only 3 months away and my birthday just around the corner, I thought I’d get the rest of the car out of the way before my trials.

The following paragraphs outline my plans for the car, as well as a doubts I have.

Performance/Handling/Safety…

CAI: I’ve had no luck with this, online searches turned out NIL. Any ideas?
Electronic Shift Kit: This should help the lazy auto.
Suspension: I’d like to lower the ride height, and improve the overall handling of the car. Don’t want to spend too much here as I’m also buying my mate’s BA II XR8 wheels.
Brakes: The brakes are pretty shocking. Can I sort this out without spending more than $500? New pads and rotors maybe?
LSD: Is it really worth it, or should I not bother?
…Anything else you guys may suggest I’m not tech-minded when it comes to cars, all I know is what I learn and hear from mates..so pardon my ignorance


Aesthetics: Interior/Exterior

Inside: I plan on discarding the dodgy GLI seats and maybe replacing the door trims. EF/EL seats would be nice:-)

For the exterior:
#Colour-coded EF/EL door handles and mirrors.
#Clear indicators, repeaters, and tail lights.
#Rear garnish: I’d like a plain black garnish without any badges. Any tips?

Anyhow that’s about it for now. I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have, as I said…I'm not tech-minded when it comes to cars

[BROCKYB8]

on ebay there are some cai kits and if not check out some of the build treads on here for some info. Best have a look what others have done and that will help you alot more . There are so many things that you can do that i would see what others have done and then decide.
There are also many things been asked what u have on here . Have a look around and if u dont get answers then ask

[Phillis]

CAI- there should be a hell of alot on here. grab a pod filter and an XH snorkel- the in thing for boxcars!

Shift kit- theres a big thread on here about them. can be made for a few bucks obviously

Suspension- Lower it as much as you practically can if its a daily driver. if your getting BA wheels, make sure they are made for an e series or the have hub spacers- preferably the first of the 2 options.

Brakes- the only real 'upgrade' on an e-series is an upgrade to EL GT brakes, and your looking about 2grand. i dont know much about brakes, but new pads and rotors would be a good start, yeah

LSD- i cant vouch for. ive got an LSD in my wagon and ive never driven a car without one.

[serial_fool]

Performance/Handling/Safety…

CAI: I’ve had no luck with this, online searches turned out NIL. Any ideas?
XG Falcon snorkle. Fits to the normal airbox. Also EA Falcon intake pipe as it is bigger than the EDs.
Electronic Shift Kit: This should help the lazy auto.
Don't know about autos, manuals are funner anyway.
Suspension: I’d like to lower the ride height, and improve the overall handling of the car. Don’t want to spend too much here as I’m also buying my mate’s BA II XR8 wheels.
King Springs with some KONI Shocks if you want good stuff that wont **** up anytime soon. Don't buy the BA XR8 wheels as they won't fit on your car without spacers which comprimise the safetly of the car.
Brakes: The brakes are pretty shocking. Can I sort this out without spending more than $500? New pads and rotors maybe?
You've answered your own question. Slotted rotors. The E series will never have awesome braking power without major upgrades.
LSD: Is it really worth it, or should I not bother?
If its cheap enough, go for it. Bonus points for 3.45 diff ratios from XR6s.

Aesthetics: Interior/Exterior

Inside: I plan on discarding the dodgy GLI seats and maybe replacing the door trims. EF/EL seats would be nice:-)
In all honesty, the EB2-ED XR6/ Ghia seats are the best pick of the E series. They come in leather and cloth.
Door cards would be a throw up between EL Ghia/ eb2 or ED Ghia/ EB2/ED XR6.

For the exterior:
#Colour-coded EF/EL door handles and mirrors.
Good.
#Clear indicators, repeaters, and tail lights.
Good, good, DONT PUT CLEAR TAIL LIGHTS ON.
#Rear garnish: I’d like a plain black garnish without any badges. Any tips?
Stock ones aren't really that ugly anyway. Keep stock unless the car is black.

