Kristian & my EL Wagon

[Eb Barbie]

Hi everyone, my name is Kristian and I'm here to introduce my EL GLi Wagon. History of this car was it was my grandfathers and he gave it to my brother then when i crashed my old AS Telstar TX5 Ghia (which i miss cause it was a manual!!!) i made him buy a new car, an 01 Fairmont Ghia and i got this car.

She is a little beat up at the moment, got a few bumps and scrapes and a nice crack in the front bumper, which is being replaced soon as i have just bought a new bumper, but other then that she is a goer.

So far in the time I've owned her, about 18 months now, I've put her on a set of turbo blades, swapped the old airbox lid for an EF one with a 3" piece of intercooler pipping, had the exhaust changed to a hi flow muffler and a normal one from the cat, installed a new head unit, installed blue lights in the front foot wells and in the boot and replaced the seats with some velour ones from a sedan. Oh and i put some cheap fog lights in the front bumper.

I don't have many other plans for this car at the moment, apart from maybe re trimming the doors and putting new carpet in it and possibly lowering it as it needs new shocks so i figure i may as well do it all at once. Does anyone know of anywhere that can reset leaf springs for a decent price?

let me know what you think,
Kristian

[InfernalTyrant]

Nice number plate!

[snouta]

Cheers mate, to be honest, its not my real plate, i just wish it was though, maybe one day!

[Avanti]

She has potential mate, Good to see a few more wagons floating around

Not sure about the leaf spring though as I have just used blocks, hopefully someone will help you out

Mitch

[stojmont]

kristian i have some reset leaf springs from an au for 200 otherwise your looking at 350-480 to reset and drop another leaf in

located in geelong can deliver to melb for fee

[Eb Barbie]

Definately got potential, off to a good start plenty of people on here with wagons that can point you in right direction.

[BROCKYB8]

Looks good mate , as beth said alot of potential

[superhuS!]

Slam it. Stat.

[snouta]

thanks guys, would love to do a lot more to her but cant really justify too much, would love a body kit and respray but at the same time i want to purchase a ba/bf wagon and convert it to either a xr6t or xr8.

stojmont, is it just the leafs you have and no front springs? i stupidly sold off a set of lowered leafs and coils a while ago cause i didnt think i would put them in, and now i want them.

Ive been quoted $500 for new front springs and reset leafs though. not sure if this is a good deal

Also i put a new front bumper on so she is looking nice at the front now

[Avanti]

yeah that sounds like a good deal, lowest I got quoted was $650

[snouta]

yeah that was at The Tyre Factory, plus they wanted an extra nearly 600 for new springs, though not sure what type they were. im going to look around for the best price. Can anyone suggest what shocks i should get?

[superhuS!]

Koni's.

[snouta]

Ergh so now after replacing shocks and struts, brake rotors, seats, bumper, alternator and distributor, I think that's it, over the last few months my engine has decided to pack it in at 250,000km's

Was just driving down the freeway when all of a sudden the engine lost power and had to pull over and wouldn't start. Mechanic said a bolt that hold the cam shaft in place or something had broken causing damage to the valves, head, possibly the timing chain and stuff. I think that was what he said.

So he believes its going to cost something like $2500+ to repair everything so I'm wondering if its worth putting in a new engine. I'm located in Sunbury so I'm looking around for any mechanics in the local area who are able to an engine swap. I did find one place in Sunshine selling an EF engine for $500 and I believe they are also able to install it. The place is called Super Cheap Recycled Auto Parts.

I have a couple of questions, 1, has anyone had experience with Super Cheap Recycled Auto Parts? 2, What is the average cost of getting a new engine installed? And 3, are there any other mechanics in the North West of Melbourne who carry second hand motors and are able to install them?

Thanks guys

[DJV8T5]

A 2nd hand engine from a reputable wrecker/spare parts place shouldn't cost you more than $500 anyway, and if you have the tools its not an overly hard job with an extra set of hands or two to change it over. For the cost of a good 2nd hand motor and install I wouldn't bother fixing yours.

Aside from that, nice looking wagon mate, hope you get the issue sorted out soon.

[snouta]

Yeah that's the situation I'm in, I'm trying to find a place around the local area that sell and fit replacement engines but its not easy, most seem to be on the East side of Melbourne. And i don't have the space, equipment or know how to change an engine myself.

Thanks mate, me too, I do need my car.

[OMY-747]

Pretty sure my mate just had his xg ute leaf springs reset for $180. I reset the ones in my wagon myself... Lol.

[Hayden]

2500 ? He's ripping you off lol. Go to bundoora auto wreckers and pick up an au non-vct tickford motor for 400. Everyone i've spoken to who've got an engine from there said they're trustworthy.

[snouta]

I believe the 2500 was a new head, cam shaft, valves, gasket and labor.

I ended up going to a place called Thomastown Auto Parts in Camberfield. They seemed pretty decent and cost a lot less then getting my old engine repaired. One guy I asked said he would replace my engine with an AU but that would have cost 1500 and I wasn't sure if I would sell the car any time soon so with an AU engine I thought it would a bit harder to sell.

My new(replacement) engine is great, seems to be running very well. Just needs a good tune for both petrol and the gas system, oil change and a radiator flush and should be all good.

One happy falcon owner here