nelsonian101

Was just wondering if anyone had used a tuned ZF at the circuit. How did it perform downshifting while the ABS was activating braking into hairpins? Was corner exit better and the shift from 3rd to 4th at redline ? Thanks.

I like this idea for cooling re the vents but does it suck a lot of water in too?

I recommend GCG. Details of my service Turbo's here: http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/79085-fgxr6t-garrett-turbo-service-at-gcg/

You get by with one 044, but my requirements were different as I wanted something bomb proof that could be used at the circuit 5X year. I also have a Turbo Smart Fuel Regulator and Process West Dual Fuel rail (plus Surge Tank) to make sure all cylinders receive fuel. My tuner didn't see the need for an upgraded actuator as the FG ones seem to hold boost well. E85 is highly recommended. Runner cooler on the track too.

I have the stepped PWR intercooler and Alloy Piping kit. 346.9rwkw on E85 http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/79025-fgxr6t-stock-turbo-on-castrol-e-flex-e85-3469rwkw/

I'm trying out some Purple Ice! http://www.royalpurple.com/product-categories/automotive/#!purple-ice-radiator-coolant-additive

Well had the turbo serviced at GCG in Sydney and can highly recommend their prompt service. The usual turn around is 4 days but they had it done in 24hrs (as I had the car waiting at a suspension place getting a front camber kit made), looking all shiney and brand new sealed in plastic in a padded box. Unwrapping it was like Xmas all over again! After a full disassembly it was found the bearing pack cages were broken (possibly due to the high oil temps at the circuit before I put my engine oil cooler on). The back plate had a step worn in the seal ring area causing excessive play. All the piston rings and seals were worn. The turbo was fully carbonized cleaned and all new factory service kit components replaced. It looked brand new. The bearing pack was fitted with an upgraded steel bearing pack cage. The turbo was then fully balanced on machine. Expensive. Approx $1,100 but this what what I was expecting. A brand new F6 turbo would cost $2k minimum plus the $500 re- tune, so I save $1,500 approx. Excellent spool up of the stock FGXR6T turbo is retained with strengthened reliability too.

Live in Sydney, so there is a far bit of choice. (Note: some of these may have changed) NSW E-Flex Caltex 59-63 Tudor St Cnr Gordon Ave,Hamilton NSW,,(02) 4961 2753 E-Flex Caltex 69-71 Pacific Highway, Gosford West (East Bound) NSW,,(02) 4325 7456 E-Flex Caltex 98 March St Cnr East Market St, Richmond, NSW, 2753,,02 45885827 E-Flex Caltex 86 Pittwater Rd,Manly NSW,,(02) 9977 2863 E-Flex Caltex 309 Victoria Rd,Rydalmere NSW,,(02) 9638 1932 E-Flex Caltex 191-195 Lyons Rd,Drummoyne NSW,,(02) 9713 7265 E-Flex Caltex 775 Princes Hwy,Tempe NSW,,(02) 9573 1069 E-Flex Caltex 216 Newbridge Rd, Moorebank, NSW, 2170,,02 96028263 E-Flex Caltex 646 Hume Hwy,Casula NSW,,(02) 9602 8482 E-Flex Caltex 1403 Princes Hwy, Heathcote, NSW, 2233,,02 95205697 E85 Shoalhaven 663 Warringah Rd,Forestville NSW E85 Shoalhaven 251 Princess Hwy,Albion Park NSW E85 Shoalhaven 215 Kinghorne St,Nowra NSW E85 United 127 Victoria Road,Rozelle NSW E85 United 2 Rawson Rd, Guildford NSW,, When I drive up North NSW, I have a 98 tune as well. Actually did a trip out to Dubbo earlier this week. Filled up in Richmond plus 3 X 20l Jerry cans in the boot! Was thinking it would be touch and go, but made it back easily. 30l to spare. There was some chick there waiting for the Eflex pump in a Mazda 3 (Not MPS). Asked me if this was E85. Told her yes, but had no idea if her car was tuned for it. Was a lot cheaper than 98 though. Wheneevr I buy E85 though, always get weird looks from the servo staff. Everyone has an opinion on it. Nah mate..............that fuel's %$#@!!