[Jack-5150]

Performance/Handling/Safety…

CAI: I’ve had no luck with this, online searches turned out NIL. Any ideas?
XG Falcon snorkle. Fits to the normal airbox. Also EA Falcon intake pipe as it is bigger than the EDs.
Electronic Shift Kit: This should help the lazy auto.
Don't know about autos, manuals are funner anyway.
Suspension: I’d like to lower the ride height, and improve the overall handling of the car. Don’t want to spend too much here as I’m also buying my mate’s BA II XR8 wheels.
King Springs with some KONI Shocks if you want good stuff that wont **** up anytime soon. Don't buy the BA XR8 wheels as they won't fit on your car without spacers which comprimise the safetly of the car.
Brakes: The brakes are pretty shocking. Can I sort this out without spending more than $500? New pads and rotors maybe?
You've answered your own question. Slotted rotors. The E series will never have awesome braking power without major upgrades.
LSD: Is it really worth it, or should I not bother?
If its cheap enough, go for it. Bonus points for 3.45 diff ratios from XR6s.

Aesthetics: Interior/Exterior

Inside: I plan on discarding the dodgy GLI seats and maybe replacing the door trims. EF/EL seats would be nice:-)
In all honesty, the EB2-ED XR6/ Ghia seats are the best pick of the E series. They come in leather and cloth.
Door cards would be a throw up between EL Ghia/ eb2 or ED Ghia/ EB2/ED XR6.

For the exterior:
#Colour-coded EF/EL door handles and mirrors.
Good.
#Clear indicators, repeaters, and tail lights.
Good, good, DONT PUT CLEAR TAIL LIGHTS ON.
#Rear garnish: I’d like a plain black garnish without any badges. Any tips?
Stock ones aren't really that ugly anyway. Keep stock unless the car is black.

Thanks mate, I'll look into that.
Can't make up my bloody mind. I saw a rather nice looking EB XR6 at a local car yard today, I had to check it out:-)
$2800. It looked pretty clean overall, other than the sellastic looking stuff used around the head.
I hate car yards, and have been told countless times to never buy an older car from one...but it looked nice, and I was (and still am) tempted.
Hmm. What to do.

[Phillis]

take it for a drive. or hunt online for a better deal.

[EB_Ghia]

Performance/Handling/Safety…

CAI: I’ve had no luck with this, online searches turned out NIL. Any ideas?

most people that want to keep it looking standard but improve it tend to fit a xg snorkle with a high flow panel filter. ie k&n
you may need to cut the plastic bosses off the fan shroud to do this if your ed still has the clutch fan though
have a look in my thread.. its a eb but i have thermo fans too which would make it look a little different
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6963&start=80#p186591

Electronic Shift Kit: This should help the lazy auto.
i dont know about these... never bothered cos my car wasnt staying auto. and the daily.. i just cbf'd

Suspension: I’d like to lower the ride height, and improve the overall handling of the car. Don’t want to spend too much here as I’m also buying my mate’s BA II XR8 wheels.
going to lows will lower it a bit ie xr6 height. but if you have a steep driveway its going to influence how low you can go
rims.. if there ba offset forget them.will need spacers for them. most insurance companies wont want to know you if you have a stack if there on the car
also you being in nsw i doubt you'd get it past a greenslip with the spacers.. also another reason not to go too low otherwise you'll forever being pulled up for it

Brakes: The brakes are pretty shocking. Can I sort this out without spending more than $500? New pads and rotors maybe?
slotted rotors new pads and some fresh brake fluid should make it better. without spending bulk amount of cash going to the elgt ones

LSD: Is it really worth it, or should I not bother?
if your diff is fine i wouldnt.. if its rooted and you can get a decent one cheap why not?

…Anything else you guys may suggest I’m not tech-minded when it comes to cars, all I know is what I learn and hear from mates..so pardon my ignorance

Aesthetics: Interior/Exterior

Inside: I plan on discarding the dodgy GLI seats and maybe replacing the door trims. EF/EL seats would be nice:-)
ef el seats are a pita to fit... but doable
be easier to find a fairmont or a ghia etc and swap the seats and door trims

For the exterior:
#Colour-coded EF/EL door handles and mirrors.

#Clear indicators, repeaters, and tail lights.
some colours the clear repeaters look nice with the blinkers.. im yet to see a ea ed with clear tail lights that doesnt look out of place or shit
but it comes down to personal preference really

#Rear garnish: I’d like a plain black garnish without any badges. Any tips?
dont have any ideas...

[Jack-5150]

take it for a drive. or hunt online for a better deal.

Yeah, I've been looking for a while...clean EB-ED XR6s are a rare find it seems:-(
I think I might get a mechanic to check it out for me.