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SteveHobart

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Posts posted by SteveHobart

  1. Posted

    Update on XF Build. Whilst waiting for the block and head to be machined, I’ve been fixing some other issues on the XF.

    Have pulled the Dashboard out and have found a worn ODO gear in the cluster so have ordered some more. Have also been tidying up the paint work (a bit, it’s still dodgy as).

    Still have an issue with the Speedo and not sure if what I have done will have any effect. There’s a leak in the rear seal on the gearbox so have been considering pulling that out as well (and I have heard it’s easier to put the engine in with the box attached) to fix the rear seal and the speedo gear!


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  4. Posted

    Oh, forgot to mention. My youngest and I went to the local racetrack for a bit of a look. There was a turbo RX7 on track and it was shooting 4 foot flames out of the exhaust. Anyway, my youngest loved it!

    So the XF has sidepipes and I have worked out how to program the ECU to shoot flame, just because he likes it!

    Funniest thing is, one of my day jobs at the moment is consulting for the Climate Change Office on Electric Vehicle transition for local council. Hypocrisy to the max!


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  5. Posted

    Hey mate, thanks for chasing me up. Have been pretty busy on the XF (when I get time anyway).

     

    Engines out and off to the rebuilders (only for the machining). The plan has altered slightly:

     

    Zero decked block

    Ported head

    Crow 14770 Cam

    Cylinders need to be bored out, so will be 40thou oversize as that’s what’s recommended

    Balance job on the bottom end

    Light weight flywheel

    Have gone with the MS3x ECU with the datalogging function, will just be a bit of fun!

     

    Have ordered some wiring stuff (the engine bay is a mess), new engine mounts and twin 12” thermos and a Davies Craig Thermo switch. Spent an afternoon cleaning the engine bay and am cleaning up and painting the extractors.

     

    So all in all, it’s progressing! Should come in around $3k for everything and should put out some (decent) figures!

     

    Thanks for the input!

     

     

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  6. Posted

    Hey Guys

     

    Well I have the engine out and ready to build a mild EFI crossflow for a bit of a fun/track car. I’d love some advice on the plan to tweak it before I pull the trigger, what I’m thinking is:

    - Port and Polish on Head

    - Zero deck the block

    - Strip and rebuild, will be around 40thou oversized I reckon Piston wise

    - Crow 14892 Mild Hydraulic Cam

    - Stronger Valve Springs

    - Megasquirt ECU to control both fuel and spark

     

    What do we reckon? Will make some good HP?

     

     

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  9. Posted

    Hey all! I’ve finally got to the bottom of my timing issue, have pulled the dizzy and it has about 10-15mm of ‘up and down’ play in it.

     

    I’m assuming that’s knackered! Lol

     

    Only issue is I can’t seem to find any replacements. Any ideas?

     

     

     

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  10. Posted

    Hey guys. I’m throwing around some options for my 87 EFI XF S Pack which needs some work (engine issues). From what I see, I have 4 options with it and I would like to get your feedback/ideas. To preface the options, I would like to use this as a bit of a fun car, do a few hill climb events, some track days and so on. It cost me next to nothing to buy so I don’t want to spend huge $$, think of it as a budget racecar. Plan to build it up over time, so want to pick one direction and evolve it. So the options as I see it are as follows:

     

    1. Ditch the 4.1 and put in a 5.0L Windsor.

    Benefits- V8 (huge benefit), legal, fits and will work with the 4 Speed Single Rail

    Costs- Back to a second hand engine (could have issues like the current one), will be hard on the driveline

     

    2. Fix the CrossFlow

    Benefits- Origional Numbers etc etc however I hardly think a XF will every be worth anything and this one is still in very average nick inside. Probably easiest option and I can learn how to do it myself.

    Costs- It’s still a 250 Crossflow EFI. You can’t do much with them due to the EFI system so they are what they are.

     

    3. Fix the Crossflow and convert to Carbie

    Benefits- Interesting option, can run a huge cam and, from what I’ve read, create good power with some minor adjustments and a good Carbie.

    Costs- Illegal, mine is a 87 Model so has the pollution control gear. Supposed to have a cat as well (I think that went a few owners ago), however who’s going to pull you over and check??

     

    4. Convert to 4.0 SOHC.

    Benefits: Cheap motor, makes more power than a crossflow, can be chipped easily, cammed easily and will fit straight in. Cheap too!

    Costs: Never done an engine swap so could be interesting. Probably won’t marry to the Single rail so will be up for a gearbox too (but a T5 conversion wouldn’t be a bad thing).

