AU Fairmont Performance Upgrades Question - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Dauphin · 11-07-2003, 15:29

Hello,

I am looking at purchasing a stock AU Fairmont and would like to find out what could be done to improve its performance without getting into insurance hassles or getting too costly. I'd also like to keep the noise down and keep it like a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Maybe you can tell I'm not much of a tehnically minded car head, but I thought this forum would be a good place to ask this.

Look forward to your replies.

Regards,

Dauphin.

Casper · 11-07-2003, 15:33

Might be a good idea to just get a AU Fairmont Ghia, that way you already have the XR6 motor to start with. That way you wont have to play around too much with the motor and avoid all the isurance hassles.

Aussie Falcon · 11-07-2003, 15:41

You can add the Tseries intake snorkle for $24 and a K&N filter for about $120.

biggaben · 11-08-2003, 15:16

i would go the au ghia as you then get all the nice interior bits and the xr6 engine. there are heaps of little things you can do it is when you start talking zort, lowering and head jobs that insurance mobs get scared.

you should contact several companys and ask them how much you can do and will it affect you premium.

ben

XR_Strider_GuY · 11-08-2003, 15:50

My opinion, the fairmont is a nice car and a relative bargain compared to the Ghia. Typically a Ghia will sell for around $3-4k more. Once you have the fairmont as a base you can get the ghia bits (chrome handles, stripes etc) when you save the cash.

In terms of performance the AU fairmont has already a slight advantage over the forte, futura in that it uses the 3.23 diff, making slightly quicker of the line. Best mods to do with Inline 6 is to get a cat back exhaust, K&N filter and upgraded snorkel as Aussie Falcon mentioned that should give it abit more power and much better response. That should be a good start for mods on the car, after that if you still want more theres an array of stuff that can be done to further increase power.

The good thing too is that most insurance companys are ok with cat back exhausts.

mongrelEB · 11-08-2003, 21:22

Get a manual one, and lose the grandpa exhaust, IMO. You can put on a 2.5' exhaust and still muffle it down fairly quiet without losing the effects of the upgrade...

XR_Strider_GuY · 11-09-2003, 02:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongrelEB

Get a manual one, and lose the grandpa exhaust, IMO. You can put on a 2.5' exhaust and still muffle it down fairly quiet without losing the effects of the upgrade...

No manual in an AU Fairmont/Ghia. Besides if one wants a manual they can get an XR6 or if money won't stretch a Falcon SR will fit the bill nicely.

Dauphin · 11-10-2003, 21:21

Thanks for the replies guys. I forgot to mention I do want the Ghia version. How easy is it to change the air filter and install that snorkle? Is it a job for a mechanic, or can one do it easily by themself with pretty regular tools?

Thanks again!

Dauphin.

taximan · 11-10-2003, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dauphin

Thanks for the replies guys. I forgot to mention I do want the Ghia version. How easy is it to change the air filter and install that snorkle? Is it a job for a mechanic, or can one do it easily by themself with pretty regular tools?

Thanks again!

Dauphin.

As long as you know how to remove the old filter and use a srewdriver you can do it yourself in under 5 minutes

mongrelEB · 11-10-2003, 22:52

Quote:

No manual in an AU Fairmont/Ghia. Besides if one wants a manual they can get an XR6 or if money won't stretch a Falcon SR will fit the bill nicely.

Bloody Ford.

Meh I suppose it'd cost too much anyway for what it sounds like you want...