EL Fail machine

by **BLC** » December 15th, 2009, 8:40 pm

I think the grant is now $1750~

My setup is a mixer ring, but apparently its one of the least restrictive types. I don't know much about LPG setups, but there's no noticeable power loss, and I covered 840km on $40 a few weeks ago, drove to Wodonga and back with luggage and the missus, including piss farting around in Albury, A/C on the whole time.

PM blownba on AFF, he's the bloke who did my setup. It wasn't as cheap as the older mixer types, but I think I shelled out $700ish once I got the rebate. Easily made that back, and hes a very helpful guy. Good service.

Gas is the fuckin way.

EDIT - forgot to mention, my setup has some lean bias processor bullshit - basically it's got like an additional gas injector to keep the mixture perfect. It's really smooth, and the mileage is great.

by **ClassicAU** » December 16th, 2009, 8:09 am

Sweet as Rob, thanks for that mate. I'll look into it. If its going to cost me close to a grand though, it will have to wait. That and I will need the total amount to outlay first before the rebate is refunded. I'll stick with filling up on Wednesdays for now.

by **Commando** » December 16th, 2009, 8:40 am

Ev, considered a credit card? Get a credit card with a $2000 limit, spend it on the conversion, get the rebate back, pay off credit debt, get scissors out & chop up the card.

I think there are 3 factors to consider with LPG vs petrol, which are kind of interrelated.

1) Initial capital/financial situation
2) How long do you plan to keep the car?
3) How many kms do you do on average?

Ultimately it comes down to how many kms you'll do while owning the car. If you're skint at the moment but can see yourself doing 200,000kms in the car (be it over a couple of hectic years or 10 years), then LPG is worth it as it'll pay itself off and then start saving you a lot of money.

For an E-Series, I'd consider 20,000kms as the break-even point for LPG (mixer ring) vs petrol, however at 20,000kms I'd still pick petrol over LPG as all you're doing is paying back the initial "debt" that the LPG conversion incurs. I'd personally pick 50,000kms as the "worth it" stage for LPG, by then you could see a net saving of approx $2k.

You need to pay attention to your cooling system & ignition moreso than if you just ran the car on petrol, but these will only cause you problems if you leave them for too long. If you get the radiator & cooling system flushed annually you won't have cooling/converter problems, and I don't know about others but I aim to do the spark plugs every 40,000kms & the leads every 80,000. Some might say that's too regular, some might say that's not often enough, but that's what I go with.

Expect the car to be more tempremental on gas (ie needing to pay more attention to cooling & ignition), but it shouldn't be unreliable.

by **Commando** » December 16th, 2009, 8:46 am

BTW blownba has given me free advice before & has correctly diagnosed problems my wagon has had (saving me money), and is more than happy to help anyone out with LPG queries or problems.

+1 vote of confidence for blownba if you consider an LPG conversion.

by **ClassicAU** » December 16th, 2009, 9:29 am

Dave, you are a man of wisdom as always mate!! :good:

I just did some quick calcs, and I may be way off here, but came up with max 15,000kms a year! This is based on the 30km round trip to work and back every day, 5 days a week, minus weekends and holidays. So looks like its really not worth it at all for me then! Just the trips to work and back I totalled to 7500kms a year, which seemed very low to me. So even double that is still well below ave kms.
Also, I like what you are saying about the extra servicing it will need, which is what I was thinking the whole time. That's another thing I was worried about.

I have no idea how long I will have the car for. Could be for the next couple of years, or if my mate Frank finds a suitable F6 Typhoon for himself, it will be replaced with his current EL2 XR8. I am thinking I won't bother with gas for now, at least until I am settled into my new job. Only been here three weeks, and haven't even been paid yet!

by **Commando** » December 16th, 2009, 10:01 am

Well, the "extra" servicing shouldn't be an issue really, it's just that you need to be a bit more on top of things with gas, you can't really let things go like you can on petrol (ie 150,000km-old spark plugs might mean a decent miss on petrol, but it'd mean chronic backfiring on gas).

