G'day everyone,
So many posts here where do you start? lol
I can probably just speak more about the older Fords only because I have worked on many of them years ago and also have been to many wreckers especially Ford wreckers and have spoken to quite a few people over the years, yes there is many stories about things from back in those days...lol
Well one thing I remember quite well was back around 2000 me and my mate with the black XB had both our cars parked at a Mcdonald's car park here in Melbourne one night. Anyway we were just standing outside chatting away when a car pulls up and parks near our cars. Two men get out and come over to us and say g'day. They were looking at our cars and we started chatting and one bloke introduces himself and says that he worked at the Ford Motor Company back in the days when those cars were being made. It was Wayne Draper and his panel beater who just happened to notice us and got out for a chat. I think I remember him saying that most of the interior and some exterior designs on those cars he had produced when working for the company. Stuff like on my XC for example, the exterior badging for the engine size "4.9" on the guards for example was his design, I think also the lettering and badging on the bonnet letters "FORD" and bootlid "FORD - Falcon 500" etc was his design, and there was probably alot more things that he had created or designed for Ford vehicles back in those days. He was quite impressed to see us younger folk interested in these classic original cars that he helped create and design certain things on them back in the good old days of Ford Australia. He also was talking to my mate about his black XB coupe as I think he also owned one when he worked at Ford back in those days. That's one time I won't forget. Sadly Wayne Draper passed away back in 2012. But I think he was a great bloke for taking the time to come out and meet us for a chat that night, and we were glad that he also chatted and gave us some history on our classic Ford cars from the 70's.
Also speaking of Ford putting parts into other vehicles yes I wouldn't be all suprised what they did back in those days, well we all know about what happened to most of the 200 sets of parts that were ready to be fitted to the new XAGTHO phase 4 sedan. When that program got cancelled because of the government putting an end to these supercars, Ford then fitted these Phase 4 parts to the normal GT's as the "RPO 83" option.
My mate once bought a complete XC Cobra 351 Cleveland engine to strip for parts and we pulled it apart in the backyard and noticed that it was fitted with a 4MAB crankshaft. I don't know how special they are but I think they might be slightly stronger or something than the standard 351 cleveland crankshaft.
I also heard some stories that there was also some left over race style 351 Cleveland engine blocks that had thicker castings in the walls or something that were more durable for higher revving racing purposes. Some of these may have ended up in the last Cleveland V8 powered XE Falcons etc. That's some of the things I have heard and seen over the years anyway. I'm sure there is even more secrets and things that went on in those days.
Speaking about those old Ford Fairlanes and LTD's. Yes I think with the XC era LTD with the Rolls Royce front, they came with one driveline option. 351 Clevelend V8 engine, FMX automatic transmission and the Ford 9 inch diff with LSD. haha. I guess they thought if your buying a top of the line LTD you are getting the best and strongest driveline to go with it! lol I think in the ZH Fairlane model you had the option of the smaller 302 V8 if you wanted it. But not on the LTD...lol
That why you rarely ever see a Ford LTD with any of it's driveline still intact at a wrecking yard. The first thing that gets ripped out of those beasts is the good old Ford 9 inch diff, the FMX Automatic transmission and the 351 Cleveland engine. Pretty much all GT running gear in those classic beasts.
Also speaking of the XA's and how they may have rusted out faster etc. I have also heard about how there was alot of work strikes in the 70's at the Ford factory and many bare body shells were left outside or in paddocks outside the factory during the strikes. Then when they went back to work they assembled these bare probably surface rusted body shells into cars for sale. That's just one thing I heard from an old timer a while ago. I'm sure there is also many other stories to hear from back in those days.
Cheers!