Have been driving it for about a week now but has rained nearly everyday. The best test will be when I take it to Marulan for a circuit run on grooved Hankook slicks on the rear. Hoping for 45's.

Was thinking attaching a pipe to the engine side of the airbox wall if that makes sense and running this pipe down to the drivers foglight. If defected, could be easily changed. No drilling into battery tray.

I doubt any water could get in there. The pod filter would still be mounted in the airbox and much higher than one of those under battery intakes like this below, and both are safe in my opinion : Unfortunately above is unavailable for the FG due to lack of space, which is my concern that a decent sized pipe wouldn't fit from the foglight to a race airbox.

If I went with a stock sized 61mm billet wheel, would this require any alteration to the tune, or would it just spool up a bit quicker due to the lighter weight?

Would this require a major retune though?

My car has done over 150,000kms and has run over 15-18psi boost for the last 80,000kms. Also done 10 track days on this turbo. Reason it's lasted so long is because I take car of the car very well. 7,500kms oil and filter changes with high quality Royal Purple sythetic. Air Filter is always kept spotless and fuel filter in changed 3X/year. Just had a new tune on E85 with even more power and I've decided to give the turbo a service before it dies. Has anyone tried these guys in Sydney? http://www.gcg.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=92 Was going to go with a standard rebuild procedure, that is: Strip Clean Quote Test Actuator assembly Standard Rebuild Kit fitted Balance Re-Assemble If it requires anything else below will cost extra: (Was considering some new bearings) Turbine side ring area machining Compressor side ring area machining Honing of the bearing housing Grinding of the wheel & shaft assembly Sleeving of the turbine housing (to repair corrosion mainly seen on marine engines) Removing broken studs and heli coiling bolt holes Supply new actuator Re-welding V-Band assemblies Supplying a new compressor wheel or turbine wheel Supplying new bearing housing Supplying a 360 Degree thrust bearing kit Happy with the performance of the Stock FG Garrett turbo and think it is well overdue for a good strip down and clean.

Buying the Heat Exchanger from Ford, but the bigger one (orange dot) supplied on the F6. It has more plates. One thing that did piss me off when I bought the car brand new in mid 2008 (preordered), was I ticked the option for the bigger auxilary tranmission oil cooler (about $250 extra from memory). Didn't get one. (just got the stock smaller one with the yellow dot, that apperas on all ZF autos) Ford at the time didn't have a clue. Eventually (after weeks of stuffing around) got it replaced for free as part of what they called "The Police Pack" Think there was a thread on Aust. Ford Forums a few years back on it. Wouldn't be surprised if there were heaps of FGXR6T owners bought new in 2008 with ZF that ticked the bigger "Auxillary Cooler" box and recieved nothing!

I do about 5 track days a year with ZF and thrash the crap out of it. I replace the ZF heat exchanger every year and the ZF Fluid (genuine) every year. Bought mine in bulk from here: http://www.motospecs.com.au/index.php?page=atp Have the ZF auto serviced here at Central Automatic Transmissions in Sydney : (Did a lot of research and these guys seemed the best with the most experience on ZF's) http://www.transmissionservice.com.au/ Done 10 track days and 150,000kms. ZF still runs like new. Last 80,000kms has been on a tuned engine anywhere between 270 and 340rwkw.

I have recently had fitted a Turbo side airbox and K& N pod filter (with battery relocated) in a FGXR6T. I already have my left fog light removed with cold air feeding onto an after market engine oil cooler, and want to even things out. BA and BF cars appear to have more room in this area, but is it possible to fit some flexi hose from the drivers side foglight, feeding cold air into the new airbox (where the stock battery used to be.) Either drilling through the stock battery base plate, or on the engine side airbox wall? Has anyone tried this with an FG? Thanks.

Yep! ....and it's loud! The car has been tuned before in various states on 98 from 270 to 309rwkw. This was my first tune on E85. Lots of traffic on the way back from the shop. Only chance for a throttle blip came entering the freeway. Went from 80-110kmh (officer) in what seemed 1 second!

