86 XF Falcon Ute not starting

[deankxf 21,085]

19 minutes ago, XF EDDIE said:

Will a head gasket for an el fit it? If so I might just pull the head off

i assume it's the same, brother used an AU one from memory on his EB 3.9 engine. 

[SPArKy_Dave 9,337]

4 hours ago, XF EDDIE said:

Will a head gasket for an el fit it? If so I might just pull the head off

 

Yes it should, but double check.

 

All e-series used composite type head gaskets,

however minor changes occurred with the EF onwards gaskets, in an attempt to increase reliability.

 

AU MLS type gaskets were much more reliable,

however to my knowledge, they need a different finish on the head and block surface to seal correctly.

@deankxf?

 

[deankxf 21,085]

1 hour ago, SPArKy_Dave said:

 

Yes it should, but double check.

 

All e-series used composite type head gaskets,

however minor changes occurred with the EF onwards gaskets, in an attempt to increase reliability.

 

AU MLS type gaskets were much more reliable,

however to my knowledge, they need a different finish on the head and block surface to seal correctly.

@deankxf?

 

My brother didn't do anything but check for straightness, replace one valve and clean the sufaces with a wire brush and send it.. 100,000 ish kms no issue on the gasket, but the car was basically worn out, so was given to a mate to run into the ground. 

[Thom 6,710]

 
Yes it should, but double check.
 
All e-series used composite type head gaskets,
however minor changes occurred with the EF onwards gaskets, in an attempt to increase reliability.
 
AU MLS type gaskets were much more reliable,
however to my knowledge, they need a different finish on the head and block surface to seal correctly.
[mention=291]deankxf[/mention]?
 

I've put a couple of hundred au head gaskets on e series falcons (always good to source au spec bolts too), I've always had the head skimmed and just cleaned the block really well with scrapers and an oil stone, as long as the block is flat it will hold up for more than a couple of 100,000ks, its funny most ea to ed head gasket failures I've seen were caused the head gasket failing or corrosion in the head, 7 out of 10 ef/el failures were a broken bolt on cylinder 2 or 5, usually exhaust side

[XF EDDIE 203]

Just a random question but where does the jack go in an XF ute? When I bought it it was just thrown in the back along with the wire handle, in the spare wheel compartment it had some kind of hold down for something just thrown in there and in the top right there's a bracket which looks like something to do with the jack. I stared at it for a good 2 minutes and couldn't figure it out, anyone got any ideas?

[SPArKy_Dave 9,337]

Jack/handle/brace, go in a bag made from carpet, and live behind the seat.

The wheel compartment hold-down, is for a thread/bracket and wing-nut, to stop the wheel sliding side-to-side.

 

[XF EDDIE 203]

Well I have bad news. After spending $314 on a seat I now have the wrong seat. I think it's out of an xg rather than an xf because instead of those long bolts it has the e series bolts, it's also noticeably thinner and has a different spring design and backrest mounting holes. I'm going to try and put the seat from my ea into it and I'll see if I can find an actual xf seat in the meantime.

[deankxf 21,085]

17 minutes ago, XF EDDIE said:

think it's out of an xg rather than an xf because instead of those long bolts it 

The late xf utes from 1988 to xg also had that EA to ED/XG seat mount. 

 

Can you swap the rails? I can't remember if so

[XF EDDIE 203]

24 minutes ago, deankxf said:

The late xf utes from 1988 to xg also had that EA to ED/XG seat mount. 

 

Can you swap the rails? I can't remember if so

That might be it too I'll have to see. I can swap the rails but if I'm going to use the wrong seat I may as well use the one out of the EA as its in much better condition. My original plan was to swap the vinyl cover from my seat to this one but as its different it would need a full retrim and it wouldn't be worth it

[XF EDDIE 203]

Well I've been talking to ed and we're both stumped. Apparently the seat came out of an 85 xf ute so the rails being wrong seems weird as well as the difference in spring design and seat belt grommet placement. I've attached some photos for you to look at so hopefully I can figure out this mess. (The seat on the left is the original)

Rail to floor bolts

And the weird spring setup

 

[deankxf 21,085]

one on the left might be F100? 
@SPArKy_Dave might have a clue? 

although we'd both have a better idea from the seat trim (you sit on)

[SPArKy_Dave 9,337]

3 hours ago, deankxf said:

@SPArKy_Dave might have a clue?

 

Left one looks like normal 85-87 XF (Fawn colour trim)

Right one looks like 88-90 XF - Tanbark coloured trim/plastic side trim holes/vertical seat belt grommets.

 

1988 onwards utes, got the EA floor pan incl, taller trans tunnel for the EA/XG 4spd Auto.

They also lowered the seating position, for improved headroom I think.

[XF EDDIE 203]

16 minutes ago, SPArKy_Dave said:

 

Left one looks like normal 85-87 XF (Fawn colour trim)

Right one looks like 88-90 XF - Tanbark coloured trim/plastic side trim holes/vertical seat belt grommets.

 

1988 onwards utes, got the EA floor pan incl, taller trans tunnel for the EA/XG 4spd Auto.

They also lowered the seating position, for improved headroom I think.

That helps me alot. So the seat that came out of my XF would be the same as the sedans, including the rails and springs? If so that makes everything a lot easier 

 

[SPArKy_Dave 9,337]

14 minutes ago, XF EDDIE said:

So the seat that came out of my XF would be the same as the sedans, including the rails and springs?

