xb99

West! Right near soccer stadium

Heres my thread, its not too long, pretty sure all you want is in there, including some more info on my experience http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/88078-ba-xr6t-307rwkw-after-owning-for-6-years/

Just got my daily forum digest, saw talk asking for options on graham west. My car goes there now, and I've only got good things to say about them, Brett in particular. Prices are fair, and work is good. I had a tune before going there done elsewhere, which had a horrible a/f curve. Since I had to get a retune anyway I went for more power, got them to fit a second hand avo intercooller kit & premium brakes I supplied, and got them to supply full exhaust, injectors etc. Ended up with 307rwkw, and it drives really well. Brett used to own a BA himself, so he has love for them. I've seen a few FGs there when I've been there as well, they definitely do them too. I'd definitely have a chat to them if you need some work done, make up your own mind. Just talking to brett you should be able to see he has an interest in his work and tuning, unlike some places which just want cars in and out asap.

Details please! I've been thinking of adding a Raspberry Pi to my car with a screen, would be great if I could use the premo sound screen instead.

Considering my Ba has only done 85k kms, it will take me quite a few years to report on a couple of 100,000 kms!

A malibu would be nice! Yeah I'm not too worried about MV, should be good. I'll let you know in a couple of years

Nah, I don't have a boat, was a mates boat. I don't know what it is. Had a 308 in it, I didn't mind listening to it I didn't take any pics, its not pretty, the paints been neglected, its got no shine at all. that's the sh*t thing, wasn't even towing when it went bang. Used cruise control to go from 110 > 100. Couple taps of a button essentially.

'Internal failure' as predicted. Turns out I had lost 2nd too, explains why it was holding first so long Brett at Graham West recommended MV at blackwood (I assume that's what you meant Jet). So that's two trusted recommendations, so its off there shortly. With some luck I'll get it back Friday. With my luck just before xmas. -Ryan

Cool thanks. I'll report back with the diagnosis. Im assuming its dead rather than solenoids.

Thanks for the advice guys (and girl). Plaza automatics were the ones that did the first one. Car was stock then, at the time I didnt know I was going to go for 300kw. They used AU planetaries as they thought they were stronger. I'll stay away from the hi-stall, thanks Jet. Is it worth getting a shift kit?

Hey after some advice.... So after spending the weekend at Murray Bridge skiing, I was driving back on the freeway (I wasnt towing). When it went from 110km/h to 100, I pushed down the the cruise control a couple of times. The trans shifted down a gear, with a bit of strange noise. Not long after I got a temp warning on the dash (flashing every few seconds, no beeps), the same icon as the coolant indicator. My autometer was reporting slightly over 100C engine oil temp (oil filter sandwich). I didnt think that was too bad, so I kept going. Not long after the decent into Adelaide started, engine didnt have to work, and when the autometter gauge reported under 100C, around the same time the warning light disappeared. The trans didnt feel right to me though. After getting into adelaide, I turned down a side street to check under the bonnet, and picked a bad one. I tried to reverse and discovered reverse was gone :( Engine just revved. It when back in drive ok, but the BTR (4speed auto) adaptive and perf were basically the same, engine was always above 2000rpm. When taking off the trans let the engine rev a fair bit before going into second. Further down cross roads I lost all power, and the car got really heavy. My arms really appreciated power steering disappearing after skiing. Battery light and oil light. Pulled over and the missus came and picked me up. Car started, but I figured I'd leave it for a bit. There was coolant in the reservoir, and oil on the dip stick. Battery isnt that old. Came back and a mate followed me to the mechanic (Graham West is my tuner). Luckily he was there doing paperwork or something at 6pm on a sunday, so it locked it in the garage, will inspect tomorrow. I'm assuming the trans is rooted. Which kinda sucks, it was only reconditioned 2 years ago, but at that time the car was stock, its now running 307rwkw. I've probably only done 10-15k km on it (car has only done 85k). Trans wasn't done by West to be clear. Assuming the trans is f*cked, what are my options in Adelaide? I've got a BA MK2 with the 4speed auto. Is it possible to get the BF 6speed auto in there? Is that stronger? Who in adelaide can build a BTR up to strength for 300rwkw? At what cost? Cheers

It was only 2 cars that followed me. I waited in the gym park till everyone cleared out so that no one followed me, but a couple came out of no where and ignored my waving arm out the window pointing to turn right. Pulled over and sorted them out, hopefully they caught up! I wouldn't mind a UHF....

