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Phyber
19-12-2010, 05:03 PM
Epically long post warning!



So I figure after attending my third official AL cruise and enjoying it yet again I may as well stick a build thread on! She's not a stand out number, but that's how I like it for now (work car and all). Hope you enjoy all the same! Down to the story (lifted from the xr6t forum, minor edits).

I bought a Lightning Strike (silver) 2007 BFII XR6 Turbo on the 12th of August 2008. I had been hassling the Ford dealer for a week to find me one with the ZF gearbox, they found one at auction which was ex highway patrol. One quick test drive and I signed, couldn't help myself once I heard the whistle hahaha. My old man drove me down when it was ready to be collected...here's me with a $h*t eating grin having just taken delivery :)

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_1810.jpg

Quick trip back to dad's place for some more snaps of the big day.
The stock engine bay, all 245kw and 480Nm of it, it won't be this clean again for a couple years!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_1816.jpg


By the time I got it home it had only 37,444kms on the clock.


I got involved more actively with the FordXR6turbo forums, and joined them for a cruise. Got to see my first FG up close (DJ Kice). All the excitement went to my head however...
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_1864med.jpg

Yeah not good. It drizzled on me while I waited for a lift home by dad which felt fitting. I apologised to the car and promised not to hurt her again! Full insurance meant a (slow painful) month later I was back driving again. Thanks to my mate Mat for some great pics:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phyber1Edit.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Ford.jpg

June 09: time for my first mod. Nothing dramatic as I was still enjoying my new car warranty. I bought the obligatory K&N air filter from a forum member (think I've seen you here on AL too, XR6TEgo). He commented that my stock air filter didn't look like his original one.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone009-1.jpg

I said maybe the police used different ones? My suspicions were confirmed upon reading the fine print on the side of the old filter.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone012hoon.jpg

Somewhere around here I bought the all important Ford flash box (XCAL3). It sits dormant.

No pics but I also fitted the F6 Typhoon lower air intake snorkel to my airbox. Cut out the hole at dads yet again with measurements taken from fordxr6turbo.com, thanks!

In July 09 I decided the car needed some tarty bling. Off to eBay for some interior light LED replacements, MUAHAHA! Sadly the polarity was the wrong way around for the passenger courtesy lights so off to dads for some dodgy soldering. It's not hooked up quite like this now, it's a bit neater I swear (this one actually blew 6 months later when I was messing with it).
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone017-1.jpg

Yes!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone019-1.jpg


I also read about the oil cap getting brittle and breaking off into the engine. I thought "yeah, nah" so off to supercheap for a new red one! Peeled off the crappy logo from the cap, much nicer this way
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone031rotated-1.jpg

Awww yeah, added 2kw just there, lol. Also hit 55,000kms this month.

I learned that there's a fuel filter on the car (heh) and decided it was time to replace it. As many others found, the nuts were FFFFFNNNN tight. I let dad do the honours with his super duper "tighter you twist the tighter it grips" tool which left nice teeth marks on the nut but did the job.

New filter in. Not looking forward to doing that again, might get XFT to do it from now on :)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone008sm.jpg

Eww, dirty fuel backwash from old filter.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone005sm.jpg

60,000kms ticks over at the end of the month. I'm living in the hills and working in Freo now (ouch). Poor car is my daily.

26/10/2009 - I buy a Nizpro intercooler off of the forum for a tidy sum. It has the piping to suit an aftermarket plenum which I do not have. Still enjoying complete new car warranty, it sits dormant.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone070med.jpg









Come December 2009 I found the angel eyes forum group buy going, rapidly decided they were all kinds of awesome and I had to have them.

This was fun... a text from my mate "you're doing the oil change wrong!" - hahaha.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone038-1.jpg

They are brittle things unfortunately and not able to stand up to my dad's gentle grip, lol.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone042-resize.jpg

With one of the smaller rings broken, we pushed ahead to fit the other 3 and only connect the larger outside rings to power.

