Making an ED ute?

[ROOSTA]

Hi Guys,

Of late have been thinking it would be spectacular to do an ED ute.. I have seen some examples of them done in the past, and am not 100% sold on it, but for practicality I am probably going to need a ute as a daily drive soon, and I love the ED front..

Anyone got any pics floating around of different variants done in the past? (Looking at you Rosco)..

Also what model ute would be best to start with as a base.. I believe the XG was about the same years as the ED, but will the ED front bolt up and line up nicely with minimal mods or do i need to look at a newer XH model?

Any advice would be appreciated..

Cheers,
Nik

[Road_Warrior]

Err, Street Machine mag years ago had a story on this. Don't ask me to find it because I can't even remember the year. Basically they took an EA or whatever wagon and chopped the back off. Ford did do a design study with an EA26 ute before the EA was released but for whatever reason they decided to not go ahead with it and modernise the old Blackwood platform (XD-XF) instead.

The E-series front end won't bolt up to an XG body because the body architecture is completely different. XH is the obvious exception but the front half of the body shell was redesigned to accommodate the E series front panels, engine bay box, steering assembly and suspension. And a lot of the parts are unique to XH, i.e. the bonnet for example. So you could get an XH and put an ED front on it I guess, and make your own cut and shut bonnet, but it would still be an XH ute and look similar to an XG.

But if you wanted to get creative with some body work, you could probably pick up a clapped EA or EB wagon as a base and go from there.

[ROOSTA]

Pics for inspiration/discussion..











Cheers,
Nik

[ROOSTA]

Thanks for that info Road_Warrior.. Dang not a simple as I was Hoping..

Now that you mention the wagon option I can see that the blue one above was probably a wagon in a previous life..

Cheers,
Nik

[KR1STO]

That blue one looks awesome..!
A lot if work in it though..

[Simple6]

Wow if only Ford made one of those!

[pcman]

yeah chopping a wagon is the best option if you want that style, ive always wanted to build a cortina ute but wanted an custom tray i was thinking of buying a rolled ba ute and grafting the cortina body onto the ba floorpan and firewall so retain all the ba running gear and dash ect with cortina body

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by pcman

yeah chopping a wagon is the best option if you want that style, ive always wanted to build a cortina ute but wanted an custom tray i was thinking of buying a rolled ba ute and grafting the cortina body onto the ba floorpan and firewall so retain all the ba running gear and dash ect with cortina body

Or you could just import the Cortina ute from South Africa where they made them and save yourself all the farting around with the cut and shut!

[pcman]

really.... they made a cortina with ba driveline in south africa thats pretty interesting news, yes i know they where made, and im guessing you have shipped lots of cars from south africa to australia ??? it aint cheap like 5000bux in freight

to spend that on a car ive never seen id rather build one

[raised by monkeys]

i remember seeing that blue EB wagon cut with GT trimings. They went to all that trouble... and left an I6 instead of throwing in a V8

[ebgtjames]

Shame that ute didn't end up in better hands, it was spotted a few months ago,

[ROOSTA]

Oh thats a little bit sad.. :-(

So freaking unique..

Cheers,
Nik

[302 XC]

Interesting topic
For me that red tray back does it
If its a cab/tray style an e series chopped body on a full chassis would be the trick
Anyone got more pics of that red tray back ???

[ROOSTA]

[ROOSTA]

And another try.. Good concept terrible end result..



Cheers,
Nik

[302 XC]

Wouldnt have a side on shot of the red tray back ???
Does look the goods, probably more work than a wagon chopped
The big issue would be the load capacity it should/could have ???
The AU XR series utes are only 650 KG and a tray back
Im sure there was some hybrid sorta thing done years ago,it had like the front half guard blended onto the rear half guard shape of another model ???
Gotta be a tray for me , hence the red one works

[ROOSTA]

Look what I found for sale!!



Bit excited... Waiting to hear from the seller...

Cheers,
Nik

[Sorted]

SCOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!

AND it has the Twin Light front

[ROOSTA]

Ha Ha yer.. Was very excited but the seller is hard to communicate with.. Wont give me a cash on pickup price, wont send me more pictures but encourages coming to have a look, doesn't know what it would need for roady, etc.. So I am almost ready to walk away, although its just so cool and unique..

What I have gathered so far.. 1990 EA Base (what model unsure), Had the tray conversion done and complianced 1999?, dual fuel, looks like the 3.9L motor with 4sp auto..

For anyone else interested here is the sale link.. Has been listed on gumtree a few times aswell..

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MUST-SELL...item232884db5b

Cheers,
Nik

[EFFalcon]

good buy for something so unique.

can't beleive i'm saying that about a $2k EA :P

[Sorted]

I can go look at it for you if you want - take stax of photos and whatever as lilydale is around the corner from me

If i was after something like that then I would just buy it as to get it to that stage would cost more than $1,000 as is - the add says it is 1 of 25 - where are the other 24 lol

[ROOSTA]

I was just after some pics of the interior and undercarriage to try to work out how the conversion was done.. Pretty simple request..

Considering a drive over on the weekend to inspect, pending partner approval.. Maybe with the car trailer in tow just incase.. Thanks for the offer though Rosco..

Cheers,
Nik

[EFFalcon]

yeah ultimately its the structural side thats important, along with any supporting documentation to avoid issues with registration.

[ROOSTA]

Yep indeedy.. A quick vic roads search of the old rego shows it to all be registered as a tray up until end of last year so in theory should be all good but yer, still makes me a little edgy/nervous..

Cheers,
Nik

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by ROOSTA

I was just after some pics of the interior and undercarriage to try to work out how the conversion was done.. Pretty simple request..


Cheers,
Nik

Probably doesnt want to give too much away,but if he didnt do the mods whats really the problem
Its not like you could go buy a $100 EA,EB,ED and do the full conversion,engineer rubbish ,and toss a tray on for that money .....
Or maybe you could
If i was to do something like this,id prefer a full chassis front to back,not a half asst attempt what the factory tray backs have now,but thats me
2 grand,fix the motor issues, get rego,rwc ect,you can get an AU tray for 3,4 grand ,driveaway
If you get some other pics,mind throwing them up ???

[ROOSTA]

What was the chances of 2 of them turning up for sale in a single week???

http://www.b00stedfalcon.net/viewtop...b7d230#p493924

Cheers,
Nik

[Sorted]

Supply and Demand Nik lol

Prob saw you wanted one

Yes the link does not work for obvious reasons