XY Fairmont - rivalrx - Discussion

[Bearded Baldy]

Shit yeah thats not too bad at all.

[rivalrx]

I finally found old moon caps like I had in the late 90s on my old XY Fairmont. 
 

14x8 tridens 
 

 

 

 

[rivalrx]

[rivalrx]

Mate came over in his xy Fairmont the other day 

 

 

[rivalrx]

Spit and polish today - almost time to rip the 6 out and begin the 351c journey. 

[Tiger Tamer]

My Tiger uses the Top loader close ratio gear box, though the SBF Windsor. They have a big first gear and the Tiger has a 2.88 rear. It can nearly hit the speed limit in first gear which is quite fun. I hope it is in good condition for you.

[rivalrx]

On 09/07/2024 at 16:51, Tiger Tamer said:

My Tiger uses the Top loader close ratio gear box, though the SBF Windsor. They have a big first gear and the Tiger has a 2.88 rear. It can nearly hit the speed limit in first gear which is quite fun. I hope it is in good condition for you.

Cheers pal - I will need to sus a 9” down the line and get the ratios right for my usage. 

my diff might be 2:77 or 2:92 ish. It’s a single spinner so definitely needs toughening up one day  def needs an lsd  

I need a flywheel and clutch soon plus a bell housing (think mate has one)

next steps paint strip the.box and get it nice and blue. Will probably passivate the linkages at some stage too. 

[rivalrx]

Pretty much have all the hard to acquire parts now and it’s about time to get the block/s sonic tested and built up.

 

loads of niggley bits like dizz alt, carb coil oil pump and pick up clutch fly and slave, pedal and master, exhaust to go. But those are readily available. 

[Lord Gruntfuttock]

Nice to see a top loader being used. My bro had a beast genuine XA GT that had a very tricky one (unsure if close ratio or not). He sold it before it got sorted. Was pretty hard to use round town, engine only came on song around 3000rpm which didn't help... 

Still remember him crunching it into top gear at 120mph...

[rivalrx]

I hear they are unforgiving if not set up correctly and can be finicky as F. 
 

I didn’t think I’d be able to afford one to be honest but I made it all happen. 
 

I really want this to be in keeping with how they came out from factory but I’m not going to all the effort to have it exact. 
 

XA GT - siiiick

[Tiger Tamer]

1 hour ago, rivalrx said:

I hear they are unforgiving if not set up correctly and can be finicky as F. 
 

I didn’t think I’d be able to afford one to be honest but I made it all happen. 
 

I really want this to be in keeping with how they came out from factory but I’m not going to all the effort to have it exact. 
 

XA GT - siiiick

As for setting up the linkages it is relatively easy. I have the process in my Tigers manual (sing out if you need it), which reminds me I need to adjustt. The toploader has yellow metal synros so you need to use the correct oil or the oil can eat them away. Here is a link to a well respected specialist of the toploader Gear Oil (4speedtoploaders.com)

I need to rebuild the Tigers box as it slips out of gear in 3rd and starting in 2nd. I was a bit pissed off really as I had it checked over when restoring the car and was told it was ok. They also didn't put the top cover gasket on which means the oil has access to the vent in the cover and leaks everywhere. It is a full gasket with a few vent holes to let the pressure out. Not just the periphery of the housing.  I ended up having a fitting brazed on the vent hole with a bit of fuel hose which goes up into the engine bay just to be sure.

[CUL8R]

If you get stuck I have a muncie rebuild how to with from memory a section on the Hurst Shifter. (in saying that on youtube there is lots of videos)

But basically I would polish up the plates and lightly grease. Have the linkage bushings tight (or if you really want to splurge get spherical rod ends) , and once you know the throw from the lever itself, the hurst housing should have some threaded holes - for a nut/bolt to be wound in as stops - that way you can smash gears as hard as you like against the stops without over throwing the selectors

[Bearded Baldy]

9inch diffs are outdated and overly heavy imho. Tracking down an xg or xh ute diff would be easier and has bonus of disc brakes (same as e series falcon so parts are available), 3.45 ratio if xr6/8, lsd 4 pinion and 28 spline axles. Tough as.

And still ford parts so no blasphsmy involved.

[rivalrx]

Cheers for the input team. Helpful as 

[cletus]

i wonder if a explorer 8.8 might be another good option for a XY

1 short axle, narrow one side, fits perfect in a valiant, which is about 57 inches disc face to disc face from memory

 

 

[Lord Gruntfuttock]

I looked at a 9 inch but thought fuck it. It's expensive and heavy and the old borgy handles a lot more powerful engines than mine. If XYs weren't so narrow it'd be easier, but I'll diff swap when I need to rather than just cos.

Plus tahi wheel peels are ace... 

[rivalrx]

3 hours ago, cletus said:

i wonder if a explorer 8.8 might be another good option for a XY

1 short axle, narrow one side, fits perfect in a valiant, which is about 57 inches disc face to disc face from memory

 

 

Yes those are a decent option for sure. I guess it comes down to how OG do I want it to be aye. 

[rivalrx]

1 hour ago, Lord Gruntfuttock said:

I looked at a 9 inch but thought fuck it. It's expensive and heavy and the old borgy handles a lot more powerful engines than mine. If XYs weren't so narrow it'd be easier, but I'll diff swap when I need to rather than just cos.

Plus tahi wheel peels are ace... 

 Copy that!

[rivalrx]

I will be building my Simmons up to have the same rears as the white XY (10”)with the same fronts as the red XY (8.5”)

both cars have the FR17 centre and stepped lips to 18”. There are no FR18 centres that I’m aware of. 
 

A new set from Simmons 3 piece in the 18”x 10” and 18”x 8.5” are……..$8k

[rivalrx]

Engine I bought in bits was measured up by a mate and appears that we are good to go after a hone and a clean.

Still looking for the hurst shifter to toploader bracket but other than that, just cobbling the clutch bits I need to get stuck in.

Found a gt rep bonnet locally that I may buy and sell my spare. That could save me some cost and time but not if its wavy and unusable.

As seen in the thread, I have some OG 5 slots 14x8 riveted rims less the caps. Getting those this week