First off, WE WANT PICS!

Nice mate, can't wait to get one and slot a 351 into it!

RPO is Regular Production Order? Someone will correct me I'm sure. RPO 83 being the famous one. RPO 83 are the XAs that are loaded with phase 4 bits left over when the phase 4 program was killed.

 

What is an RPO I have read about a few times?

To post pics, click 'manage attachments' below the window for advanced reply posting, and browse to find the pics, and they'll post as an attachment, nice n easy.

 

Nothing wrong with a GS, there under rated in my opinion and most have been pillaged for gt clones

 

Firstly welcome to the forum & congrats on the purchase.

My questions:

What is an RPO I have read about a few times?

RPO stands for Regular Production Option. When most people say RPO they are refering to the RPO 83 XA GTs which basically had some parts intended for the Phase IV HOs.

I want to find the balance of maintaining it's true value, and making it the ride I always dreamed of... the clean lines I see in pics everywhere.

Are the 6 pot GS coops high enough value to be worrying about this at all, or should I just aim for making a clean car?

For a car as original as your car is I'd be inclined to keep the stock look. Things like springs & minor upgrades should keep it original in my opinion. A good idea is to only do those mods that can be undone easily.

Looking forward to the pics.

 

Thanks for the Pic instructions.

Here it is. The guy in the pic is my oldest. (legend footy player).

She doesn't look showroom, I know, but with the amount of stuff wrong with iher, it's a great place to start.

(No more "Cheers" at the bottom of posts, ok)

Hope you like her, and I'm glad to have found this forum.

Dan

 

That's beautiful mate! I say restore it to original (ie leave the six in it), because matching numbers cars are rare these days, particularly nice GS coupes like yours!

 

That's a nice car Gunner, I'd keep it original but wouldn't be against lowering it a little and putting some widened (painted) 12 sloters on the back.

 

Nice Gunner!

You going to drive it every day or weekends only?

 

I want to be able to drive it when I want, but it wont go anywhere near #@$@ shopping trolleys etc.

The other thing I was thinking about was hardened valve seats to run 98 RON fuel without having to add an additive... plus all the usual tweaks like elect. ignition etc, but I still want to keep it to a minimum, so the detail looks pretty right

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement, I thought it was the way to go.

Dan

 

mmmmm nice colour, best XB colour by far.

Option, knew I was wrong!

 

Welcome to the very exclusive 6 pack Coupe club. :wnc:
Leave the original donk in it , tune it and put a new exhaust damper on it if the old one is cactus, the exhaust does make a difference.
stay with the org. dimensions.
You also have the chaimois intereor, and that is just so much better than the cave like black.
Change what ever need to be changed in the suspension department and buy new(shorter) front springs ,this will lower the nose, and the arse will have sagged anyway to a 40mm odd lower base.
Please do NOT change the engine for a 351 V8 as this has been done to every coupe in the country. and it does not need it plus petrol is getting much more expensive. :angel:
It also makes the front of the car VERY heavy.
see you on the street, keep cruizin.

 

Great buy, nice colour too, i would lower it, and put some better 12 slots on, also i will go against the trend here and say i would drop a 351 in it, coupes are just made for twin exhaust and a V8 rumble.

 

Thanksfor all your comments, I think I'll stick to the original numbers on this one. If I ever want a great 8, I might add another coupe to my stable one day... if I can find one by then!

I was reading about a 250 that was good for 250 horses, I dont even want that much grunt. I am not looking for any first prizes in performance.

After reading other threads on modding, I might go the dual exhaust and a few other bits and pieces, but otherwise, it stays as it is.

Dan

 

Nice coupe mate, leave it original, it will be worth more to you that way, the best thing you could do is source a 2V head (which is what I think you stated with the 250) and put elec ignition on, this is easy for the old ford 6, just put an elec system from an XE on, I did this to my 221 and it is the best thing, start's alot healthier and stronger, no more point's to burn through.

 

beautiful car! I agree with keeping it stock, but if you plan on keeping it for ever, you probably could modify it without worrying about the value. IMO of course.

I drive an XBGS 351 once. I'm a pizza boy and i guy i delivered to had one. we got talking about coupes, i told him i had one etc. He was pissed and he handed me the keys and said "take her for a spin, mate". It was all stock and it handled like a pregnant cow but i got it up to 110 miles down the highway. Brakes were sh*thouse though.

Sorry to go off topic here.

Daniel.