Was good to finally put faces to names/avatars. Next time I'll try and not double book so I can last the whole way. Sorry again to the blokes who followed me straight through the round back towards town, hope you caught up to everyone else.

Sweet. I'll find it. I've only met Jet before, when he did my suspension. He was on his best behaviour, no butt plug talk luckily.

Any particular area? Never been there, driven past, looked big....

I'm in for Sunday unless I'm too dusty after watching the GF

My fuel economy is sh*t house these days. My main driving is 4km into the city in the morning then back home. My oil temp doesnt even hit 60 deg unless traffic is thick. I'll be interested to see how it goes on a decent drive. When I fill up now the car is estimating I have 354km range....

Haha Jets alright, maybe he was on his best behaviour. Last Sunday of Sept sounds good.

I've been following the talk of a cruise, if its not on the 21/9 I should be able to make it. Despite having a xr6t for 6 years I haven't been on one. Only forum member I've meet is Jet, who did a great job sorting out my suspension earlier this year.

Thanks for the details. I didn't have airbags, new ones don't have airbags, so it was a direct plug. Airbag I was referring to is the one above the glove box. Was thinking it maybe didnt deploy if it didnt sense someone in the seat.

Before someone asks, car is a BA

I put some leather seats in my car I picked up from the wreckers. Front+Rear, Door Skins + centre control lid. Had to clean them up a bit, looks like the passenger seat had a coke spill that was left to set. Came up really well, awesome upgrade. I found it easy enough to do myself. The driver seat had a bit of play in it after I fitted it, so I pulled it back out, and swapped my old base with the leather base and put back in, not more play, didn't investigate much. Seem to be movement allowed by one of the motors. What do the electrics do that plug into the passenger seat? Is it some sort of occupancy sensor? I tried seating there after putting the leather in without doing the seat belt up and it didn't chime or anything, can't remember if it did before. I'm mainly concerned it wont deploy the airbag if it doesn't know someone is there.

Got the car back (again) tonight. This time the diff has been replaced, new diff mount and blade bushes. The recent noise (diff dying) is gone of course, but so are the clunks I've had for years! The most noticeable clunk that's gone is the ones as you coast slowly to a set of lights, braking steadily as you go, somewhere between the auto trans downshifting to first and coming to a complete stop there was a bit of a clunk. Always drove me nuts, finally gone! Unsure if the clunk was in the diff itself or the bushings. A few places have looked at the diff bushings (being a common fault), and told me that the original ones were fine. At one point I even told a workshop to replace them, but they called to say the original ones were fine they couldn't justify the replacement! No one had the diff out before, so how much anyone could see before I dont know. Between the diff being replaced and jd tuning firming up my suspension the car feels so much tighter! Happy with where the car is at now. Plenty of power, and plenty of control. I'm planning to enter a hill climb (under the influence of someone I work with that's been doing them for years), and take it to the strip to see what time I can get out of it.

Got the car back tonight, and the exhaust is noticeably quieter! They ended up installing a throttle body inside the exhaust, to block one pipe, controlled automatically via vacuum hose. The result so far is impressive. Its pretty quiet when just driving around normally, and then when you gun it it opens up and lets everything out. Cool and functional. Some bad news though, part of the noise is caused by the diff giving up. I had a whine in it before, and it seems the new found power has brought about its demise. Its making a rapid 'brewweerb... breewwwerb...' noise while moving at around 60k/h with no touch of the accelerator. touch the gas ever so slightly and it shuts up. Get under about 20-30km/h and it shuts up too. Tuner quoted a good price on a second hand one + fitting, but wondering if I should get a reconditioned one etc. I'm assuming a new one is a zillion dollars...

Yeah, the tuner said he'd lose control around then, but it was maxing out around 16psi luckily, not shooting for the sky. Said to get better control, and to be able to stop that happening, he'd need to port the wastegate (well I think that's what it was, hole with a flap, needed to make the hole bigger). He explained it when I picked it up and recommended it, and it was also noted on the invoice. I assume this is what people call the 'flapper mod'? Guessing the advice here will be to get it done? Car is going back in early next week to get the exhaust issue fixed up.