But for 15,000kms a year, not worth putting it on gas mate, especially if your biggest concern right now is capital. Get gas when you know you'll be keeping a car for a long time, or will be doing a lot fo driving.

by **ClassicAU** » December 16th, 2009, 11:45 am

I know, I am usually pretty diligent with my services, every 5000kms for a general. Still, I remember from the EA days that it was a little more temperamental at times cos of the gas. Although I'm sure the systems these days are better.
Anyway, I have been playing with numbers and the most I can seem to predict myself doing in a year is like 18,000kms! Thats with work trips every day during the week, and a trip to my mates in Werribee and back every weekend! Even if I throw in a trip to Jan Juc here and there, is still only like 18,500-19,000. So going by what you are saying, I really dont think its worth it right now. Especially as I don't have the capital at the moment.

Thanks heaps Dave, appreciate the advice mate! :good:

by **Gozza** » December 16th, 2009, 12:03 pm

Evan are you George Castanza?

by **Commando** » December 16th, 2009, 12:10 pm

No, but he was in the pool!

Also, Happy Festivus!

No worries Ev, am happy to have helped.

by **ClassicAU** » December 16th, 2009, 12:29 pm

LMAO @ George Costanza!!! Sadly, that is not the first time someone has asked me that question!! :lol:

Unfortunately my car did not belong to Jon Voight at any time in its history either!

by **Gozza** » December 16th, 2009, 12:30 pm

Haha. We need a Marine Biologist

by **ClassicAU** » December 16th, 2009, 2:06 pm

lol, i'll go hit it with a broom, that might fix it!

by **stevo** » December 16th, 2009, 8:29 pm

two page long thread for grandpas el? Thats special

by **ClassicAU** » December 17th, 2009, 9:33 am

Steve, it is epic grandpa awesomeness! Isn't this the flavour at the moment? I want to spec it up even more with the sun visors back and front, and one of those rain shields on the drivers door! I was even thinking of an idea of going to tuff caps! If I can get 225's on a steel wheel it'd be sweet as! :cool:

by **ClassicAU** » December 21st, 2009, 12:24 pm

OK, had some spare time over at my best mates on Sunday, so we decided to attack the grandpa-mobile and install the rest of the stereo. As always, it was an epic battle! Not quite as much fail as expected though, besides Geoff almost losing a finger! :banghead:

Managed to chuck it all in and get it running first, then tidy it up at a later date. It’s a mess in there, but at least it’s working. The sub/box/amp had to come out of the boot again to make room for all our shit for this weekend, as me and my other best mate are tagging along on a camping trip for new year’s. I just wanted to get the speakers and 4 channel hooked up before we go.
Anyway, didn’t finish till 9pm last night, so ran out of light to tune it all. Even so, it still sounds epically better than before!! Those bloody Jaycar speakers are da bom yo! I am barely missing the sub so far! Obviously I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to tuning the system, so I will do what I can. I was considering taking is somewhere and getting them to clean up our dodgy wiring job and tune it properly for me though.

by **turbo_nut** » December 31st, 2009, 10:56 am

nice i got a ef falcon classic its heritage green i got the car with onli a hundred and sixty thousand kilos on the clock from an old couple it was dead stock ass a box but it now sits on 17inch rodney janes with low profile tires and has a pioneerhead unit and rapage amp and sony exployed 12inch sub atm the motor is dead stock but but plans for a new custom 2 and half in stainless steel exhuast and stainles steel pacemaker extractors and chiped auto and chiped ecu are in progress atm i dont want 2 lower mine for fears of the local contabulary pulling me over for being to low and while ur on ur ls and p plates they tend to target us p plate L drivers for revenue

by **Dansedgli** » December 31st, 2009, 10:57 am

Cool story hansel.

by **nstg8a** » December 31st, 2009, 2:32 pm

Dansedgli wrote:Cool story hansel.

by **ClassicAU** » January 4th, 2010, 8:55 pm

Yeeeeaaaassssss, that was an awesome addition. :blink:

