Phil B's XB coupe

[XBROO]

Looks like it's had a face lift, this is the picture of it in Cairns.
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/.../WP_000065.jpg

[Phil B]

Was talking to the apprentice who works at the shop that coupe is at. He said it has about 800 horses at the wheels and lifts the front!

Oh and it's in at the shop to be made roadworthy for street rego!

[lilmattie]

Hi guys, I'm up in Cairns at the moment and I saw 072 FRD alive and well today. Starting to look a bit worse for wear close up, but still presents ok from a distance.

The one Phil saw at the mechanics seems different car. Looks like there's two XA's with XC fronts up here.

I took these a bit more than an hour ago.

[XBROO]

Awesome if it's the same owner, he has had it for a very long time. Good to see that it's still getting about.

[lilmattie]

Car looks nice Phil. I had a look over it this afternoon in Mareeba when I visited my brother. Also got to have a look through the MAF hanger and the ga8 and caravan. Interesting stuff.

[Phil B]

Originally Posted by lilmattie

Hi guys, I'm up in Cairns at the moment and I saw 072 FRD alive and well today. Starting to look a bit worse for wear close up, but still presents ok from a distance.

The one Phil saw at the mechanics seems different car. Looks like there's two XA's with XC fronts up here.

I think you might be right! Wow what are the chances of that?

Originally Posted by lilmattie

Car looks nice Phil. I had a look over it this afternoon in Mareeba when I visited my brother. Also got to have a look through the MAF hanger and the ga8 and caravan. Interesting stuff.

Glad you got to see it, pity I didn't get to see you while you were up there.

Anyway heres a pic with the new electronic distributor, finally!

[Phil B]

Time for a long overdue update! Still have the coupe, still goes good, no longer use it as a daily. Let the pictures do the talking...

Formal earlier last year, good fun for some friends.


Another from that formal.


Found another coupe in a carpark, couldnt find the owner unfortunately, anyone on here?




Then I bought a sensible daily driver, a BA XR6 Turbo Seriously though, I couldnt buy a Hyundai Getz for what I paid for this, thats Far North Queensland for you
Yup it goes hard, yup I miss the V8 rumble...


Then I moved closer to work, no more driving up and down the range every day, there is some very special people driving on that road. Cue pics at my new place, just because I could.




Then a formal. The girls father has a Celica GT4 race car but she didnt want to climb over the rollcage in a dress and heels, so I did it for them


Saw the black coupe again, only got to cruise together for a few blocks.


Did another formal.


Did another formal, was heaps of fun. Everyone met up just down the road from the venue, so all us car guys got to chat. And yep, the guy took 2 girls




Drove to work for the last day of work before the Christmas break to get it out for a run.


Then this happened on the way home! Yup rolled over 400,000km and still going


I also had a rust repair guy come have a look at the coupe. Surprise surprise it has some cancer, all fixable though.
Drivers side plenum isn't healthy, leaks water into the drivers footwell.
The piece from the rear window down to the parcel shelf is pretty much completely gone, also leaks water. So probably around mid year I'll take the coupe in to this guy and get it back better than new!

[KOOP74]

Great to see the coupe out and about Phil, keep the updates coming as it's always good to see what you're up to.

[Phil B]

Still getting the coupe out occasionally, some pics from a recent trip:











But on inspection we found this!



And it's pretty much the same on the other side. Also the vertical parcel shelf panel is pretty much entirely gone. So next weekend it goes in to have all that fixed up which will be good!

[DaveD_XB]

I love this thread Phil... but sadly I'm pretty sure that you will find more rust as you peel back the onion on this to fix these spots... I have a Dodge Challenger thread on some other forums & what started out as a tiny patch of rust on the front rail is now a major build with the whole front of the car including the firewall being replaced...

I hope I'm wrong here... but all I can say is keep the faith, fix the issues as you find them... it will all be worth it in the end...

[Bosko]

Yes I agree what starts out as a quick tidy up, usually turns into a full resto! Mine did, just as well! Not the financial side of things, lots and lots and lots of money

[neptune blue]

Depends Phil, the areas you have highlighted as well as the plenum are notorios for rust. The boot channels are also a problem as water just sits in them when it rains
It all depends how much time the car has spent in the weather for the years before you got it. My car has always been garaged so the plenum is spot on. The reason it rusts around the back window is because the sealer dries out letting water in.

Its a shame you didn't tackle this befor it was re sprayed.

[Phil B]

There's still plenty of good metal around the plenums and parcel shelf so it shouldn't be too bad. Also the outer skin will be barely touched so itll only need a small touch up on the back. It does give me a chance to fix a few things from the paint job too, so im not worried.