 

Easy performance gains are to be found in the auto trannie, as this sucks a lot of power ,while not being in lock up,acelerating, a manual 250 goes very well, so a suitable tricked C4 250 C/I will as wel, but not with a so called hystall B.S. in it, you got to go the other way. and a reputable transmission place can do it for you , the accereration will dramaticly improve.
A 250 C/I HP rating is only aproc 7HP less than a 302 C/I!

 

Congratulations Gunner. A great original car. I agree with most above, to keep it as stock as possible, epecially if you think there is potential to add another to the collection later. When originally looking for Coupes I was expecting to get something requiring modification, personalisation etc... Then I was lucky to come across something similarly very original and I now just want to restore and update it with a view to protecting the originality of my car. Don't see any problem with suggested suspension work, and performance upgrades. Hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I do mine!

 

Well done Gunner, looks very nice.

I'd be keeping it as stock as you can externally with a few mod cons underneath if you really have to. These days an absoloute original is a lot less common than one that's been 'f*cked with' to quote some of the guys on the GT boards. And seeing some stock cars other than GT's is a real nice change.

 

Hi all,

Been up in Longreach with work for the last week, hence no posts. Just wanted to tell you what I might have found to go on my coupe...

A 2V head and extra gear!

I'll give you the full details when it becomes reality, including pics. Not saying too much until I get it all.

It was a fluke, though, that's for sure.

By the time I am finished this is gonna be perfect for me.

Dan

 

Hey Dan, was going through some old posts up here on FF and saw your name crop up. How is the Blue GS going these days anyhow? Did you end up putting a 2V head on it? Be interested to hear what you've done since the purchase.

 

Beautiful car, but for a more accurate evaluation just put it in a container and ship it to the Port of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. But you will have to wait until about late March, early April for the shipping lanes to open again after the thaw. :hy:

 

Hey Dan, was going through some old posts up here on FF and saw your name crop up. How is the Blue GS going these days anyhow? Did you end up putting a 2V head on it? Be interested to hear what you've done since the purchase.

G'day,

Yep, I got a whole spare 250 with 2v head, holley and matching extractors.

The things that were missing off the coop were the original steering wheel (a cortina one was in it when I got it) and the front window chrome.

I now have it all, and a mate gave me one of those black clip-lock fuel caps and chrome rings off an XC. All pins on it. I think the XB ones were a brushed finish? If I find out for sure I will do the same.

The steering wheel I got for $450, but it is totally restored and looks great.

A few months ago I bought a compressor, and last weekend I got myself a spraygun, so I am working towards it among the normal tricks involved in bringing up four kids.

It's waiting patiently for my time, and while it waits it lives under my house in lockup... no moisture in there. Gets a run and a stretch every now and then.

It'll get there, and sooner than later, I hope.

Sorry, but I wont be sending it to Ohio for a checkup! It's gonna be a two-owner car till I croak.

Dan

 

Thanksfor all your comments, I think I'll stick to the original numbers on this one. If I ever want a great 8, I might add another coupe to my stable one day... if I can find one by then!

You could always TEMPORARILY slot in a V8 and keep all the associated 6cyl parts that are removed in a safe place.... no need to buy a second car then

Nice ride btw

 

G'day,

Yep, I got a whole spare 250 with 2v head, holley and matching extractors.

The things that were missing off the coop were the original steering wheel (a cortina one was in it when I got it) and the front window chrome.

I now have it all, and a mate gave me one of those black clip-lock fuel caps and chrome rings off an XC. All pins on it. I think the XB ones were a brushed finish? If I find out for sure I will do the same.

The steering wheel I got for $450, but it is totally restored and looks great.

A few months ago I bought a compressor, and last weekend I got myself a spraygun, so I am working towards it among the normal tricks involved in bringing up four kids.

It's waiting patiently for my time, and while it waits it lives under my house in lockup... no moisture in there. Gets a run and a stretch every now and then.

It'll get there, and sooner than later, I hope.

Sorry, but I wont be sending it to Ohio for a checkup! It's gonna be a two-owner car till I croak.

Dan

Your a wise man leaving it stock. I am glad its saved and that its loved. Good luck with it.

Steve

 

I would love to get one of these ole 6 cyl coupes and slot a serious XR6 Turbo Motor in it, Kit it with the 6 speed manual and nizpro 1200hp setup, put 250 badges on guards and go huntin jap crap and crummydores with the ultimate road sleeper.