What Mods Do They Do To Cop Cars?

riverrat321 · 10-09-2010, 06:34 AM

Hi, just wondering what mods they do to cop cars? I would be real interested in what they did to the EL XR8 in NSW? Anyone know about this?

GTP owner · 10-09-2010, 06:50 AM

Nothing - they are standard cars. Some have beefed up electrics to cope with all of the extra stuff they run, but that is it for the most part

XR Martin · 10-09-2010, 07:00 AM

Nothing performance wise.
Different instrument cluster, better brake pad material, interior lights that could be completely switched off.

Mr Hardware · 10-09-2010, 07:34 AM

Electric Windows (so they could lock the back windows)
2km increment speedos
interior light switch
Search for OPT20, i have spoken on the topic many a time. The 'cop chip' is a myth, if that's what you're asking.

LTDHO · 10-09-2010, 08:12 AM

They were thrashed for the first 50,000 klm then sold off.

mik · 10-09-2010, 08:39 AM

its funny people always think of police cars as haveing special hp mods , sometimes it is simple small items that allow them to do the job better.
a bit of trivia

, back in the 70`s (XC days) they used to get high speed mods/fixes for the interceptors, for example, fmx auto`s had a habit of blowing auto oil out the dip stick over the engine and hot exhaust manifolds and setting fire to the engine at sustained high speed, (a few came back on tow trucks with burnt engine bay),
so they had a breather modifications, the 1/8 inch hole on the front of filler tube was brazed up, another hole was drilled on the rear of the tube 4 inches down and a peice of fuel line brazed on to it ,a peice of auto cooler hose was then run back to the breather on the auto solving the problem, i doubt they need this sorta thing with todays non foaming lubricants, wheels that came from roh for the police cars had less run out than standard general public rims, at the end of the roh production line they had a guy with a dial gauge checking run out, the very good ones went to vic police, the average ones went to joe public, and over a certain measurment were rejected, i think it was 10 thou, but i could be wrong (it was a long time ago

), so it would not surprise me if the chasers still got some good treatment.

Jim Goose · 10-09-2010, 11:03 AM

Special sticker package and pretty flashing lights....

Road Games · 10-09-2010, 11:14 AM

Krispy Kreme holder on the dash ...

spannerman · 10-09-2010, 01:13 PM

Reminds me of a movie

Elwood - Its got cop tyres cop shocks cop brakes its the model befor catalic converters so it will run good on regular gas
so watta ya say is it the new blues mobile or what

Jake - Fix the cigerette lighter

On a serious note I was working as an apprentice for ford when these where on the road they where constantly comming in for service with standard cracked front disc rotors
At that stage they where all leased by custom fleet and they where allowing us to fit DBA slotted disc rotors most of them had this done at around the first service (1500km) as the standard ones had cracked by then due to extreme use I also think they were fitted with Bendix ultra brake pads

appart from what else has been already mentiond that is about it pretty much standard XR8 that has had the bejesus floged out of it

Franco Cozzo · 10-09-2010, 01:36 PM

I fit out Ambulances at work and they have a MASSIVE amount of extra electricals involved, with a police car its most likely just the extra stuff for the beacons and LED flashers and siren.

388cube_edxr8 · 10-09-2010, 01:53 PM

The cop chip is not a myth, a mate had a EB SXR8 with 'cop mods' as it was an ex cop car.

It had an aftermarket computer and a lumpier camshaft. This is a 302 Windsor in a 17 year old car that would rev past 9000rpm regularly. No pings, no misfires, nothing.

The new HWP cars (in Queensland anyway) have a similar treatment.

GYRKIN GT · 10-09-2010, 02:09 PM

The only Mod to any Police vehicle that I'm aware of is the addition of the E.V.W. (Enhanced Vision Windscreen) Not exactly sure how it works but, putting it simply, the E.V.W. enables the vehicle's occupants (the Police) to easily identify each and every "WHOMEEEE" out there.

For example,

Constable, "Sir, I've just checked your speed at 125 in a 100 zone"

Response, "Who, meeeeeeeeeeeee"

**ebxr8240** · 10-09-2010, 02:26 PM

They have the same mods as fleet and hired cars...
They are thrashed the first 50.000 klrs...
Although well serviced...
Btw I thought it was the other way around with defects ..
Slight defects went to Gov depts as discounts, including brake rotors..

LTDHO · 10-09-2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

The cop chip is not a myth, a mate had a EB SXR8 with 'cop mods' as it was an ex cop car.

It had an aftermarket computer and a lumpier camshaft. This is a 302 Windsor in a 17 year old car that would rev past 9000rpm regularly. No pings, no misfires, nothing.

The new HWP cars (in Queensland anyway) have a similar treatment.

Yeah a mate spoke to a guy at the pub who's cousin who used to work with an excopper. He said during the 80's and 90's all the V8's got a bigger carby and the cop chip. Also got clutchless manuals and special head light fluid.
The only complaint the chip wouldn't let the secondary open up on the carby unless the blue lights were on.

Dave_au · 10-09-2010, 03:04 PM

A lot of these stories seem to be a little bit too far fetched. At the end of the day, these are fleet vehicles required to do the bare minimum job all the while being serviced at the usual bare minimum required for fleet servicing.

