Ash's ED XR6

[Kenaz]

Thought I should throw up a thread for this thing.

I picked it up as-is a few months ago. There's a bit of story about how I went from a BA XR6T to a ED XR6. Earlier this year my missus and I decided to get rid of the two cars that we had (her VTII Exec and my BA XR6T) and get one car to share. The reasoning behind this was that I rarely used the BA because I catch the train to the city for work and the missus now had a work car that she brought home. We ended up buying a 6 month old VE II SS manual. Being a series 2 it has the IQ system and dual zone climate control etc. It's not a bad car.

A few months ago they changed the policy of allowing staff to take work cars home so the missus was now using the SS as a daily. We also had a couple of occasions where we really needed two cars so I started to look for a 2nd car. The only criteria was that I really didn't want another Falcon or Commodore. The car at the top of the wish list was a Volvo 850R wagon, but at the end of the day decided against spending the 10K that would be required to get a good one.

I was home sick one day and browsing eBay when I came across what appeared to be a pretty neat ED XR6. The bidding was pretty low so I chucked on a bid for for a laugh and didn't think much else of it. Three days later the auction finished and my bid ended up winning. ****.

We went along that weekend and brought her home. I was pleasantly surprised with what I had bought. It's a 1994 build that is almost 100% original. It has the original owners manual with full 217k service history.

First thing on the agenda was to give it a service and have a look underneath to get an idea of what I was working with.


Some of the bushes were old and crusty.


So I replaced them.


The engine bay is pretty neat and clean for a 17 year old car


A pretty bad interior shot. Note the original tape deck. Commando approved??


A few weekends ago I got it out for a wash and it comes up pretty good. Excuse the the OTT HDR.



I've been busy as a mofo at work so I haven't had a chance to take it along to get checked out for RWC, but I should get a chance in the next week or two.

[sexyr6]

very nice tidy car you have there. top buy

[needfordspeed]

Looks tidy as Ash, good to see it went to someone who will take care of it.

[Sunboost]

Looks like a pretty good example of an ED XR6. Good luck with it!

[Qwik6]

Nice buy. I picked up a more average than yours, white ED XR6 manual recently. But very original. Even has factory stickers about the tilt steering wheel on the windscreen.

[XR_Lightning]

man this thing is mint! good pickup Ash, clean as!

[SnyperEB]

Mint car Ash. Nice pick up!

[Commando]

Yep, I luff the deck! (Kester's ears pricked up at this, hu hu)

[LTDHO]

Some random bloke emailed me about this car the other day....

and now I can say i have seen it.

[Kenaz]

Thanks for the comments fellas, I'll have to bring it out one day.

I dropped it off at the mechanic this morning to get a roady. Hopefully there's not a lot required and I can take it to get registered in the coming week.

[SnyperEB]

Find me one Ash!!

[Kenaz]

Just got back from the mechanic.

The car is pretty much fucked from rust I had a look while it was on the hoist and it looks like a lot of work to get it on the road.

The rest of the report is the usual things like brake rotors, windscreen etc..

I don't know what to do now. I don't have the space to part it out and I'm not sure it would be worth getting all the rust cut out and fixed.

It's a shame because the interior is mint, it drives beautifully and the exterior is very clean and straight.

[SnyperEB]

That sucks Ash!!!

[EFFalcon]

Is the rust in the door sills?

[Kenaz]

On the report it says the rust is in RH inner sill, RHR floor near wheel, RHR wheel arch and just above the rear windscreen.

The car originally lived in Cooee Tasmania, which according to Google is a beachside town. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cooee,+Ta ... a&t=h&z=15

[needfordspeed]

I'd just take it somewhere else!

[Kenaz]

I'd just take it somewhere else!

I'm thinking these guys were super anal. One of the other things listed is: RHF indicator globe faded. Whaaaat?

Another thing noted is the windscreen, I know it comes under scrutiny with roadies so I had a really good look and it's faultless!

The problem is if I take it somewhere else and they give me a similar report, I've pissed away another $180 on a lost cause.

[LTDHO]

$180?
Does that come with a BJ???

I pay half that.

[someLS1]

Nup its bs Ash you need a better mech also since when do rwc cost $180 ??? My mech charges like 80 bucks and looks at **** all other then tyres lights and brakes.. shame thats the 3 things that were fucked on my last rwc haha but still

[EBOOST]

Ull find rwc have become alot "tighter" than they used to due to the whole taking pictures and so on.

where are u located mate i know a place thats pretty good but diffenitely not "dodgy".
u say u looked at the rust was it bad?
cheers josh.

[SnyperEB]

I would go get another quote Ash. Seems like they are just money hungry.

[Kenaz]

Ull find rwc have become alot "tighter" than they used to due to the whole taking pictures and so on.

where are u located mate i know a place thats pretty good but diffenitely not "dodgy".
u say u looked at the rust was it bad?
cheers josh.

I'm in Lilydale mate.

