Out with the BA in with the 1965 XP

[gregg_13]

Well last weekend I said goodbye to my BA XR6 Ute and as of tonight Ill be the owner of a 65 XP sedan.

THe car doesnt come without issues, this is by no means someone elses project that I'm picking up, this will be taking up any spare time I have between work and a Baby.

Theres a little rust here and there and will need a spray down the track. bu overall its a good package, Its was all put together 2 years ago for the telethon trek and has since sat in a carport doing nothing.

The interior needs a little work like new head lining etc.

But im stoked with the new car. The missus has an 08 TDci Focus and now I have my toy too.

Will post up some pics later this week or weekend after i get her home and give it a good clean.

[Bmobile]

mmmm.... classic not plastic. You will miss the ute i'm sure, but you will love cruzing in the xp so much more you will soon forget about the ute. So..... steady on the clutch; easy on the gears; roll her over gently, and she'll be yours for years.

well done.

[gregg_13]

Well lets go through the package, shes had an auto box put in, and the 200SP motor.

However theyve also given me the 170 and the manual box, new chrome grill and light surrounds and wheels and tyres with hub caps.

Its got new exhaust and heavy duty suspension, im sure Its gonna be a longterm love affair.

Best thing for me is the wife is 100% behind it.

[zx10]

Great choice of car!

I had a 65 XP Fairmont with the 200sp motor a few years ago. They are a great motor and a really cool cruiser.

Good luck with your project

[ZA-289]

Is it going to be your daily? If so good luck keeping it on the road, if its just a weekender, Good work, you'll love it! (but miss the power of the BA no doubt)

[gregg_13]

Originally Posted by ZA-289

Is it going to be your daily? If so good luck keeping it on the road, if its just a weekender, Good work, you'll love it! (but miss the power of the BA no doubt)

Engine and driveline wise there is no reason I should have any problems with it, as for anything else, I guarantee there will be times when its off the road for bigger areas of work.

[XPfalcon170]

Nice find mate. Must be something in the air as the old man just bought an xp fairmont recently aswell.

May she serve you well on your travels

[GT69]

Funny. In late 05 i traded from a 1965 XP ute to a BA

[gregg_13]

Well first some pics of the girl as I got her..











As you can see below, this is just a small portion of the chrome spares ive started to put away for her, also there is a full set of retractable seatbelts.


Now the fun begins, First off the rank was to get her running smoothly, nearly all done, got a few heating issues to sort out, a minor flat spot on acceleration, New fuel lines on the way, the pod filter is soon to be replaced and the heater hoses are gone, additionally an overflow tank is going in.

Next port of call, the original 13" wheels which i got with her are getting sandblasted and powder coated and then new springs all round, Lovells Super lows in the front and lows in the rear.

Then I will start on the guages, new fuel sender and new accel cable. Oh the money is getting spent quick now.

[2stroksmokr]

Reminds me of well me but the opposite. I sold my HR for $12,000 and bought a BA xr6 ute for $12700 (auction booya).

I think the other reason I upgraded was air con. I miss the old girl got so many looks, and the other men the used to come over and be like wow I used to have a HR story or the young kids trying to be 'interested' now some smoking hot milf drives it whom bought it off me.

That XP looks sexy as. I'm currently doing up a EH for my mums 50th and a ol morris for my Dad. So still see the classics everyday.

[1970galaxie]

I had an XM 4 door years ago.
One of the first in Perth to drop a V8 into one of them.
Used the 8" diff from a Fairlane compact. Stock drums all round. 14s rear, 13s front. Hubcaps to suit.
Cut a hole in the floor for a stick. No neutral/start switch. No detents in the shifter. No lever to push in with the thumb. Just a stick!
I had the pattern in reverse. I remember cruising through Scarb Beach carpark and hitting my knee on the shifter and it slammed in reverse while going forward. Ouch....but it still went LOL!

It was a blast, a real sleeper.

Anyway, you'll have lots of fun and such an easy car to convert if you choose to do so.

[gregg_13]

The Brother in Law, whose on here as XH5LTWPN has convinced me to converth this to a 302 down the track, so will start putting parts away for that once my shed is up.

Cheers

[Riksta]

Looks like a beautiful car!!!

Glad you're putting original rims back on it and lowering it, those rims look hideous on it (personal opinion).

[gregg_13]

SHe was used for a Variety bash event of sorts, so they are heavy duty rims and rally tyres, hence also the paint damage here and there where the stickers were removed

I cant wait to get the originals back on her, Got all the original hubs too and chrome trims on the way

[prydey]

Originally Posted by gregg_13

The Brother in Law, whose on here as XH5LTWPN has convinced me to converth this to a 302 down the track,

no surprise there. no doubt he'd have a few go fast bits floating around.

[Bmobile]

If you were a bit closer then I would prob buy some of the ex rally gear off her..... springs, tyres ect.

[gregg_13]

B, the suspension would have been ideal and three of the tyres but unfortunatley they replaced a front bush after the trek and failed to adjust the front end so she was toe out for a long time leaving me with one tyre very bald on the edge.

Just had new interior door chrome arrive yesterday, now just need to get around to siorting out the speedo and getting a new fuel sender unit. this one seems to be shot.

[schnoods]

Originally Posted by gregg_13

The Brother in Law, whose on here as XH5LTWPN has convinced me to converth this to a 302 down the track, so will start putting parts away for that once my shed is up.

Cheers

Then Jeff will get you wanting alloy heads, a tko box....

Looks like a nice pick up

[gregg_13]

Hell I 'd like an alloy head for the old 6, theres a mob in the states, Classicinlines, they do full alloy heads for these old girls. WHat ever I do though, will reamin Old Skool, one of the main reasons other then loving this car, that I got rid of the BA was , I dont want anything to do with computers. Also with the house and a 3 week old bub in the house, the funds are tight at the moment, will get her running a little better and get it low and then look at doin the poker run for a laugh

[Sourbastard]

theres many options for a six. 250, 250 Xflow, 265 Hemi. Just keep in mind your trans and diff are made from pudding, so upgrade them first if you can.

Personally though, I like the V8 in a 60's cruiser. The 5.0 has so many aftermarket options you are spoilt for choice.

[gregg_13]

All down the road a little yet for me, but I do want to look at swapping over the 5 stud disc brake front end and 5 stud rear, alternatively, was reading the other day about changing over the front and rear discs with shortened E series rear end. Like i said though, all in good time...