PhilMeUp

Trolley collectors don't get BO because they're moving around constantly, which means air flowing over their skin (ie dries out the sweat). Taxi drivers get BO because they are constantly sitting still. Underarms perspire, but there's no air flow to dry the sweat or remove the odor. And they leave the air cond off because they think it's costing extra money. Idiots. My solution to avoiding complaints about BO: put Brembos on the car and keep people focussed on whether the car is going to get around the next corner, or overshoot it. It's important to keep the passenger a nice shade of pale white.

Wouldn't there be some sort of law or regulation covering that?

GOTIM

Nah, we're not that posh here. Our non-reflective-skin locals get taxis at night to pick up dope on Centrelink payday. Very common. I did three jobs in a row in Midland late one night a few weeks ago. Aboriginals each time, directing me to the same houses each time. By the third job I was telling the passengers which houses don't have dope right now. If there was ever a deal with the cops where we could swap drug dealing house addresses for demerit points then I'd be able to ignore every traffic law for many years.

Pretty much. People support their favourite spark plugs like they do with sporting teams. They all do the job.

Either one will work. The Bosches are cheaper and can be picked up from a local shop. I don't need to change mine very often, which indicates that they are lasting for a lot of km (ie 100,000 upward).

I'm using the Bosch ones in my taxis. Get them in a sixpack for around $45. The stock number is P38-6. Photo guide: http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/86697-photo-essay-bf-falcon-spark-plug-replacement/

Remove the rubber bit from inside the spark plug socket. Use a magnet to remove the spark plugs instead.

I've just bought an OBDLink MX on eBay US. $US64.50 was an ok price, which works out to $A93.60. I'm having it included with a bunch of other stuff that I'm building up at www.shipito.com, so freight cost will be almost nothing. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161872429754

Number 6 is a bastard. The other 5 lull you into a false sense of security. Then it all goes to sh*t. Number 6 is the evil serial killer of car maintenance.

Why is Easter chocoloate such a rip-off?

Get a Bikeservice BS9133 socket from SuperCheap Auto. There's also a 14mm version, the BS9132, which might also be useful for reaching the nuts underneath the turbo/manifold. I'm going to buy one of those if I can find one in Perth. I once spent almost two hours changing spark plugs, because I was too stubborn with trying to do it all with 1/2" drive stuff. That's never going to fit into the number 6 spark plug hole. These days I can do the whole lot, start to finish, in 15 minutes. Get a magnetic pick-up tool thingy as well. http://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-magnetic-pick-up-tool_p5810235 Also useful for preventing dropping small bolts into places that you'll never reach.

Wrong tools = bastard of a job. Right tools = piss easy job. I use 1/4” drive stuff these days (including universal joint). Remove the rubber from the spark plug socket (ie that holds the spark plug in). Undo each spark plug with the socket. I’m using a Bikeservice BS9133, which is a thin-walled socket. That one also fits in KTM heads. Use a magnet to remove each spark plug once they’re rotated loose. For putting spark plugs in, I drop them in with the magnet, and then snatch the magnet upward (to leave the spark plug behind). http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/86697-photo-essay-bf-falcon-spark-plug-replacement/

I've taken the Brembo fanboy thing just a leeeeeeeeeeedddle too far.... The two pairs of 4 piston front calipers are for sale. Not getting any bites on Gumtree, so I'll need to take a bunch of good photos and list the calipers on eBay. The rear 4 piston calipers will end up on the back of the green Tornado once it's licenced. I bought these near-new FG Brembos a few months ago. The plan was to move brackets and crossover pipes around, to make them fit my BF. They were going to be fitted once the car passes a registration inspection. However, last week I found a brand new pair of 6 piston Brembo calipers for a BF. Too good to pass up, so I grabbed them. I'll resell the FG ones. The rims that will eventually go on the Tornado will need repainting or powder coating first. Then I've got to decide on which tyres to go with. Whatever tyres I end up with, they're going to be bloody expensive (ie need traction). There are a few secondhand 19" tyres on Gumtree at the moment. Might end up borrowing the taxi wheels for a day.

I've got the wheels, but no tyres on them. I'm holding back on that... I'm going to need good, drippy tyres... which will be expensive... I'll post a photo later tonight... I've got Brembo calipers all over the place right now. They're listed on eBay and Gumtree.

Nup, definitely into women. Yep. I'm old.

MASH is on TV right now. Years ago, I used to think how old the actors looked in that show. Now I'm thinking that the hothead nurse, Hotlips Hoolihan, is a bit of a looker. Getting old. Bugger.

Got plans to get my latest Tornado through a pits inspection. However, he doesn't like the camber wear on the front tyres. Those wheels will be coming off the car soon, so I don't want to spring for new tyres. Anyone got a pair of 19" wheels, that will clear Brembo calipers, that I can borrow for a day? I'll put them on the ute at the inspection place, and remove them immediately after inspection.

When my previous taxi got smashed up a few years ago I wanted the exact same combination. Dedicated LPG wagon. In silver (ie Lightening Strike). Couldn't find one in Perth. Flew to Adelaide. Met the seller at the airport. Drove straight back to Perth. 2751km in about 34 hours. Silver hides the dirt rather well. Of course, then I had to screw it up by fitting chrome wheels, which show every single spec of brake dust. Ah well.

On the FORScan web site, they recommend an OBDLink MX. However, they're rather expensive. Usually around $US70-80 secondhand on eBay US. I use ELM327 cables that I buy for $US7 on www.aliexpress.com At that price, I keep one in each Falcon and use my MacBook Pro laptop with Parallels and Windows 7.

I'm in the same boat. I've had a very nice modified 2007 FPV Tornado sitting here for a few months but haven't got it licenced here in WA yet. Not particularly hard to do - just put the standard dump pipe and cat back on. Trailer it to and from inspection - the tune won't like standard stuff, but will handle the 1km test drive for the inspection. Too much apathy here. Once I get it licenced and mobile, then I'll be motivated to do more projects on it. Such as fitting the brand new 6 piston front Brembo calipers that I bought last week. At the moment, it's parked in the carport, covered in dust. However, it needs to be done. No point in having a bunch of money tied up in a car that you can't drive. I've sort-of got a solution for mine, but need to do a few minor things.

Time to order one for next year:

Should have put the RU 16 WA plate on the Capri for the night.

At $1600 for a pair of brand new 6 piston front Brembo calipers, I wasn't going to hesitate. Time and place, that deal was way too good to let slide. He also included a set of outer rings for DBA5000 disc rotors. My taxi (ie DBA5000 front discs) has been needing new outer rings for a while, but I'm too stingy to spend the $650-700 on just the outer rings. Heck, I bought a pair of brand new DBA4000 rotors for $300 delivered a while ago. I doubt that I'll ever figure out how the hell DBA justify such a high cost for the DBA5000 rings. Double win. I bought a set of FG 6 piston Brembos a few months ago. I was going to stuff around with the FG brackets to get the calipers on my BF, but buying calipers with BF brackets makes it easier. I'll be selling the FG setup soon, which will reimburse the cost of the BF calipers. Transmission: The diagnostic codes are pointing towards it needing a fluid flush. I'll get that done soon, and if the transmission is stuffed then I'll start looking for a replacement. Getting the Tornado through an inspection: Progress has been made... Might have a solution...