I'll try to get some photos of the rust at the weekend, I guess it's pretty useless getting opinions from you guys without you seeing what I'm on about

Thanks for the advice guys

[EF ECTIV]

surely it'd still be fine for a daily though?

[EDXR61994]

I paid 68 bucks in QLD for a road worthy. Oh and don't give up on her I think their trying to rip you blind.

[EBOOST]

ahhh bit too far haha.

if the rust is in areas that are listed as stractural i dont think anyone will just pass it.
cut it out and bog it and take it back haha.
i know a bloke up ur way that does rwc i used to work with and he does rust repairs.
looks like such a nice car, yet its riddled with rust.

or pm some of the blokes up your way that know some good rw places.

u mention about the windscreen, if u see the rwc book windscreens have to be pretty dam bad to get picked, i think places just pick them so theres something on the list.
cheers josh.

[Kenaz]

Rust pics as promised...

Just above the rear windscreen. It's like this on both top corners too.

RHR sill.


Sill near the RHF wheel.


Anyone have experience dealing with this sort of thing? Is the car a throwaway? What sort of cost would I be up for to repair and would it be worth it?

I should also note we couldn't find rust anywhere else. The passenger side sill is fine as is the rest of the car

[EBOOST]

the windscreen rust wouldnt be too much of a hassle.

the other rust looks alot worse than i was thinking it would be to be honest.
contact pat on here as his dad does rust repair but the cost may outway the cars value.
and u wouldnt be able to just bog it like i said as thats a structural part so ud have to get metal welded back there.
cheers josh.

[burnoutxr6]

That doesn't look bad at all,just go to a panel shop and get it cut out and a new piece welded in.It's to nice to scrap mate.

[Dansedgli]

Hit that under car shit with a wire wheel on a grinder and paint it black. You wouldnt spot it then. It looks like surface rust to me.

The windscreen stuff might take more work though. Cut and polish the brown stains off then hope noone notices it. Or pull the windscreen and fix it properly? Or even pull the rubber out, cut the rust away, bog it up and paint it white and it might not get noticed either.

[Dezza]

I've always had that line of rust (well, not that thick) above both front and rear windscreens on the EA. When I got the front windscreen replaced, they just put a thicker strip at the top that covers the rust nicely! Never had an issue getting the roady and it's never really seemed to get worse in all the years I've owned the car.

[EBOOST]

yeah looking on a computer and not my phone, the rust underneath looks not bad.
try what dan said i recon.

the rust above the windscreen's shouldnt get picked on for rwc.
cheers josh.

[EF ECTIV]

like dan said if its only surface rust hit it with a wire wheel until its nice and smooth then black over the
top of the whole lot... just use a black rust preventative type paint....

[LUXO_8]

My ef had rust on the inner sills like yours. I took it to an exhaust place (exhaust bros) and they ground it back and fitted a plate over it. Doesn't have to look neat because who's going to look under there. I only had 1 spot but they only charged $50.
Would be worth going somewhere similar up your way and just asking I guess.. I wouldn't imagine they'd care what it looks like as look as it visibly looks like you've tried to fix it

[SnyperEB]

I would go with what Dan is saying then go to another mechanic for a roady.

[EFFalcon]

agreed with all of the above, give it a bit of a clean up, hide it a bit.,
then try again.

I've had a couple of eseries/AU's with rust in the door sills, both were WAYYYYYYYYY worse then that.

[Kenaz]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Next weekend I'll hit it with the wire wheel and see how it comes up. I'll also take care of the little bits like new wiper blades and globes etc.

I've decided I would like to keep it if possible, it may just take a bit longer to get it on the road. I'll definitely be taking it to a different mechanic for the next attempt. I had no prior experience with the guy I used. I only went there because it was one of the first places that came up when I googled Lilydale Roadworthy.

[ronza]

Hey mate that rust is exact same as deansxr he had rust in sills on his eb xr6 and got steve.george on here ask both them boys ( steve is my nephew) to dress em up and it all passed with flying colours great buy still nice and clean keep it and enjoy it!!

[Sunboost]

Did you take it to Glenn Mayes? He calls himself Lilydale Roadworthy Centre as well I think. He's normally very reasonable, but with the new system he might have shat it or something now. In our area, from my own experience, him and Tyreworld in Kilsyth have normally been pretty good. Tyreworld wrote me a 3 page report for Laminge's old EB once, only because they'd just regained their license after a hefty suspension.

I wouldn't even wire wheel that shit. I'd just get a bucket, some topsoil, add water and then use a trowel to cake some nice 16 year old looking mud over the top that no one's gunna bother to look underneath Yeah - I'd actually do it.

[Parfrey]

Lol mud lining might work!

It doesn't look really bad, but i doubt its only surface rust. I'd wire wheel/sand it up a bit and paint it with that under body/thick black paint crap. It doesn't dry perfectly smooth like normal paint so it'll cover up any of the rough area's. Rust is the devil!

[Kenaz]

LOL I'll keep that idea in mind Sunny

I didn't take it to Glenn Mayes, it was a place in Industrial Park.