EL Fail machine

by **ClassicAU** » November 29th, 2009, 8:49 pm

Bit bored, so thought I'd start another useless thread that will eventually end in fail. Anyway, its my latest means of transport which hopefully won't give me any shit, so long as I don't fvck with it.
Its a Nov 97 build Futura, which I am 99% sure has the hybrid EL/AU motor in it going by the number on the head. Genuine 127,000kms, full dealer log booked service history from new. Bog stock, K&N panel and hacked up air box being the only mechanical mods. It even came with the instructional cassette and touch up paint!
This this will NOT be modified. I am loving the economy on it so far, with a best of 780kms out of a tank of premium. I am getting roughly 500kms round town. It is also very smooth for a car of its age. The auto shifts well, no clunks of whines, and the ride is awesome.
Only additions will be a stereo, which I just put in a new Alpine deck today, and will be doing a full Jaycar kit. I am getting a decent deal, and their shit is extremely under rated. I may also change the wheels at some stage, but don't really want to ruin the ride. Check the height out!! :cool:

by **67rce** » November 29th, 2009, 9:15 pm

Neat Evan, I am eagerly awaiting update with Fail!

by **nstg8a** » November 29th, 2009, 9:32 pm

i kinda miss my old el, theyre definitly a nice daily

looks like a good score :good:

by **ClassicAU** » November 30th, 2009, 12:12 pm

Oh, don't worry, I feel the fail coming quite soon. I am still pretty poor at the moment, so am going to go back to the old days and attempt to install the stereo system myself. If that is not a recipe for fail, I don't know what is!!

Thanks for the comments anyway guys, hopefully it serves me well for a while yet. I have just started a new job today which requires me to drive to work every day, which is a first for me. So this car is officially a daily. I brimmed it with Caltex 98 stuff last night, and am interested to see how far I can get out of it now that its on daily commute duties.

by **SnyperEB** » November 30th, 2009, 12:21 pm

Cant get over how mint this thing was when I saw it!!

by **ClassicAU** » November 30th, 2009, 12:44 pm

Cheers Shaun, tis why I bought it! I actually went and looked at it twice, as initially the guy was asking top dolar, and rightly so. I just couldn't go past it though, so went back a second time and knocked the guy down a bit and took it off his hands.
I guess the only thing I could say about it so far, is that compared to the AU's the steering in the EL is a bit heavy. Other than that I am more than happy with it. I am trying to drive this thing in a maner it deserves, so it has only copped a stab at the gas like 2 or 3 times in my possesion. No point really, its not exactly a race car!

by **Commando** » November 30th, 2009, 1:44 pm

///FAILPINE stereo?

I typed that out, read it, and thought it was so bad that I had to post it anyway, as self punishment. :banghead:

Top car Ev!

by **ClassicAU** » November 30th, 2009, 7:15 pm

by **holmsy** » November 30th, 2009, 7:33 pm

not grandpa enough

by **ClassicAU** » November 30th, 2009, 7:38 pm

I actually agree Holmsy. Which is why I am now going to track down a weather deflector for the drivers door and one of those golf cap things for the top of the windscreen! I might even try and find a rear venetian, but not the metal ones that are all the rage with you blokes, but the big black plastic ones that go on the outside!! :cool:

by **SNR** » November 30th, 2009, 8:30 pm

Holy crap. Resize your images - it's like downloading a digital watermelon!

by **ClassicAU** » November 30th, 2009, 8:44 pm

Bah, its called broadband buddy!

by **Kenaz** » December 1st, 2009, 9:50 am

It needs EL low series tail lights and EL Futura caps. Maybe some King low or XR springs too. That is all..

by **ClassicAU** » December 1st, 2009, 2:55 pm

I still have the original tail lights with the amber lenses, but I got these ones for nothing off my best mates brothers EF mont after it was written off. I also have a full set of King SL's, but can't bring myself to install them for fear of killing the mintness of the ride. I cbf with mechanical shize till I get my stereo sorted first.

by **OED666** » December 1st, 2009, 2:58 pm

geez.. i swear that thing could have a 4wd transfer case bolted to the side of the box...

haha

nice daily though!

by **dungerxr** » December 4th, 2009, 5:59 pm

oath. stick some 33s under it and take it to the mud drags

by **ClassicAU** » December 6th, 2009, 9:17 pm

Well, the fuel economy for the first week of work runs was a little underwhelming. Managed to dispatch half a tank in 200kms. Took it down to the coast after work Friday, and its just starting to hit the red on E, 450kms all up to this tank. I'm not too impressed really, thought it may have done better.