Had my FGXR6T finally tuned on pump E85 today. Result was 346.9rwkw. It is a daily driven car that does about 5 track days per year. Can't wait to try it out at Wakefield next month. Spool up speed and low down torque is insane. Corner exit will be tricky even on Hankook slicks. Can't believe how well this stock small compressor wheeled turbo is holding up. Has done 150,000kms and about 10 circuit days already. Serviced religiously every 7,500kms with high quality Royal Purple synthetic. Change fuel filters a few times per year too. When this turbo blows (and it will) will just switch to a new F6 turbo, drop the boost a bit and still should get around 380rwkw. I wanted a reliable fuel system for the circuit that could also handle E85. Went with an upgraded internal pump, 2 X Bosch 044's into a Process West Surge Tank and Duel Fuel rail. 6 X ID1000's with a Fuel Regulator. Stock exhaust, 5" 100cpi cat. Intake is one of those custom 4" pod systems with a battery relocation kit. Intake is loud!

These guys would be one the best in Qld. http://www.fulcrumsuspensions.com.au/ For track use look at heavier spring rate Tein Coilovers. Make sure the shocks are revalved accordingly. Fulcrum can do it. If in Sydney, I recommend talking to Pat at Wholesale Suspension or Dave at East Coast Suspension. Both have a lot of experience setting up Falcons for the circuit. Mainly V8 utes though. I had some custom made Koni Coilovers made up for me from East Coast. Look at a front camber kit too for the track. Is it a BF or FG? Sedan? What tyres?

Carbon Fibre?

Kings and Bilsteins. Reason is they are a true monotube rebuildable shock of high quality. Tein Coilovers with the heavier sport spring rates if you will be tracking the car regularly. I didn't find anything that suited my requirements on the market for street and track so I got a custom job from East Coast Suspension in Sydney. In the winter months when I track the car, I have 650lb motorsport springs in the front with revalved Konis. Rear are 400-something Lovells with custom valved Konis to match the spring rate. These are great for the track and keep the pig of a car settled but aren't too firm that they can't be used on the freeway as a daily. Rest of the year, I just put the stock ford springs back in. Sway Bar is the biggest that fits at the front (but solid not hollow like the stock item). Rear is the usual adjustable Whiteline.

I thought this red sleeve was just an extra heat shielding?

Is this the right one?

Heat is a major issue. I don't even bother tracking the car in the summer months. As it's a BA auto I'd be fitting a tranny cooler asap with fresh transmission oil and filter but also an engine oil cooler. At the end of each session do a cool down lap and pop the bonnet open. Handbrake off. I also use a big industrial fan now when stopped in the pits to aid cooldown. Also fitted one of these to monitor temps more accurately with an alarm sounding so you don't need to keep looking at gauges while concentrating on driving fast: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ENGINE-GUARDIAN-EG-2-WATCHDOG-TEMP-SENSOR-GAUGE-ALARM-/180801061644?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a1895430c How did the brakes cope? Brake fluid upgrade to 5.1 and better front pads at a minimum. DS2500 if you use for street and track but it's better to use a decicated track pad like Endless. Cheapest option is this and some slotted DBA4000 rotors. Brembos then AP monoblock if more serious. Sway Bars has been done to death but I recommend the biggest you can get on the front and a 27mm adjustable on the rear. Your stock monroes will be toast anyway with lowered Kings so best option as a street track combo is some Bilsteins or better still have them rebuilt to match your spring rate. Vented bonnets are expensive. Cheap option is to remove the rubber strip/seal under the bonnet at the back of the engine. Tyres are still the best bang for buck upgrade. The list of semis is endless as is the required budget. What tyres were on it for this day? Cheap options for Street/track are Kumho KU36, Hankook RS3 from tirerack.com. A cheap second set wheels and some Porche Cup front slicks are great if you can find them. There are much better R semis out there like RE55, A050 etc but come with the pricetag. I use R888's and find them fine.