Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Howdy,

Who has put an AU or later ford six into a heavier 4WD? I am interested in what kind of results you've got - performance and fuel economy.

Took my Maverick into the NT last week and it was actually very good, but I would have liked to have a bit more power in reserve for overtaking or just controlling speed when the speed limits were up at 130kmh.

Having had a really good run through the NT, I've got the bug badly and am thinking Cape York next year, but probably going for a fair while and heading across west from there.

Basically, I plan to sort out the last little wrinkles with the car so it's all good for that run, and I'm thinking that maybe an AU six cyl could bring the powerplant up to date. These get okay ecoonomy in a heavy sedan, anyone know how they are in an even heavier fourby?

They are pretty thirsty in a territory, which will have better aerodynamics, lower rolling resistance and be lighter than a Mav, (and lower cruise RPM)

more power is one thing, but the real problem is the amount of HP it takes to move a car that heavy and unaerodynamic.

for petrol motors, the guide is 1/2lb of fuel per hp per hour.

If you need 80hp to cruise at 100km/h, then you'll get about 17l/100km.

There's no magic trick - that's just how it works. I woudl wager your cruise fuel consumption wouldn't change very much, your acceleration would improve, but your overall consumption would stay about the same.(unless there is a tuning problem with your car and it is running way too rich currently)

Ps if you need 100hp, you are up at 24l/100km or so, which would be about right for your car @ 130km/h I reckon - or about 2/3 throttle in your maverick now.

This is all pretty inexact, but the idea is that more HP=more fuel - how fast do you want to go?

Steve.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:They are pretty thirsty in a territory, which will have better aerodynamics, lower rolling resistance and be lighter than a Mav, (and lower cruise RPM)

more power is one thing, but the real problem is the amount of HP it takes to move a car that heavy and unaerodynamic.

for petrol motors, the guide is 1/2lb of fuel per hp per hour.

If you need 80hp to cruise at 100km/h, then you'll get about 17l/100km.

There's no magic trick - that's just how it works. I woudl wager your cruise fuel consumption wouldn't change very much, your acceleration would improve, but your overall consumption would stay about the same.(unless there is a tuning problem with your car and it is running way too rich currently)

Steve.

I take your point. I may have overstated the economy angle in my query; the "problem" I'd like to solve is the reserve of power to overtake, say, a long road train travelling at 120km/h.

Economy was not great, but was overall acceptable, especially since LPG was available nearly everywhere on the trip.

Thanks for reminding me about the Territory, that is an obvious thing to compare with that I should have thought of! Looks like it probably isn't worth it really.

Yeah understood, lets say your motor is doing 130kw now (I assume you have a stockish tb42?) I reckon that the cost of going to an AU motor (165kw?) wouldn't make it worth it.

The AU VCT motor (fairmont ghia and some XR6's) would be better, at 172KW but I reckon getting it all in there woudl be a nightmare -

you would have a T5 manual - no adapter to a transfer case, or the BW auto, also with no case adapter. (That I am aware of.) Getting the management right if you wanted to run a nything otehr than ford amangement would also be a big hassle as they have lots of security functions etc in them. Even driving the instruments could become a pain.

It doesn't seem worth it for 50hp IMHO.

now if you wanted to do it with a BA XR6 motor

If economy isn't such a big deal what about a 4.8 GU motor? I thought they were quite grunty.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:If economy isn't such a big deal what about a 4.8 GU motor? I thought they were quite grunty.

I was thinking about that, but it all starts to look like I should just get a GU and have the other shiny stuff that comes with it. Just weighing up ideas, I think you are right, 40kW or so extra probably doesn't justify the effort unless, at a minimum, the TB42 is already stuffed, which it isn't.

Put the gearing back to stock if you have bigger tyres. My GQ on 35's and 4.6's over with Carby 4.2 is more than acceptable. Almost identical to 31's and 4.1s factory.

Minor mods extractors exhaust carby and electronic ignition makes a fair bit of difference.

LOCKEE wrote:Put the gearing back to stock if you have bigger tyres. My GQ on 35's and 4.6's over with Carby 4.2 is more than acceptable. Almost identical to 31's and 4.1s factory.

Minor mods extractors exhaust carby and electronic ignition makes a fair bit of difference.

Factory gearing in my car was 3.9:1 and sub-30" tyres, now on 33s... runs alright normally but you might be right, it was out of puff in fifth gear on gas, although not as bad on petrol... maybe I should have 4.1:1 or 4.3:1 diffs under it.

Don't get me wrong, I was really happy with the car, there's just that specific situation of overtaking etc where you want some power to spare and it's not really there; overtaking a long road train is a 100% foot-to-the-floor exercise. Just don't want to spend a few more grand on this car then find that I really should have just forked out for a GU with a TB48 or a TD42T right away.

chimpboy wrote:I really should have just fork out for a GU with a TB48 or a TD42T right away.

There you go ..way fewer annoying squeaks and rattles to boot.

I have done similar trips in the GU and a GQ.. for a good jungle thrash I would flog a GQ becasue it is basically a cheap GU .. but for spending hours and hours I prefered the GU .. 90% of the stuff that annoys you about a GQ has been sorted.

chimpboy wrote:

LOCKEE wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I was really happy with the car, there's just that specific situation of overtaking etc where you want some power to spare and it's not really there; overtaking a long road train is a 100% foot-to-the-floor exercise. .

M kay............What about a nitrous kit, say 50 hp.





Oh... you want something PRACTICAL.

you could goto a dealership and check out what the fuel rates are on the Territory.

i cant believe how sh#t the ba motor is.ive said it before due having to drive a rtv manual every day.no low down torque.it does have to steel tool boxes on the back and cable and copper but i know a xf or even the mitsi vans can take off on hills better with the same weight than this sh@tter does. oh yeah due to no torque its all revs to take off on hills,driveways and intersections.the 180klw is crap.

How about the GU diesel turbo and exhaust manifold with the efi manifold bolted to your original motor running straight gas...( no dual fuel ) but it could add a bit of oomph withouth really having to modify your engine bay, plumbing , alternator, A/c...

Thats what I am looking at ...simple but practicle

zagan wrote:you could goto a dealership and check out what the fuel rates are on the Territory.

mate drives one which is very comfortable, and smooth... but its fuckin thirsty specially as a daily driver. If work wasnt payin the fuel bills, then he would sell it and cut his losses. 3 tanks a week he goes through.