[KOOP74]

Hey Phil, how's it all going? Been a while since your last post, how's the coupe going?

[Phil B]

Just remembered to check this thread.
I still have the coupe, but I'm in a different corner of the country so I've only been able to drive it a few times since the middle of last year.

Here's the result of the rust repairs.

Left hand plenum.


With a surprise!


A tin of bolts! I'm guessing that they are from when I had the car painted.


Rear window looked like this. Nasty patch.


Hiding this...


And this...


What came out and what went back in.


And the end result.


The windscreen went back in easier without the dodgy patch in the way but was still tight, then the paint was touched up and it looks good as new. Still doesn't have a parcel shelf though because the one that was in there warped and went mouldy from the water leaking in.



So now that I'm away for longer than I originally thought, I'm thinking of taking it off the road to save the rego money for a few years to eventually put into rebuilding the engine. One problem is that my XR6 Turbo now feels slow to me, so the coupe will need more power than I was originally planning!

[KOOP74]

Thanks for the update Phil, she's a great looking hardtop, love that last photo.

[Claytopia]

DON'T LET THE REGO LAPSE!!!

The cost of maintaining it is nothing compared to the time effort and cost of getting it re-registered. Trust me on this.

[Phil B]

Originally Posted by Claytopia

DON'T LET THE REGO LAPSE!!!

The cost of maintaining it is nothing compared to the time effort and cost of getting it re-registered. Trust me on this.

What problems have you run into?

I got mine rego'd from nothing in Victoria, then transferred that to QLD rego with no problems besides having things fixed that needed fixing.

[Claytopia]

Originally Posted by Phil B

What problems have you run into?

I got mine rego'd from nothing in Victoria, then transferred that to QLD rego with no problems besides having things fixed that needed fixing.

New seat belt webbing as it was showing wear and in his opinion would soon start to fray.
Had to go back to stock rim/tire size.
Had to re route the fuel line as he wouldn't accept it in the stock location. Previous owner had put holes in the parcel shelf to put in speakers had to get that repaired.
Made me replace all the flexible brake and clutch lines as they weren't as flexible as he liked them to be.
And then there was the motor, wouldn't allow any aftermarket parts on it (got away with the carby as at that stage no stock ones were available)

Might just be small town self important assessor problems (in town he's know as Mr 3 trips)

[Phil B]

Originally Posted by Claytopia

New seat belt webbing as it was showing wear and in his opinion would soon start to fray.
Had to go back to stock rim/tire size.
Had to re route the fuel line as he wouldn't accept it in the stock location. Previous owner had put holes in the parcel shelf to put in speakers had to get that repaired.
Made me replace all the flexible brake and clutch lines as they weren't as flexible as he liked them to be.
And then there was the motor, wouldn't allow any aftermarket parts on it (got away with the carby as at that stage no stock ones were available)

Might just be small town self important assessor problems (in town he's know as Mr 3 trips)

Yeah I think you just got unlucky with the assessor. The QLD guy told me to get fatter rims/tyres and to give the engine more grunt.

I know a few guys now that would pass the coupe so long as it's safe.

[halo9]

Very nice ride Phil. Can't believe the hidden cans in there.... I hope you weren't driving around for years thinking what is that damn rattle.

[Shrude]

I've just read this entire thread.
Awesome stuff Phil and Mrs Phil.
That last update with the plenum rust was a beauty.

Its been a couple of years since you updated this thread and I really hope the coupe is still in your family.
How are you and Mrs Phil? Are you going to get another coupe? ;)

Hows the coupe going Phil?

I'm writing this in the middle of the night while the HTA is on at Bathurst what an awesome sight seeing all this cars from all over Australia converge on Bathurst for the weekend...
Were you there Phil?

I know everyone hangs out in the Ford Face Book groups now, but threads like this shouldn't die!

Long Live Phil and his Coupe!

[Phil B]

[Phil B]

Sorry for the blank post, picture issues!

I thought it'd be time for an update. I still have the coupe and I'm no longer on the opposite side of the country.



Big news, I now have twins!



My 2 cars now, coupe and 105 series Cruiser, turbo diesel and a bunch of good gear.

At long last I've had the engine rebuilt! Was definitely due for it, was still running but very tired.
Now a 351, same heads just been cleaned up with new valves, mild cam, performer intake, 600 Holley and extractors. Gearbox also got a reco, bearings and a shaft were stuffed.





It now drives really great, heaps of power, still plenty of torque, sounds great. I'll take it to the Heathcote meet but won't be racing.