deankdx

there's nothing meant to go in there. i suspect, like the waterpump hole, it's designed to let the fuel out(coolant on the water pump) when they fail.. you'd need a new fuel pump is My suspicion., lucky it's not going into the sump, infact, you should check your oil, if it's thin or higher than it was.. change it also because it will be contaminated with fuel and not as good with lubrication but can also cause other issues if so. @SPArKy_Dave will probably be able to confirm this

1979 to 1981 XD Fairmont Ghia is probably the easiest for them to look up, all had that diff. same can be said for the ZJ fairlane of same year or the equiv LTD which is an FC LTD. XD ghia also had a sway bar standard, which explains a little also.

1. perhaps @Mr Polson would know or be able to look up.. 2 and 3.. same as above are the discs on part of the back of the axle or can they be removed with one screw off the axle from the outside. photos will help

you may find your answers in this thread , but i would say the biggest issue is the XA onwards diffs are slightly wider than an XR -XY diff making the wheel choice a bit harder to judge they fit 6" rims easy, but not sure how wide 78DA is XC onwards, so has the big center bore wheels.. (so XY wheels won't fit) i'd assume a sway bar was available in 1978, they made drum brake diffs that are almost same right up to 1993

i don't believe so

2. no, EA EB ED hand brake cable should fit directly. if you used an XD to XF one you'd need to adjust mounting points( i did this once before i heard the e series cable is a direct fit.. check the calipers hand brake levers move and return, they are better than the XE XF ones, but still can stick on(cooking your brakes)

it will fit. i haven't done one into XD.. but into XE and XF you'd just use the EA to ED hand brake cable from a sedan.. and it would work(suspect will be same) you'll need a brake line adaptor for the car being imperial brake line on the body, to the metric of the EA diff. depends how much of the brake lines you have on the diff(i used to get the nuts changed on the diff hard lines to imperial at the T piece and use the XD hose and T piece tailshaft from an EB to EL sedan should fit straight into an XD sedan(unless you have an FMX or top loader gearbox, then just swap the yoke there) you can swap the diff yoke, but you may upset the pre load?

if so, it will have solid discs and a flat round tailshaft flange

if it has solid discs, it will be an E series diff(or XG) if it has vented discs that you cant remove without pulling an axle out it will be pre XD(XC and possible XB) if it has vented discs that can come off (one screw retains them) once the caliper is removed, and the caliper is Cast Iron, it will be XD diff. if it's got vented discs and alloy calipers, it will be XE or XF diff. that should be enough to id it. EB onwards series also have a round flange for the tailshaft to bolt on, where upto EA had the 2 straps over the uni joints.

yep,. just found @Hawksam67 thread

there's someone on here with a starwars themed panelvan.. name escapes me but it might be decked out?

think it will be for the smart lock light , that's only a guess i haven't looked at them for ages i'd have thought it should have it on ED unless it's a different cluster not from the car(like an EA Or early EB one fitted)

@SPArKy_Dave will say about the thermostat that should be used.. @gerg will say about ignition timing etc

AS ABOVE.. but ED also will be direct fit.

i've seen some conversions on these on Australian ford forums, been a long time since i've seen updates on any particular project https://fordforums.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=111 a few i've seen, and one i liked in particular was XA drums on the front, with XP ute wheels(5 stud) and a centura diff i think (falcon pattern) otherwise, the XA to XF discs bolt on using the stub axles from same model, but i believe this needs mods and also causes bump steer? there is a disc brake kit that bolts on to the early stub axles(may need to be XP, cant remember) if you don't mind a search(use the search feature) on forums, you'll probably find it in the link above . depends on the extent of mods/budget/use.. there's options