Anyway, the decent economy continues. Took this bitch on the new years camping trip, and the economy was the only good thing to come out of the weekend at all! I got way too drunk, way too quickly, and fell down a hill! Busted my ankle massively, and passed out before midnight! :shock:

Still, managed to get 680kms out of a tank, which got us there and back. Didn't do too well on the dirt road to get in there though, very bumpy. Despite being 4X4 height, the suspension seems quite hard. Still not sure what is in it exactly, but now I want to find out.

by **nstg8a** » January 4th, 2010, 9:27 pm

go faster, either the suspension is too firm, and the higher speed will let the suspension work as it should, or itl just bounce across the bumps, thus only hitting every 4th or 5th bump, resulting in a smooth ride. win win.

by **ClassicAU** » January 5th, 2010, 8:41 am

I would have, if it wasn't for the fact that the tyres on it are absolute poo! They are cheese cutter 205/65/15 all round for start, and a mix of Sava somethings and some other knock off brand I have never heard of. They are well terrible, it understeers like a barge even on bone dry road. Unfortunately they are still fairly new, so no point changing them yet, two were changed for roady.

by **ClassicAU** » January 14th, 2010, 11:52 am

Yeah, so, I miss having a V8 again. Seeing my old XR8 this morning made me sad. Its not fair that some silly woman is now enjoying her just cos i got the arse from my old job! I know a car loan, as Mrs Boucher would say, is the devil. I just don't know if I can help myself! Someone buy this bucket so I can make yet another life mistake, and get myself back on the road to fail! :banghead:

You can have this thing for $5500 and I'll even give it a full service!

by **ClassicAU** » February 10th, 2010, 6:00 pm

So, yeah, nothing to report. It's still going well, which is a first for me. Which brings me to my latest idea for FAIL! Came across this on AFF and it seems cheap, but I have no idea. Anyone care to enlighten me on this? Any good or not? You blokes know turbos and that, should I bother chucking him an offer? Here is his description, and a couple of picks:

complete turbo kit (originally off an NA fairlane). I bought it to put onto my car but the wastegate actuator fouls on the engine mount (only on EF)
Kit contains:
* T4 turbo (with a matching spare turbo)
* Log manifold
* All oil/water lines
* Rising rate regulator
* Intercooler + piping (it's a no holes piping kit)
* Oil return
* Boost gauge
* Dump pipe to suit e-series (stock or aftermarket exhaust)
* 3" pod filter to suit.

by **nstg8a** » February 10th, 2010, 6:04 pm

ClassicAU wrote: It's still going well,

imo, if you start farking with 2nd hand turbo kits and shit then you will never ever write the above quote again...

by **EBOOST** » February 10th, 2010, 6:28 pm

i sold that kit he is on here aswell its not a bad kit i just wanted more than it could offer.
good for low power quick boost.
its gillys old kit turbo is in good nick and everything but if u read it didnt fit his ef as the wastegate actuator hit the engine mount.
cheers josh.

by **ClassicAU** » February 10th, 2010, 6:34 pm

Ah right, thanks Josh. So I take it then it wouldn't fit the EL either? Too much stuffing around to make it work?

by **private9** » February 10th, 2010, 7:26 pm

There's always downsides to these types of things, and given the way you talk about the SC setup on your old AU I don't think a turbo setup is for you.

by **ClassicAU** » February 10th, 2010, 8:04 pm

You do speak the truth Justin, no doubting that. I think I will stick to a V8, kinda hard to fvck one up really.

by **67rce** » February 10th, 2010, 8:11 pm

Not hard to **** up a V8 Evan, especially if it's a Wheezer....

by **private9** » February 10th, 2010, 8:31 pm

ClassicAU wrote:You do speak the truth Justin, no doubting that. I think I will stick to a V8, kinda hard to fvck one up really.