     

    Would like some opinions or throw some more options at me!

     

    Cheers

     

    Steve

     

     

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  11. Posted

    Thanks for the encouragement Gents. Took the first steps today. Thought it would be easiest to eliminate the easy things first, so have removed the Intake, Plenum chamber and rocker cover. Have removed the rockers and checked the rods to ensure it’s not a bent rod (it’s not).
    Some observations so far. It’s unnecessarily complex isn’t it, the Vacuum set up from the rocker cover. Took heaps of pics but much of it could be simplified.
    The head (from the top) looks great, no buildup of gunk or anything else on the inside of the rocker cover or on the top of the head. I ran an oil flush through it before changing the oil and it seems to have done its job.
    The prior owner had done a bit of work to it from time to time, fiddled with it a bit. However I’m not sure whether he put it back together well. About 1/2 the bolts on the rocker cover weren’t even finger tight. Maybe the issue is just a vacuum leak from the Rocker Cover?
    The Charcol Canister line is full of oil. Must be a bit of blowby in the engine, maybe a complete strip and rebuild is on the cards?
    I’ll keep going, planning to remove the head completely and get to the lifters next. Hopefully it’s just a dodgy lifter and not a cam lobe?



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  12. Posted

    Hey guys!

     

    So I want to chip my XF EFI Manual and I am told a J3 won’t be compatiable with the XF ECU. So I have a EL ECU and complete wiring loom.

     

    As I understand it, I can connect a few inputs only to the EL ECU and then instal a J3 chip and tune it a little more aggressively. My question is, what inputs need to go where?

     

    When I bypass the XF ecu for the above, can I continue using the XF ECU and loom for the balance?

     

    Thanks

     

     

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  14. Posted

    Thanks for the tip. My biggest issue is that I’m not all that confident pulling the engine out myself and it’s expensive as anything to have someone do it for me (been quoted $1700 for removal and install).


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  15. Posted

    Hi all! Now I have had an issue with my XF Falcon not idling correctly. I have been able to diagnose it to a crook camshaft after having a play with a dial guage (courtesy of EBay of course). So now I have a choice that I was hoping a 4.1 (EFI) guru could help me make.

     

    I have spoken to Crow Cams and they have recommended a Street/Speedway Cam for me which cool. I have a Haynes (online) subscription to the XF Manual which states that the cam can be replaced with the engine in the car.

     

    My question is twofold:

    Firstly, for a relative novice, how hard is it to replace the cam in a 4.1 EFI and get it running again and....

     

    I understand that you can replace the Valve Springs with the head in. Considering the cam has probably been dodgy for a while, would I be better off pulling the head while I’m at it and getting a valve grind etc etc before reinstalling the cam?

     

    Any advice or tricks would be appreciated!

     

     

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  16. Posted

    Hi Guys,

     

    I’m looking to make my XF S Pack into a bit of a hill climb/track day car and I’m looking at seat options. The drivers seat is a little tired, not supportive and, frankly, uncomfortable. I was wondering how easy it is to fit, say, a set of SAAS or similar seats to the XF?

     

    Any advice would be appreciated.

     

    Cheers

     

    Steve

     

     

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  17. Posted

    Hi all! I have a 4.1 EFI in a XF SPack and it hunts at idle. Alternates between 500 and 1000 RPM constantly.

     

    Have you got any ideas on what to look for with this?

     

    Thanks

     

    Steve

     

     

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  18. Posted

    Hey all! I’m converting my XF Falcon to twin electric thermos. I’m looking for an (easy) ignition pickup for the relay on the battery side of the engine bay (traditionally I use the positive on the coil, but seems a long way to go).

    Any good ideas?

     

     

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  25. Posted

    Hey all! Need some help.

     

    Having some issues with the Alloys on the XF. Basically, the front wheels didn’t go over the hub on the new brakes (Disk Brake Australia Rotors). So I had them machined a couple of mm to clear it.

    So now they clear the hubs ok, but the inside of the alloy fouls on the upper control arm when at full droop. I think this has always been the case.

    So I obviously have to fix this issue and, to my mind, there are two ways I can go:

    (A) get 4 x New Alloys which have the correct offset and centre hub measurement or;

    (B) buy some wheel spacers (I am aware of the legalities of wheel spacers and I’m not convinced on the safety of them)

    Would appreciate any ideas! I have attached two pics for illustration.

     

    IMG_0061.HEIC

     

    bc57c0e74e5111cc61971b4ddfa46051.jpg

     

     

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