Waiting for silicone to set
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone040.jpg

The interim result! Not bad. I posted a thread on here at the time looking for a replacement CCFL and these pics were requested, feedback was mostly positive so was extra chuffed.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone045.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone050med.jpg

70,800km by the end of the month.


I get back from a visit to Tassie to see mum in the new year (2010) and receive replacement rings. Off to dad's once more where they are promptly fitted!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0075crop.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0083med.jpg

Finally the look is complete. Much better at night now as the inner rings are visible while the headlights are on. Probably not enjoyed as much by BMW fans and some others though :p

In March (80,000km) we also fitted some DBA4000 rotors and QFM pads to the car for some better stopping power.

19/05/2010 It's Whoop Ass Wednesday at the Kwinana Motorplex and the drag season is drawing to a close. I am keen to see what the car has got in it. Back when I bought it the salesman gave me the old "it feels a bit more powerful than a normal one" line... I think he was unknowingly speaking the truth!

Best on the night, 13.59 at 105mph. Just can't get that 60 footer down enough for my liking but it was my first ever night competing so I was BLOODY STOKED! Run in well by the cops, thanks guys.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0185toPost.jpg

I shifted in manual mode, no burnout, stalled it up only a little I think, hard to remember due to the adrenaline. About 1400rpm if I did.

Low quality Vid of the run, dad missed the start though! The Nissan (180?) was running low 13's/high 12's to compare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRFUGaC2W00 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRFUGaC2W00)

Car ran with about 88,000kms on the clock and a very dirty K&N filter which had been through two trips down south in the dirt, poor thing.

I'm planning to get a custom tune done soon so I chase down the right section of piping for my new intercooler. It was a looong, expensive process but finally I got my hands on it.

July 2010 rolls around, my new car warranty is expiring. I have had concerns over the noise my turbo seems to make as I shut down the car so I take it to Simon at XFT for a check. He says it's on the way out so we get in touch with the dealer and I'm soon the happy owner of a new Garrett GT35/40 under warranty. Sa-weet.

I get a hold of a Manta full exhaust system via Dean (ex urine coloured 10's F6 driver 4LTURBO). Twin 2.5inch in mild steel, the budget just won't stretch to the twin 3 but this will handle my power aims fine.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0187med.jpg


I score some cheap gauges off of eBay and get happily reamed in the wallet for the tripod gauge holder by BPT, heh. We start fitting at dad's but it gets too late and I have to head home having only learned how to take out the damn ICC unit >_<

Next day...fitting them myself in the garage took 8 hours as I pained over the details (like cutting into my BOV tubing!) and fought with the damn Ford ICC plugs again :/
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone009.jpg

It was worth it though! Oil senders not hooked up yet, don't have the right sandwich plate.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone015.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0060.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0068.jpg

97,000kms!


With the warranty finally gone it's time for proper mods. I book it in with Simon at Xtreme Ford Tuning at very short notice which was great of him.

I drop it and the parts in on Tuesday morning as it's my one Uni day of the work week and it's a study break. The initial dyno run posts 208rwkw, a good result (generally he sees 190-210 stock).

I get a call later on that it's going to be late before they finish it. No worries as I've gotten a nice cold so have taken the Wednesday off work, I'll pick it up then.

Wednesday rolls around, my crusty old fuel line broke during a dyno run where it made over 300 before it finished. Ford are couriering the replacement part up so no drama. I head off to get lunch.

This is where my day stops going according to plan. I get a call, my dad is in hospital in Freo with heart problems. I arrive there too late though, he doesn't pull through. I sort out the immediate family business and head back to the hills to pick up my gf from work and take the car off Simon's hands.

The car is done, I have a long chat to Simon as he knew I was headed to Freo hospital. It's not good timing, but these things never are. I talk about the car results and take it away to get fuel and have a drive home. It feels very strong though I've not really driven it properly yet, bigger things on my mind now.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone003.jpg

My cars have been a great bonding experience between me and dad over the last few years. He was a Ford man himself having owned an XW GT which he started converting to an XY (he didn't keep it sadly). I worked on my XF with him when it popped radiator hoses and we fixed up a crashed EAII for me which I eventually gave to him when I got the XR6T. I wish he could have seen the newly tuned car but it was just not to be. He was the only other person I've let give the car a good run and I know he loved it. I can only hope to gain half the mechanical knowledge he had. Always a project on the go over at his place, a shed full to the brim of bits and pieces (including my 12 slotters I removed from my XF). These memories of working on my cars and his are the ones I'll keep with me. Thanks dad!