 

Yes, the sedan/wagon front seats from each era, will fit the matching era utes/panelvans.

 

EA-AU (possibly up to FG) seats will fit the 1988 onwards XF utes (see below important note)

XD-XF (and possibly XA/XB/XC) seats will fit the pre-88 XF utes

 

Important note -

88' onwards 'factory bucket seat' vehicle floor pans, had extra reinforcing, for the inner seat rails to bolt up.

88' onwards 'factory bench seat' vehicles are missing these welded floor brackets.

 

Pre-88' x-series vehicles with factory fitted bucket seats, did not have extra floor reinforcing.

ie, it's easy to fit pre-88' XD-XF bucket seats, into a pre-88' factory bench seat vehicle.

 

@deankxf can probably confirm further

[XF EDDIE 203]

Just wondering, does an xg panel van exhaust just bolt straight up?

[deankxf 21,085]

1 hour ago, XF EDDIE said:

Just wondering, does an xg panel van exhaust just bolt straight up?

it's a bigger diameter pipe, so it may need mods where it bolts to the cat/engine pipe. 

i've seen one fitted before, but from memory it wasn''t a direct fit. maybe just due to that, or maybe the exhaust hangers were in different positions.
if it's cheap, it wouldn't cost much to adapt it if the exhaust shop is fair. 

[XF EDDIE 203]

20 hours ago, deankxf said:

it's a bigger diameter pipe, so it may need mods where it bolts to the cat/engine pipe. 

i've seen one fitted before, but from memory it wasn''t a direct fit. maybe just due to that, or maybe the exhaust hangers were in different positions.
if it's cheap, it wouldn't cost much to adapt it if the exhaust shop is fair. 

I might be able to get a rotted out xg pano for free so I might see if I can swap the whole system. Would the cat section fit too. Mine has a broken stud so I would like to swap the whole lot

[deankxf 21,085]

4 minutes ago, XF EDDIE said:

I might be able to get a rotted out xg pano for free so I might see if I can swap the whole system. Would the cat section fit too. Mine has a broken stud so I would like to swap the whole lot

the exhaust manifold doesn't fit

i don't think the cat pipe would fit either. 

 

[XF EDDIE 203]

Well I got the ea seat in and it is way lower than the original. Its so low in fact that its getting jammed on the carpet and at full back the seat belts barely reach so I'll definitely need to hunt down an original seat. 

[XF EDDIE 203]

Just wondering could too thick oil make an engine run bad? I changed my oil and I put 20w60 in it and its running shitty.

 

[deankxf 21,085]

2 hours ago, XF EDDIE said:

Just wondering could too thick oil make an engine run bad? I changed my oil and I put 20w60 in it and its running shitty.

 

I can't imagine a crossflow caring much,  i used to put HPR diesel 20/60 in my cars because a mate who worked at autobarn at the time got them for me below cost due to damage/leaky containers.. didn't see any change other than it shut one of the noisy lifter engines up 

 

it's not ideal for the dizzy gear apparently, puts more strain on the oil pump. 

[XF EDDIE 203]

Well its been a while but I have good news. With the seat I just zip tied the springs back together and shes good as new, Im keeping the ea seat untill I get done with the roadworthy but then Ill switch back to the xf seat. Took it to the mechanics today and all he knocked it back on was some bushings an oil leak on the fuel pump and the exhaust so I ripped the exhaust out of an xg that was in a car graveyard near me and turns out apart from needing to die grind out the holes on the cat pipe it bolts right up (looks better too) so that was a success too! Ill get the bushings done tommorrow and hopefully thursday Ill be able to post a photo with plates.

[XF EDDIE 203]

Its now officially on the road! Even I still dont get how it passed with some of the rust and bushings but its now registered. Tomorrow ive got a bag of bushings to install ready for a 2hr trip on Sunday, Im also gonna try an idea for a power bleeder to try and get a pesky air bubble out in the rear brakes, so if it works Ill post a photo of that too.

[deankxf 21,085]

15 minutes ago, XF EDDIE said:

, Im also gonna try an idea for a power bleeder to try and get a pesky air bubble out in the rear brakes, so if it works Ill post a photo of that too.

 

My failsafe trick I invented? (i've never seen a video of it or mention of it) 
is to get fish tank bubbler hose or clear hose from bunnings etc (not sure what it's used for, but i'd call it one man brake bleeding hose)

 

basically get s bit of rubber hose that fits over the bleed nipple and also the clear hose fits in..
make sure the brake reservoir doesn't get too low in the process, but basically crack the bleed screw and gently push the brake pedal down and slowly up and watch the air bubble go the full length of the hose and even back to the master cyl if you have a long enough length (2meters is enough to watch the bubble/s until there's no more from the drivers seat. 

 

 

[XF EDDIE 203]

Well after taking it for a drive its apparent that the cams disintergrating again so Ive organized another engine to swap in while I rebuild this one. So if anyone has any links to a good bearing kit/gasket kit for the old 250 it would be much appreciated. I want to do a full overhaul on it as when I changed the cam the first time the cam bearings looked cooked. Also would driving it around as it is do any damage to it that wouldnt be fixed via a rebuild?