Bcl Orders 9th Ford Falcon

[loopism]

Auto:

It’s very easy to drive in manual mode.

Funnily, when Joyce tried manual mode, she lifted her foot off the accelerator whilst changing gears!!! She quickly learnt the error of her ways…. She hasn’t driven an auto for a long time either.

Shifts are not quite as fast as I’d expect; more focused on smoothness.

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You will find that when you do a lot of sharp accelleration and braking (even in in manual mode and you start really flicking it through the gears) - a good example is the Snowys cruise route - the shifts will sharpen up a fair bit. Even Bec noticed the shifts were sharper when she drove our car after we got back into Sydney after that cruise.

[Ninka]

Joyces first comment when reaching the first hill was “6th is gutless”. She shifted to 5th, and commented “5th is gutless”. The car really has no go unless in 4th, which I tried changing into many times when going up hills.

I think it’s because the gearing is so tall compared to what we have in our other cars.

However, a couple of quite flicks changes from 6th to 4th always got it going. I assume that is how most people drive it.

6th at 120kph was just 1850 revs.

5th at 120kph was 2300 revs.

4th at 120kph was 3000 revs.

Whenever we encountered any hill a change from 6th to 5th seemed mandatory.

Power:

Goes OK; nothing flash when highway cruising. The tall gearing works against it.

I think Ford could improve the throttle sensitivity, as the car seems sluggish in reacting to the throttle.

Brian

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First impressions in mine is that the ratios are good, and even 6th works pretty well at freeway speeds.

The 3.45 diff is making the difference, even though 1st is very short.

I will drive it for a while, but looks like your advice to keep the XR6T ratio is a good one

[ENVY-T]

As Envi-T's kidney's found out   

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So true Ivanka!! But what hurt most was the biting of the tongue when he hit it in 3rd gear, 60-warp speed in 2milisecs!

[bcl]

However, a couple of quite flicks changes from 6th to 4th always got it going. I assume that is how most people drive it.

6th at 120kph was just 1850 revs.

5th at 120kph was 2300 revs.

4th at 120kph was 3000 revs.

Whenever we encountered any hill a change from 6th to 5th seemed mandatory.

Power:

Goes OK; nothing flash when highway cruising. The tall gearing works against it.

I think Ford could improve the throttle sensitivity, as the car seems sluggish in reacting to the throttle.

Brian

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First impressions in mine is that the ratios are good, and even 6th works pretty well at freeway speeds.

The 3.45 diff is making the difference, even though 1st is very short.

I will drive it for a while, but looks like your advice to keep the XR6T ratio is a good one

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Going from 2.73 to 3.45 diff is a 26% lower difference, so say 2300 revs in 6th.

That's fairly close to me using a 4.10 diff in the manual. Personally I found it just a bit too low, and I brought the gearing back a bit via larger diameter tyres.

Highway cruising 6th will always be more responsive, at the expense of fuel economy. Well done on your project.

Brian

[Turbo6man]

Further to your diff ratio - I did some calcs a long time ago with the ZF and I reckoned then that 3.23 would be ideal ratio in a (close to) 2000kg car. If I had one that would be the very first move - then the edit. I reckon you'd have a very very drivaeble and honest performance machine without too much stress being placed anywhere.

[2MUCHKW]

Further to your diff ratio - I did some calcs a long time ago with the ZF and I reckoned then that 3.23 would be ideal ratio in a (close to) 2000kg car. If I had one that would be the very first move - then the edit. I reckon you'd have a very very drivaeble and honest performance machine without too much stress being placed anywhere.

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Dont distract Brian with silly diff ratios ... alls he needs is more power

A Nizpro Stage II + kit fitted to his BF F6 will produce a guaranteed 386RWKW

Seriously though I wish the ZF was more eager to drop ratios without have to push the accelerator fully to the floor and activate the detent kickdown switch! Ford could have made a much more responsive car and enhanced the throttle feel by not making the poor things accelerate on "quick" part throttle applications in 6th or 5th.

Brian whats the BF F6's ride smoothness like in country driving compared to your Nizpro Koni equipped XR6T?

Cheers

Justin

Edited 23/01/07 10:24 AM by 2MUCHKW

[bcl]

A Nizpro Stage II + kit fitted to his BF F6 will produce a guaranteed 386RWKW 

Seriously though I wish the ZF was more eager to drop ratios without have to push the accelerator fully to the floor and activate the detent kickdown switch! Ford could have made a much more responsive car and enhanced the throttle feel by not making the poor things accelerate on "quick" part throttle applications in 6th or 5th.

Brian whats the BF F6's ride smoothness like in country driving compared to your Nizpro Koni equipped XR6T?

Cheers

Justin

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I don't want too much power just yet.

Country driving I use manual mode for more control.

City driving just in performance mode most of the time.

F6 ride definitely a lot smoother, but also the low revs and very quiet exhaust makes it feel like your glindling along rather than driving the thing. The Koni's and larger tyres (285/35) on the blue beast does gives a good ride, and far more grip and control. I didn't really push the F6 very hard though.

After driving the F6 auto for 2 days in the city I can see why so many guys chose the auto instead of the manual. The auto is just so much better. The accelleration in 1 to 2 and 3rd is fantastic .... after that 4th is ordinary (but that's 235rwkw for you).

However, if I lived in a country town the manual would get the nod, only because I like manuals.

[MrBean]

A Nizpro Stage II + kit fitted to his BF F6 will produce a guaranteed 386RWKW

I have my F6 Tornado (ZF Auto) booked for a 2-day training course with Simon and Dave at Nizpro.

Stage2, and some extra goodies, eg zorst, walbro pump, and around 385rwkw we should see.

Will let you know if the F6 feels any less lazy then Not that it can compare to your blue car, but should be a nice sleeper none-the-less.

Congrats on your new F6, good base to work from

[bcl]

A Nizpro Stage II + kit fitted to his BF F6 will produce a guaranteed 386RWKW

I have my F6 Tornado (ZF Auto) booked for a 2-day training course with Simon and Dave at Nizpro.

Stage2, and some extra goodies, eg zorst, walbro pump, and around 385rwkw we should see.

Will let you know if the F6 feels any less lazy then Not that it can compare to your blue car, but should be a nice sleeper none-the-less.

Congrats on your new F6, good base to work from

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Thanks.

I'm not going over 350rwkw to start; I'll see how your auto and other guys cars survive .... I'm just being cautious..... when will you be at Nizpro?

I'll be there shortly, as cv's are ready.

Brian

[MrBean]

@ Brian: I will take the UTE in next week Thursday morning, or maybe Wednesday afternoon, I'm in Vermont, so quite close.

They will have it for 2 days, should have it back Friday afternoon again.

Would like to meet with you

350kW sounds a lot more responsible to me anyway, but the ZF should handle torque if we don't hammer it and do a lot of jerking wheel-spinning/gripping stuff, it should survive day-day spirited driving.

Doubt if gradual torque will hurt it, that's why I prefer this over manual for performance apps. Little softer on the drivetrain overall.

When you gonna pick-up your CV's?

I have next few days free till Monday, nice long weekend. Would luv to meet you there for a chat.

I am from South Africa, but I guess you'll survive my accent...hehe - most Ozzies do!