MANUAL AU Wagons? Do they exist?

[samftr]

Like the title says, did ford australia release the AU wagon with a manual option, or was it deleted as with ba onwards wagons?

If they did release them, what trim levels were available at that level and what options were available for it?
Cheers Sam

[b2tf]

never were released although I have seen one that was supposedly a "test" vehicle built by Ford. Dont really believe that story, but it was bought by a Ford employee at their auctions.

But to the public - no, they were never available. Last one was EF.

[samftr]

Really, damn that shoots my idea out the window...
I did think el still was available in manual..
what a bastard!

I suppose the convert the bugger is still an option then, but for the money I really don't want to be pulling engines out and stuffing around with that garbage again.
thanks B2tf, even de loreans are hard to find ;)

[b2tf]

I think you may be right about EL having it as an option, Ive just never seen one. Only one I have ever seen is an EF as a factory manual wagon.

[BLACKAUXR8]

EL wagons definitly came out manual. A friend of mines MUM!! had one a 97 model factory manual. It was a awesome car. It scared alot of people HAHA

[GlennBA]

you could just convert one
The ute stuff should go into one fine, and utes are pretty common in manual.

[samftr]

yeah, either its into an au wagon of some sort, or start throwing money into the pappy spec'd ef for now.

six speed wagon ey glenn ;)

[sly]

The spec sheet for AU series 1 originally showed the Forte wagon as having manual tranny as standard, whether anyone ordered one that way was another question.

Availability of the manual box was withdrawn with the "AU 1.5" or "Smartshield update" which included some equipment upgrades eg cargo blind and front power windows became standard and rear ride height lowered by 1". Definitely unavailable by Aug 99 when I got mine, otherwise it would have been a manual.

[private9]

Are the AU ECU's body specific? Ie, could you fit an XR6 HP manual ECU to a wagon when doing a manual conversion?

If I didn't already have another gearbox to replace my existing one, I'd definitely be going the conversion route though.

[samftr]

AWW what a suck hole. I suppose its supply and demand, and if no one wants a manual wagon, then no one gets one. Pity you cant say pay an extra 5 grand or something and ford will throw what you want into the car. say 5 g for a manual in a bf2 wagon extra 10 grand for a phoon motor... now I'm dreaming lol.
I don't think it would be too hard to convert the au, I have done it to the ef sedan, So would be within the reach of myself with the right parts to begin with.
Why not chuck in a T series 5.6 litre v8 ;)

EDIT: E series aren't body specific ECU wise, I have a GLI wagon ECU in my ef *manual ecu.
EA wagon t5... etc

Can't see why ford would go to the expense of changing ecu's between body shapes (wagon/sedan/uterus)

[sly]

Originally Posted by private9

Are the AU ECU's body specific? Ie, could you fit an XR6 HP manual ECU to a wagon when doing a manual conversion?

The ECU is separate to the BEM (body electronics module). At a guess it would probably work. Best to talk to a Ford specialist wrecker (eg FTG, Wickham Spares) as they generally are in the know as to what you can mix & match.

[bodes-sh]

it can be done, the bem and ecu just have to be programmed to each other that's all

[samftr]

another thing I suppose would be something to think about is weather the car had VCT say as in the fairlane or xr6 with IRS etc

[private9]

Cool. Knew E series weren't body specific, but just wasn't sure about the AU's.

[GlennBA]

Originally Posted by private9

Are the AU ECU's body specific? Ie, could you fit an XR6 HP manual ECU to a wagon when doing a manual conversion?

If I didn't already have another gearbox to replace my existing one, I'd definitely be going the conversion route though.

You could but you'd have to change the fuel rail to an XR6 one (about $300 iirc) as it'll lean out. When i converted my AU we used an XR6 HP ECU. It should go into a wagon fine, as you code the ECU to the BEM.

[RACE38]

Hi Gang,
I guess the next logical question from here for me is............

Is there such an animal as a BA V8 Wagon, I've never seen one nor heard of one???

I have my eye on an AU V8 Fairmont Wagooon, that'd be a deadset thing with a 6 speed.

[TE50 027]

Originally Posted by samftr

AWW what a suck hole. I suppose its supply and demand, and if no one wants a manual wagon, then no one gets one. Pity you cant say pay an extra 5 grand or something and ford will throw what you want into the car. say 5 g for a manual in a bf2 wagon extra 10 grand for a phoon motor... now I'm dreaming lol.

I spoke to a Ford dealer a few years back when the wife was looking at a 2nd hand AU2 wagon. He said he knew of at least two people that had requested (and paid a little extra) to have theirs delivered with a manual. Would be nice to be able to just jump on a "design your car" website and tailor it to your exact liking.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by RACE38

Hi Gang,
I guess the next logical question from here for me is............

Is there such an animal as a BA V8 Wagon, I've never seen one nor heard of one???

I have my eye on an AU V8 Fairmont Wagooon, that'd be a deadset thing with a 6 speed.

Nup, last wagon available with V8's were the AU's.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by TE50 027

I spoke to a Ford dealer a few years back when the wife was looking at a 2nd hand AU2 wagon. He said he knew of at least two people that had requested (and paid a little extra) to have theirs delivered with a manual. Would be nice to be able to just jump on a "design your car" website and tailor it to your exact liking.

Id put money on that being dealer bs. If any were ever manuals it would have been a dealership conversion, none would have left the factory manual. As I said above, I have seen one AU Manual Wagon and the story was that it was a VERY early AU build, built as sort of a test. How true that is though I dont know, never got to see the compliance plate to see if it left the factory a manual.