Given that you probably won't mod it far, at least get a Holden V8 that will make some form of power!

by **ClassicAU** » February 10th, 2010, 8:34 pm

Seriously? Aren't all the LS motors mass oil burners? I dont know much about them. Oh, you still got that red thing? Swap you for grandpa!

by **misk** » February 10th, 2010, 8:46 pm

lol i dont think we should be bringing up LS1 oil issues when this is indeed a falcoon forum :p
but an LS1 conversion is pricey (allbeit sexy!)
i wonder if justin was referring to the holden 5l?

by **Amon** » February 10th, 2010, 9:01 pm

even if chev make a tuff engine theyre still gay... turbo this evan :good:

sleeper ftw

by **private9** » February 11th, 2010, 7:23 am

ClassicAU wrote:Seriously? Aren't all the LS motors mass oil burners? I dont know much about them.

Some are but majority were fixed back in the day. I had a VX LS1 back in 02 and took it in for a service, picked it up and Holden told me they rebuilt the motor! That particular dealer told me they did it to every VT2 and VX1 LS1 that came in. They're pretty easy to pick anyway.

ClassicAU wrote:Oh, you still got that red thing? Swap you for grandpa!

Yeah still got it. It's sitting in my driveway in a pool of it's own transmission blood

Negs on a swap!

misk wrote:lol i dont think we should be bringing up LS1 oil issues when this is indeed a falcoon forum :p
but an LS1 conversion is pricey (allbeit sexy!)
i wonder if justin was referring to the holden 5l?

I'm not talking a conversion, I'm saying buy an LS1 equipped car.

Amon wrote:even if chev make a tuff engine theyre still gay... turbo this evan

sleeper ftw

Agreed. But, I don't think Evan's the type to want a heavily modded car (correct me if I'm wrong) and just wants a bit of power. You can make 230ishrwkw very easily and cheaply with anything that has an LS1.

by **misk** » February 11th, 2010, 7:43 am

well yeah, i can understand that lol
you can pick up a VT with an LS1 for approx 7-8k

by **ClassicAU** » February 11th, 2010, 9:58 am

LOL, Justin you dickhead, you broke it already!! Sorry mate, you can keep that headache!

But Jason is right though, I cbf with a heavily modded car. I tried that once already and failed miserably. I just chucked up that kit cos it was cheap, but obviously cheap for a reason. I am happy with what you blokes consider moderate power. I have never driven anything with over 200rwkw, so that would be enough to keep me happy. That and a manual gearbox again, i do miss it.

I wouldn’t buy a Commodore, they are mostly thrashed and way over priced for what they are. VYII’s are going for BFII money. I don’t have any money anyway.

by **EFFalcon** » February 11th, 2010, 10:03 am

how much was he chasin for the turbo kit?

by **ClassicAU** » February 11th, 2010, 10:04 am

Last price was $1300, but he said make an offer.

by **private9** » February 11th, 2010, 11:13 am

ClassicAU wrote:LOL, Justin you dickhead, you broke it already!! Sorry mate, you can keep that headache!

Negs on swaps - I meant negative on swaps!

ClassicAU wrote:But Jason is right though, I cbf with a heavily modded car. I tried that once already and failed miserably. I just chucked up that kit cos it was cheap, but obviously cheap for a reason. I am happy with what you blokes consider moderate power. I have never driven anything with over 200rwkw, so that would be enough to keep me happy. That and a manual gearbox again, i do miss it.

I wouldn’t buy a Commodore, they are mostly thrashed and way over priced for what they are. VYII’s are going for BFII money. I don’t have any money anyway.

What about a decent AU2/3 XR8 220 manual? They sound good, drive well and can get 200-220rwkw with bolt ons pretty easily.

by **ClassicAU** » February 11th, 2010, 11:33 am

hahaha, sorry dude. Yeah, I didnt think you'd go for it anyway!

private9 wrote:
What about a decent AU2/3 XR8 220 manual? They sound good, drive well and can get 200-220rwkw with bolt ons pretty easily.

That is exactly what I want, but unfortunately don't have 10-15k burning a hole in my pocket. Also, I can be buggered if I am going to get a loan/finance for an AU. If I do loose patience and do that, it will be a manual Boss machine. At least make it worth the arse raping I will get from interest.

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