Anyway, picked up the Jaycar stereo system on Friday arvo. Consisting of 2 sets of Kevlar 6" splits, 4x100wrms digital amp, 2x150wrms amp bridged to 500wrms, and single 12" Venom sub. Managed to pick up the lot, including all cables and bits needed to hook it all up, for $1100. Which is a fair deal in my books! Should sound pretty decent.

by **nstg8a** » December 6th, 2009, 9:25 pm

how much did the splits set you back?

i wouldnt mind a set of these for my ghia, apparently theyre quite underrated.

by **galapogos01** » December 7th, 2009, 8:50 am

Don't mean to sound my own horn, but if you are after better economy, get a tune! There is a fair whack of timing that can be added (especially if you're running any kind of Premium) and fuel that can come out which will end up giving you better fuel economy. Even try an XR6 tune if that floats your boat.

Jason

by **ClassicAU** » December 7th, 2009, 9:46 am

The Jaycar Response series Kevlar splits I actually managed to get for $88 as part of the package deal, but I believe they are on special for $99 anyway at the moment! You will have to be quick though, as apparently there are only just over 200 sets Aus wide, and once they are gone, thats it. They have been superseeded with the VIFA brand they have which are $220!

Thanks for the offer Jason, I know you are right, even if you do say so yourself! I am just a bit weary to modify this car mechanically, as I don;t want to mess up a good thing. I can't remember, are the J3 chips a hot swap thing? If I put it on, and need to take it off and go back to factory, I have that option? I just don't want to put any undue stress on the motor or anything for this car, trying to actually take care of this one for once!

by **galapogos01** » December 7th, 2009, 10:07 am

I bought a set of the Kevlar 6.5" coaxials for the GF's car on the w/e. $80, down from $120. They are awesome, you could not get better speakers 2nd hand for that price! The Jaycar stuff is normally pretty good value, but at these prices it's insane. Now i'm contemplating putting a spare 4 channel amp into it... hmm.

You can remove the chip with just a philips head screwdriver in less than 10 minutes to return it to stock.

Cheers,
Jason

by **ClassicAU** » December 7th, 2009, 10:32 am

Hmmm, PM sent.

by **ClassicAU** » December 10th, 2009, 9:13 am

So, have put together half of the system so far, the bass side. I am running the oooooold box I had custom built for my EA wagon back in the day! Somehow it ended up in my mates parents garage, now its in the back of the EL. It's way too big, and still has the three divided secions and cut outs for the 7x10 Kenwoods I had on it! I tell you what though, for a shitty old box and such a small sub, it packs some punch! I am very surprised at how loud it is. Not the cleanest bass ever, its only single voice coil, but you can hear it!
Now I need to figure out how to make the boot stop sounding like a colourbond shed! Any suggestions? I was thinking some sound deadning on the underside of the boot lid, under the liner. Not sure if it will be enough though.

by **galapogos01** » December 10th, 2009, 9:58 am

Here's what I did...

- silicone between the boot lid skin & frame where the factory 'glue' had come out
- expanda foam inside the frame itself
- covered the whole thing with dynamat / flashtac
- stuck fairmont carpet back over the top so you can't see anything!

Sure, my bootlid weighs about 70KG but it doesnt rattle AT ALL!

by **ClassicAU** » December 10th, 2009, 10:23 am

That's awesome Jason, thanks heaps mate! Sounds like a plan. Hopefully I have time over the weekend after I finish putting in the splits and 4 channel, then I'll attack the boot lid. I feel like a duche sitting at the lights now, boot rattle is sooooo 1995!

by **ClassicAU** » December 14th, 2009, 2:36 pm

Ok, so the weekend didn't go as planned. Spent most of saturday running around looking for tools and materials for the boot. Got over to Bunnings and spoke to one of the blokes about getting some of that expanda foam stuff as Jason sugested, but was told it wasn't the best idea. He said if I was too liberal with it, I ran a good chance of it expanding too much and bending my boot lid. So he hooked me up with some No More Gaps stuff instead. Worked a damn treat anyway!! I used the entire bottle thing with a calking gun on the lid, and even that on its own has more than halved the amount of rattle! It even gave the boot that nice solid thud when closing it, as apposed to the tin can it was. I also picked up a roll of tar mat stuff from Jaycar, didn't get a chance to put that on yet.

