SPArKy_Dave

Nothing wrong with the old points dizzys they ran the various models of falcons pretty nicely, for 20yrs. You're keeping the car original, so I'd be inclined to stay with the original points ignition. They really are simple, easy and cheap to service.

I mean to get a new vacuum advance unit for the original dissy. They're held on with a small circlip and two screws. It's not much work to test your existing advance unit. Get a bit of rubber hose, attach it to the advance fitting, suck on the hose, and see if you can pull a vacuum on it, and get the advance lever/mech to move.

Yes, they can.

I'd be checking the timing advance mechanism in the distributor. If the advance weights are seized, or the vacuum advance diaphragm is perished, it can make it quite hard to start. Same with a worn out Condensor in the distributor. It's an easy job to remove the dissy, then disassemble and lubricate all the moving parts. The vacuum advance unit can be rebuilt with a new diaphragm, or I know a place who still has some new ones on the shelf. The starter won't make it hard to start - it either spins the motor over, or it doesn't.

It's also about creating a Virtual pivot point in the front suspension, which is non-existent at anywhere near standard height.

Squid, what you need are 'SHORT BODY' shocks, not just short stroke. As you can see by the Koni's, the SP4's are short body. Then maybe some shock spacers too, would be good. If you're going to play on the UltraLow team, you'll need Koni's or Bilsteins for it to be any good. Unfortunately, there's no getting out of it with cheap run of the mill shocks, like Monroe, KYB or Gabriels, etc.

Yes, those or some Bilsteins will make a world of difference.

Not a great idea for a road vehicle. These old girls need the pliability of rubber bushes. Going urethane will only make the NVH worse, and at a reduced bush lifespan too. Never be tempted to run urethane upper front shock bushes. They're known to tear the spotwelds from the shock tops, thus pushing the shock rod into the bonnet. As a gauge, my XG ute has KFFL59's and is (only just) legal height running 18inch wheels, and 90mm clearance running 16inch wheels with 225/50/16 tyres. Because of that, KFFL59's should still be within 100mm on a 6cyl XD-XF I imagine. Shocks also add spring rate, and can ruin the ride of the vehicle -

Take a pic from a better perspective, like this - http://www.ozfalcon.com.au/index.php?/topic/2218-the-tyre-clearance-vs-bump-stop-thread/

Btw, that passenger shock will be doing nothing. It looks like it's vomited all the oil out.

http://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/infosheets/LVVTA_Info_05-2004_Falcon_Balljoints-Aug_2004.pdf Look at the bumpstop clearance here -

Yeah, put gladwrap over the paint stripper, which will increase the work-time.

Koni's or Bilsteins are the answer. Are you sure its the bumpstops you're hitting? And not the upper ball joints running out of travel and binding? http://www.ozfalcon.com.au/index.php?/topic/4855-warning-aftermarket-ball-joints-danger/

I've got a Windsor in an F-truck... does that count?

They do have a MOOG upper ball joint to suit the Aussie Falcons - K8142 is the part number. Suits the Ford Torino's, and some Lincolns. The lower ball joint only seems to come as a part of new lower arm assemblies. And from the pics, it certainly looks like it'd have the correct travel. It has the cutout front and back, to allow the spindle to lay over more. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-Front-Upper-Suspension-Ball-Joint-K8142-/381228686768?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item58c3001db0&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suspension-Control-Arm-and-Ball-Joint-Assembly-Front-Right-Upper-Dorman-520-105-/351054938096?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item51bc813ff0&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-K8202-1972-79-Ford-1968-79-Lincoln-Front-Upper-Control-Arm-Bushing-Kit-/330868480444?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item4d094c59bc&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Pair-Set-Front-Lower-Control-Arm-Suspension-with-Bushings-Ford-Mercury-/390978646812?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item5b0824b31c&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-Front-Lower-K8123-Suspension-Control-Arm-and-Ball-Joint-Assembly-/301646698946?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item463b8b59c2&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOOG-K8192-Suspension-Control-Arm-Bushing-Kit-Lower-Control-Arm-/171805362727?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item280065ca27&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unimotive-BJ1812-Suspension-Control-Arm-and-Ball-Joint-Assembly-Front-Lower-/291373573358?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item43d737e4ee&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mercury-Lower-Control-Arm-W-Ball-Joint-Bushings-Front-Left-LH-Or-Right-/371281099878?fits=Make%3AFord|Model%3ATorino&hash=item567213fc66&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suspension-Control-Arm-and-Ball-Joint-Assembly-Front-Lower-MOOG-CK8123-/141678199326?fits=Year%3A1970|Make%3AFord|Model%3AMustang&hash=item20fcadc21e&vxp=mtr

I think it's up to us, to do the hard work. The problem is too 'obscure' for regulators to be interested IMO. I could easily get onto Alibaba, and import a crate of BJ94's from some chinese seller, to flog on ebay. There is no regulation I don't think. Only self certification.

Like this 'OEM' replacement?

The main brands available these days, seem to be - Roadsafe TRW - a Repco special Transteering Wasp Protex Ford Motorcraft - Taiwanese balljoints Rare Spares - unbranded ebay - unbranded specials Moog - premo brand from the USA 555 - when you can find them HOWEVER - it's questionable just how many of these brands (if any) have the range of movement the old Aussie 3 piece TRW ball joints had.

XD-XG factory bumpstops are longer, XK-XC/Mustang are shorter. But........ ONLY the shorter style is available aftermarket, and is sold as suitable for XK-XG. I don't think genuine bumpstops are available anymore in either style. Maybe do a test - take the boot off the balljoint, and remove the spring/shock, and see what the balljoint clearance is like, throughout the full arc of travel. From left to right - NOS XD-XG (nla) Mackay Rarespares Superpro

Some are still available, yes. And yes, I think an Aussie re-test is in order.

Excellent find good sir..... I've been wondering about this for years, but I think an Australian comparison test is in order. I might do just that in the near future, to see what brands are dangerous, and which brands work. http://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/infosheets/LVVTA_Info_05-2004_Falcon_Balljoints-Aug_2004.pdf 555 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ford-Upper-and-Lower-Ball-Joints-OE-Style-/260756305446?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3cb6497626

http://www.metal-wear.com/Myths.htm http://www.dixcelaustralia.com.au/brake-literature/disc-literature http://www.racingbrake.com/v/main/rotor_is_important.asp

The mullet dog? And why is it always the left bank? LOL!

I think we need a 'Genius Idea's' section in OzFalcon, for all this sort of stuff.