First car - Need help deciding :(

volcom20 · 12-02-2006, 05:28 PM

Ok, so I wont lie about my age :P I'm 16, 17 in 6 weeks. I have 6 grand under my bent and looking for an E series Ford.

I've gone with Fords because of the 4 liter 6 cyl, compaired to Holden's 3.8 liter V6...

Anyway, I was after a 95' or 96' Fairmont, but after looking at some of the 1/4 mile results of stock XR6's, I am now confused about weather to just buy a Fairmont, or look around for a cheaper XR6...

I'm a young rev head, but not the dangerous type :P I was mainly wondering "What's the differance in the XR6 vs Fairmont engines"?. Is it to do with the block? Or could I just buy the fairmont, grab a XR6 head off a wrecker, and maybe the ECU, and get similar outputs to the XR6?

I'm after a fast car, a new cam, cold air intake and extractors will fall straight in after the buy, and a piggyback ECU whenever the cash is floating around.

The car will most likely be auto, as it seems I can't find too many manual fairmont :/ Anyway guys! Help me out!

EDXR6T · 12-02-2006, 05:41 PM

welcome to the forums and the ford family
good to hear u didnt go the way of the red circle

u could save a bit more and get a EF2 ghia/EL ghia that r tickford enhanced ther for u get a xr donk and 3.45lsd and ecu plus the luxo

ull pick a good one up fro around 7500 max 13000

u got 's a year b 4 ur license so dont bother going and buying a car right now
as it will b hard to stop urself taking it for a spin around the block:Plol i know it's hard for me

volcom20 · 12-02-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDXR6T

welcome to the forums and the ford family
good to hear u didnt go the way of the red circle

u could save a bit more and get a EF2 ghia/EL ghia that r tickford enhanced ther for u get a xr donk and 3.45lsd and ecu plus the luxo

ull pick a good one up fro around 7500 max 13000

u got 's a year b 4 ur license so dont bother going and buying a car right now
as it will b hard to stop urself taking it for a spin around the block:Plol i know it's hard for me

I'm actually getting my P plates in 6 weeks :P I'm an NSW kiddy

We have restrictions of V8s, turbos and supercharges while on the plates, hense I'm looking for the biggest 6 cyl out there... (But I didn't want to get an old ford with the 4.2 liter, because they're just... too old for me... lol).

So I'm just trying to make an N/A Ford that'll make a joke of my mates in thier ricers

6 is all I can muster up at the moment :( Plus it's my first car, while I am going a step further than most of my friends (Who are gettings very cheap run around cars) I can't really start spending major money :(

snypereb · 12-02-2006, 06:10 PM

N/A till i get of my P's then ill look at putting something serious under the bonnet! Stick to your 6 mate the things they have got for cars these days $5000 you can keep up with a 5 litre!!

Aaron_EF8 · 12-02-2006, 06:54 PM

EF/EL Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia's are auto only from the factory, although a manual can be put in for under $1000 if you do the work yourself, or with a mate.

The XR6 has a different head,cam and ECU, so if you're going to do the mods you proposed it probably isn't worth spending the extra on an XR6 over a Fairmont.

Of course, I may be a bit biased..... :P

volcom20 · 12-02-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_EF8

EF/EL Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia's are auto only from the factory, although a manual can be put in for under $1000 if you do the work yourself, or with a mate.

The XR6 has a different head,cam and ECU, so if you're going to do the mods you proposed it probably isn't worth spending the extra on an XR6 over a Fairmont.

Of course, I may be a bit biased..... :P

Ahh, thanks mate. If it's just the head, ECU and cams then I think I'll opt for a Fairmont and put my cash towards mods. I rather the fairmont's front end to the XR6, the headlights in the XR6 were going to be the first thing I would try to replace exteriour wise.

I'll most probably get an EF for 5000 (A nice clean one, hopefully with it being a single older owner, with 140,000 odd km), and have a grand extra to play with and get the XR6 head and ECU off a wrecker...

I dont think I'd ever change out the auto with a manual, basically just because they shift quicker than most people can shift, but I manuals are always more fun.

The spec sheet for the 95' - 96' fairmonts say 157kw output... Is that at the rear wheels? Or at the flywheel?

Thanks a lot for your help

Grechie · 12-02-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcom20

Ahh, thanks mate. If it's just the head, ECU and cams then I think I'll opt for a Fairmont and put my cash towards mods. I rather the fairmont's front end to the XR6, the headlights in the XR6 were going to be the first thing I would try to replace exteriour wise.

I'll most probably get an EF for 5000 (A nice clean one, hopefully with it being a single older owner, with 140,000 odd km), and have a grand extra to play with and get the XR6 head and ECU off a wrecker...

I dont think I'd ever change out the auto with a manual, basically just because they shift quicker than most people can shift, but I manuals are always more fun.

The spec sheet for the 95' - 96' fairmonts say 157kw output... Is that at the rear wheels? Or at the flywheel?