Was planning to continue with it on Sunday, but ot some bad news from one of my best mates that his grandmother passed away last week, which sucks. So spent the day hanging out with him instead.

by **vegabass** » December 15th, 2009, 8:18 am

If you want to get better economy do the full service (plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor button, coil, fuel filter, blah blah blah) The reset the ECU. You should see a difference. After that you could advance the timing but putting into test mode and twisting the dizzy until your happy.

by **ClassicAU** » December 15th, 2009, 9:14 am

Did a standard service when I first got it, and mechanic checked it over and said plugs and leads are still good. I believe they were changed by Ford at 100k service anyway. Economy is ok for now, so long as I don't boot it at all. I have managed to get 380kms out of this tank so far, and have a quarter to go. This is with a weeks worth of trips to work and back, 30km round trip all traffic, and a trip to Werribee and back, plus random trips to the parents and back.
I will most likely working with Jason in getting a econo tune on a J3 next year. I would have done it already, but a few things have come up that require the cash. Bloody unreliable white goods!
There is no way I am going to even attempt to mess with the dizzy and all that, I fail epicly at mechanics, this is a well established fact.

by **BLC** » December 15th, 2009, 11:37 am

LPG.

That is all.

by **ClassicAU** » December 15th, 2009, 1:08 pm

Dude, really? Sif ruin a beatifully preserved 128km EL motor with taxi-gas! Cos there is no way I am forking out $4k for an SVI system, which is the only gas system I would buy.

by **Commando** » December 15th, 2009, 1:15 pm

Enjoy your petrol bill then! :drinks2:

by **ClassicAU** » December 15th, 2009, 1:36 pm

Oh, I do Dave! I love paying $80 every week and a half or so to fill the bastard! I just can't bring myself to put a mixer ring system in it, had bad experiences with one on my old EA.

by **Gozza** » December 15th, 2009, 1:36 pm

ClassicAU wrote:Dude, really? Sif ruin a beatifully preserved 128km EL motor with taxi-gas!

Man its not like its a mint unopened Spider Man No1 comic

by **Sunboost** » December 15th, 2009, 4:35 pm

ClassicAU wrote:Dude, really? Sif ruin a beatifully preserved 128km EL motor with taxi-gas! Cos there is no way I am forking out $4k for an SVI system, which is the only gas system I would buy.

LOL.. BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED 128KM EL MOTOR ...

Dude the fukn thing was designed to be a taxi and run 24/7 on gas. That's what they love to do. BUT HEY, more LPG for the rest of us huh.

Those of us that are lucky enough to be on LPG that is

by **ClassicAU** » December 15th, 2009, 4:51 pm

Hahaha. yeah, true. I have noticed the motor is making a nice knocking noise when its cold too! :blink:

I dunno, I just don't think its going to be worth it. Going gas will just mean I am paying half as much, twice as often. I highly doubt I will be able to get over 400kms from a tank of lgp around town. That, and it will add extra strain on the cooling system and shize.

by **private9** » December 15th, 2009, 5:01 pm

ClassicAU wrote:That, and it will add extra strain on the cooling system and shize.

wtf?! Dude, man up it's just an el.

by **67rce** » December 15th, 2009, 5:20 pm

Sundeep wrote:
ClassicAU wrote:Dude, really? Sif ruin a beatifully preserved 128km EL motor with taxi-gas! Cos there is no way I am forking out $4k for an SVI system, which is the only gas system I would buy.

LOL.. BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED 128KM EL MOTOR ...

Dude the fukn thing was designed to be a taxi and run 24/7 on gas. That's what they love to do. BUT HEY, more LPG for the rest of us huh.

Those of us that are lucky enough to be on LPG that is

There are 2 reasons why I am not running LPG, 1. Dont have the cash for Liquid Injection, 2. Need the bootspace.

by **burnt turtle** » December 15th, 2009, 5:23 pm

ClassicAU wrote:Hahaha. yeah, true. I have noticed the motor is making a nice knocking noise when its cold too!

I dunno, I just don't think its going to be worth it. Going gas will just mean I am paying half as much, twice as often. I highly doubt I will be able to get over 400kms from a tank of lgp around town. That, and it will add extra strain on the cooling system and shize.

you can easily get over 400kms to a tank of gas, and for less then half the price of petrol.
pffft to strain on cooling system thats stupid. if its staying stock then put it on gas.

by **BLC** » December 15th, 2009, 6:15 pm

Injected gas isn't worth the outlay for an I6, unless its an F6 or something.

Here's my AU setup - no noticeable power loss, no backfires. A++

Excuse the red tape, I'm too lazy to deal with the rubbing vac hose.

by **ClassicAU** » December 15th, 2009, 7:48 pm

LOL, peer pressure much!!

I suppose this decision couldn't bite me in the arse nearly as much as the supercharger did. You blokes are relentless!
I dunno about the SVI systems, I thought they were all expense. My best mate got it on his BA Ghia, and it cost $4k all up. Is the gov grant still available on gas systems? I was under the impression LPG was a lot more expensive these days. Apparently its still less than $30 to fill a 60L tank?

Rob, details buddy! What, where and how much? What's your mileage like with that system? That's mixer ring yea?

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