Back to the car though.

I've got one part to chase still, the Nizpro kit boost sensor adaptor block thing was missing in the piping I bought...the bloke thinks it's still around at home. Simon rigged up a temporary fitting but it does affect the boost reading so we're not quite done yet.

I get around to taking it for a proper spin, I can see what people say about it just pulling like a freight train. In second from a rolling start it builds fast, then hammers...change to third and it's flawless, the steep acceleration doesn't drop off at all. I actually had a moment going from 60 to 80, just a squirt, where my head moved back and hit the seat as my muscle memory didn't expect such a kick. That resulted in a "f...n hell" and a bit of a smile.

Mods list:
K&N filter
Nizpro intercooler and piping (needs powdercoating)
Intank Walbro GSS 294 fuel pump
42lb Bosch injectors
Manta 2x 2.5" Mild Steel turbo back exhaust
Custom XFT Tune!
DBA4000 Slotted rotors on front, still stock twin piston PBR calipers.


Pic of the new exhaust tips!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone005crop.jpg

I get the missing fitting and Simon retunes. It even picked up another point of peak power...though I'd say it's within the margin of error - but at least if I feel like advertising the tune I can easy get a pre made '317' badge to match, hehehe. Bit of fishing wire on a hot day down at Melville Holden... :)



Curve is even smoother now than it was before. Again a big thanks to Simon, even made mum's day by showing her a Shelby GT500 that was in the shop at the time, hahaha!

Torque
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone030.jpg


Boost
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/Phone032.jpg


(7/10/2010)
WAW has nowreopened so I mosey on down...my gf was in the car for the first two runs as passenger and had a great time. Love the new 'plex rule!

First run I got 12.2 @ 121mph.

Baked tyres on launch for a 13.0 (grrrrr)

Third go I did an ok burnout to heat up the KU31's and got an excruciating 12.067 with a steadily improving 60' time...

Last runs were called and I did a much bigger burnout that I thought...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jHM7dFqPvo


17 inch KU31's @ 35PSI FTW!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0313markedMed.jpg

Thanks to Brendan (xr6t ego) for telling me to smoke them angrily!


-----------------


Most recently I finally fitted the correct adapter plate under the oil filter and connected the sender units. Livelink laptop readout says 97.2222°, gauge says about 102°, about 5° out at 90° too so accuracy is not too bad for a cheap nasty brand, pretty happy!

Did some timing of 0-100, would love to see what it pulls on a prepped drag strip though even with the KU31's on..
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/0-110317rwkw.png

Oh and I debadged the thing too. Was going to put black T U R B O badge over the rear garnish (above plate) but I think it'll stay in the packet for a while yet!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0006medcrop.jpg




So that's the story so far you lot. I'm enjoying the variety of cars that Antilag attracts. I know jack shit about most imports and have hassled Shannon for a ride in his after talking with him again at AL26 (cheers man). Will try to make it to a few more cruises aside from the officials!






The day I bought her! :)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_1815.jpg

Torquen
19-12-2010, 05:21 PM
Good stuff Steve :)

Car looks good in the flesh, and is a great daily/work/performance car.
Good to see you've done a lot of the mods yourself.

I'll take you for a spin in my shitter shed green 13 as soon as it's got the GT35R on it :D Should 'do one' haha.

ruler
19-12-2010, 05:22 PM
looks and sounds good. my reccomendation is to remove that number plate surround though :P and maybe lowered an inch or two :) looks pretty hot!

ED40
19-12-2010, 05:31 PM
Defiantely a sleeper mate.. saw it on the cruise nice work with the 1/4 mile times.. Sorry to hear about your old man aswell.