Thanks a lot for your help

thats at the fly wheel mate, it would have about 110rwkw-115rwkw when manual

eb91xr6 · 12-02-2006, 07:49 PM

you could always get an ED xr6, they have hard suspention good motor and youll find that a lot of them are already modified, don't goo for an auto as manual is just sooooo much better, and the EA-ED look tough when done up,

mcflux · 12-02-2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcom20

I dont think I'd ever change out the auto with a manual, basically just because they shift quicker than most people can shift, but I manuals are always more fun.

Yeah but 1st gear can get you to 110kph...

:

Auto + shift kit + diff gears = fun though

If you plan to keep the six n/a, look for 3.7/3.9/4.11 gears. ;)

Obriza · 13-02-2006, 12:28 AM

The manual is actually that bit faster than the auto, you get a bit more torque out of it or sumthin. I dunno the exact reason why theyre faster but ino mine beats any auto of the same mods out there, you just have to get some good training in shifting :P. I also agree with eb91xr6 that the earlier e-series will get you a faster car for the same price, but then if your going for luxury too the ef/el would prbably be the way to go then. But i personally prefer the EA-EDs better. If you dont like the xr6 front go an eb xr6 as they just have the normal falcon front.

tommo74 · 13-02-2006, 12:32 AM

most sixes flog my 5 ltr anyway.

BOOSTDEF · 13-02-2006, 01:55 AM

Whatever ford 6 you get, if you follow these mods, or make sure you get the main ones with the car, they will all have a similar output.

Pacemaker extractors
2.5 inch exhaust
a Wade cam <--cheap mod and great bang for buck on these motors. $150 + trade your cam
Diff gears.. 1st gear in the ford 6 auto is simply stupid.. Get at least a 3.45, but 3.7 and 3.9 are the way to go. 3.45 would be great with a stally.

You could have all these done for 1500-2000 depending on how you go about it. And there are plenty of falcs/fairmonts going around for 4-6 these days, especially EFs...

Do those mods and youll be keeping pretty close to some 5litres.

volcom20 · 13-02-2006, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOSTDEF

Whatever ford 6 you get, if you follow these mods, or make sure you get the main ones with the car, they will all have a similar output.

Pacemaker extractors
2.5 inch exhaust
a Wade cam <--cheap mod and great bang for buck on these motors. $150 + trade your cam
Diff gears.. 1st gear in the ford 6 auto is simply stupid.. Get at least a 3.45, but 3.7 and 3.9 are the way to go. 3.45 would be great with a stally.

You could have all these done for 1500-2000 depending on how you go about it. And there are plenty of falcs/fairmonts going around for 4-6 these days, especially EFs...

Do those mods and youll be keeping pretty close to some 5litres.

I'll definitly be getting pacemakers, 2.5 exhaust and a wade cam then, but gearing might be a little hard... I've never noticed first in the fords to be that bad, I'd probably hit 50km/h with it reved out to 4.5k in first, but I haven't really payed much attention.

I can do all the engine work myself, but I'd have to get someone to do the drivetrain for me, and laybour is through the roof nowdays...

Would:
A cold air intake
Pacemakers
2.5 exaust
Wade cam

Be making about 180kw at the flywheel? And could those simple things put a slightly worked holden v6 to shame in a straight line?

Once I get those things done, would it be time to invest in a piggyback ECU? Or would there be little point until I change the head?

Sorry for the 21 questions, but being my first car, I dont really have much experiance to fall back onto when estimating power gains.

micksta · 13-02-2006, 06:58 AM

if ur looking for something with a bit of go.
look for an EB XR6
stock looking .. easy to modify.

i'd also add a pod filter or a high performance air filter (K&N/BMC)

u'd be looking at a solid 175~ at the engine.

although no one really cares about flywheel kW lol

volcom20 · 13-02-2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micksta

if ur looking for something with a bit of go.
look for an EB XR6
stock looking .. easy to modify.

i'd also add a pod filter or a high performance air filter (K&N/BMC)

u'd be looking at a solid 175~ at the engine.

although no one really cares about flywheel kW lol

Yeah, a K&N filter was a sure thing, too

I really dont like going back anywhere past 93', just because they're getting too old for me, like. I could buy an old 90' Falcon and spend 5 grand on it, and it would go like a rocket, but it's just too old :(

The only reason I'm working at the flywheel is so I can compair to stock specs from Ford. Because until I dyno it, I really have no idea how much my drivetrain will suck up

Kenaz · 13-02-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommo74

most sixes flog my 5 ltr anyway.

Is this the same car that beats BA GTs?

BOOSTDEF · 13-02-2006, 12:01 PM

You will make 180fwkw easily with those mods. But you will need either a big stally or a diff gear change to get it off the line.. The autos are too damn slow off the line. Thats why the 5 speed conversion is a good thing too. Can be had for a grand.

But yeh, get a wade 1521 if your gonna change the gearing, but if you cant, go something smaller.

www.wadecams.com is a good guide for you.

5L · 13-02-2006, 12:45 PM

the only way ur gonna beat a holden six in a straight line is if u do manual conversion or have a six with decent work in it, the holdens are to quick in first and its only in top end u start to catch em but by then its to late.

ive owned both auto and manual falcons and i couldnt believe the difference in the manual it feels like a different car, so much better take off.