rivalrx

Fresh WOF and $53 REG for 12 months on the XY Fairmont. 
 

Mini update time - I managed to find a set of xe Fairmont Falcon seat rails (same as xr-xe bucket seats) locally and now the seats are in. 
 

They look and seek loads better and I’ve used new bolts nuts and washers also. 
 

Marty the cat approves 

next port of call is a new WOF then lower it. 
 

6 new spark plugs later and my mate using his tuning skills on the carb and Dizzy…..we have a smooth running 250ci engine. Very smooth. 

Did I mention smooth?

I need seat rails now and cannot face $450 for 2 repro ones. 
 

hit me up if anyone has any XR - XE falcon bucket seat rails x 2. 
 

the seats are merely sitting in situ with 2 massive bean bags in behind holding them in place haha. I was rocking around the hood today with this set up and it went fine... albeit no accidents. 
 

in other news I saw a local mate and he took me to his neighbours shed where there was a MINT XWGT genuine sedan. It was epic. 
 

I have some mk4 zodiac bucket seats in the Fairmont and they fit perfectly. 
 

ultimately I wasn’t happy as I need the original seats so I started looking as they are super rare to come across. 
 

$3k will get you a pair in aussie in bad condition. Plus post. Plus trusting if the gumtree ad is real.

found these down the line and are picking them up this weekend. Genuine and in good condition. The price hurts but now the car is getting closer to being a minter. 
 

I will be selling the zodi seats shortly to offset the financial pain. 
 

in other news it appears the car may need a new head gasket.  Ordered one repco (valve regains kit) $80 odd bucks. 
 

Wish me luck. I will remove the ali radiator and put in a v8 recored genuine one. 

I got busy with some hammerite and a small brush today. It’s not professional however it’s good enough for me. The XY Fairmont chrome is popping 

Stuck door handle and lock - pulled the card and lubed the mechanism. 
 

works a treat now - also found some calliper paint and made the door cup “better”. I will get repro new ones. 
 

also removed the screws from the door cards…..who would do such an outlandish thing. 

Mini update - I managed to SWAP my bench front seat for some averagely retrimmed bucket seats that appear to be mk4 zodiac ones 
 

Here they are mocked up in the car as I’m yet to have the centre bracket welded in. 
 

$1000 later, a full set of short Koni shocks are en route and I’m getting close to having the rear leaves reset 4” and removing 2” the blocks. I’m hoping the same place can reset my front springs 1” but that’s a 2023 problem. 
 

wrx type r sold yesterday so now I can relax for a bit and focus on this build. 
 

front and rear seat retrimming is $2400 via Tinwald canvas and upholstery Ashburton.
 

I will get this done in the coming year along with new interior everything.

They have the patterns and it’s a pretty basic replication job. They will be XYGT/GS spec trim. 
 

still after the lid for the dickie seat too (any colour)

We on

I really couldn’t help myself - the 14x8 prostars are on with the 245 50 14 nankangs. 
 

morenfor Eagers preservation more than anything….
 

GT gas cap is en route and I cannot wait to fit it  

Koni short shocks will be ordered soon and then slamming time with reset leaves and super low springs 

Bucket seat bracket arrived from Resto Country aussie super fast. Now to weld it in and get the. I need the seats here now. 
 

In prep for my bucket seats, I ordered the bloody bracket that I was loathed to pay for. 
 

it sits over the trans tunnel and allows the inner leg of the buckets to locate.  
 

Also it appears I need 2 x nylon 45mm bushes with 8mm centre bore as a spacer. $74nz for 2 off trademe or $8 if you c all a plastic engineering place in NZ haha. 
 

I also buffed the hell out of the 14x8 prostars and almost have got the clear coat off using stripper many many times….. that was some good sh!t they used back then. Sigh. 

I ordered repro centre caps from GT Wheels aussie and some ROH 45mm decals from Toyshop Engineering in NZ.

I think you agree that they now are looking great and all for the cost of some 800 and 1000 grit wet n dry and elbow grease  

My spare mint 245 50 14 nankangs will go on the prostars as I want to save the Eagers as much as I can  

Carb was leaking fuel down the idle bleed valve and a mate popped in the other night, tore it down and it’s now fixed and runs loads better. The bloody dizzy cap was loose….which wouldn’t help the richness and bad idle  

Now to fit the buckets when the arrive, time it up and then I ca  look to reset leaves 4” and super low front springs with new struts

if anyone ha super lows to suit PM me.  

I whipped out the old bench seat, as I have some bucket seats from an XT Fairmont coming my way. 
 

the car needs the carb rebuilt and cleaned as the air idle bleed is leaking so it’s not happy when the car comes to a stop. I have to manually pull the choke to keep it alive. 
 

easy fix and the stromberg carb looks pretty simple. 
 

if anyone is heading to chch or Nelson from Auckland and has space for a bench seat holla. Cash paid for help with post. 
 

sh1t I LOVE this car. 

800 grit wet and dry then 1000 and the prostars are looking a lot better. There is nothing like a bit of the old elbow grease to really make them pop