Miggy
19-12-2010, 06:47 PM
Great write up! Keep the mods coming and the ET's dropping.

Phyber
19-12-2010, 08:13 PM
Thanks fellas. Hmmm numberplate surrounds is a good tip...not like they need protecting on the edges, plus it would offset the weight of the halo lights haha.

I would love to change the rims, some nice lightweight Japanese style ones would do me. Was pondering some BBS CH-Blacks as they were on special at AMG Australia.

Lowering a little would be good but it won't get dumped as long as it's my only car. Have my eye on some Bilstein or Koni with King springs, especially since the car has done 111,xxx kms! That or some custom coilovers from Wholesale Suspension, about the same price. It gets used to tow small loads as well so lowering it too much wouldn't be crash hot unfortunately. Need a fun daily but that's yet more $$$!

Also on the list is custom plates. Have a few ideas but they'll need the full 9 char $700 polys. Services come around every 10 weeks as is (I do 500 km a week!) which hurts.

I'm paranoid about getting a canary so underbonnet isn't going to see a plenum or intake/battery relocation for now. Also need to get the Nizpro piping powdercoated black so it looks stock! Exhaust has twin cats in it too though I have no idea if it'd pass a gas test.

Need to work on my skid technique too hahaha. Expensive hobby though!

I'll whore on a cruise with you too Jesse, cheers!



Forgot the pics from The Pinnacles!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_2203crop.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_2624.jpg

Jizz-Lebrity
20-12-2010, 05:13 PM
Well said, Steve.

P.S:

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo61/KaelDM/aaa-1.jpg

MMM
20-12-2010, 05:29 PM
great write up!

Dirty32
20-12-2010, 05:35 PM
I would love to change the rims, some nice lightweight Japanese style ones would do me. Was pondering some BBS CH-Blacks as they were on special at AMG Australia.


Buy my wheels Steve. Not quite Jap wheels, but they look it.
Gonna be off the ute in the next week or so. Got good tyres aswell...

Give goot price, you buy, you buy!

PS. They look awesome on Lightning Strike.

Fukushima
20-12-2010, 06:46 PM
haha at HOON KILL 3000

look forward to runs, but i'm reasonably sure you are going to stomp on me :)

rat
20-12-2010, 07:07 PM
You put alot of work into the write up, nice job!
I never got to run you the other night and I'm glad I didn't ;) congrats on the 11!
Sounds like your old man was a great bloke, sorry to hear.

Phyber
20-12-2010, 07:11 PM
He was, rat. Could build just about anything it seems! Weld, cut, mould, turn, fibreglass...Great role model and I was lucky to have the close bond, not all get to have that. He had some wild stories from back when he had the GT, and some from his 900cc Yamaha more recently, haha. I'm not quite as wild though, not sure I'd be as lucky!!

PS I see you went for a bigger turbs than a B series, hehe. What's the spool like?


haha at HOON KILL 3000

look forward to runs, but i'm reasonably sure you are going to stomp on me :)


Until a corner comes into it - plus at least yours is more interesting! Though that's a blessing and a curse as a daily :) You walked away on whichever previous AL cruise it was (21/22), Susstt, you and I think gav in the E series Falcon on the fwy? So I owe you one hehe. Stock FTL!


Dirty, I've long forgotten your name, we were on that Gin Gin cruise I think? Don't see a for sale thread here, I'll go check the other forum. I've also thought about getting some twisty Typhoon 19's as I've always loved them, best price for a genuine set I found was 1200, but that fell through, shame. Lately though I've been more thinking lightweight (for performance) thin spoke style, dark colour. Bank is critically low right now though, xmas is shit, haven't even bought big $ gifts yet, bah humbug!! Painting stock rims dark is an idea but it's almost 'why bother' as the cash could be saved for something better.

PS dunno who that foggy pic is of, can't make it out? Cheers for the effort though Kael!

summoner
20-12-2010, 07:15 PM
Nice project and good times

DenZel
20-12-2010, 07:21 PM
awesome post

thoroughly enjoyed

Phyber
20-12-2010, 07:23 PM
Cheers bud! Have to piss of those plate surrounds still. Also the side skirt badges. I plan to get black Ford badges happening front and back, I have the spare ones already and have stripped the glue off but need to investigate what type of paint to use as the clear cover is a bit soft-jelly like and I think it's going to be a bitch to do up. Not to mention the sanding off of the blue while leaving the silver lettering...

I'm also concerned about making it too much like a certain mercury silver falcon some of you may know :) Mike's is a lovely car, too lovely for me to be able to bodge up a copy!

rat
20-12-2010, 07:42 PM
He was, rat. Could build just about anything it seems! Weld, cut, mould, turn, fibreglass...Great role model and I was lucky to have the close bond, not all get to have that. He had some wild stories from back when he had the GT, and some from his 900cc Yamaha more recently, haha. I'm not quite as wild though, not sure I'd be as lucky!!

PS I see you went for a bigger turbs than a B series, hehe. What's the spool like?



Spools up very fast and comes on hard! I was quite surprised!
Pretty much no extra lag over my last turbo which was a t04e (much smaller)

Phyber
20-12-2010, 08:15 PM
Displacement helps us through the larger spinners that's for sure. I still like the moment of lag my almost stock air intake system causes, makes it more exciting.

So addicted to the rush. Rear bushes hate me and fell apart in disgust, need to have the whole rear dropped and all 3 replaced now. Maintenance is coming on hard now I've hit 100 thou. Was one warranty bush job before that, haha!

Splat_man
20-12-2010, 09:46 PM
Great post man, it really gave the idea of a lot of work and care going into the car.

Phyber
23-06-2011, 09:39 PM
Tiny update. One of the rear license plate lights was burnt out, so I tried to get the housing out from the rear garnish. The damn thing had barely any slack in the electrical wire and I was forced to take the garnish off (four bolts inside the boot). Found that one of the rubber mount points had been tightened right down with the wire under it, the plastic wire surround had actually gone flat from the force/heat over time. Once off I cleaned out the caked on dust and found that the plastic garnish had been rubbing mightily on the metal :(

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/2011-06-23185218edit.jpg

Out came the touch up paint and a good tip from Mike (XF Falcon) to put some spacer material in under the bolts. Not having any rubber washers, I soon found an old belt and cut that up! It was way too thick with all layers (as pictured) so I peeled off a couple. There's now a small gap between the plastic edges and the car.

Can see the touch up paint in this pic though it's out of focus
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/2011-06-23194955med.jpg


Had a prick of a time getting the globe holder out of the housing too. There's 3 prongs to line up when you rotate the holder, at 3/6/9 o clock. Basically chewed the left one out a fair bit before it came free...

Around this time I realised I didn't have a normal incandescent globe in my spare parts...only a pair of white LED wedge globes I tried out in the parkers (detracted from the halos too much). So in they went hahaha. Now I am one of the cool kids from the rear view too with my "hektik" LED lights. Already riced the fuck out of the headlights and made the inside feel like an anti junkie toilet so it's all good :)

Final problem was something I already knew about, the garnish never sat 100% flush on the left side at the top edge, a tiny bit of light escaped. With the padding it's larger and the LEDs are much brighter so it looked bad when they were lit.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/2011-06-23205200.jpg

I solved that by stuffing some old cut up synthetic chamois in behind the light globe housing, no one will ever see it anyway :innocent:


The escape handle glows nicely too as I discovered. Have to paint it before I get the free candy sign printed...cheers for the tip Mike! :spoton:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/2011-06-23204849.jpg

Also cheers to ruler for suggesting fucking off the numberplate surrounds, I like it without them, cleaner look!


Next on the cards are a bunch of new Super Pro Polyurethane bushes to finally attack the goddamned brake shudder these cars love developing, as well as firm up the handling from "super-tanker" to a mere "ocean liner", hah...should be installed in a month or two as I'm a tightass and getting help to fit them at mates rates :) Just hoping the diff bolt hasn't snapped already, too scared to check.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff91/phyber83/The%20T/IMG_0458med.jpg