The police would not modify their vehicles in such a way that would:
- Impact upon the warranty of the manufacturer
- Impact on the scheduled fleet servicing of the manufacturer
- Impact upon the safety and OHS requirements of the law;
- Impact upon the resale of the vehicle once the vehicle is offered for sale.

random1 · 10-09-2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

The cop chip is not a myth, a mate had a EB SXR8 with 'cop mods' as it was an ex cop car.

It had an aftermarket computer and a lumpier camshaft. This is a 302 Windsor in a 17 year old car that would rev past 9000rpm regularly. No pings, no misfires, nothing.

The new HWP cars (in Queensland anyway) have a similar treatment.

Not a chance! as a former ford employee i can assure you that was not the case. IF it did have those mods??? it would have been done after the police sold it off.

I have seen cop cars ordered with brake upgrades on hyw cars, but only the same brakes in which any member of the public could have spec’d from factory eg: GT brakes

As for performance, nil mods. Except! for the vehicles used in protection... such as prime ministers chase car... even then, they are done after market and not factory.
Bullet proofed/armored vehicles receive after market upgrades to help shift the extra weight around…
Chip is a myth!
As for having a Lumpy cam? never seen one done from factory in my life.

388cube_edxr8 · 10-09-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Yeah a mate spoke to a guy at the pub who's cousin who used to work with an excopper. He said during the 80's and 90's all the V8's got a bigger carby and the cop chip. Also got clutchless manuals and special head light fluid.
The only complaint the chip wouldn't let the secondary open up on the carby unless the blue lights were on.

See I know your pullin me leg there because the cop cars have red and blue lights.

388cube_edxr8 · 10-09-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by random1

Not a chance! as a former ford employee i can assure you that was not the case. IF it did have those mods??? it would have been done after the police sold it off.

I have seen cop cars ordered with brake upgrades on hyw cars, but only the same brakes in which any member of the public could have spec’d from factory eg: GT brakes

As for performance, nil mods. Except! for the vehicles used in protection... such as prime ministers chase car... even then, they are done after market and not factory.
Bullet proofed/armored vehicles receive after market upgrades to help shift the extra weight around…
Chip is a myth!
As for having a Lumpy cam? never seen one done from factory in my life.

I have it on questionable authority that there is a performance shop here in Brisbane that is affiliated with the Queensland Police somehow.

CAMS290 · 10-09-2010, 03:34 PM

The BT1 Police spec 5 litre Commodores from the early 80's had V5H motors in them which were exactly the same spec as the Brock Group 3 motors of the time, minus the headers.
They had "B" Cast heads with L34 valves and heavier springs, blue printed carby and port matched inlet manifold, re graphed dizzy, delete EGR valve, electric fuel pump, cold air intake with high flow air filter, no power steering all in a base SL Commodore, kind of like the last of the 351 XE interceptors.
The only way you could get a 351 Clevo in 1982 was to buy a ESP or the Cops could order them in Falcon GL spec.
Rumour has it that the last ten 351 Clevo's were all cop cars and came down the production line in November 82

james22 · 10-09-2010, 03:34 PM

My XR8.
Ex HWP patrol car from victoria.

OPT20 - Compliance Plate.

Light switch on interior, that completly disable's all interior lights and boot light
Upgraded alternator, extra relays and fuses to accomodate electricals.
Instrument cluster, that can be calibrated to +/- 10% of your speed. (So they can be calibrated exactly (also has 2km/h incremnts rather than the std 5)

Various scratches and holes drilled thorughout the console and dash / spears from all their junk lol.

Thats about it

CAMS290 · 10-09-2010, 03:38 PM

In the 1970's SOME country coppers would get the local workshop to throw a bigger cam and a set of heads on and do carby mods etc...........
That info came from an article about police interceptors in Australian Muscle Car magazine a couple of months ago, and came straight out of a retired cops mouth .

And BTW it WAS common practice for Ford and Holden to give the coppers evaluation cars to try on the highway, I can confirm that they were given a plain looking VR Commodore executive with a 5.7 Holden stroker in it back in the mid 90's to test.

noosacuda · 10-09-2010, 04:17 PM

Modern ones i'm not sure about, but in the 80's the Qld Transport dept police could modify their cars how ever they wanted, within "legality" would allow so long as they weren't sold like that.(bigger turbo on VL's) I worked as a detailer for Fairdeal Holden and the police interceptor/chasers were Brock Commodores that were then modified by the police.
My father in law was a police driving instructor and mechanic in the '70's and a lot of cars back then were un-badged GTs and he converted many of them to automatics.

LTDHO · 10-09-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

See I know your pullin me leg there because the cop cars have red and blue lights.

not in the 80's they didn't

Brazen · 10-09-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Posted by random1

As for performance, nil mods. Except! for the vehicles used in protection... such as prime ministers chase car...

Speaking of the Prime ministers protection cars. In adelaide last year saw one of them, a white Calais V V8, LED lights in the grille and in front of the rear view mirror and back parcel board..... also racing harness seatbelts. Funny seeing two men in dark suits with bright red racing harness on.

That car must be a weapon. Does anyone know about these vehicles? I know they also use Territory Turbos.

**Luke Plaizier** · 10-09-2010, 05:10 PM

The ARE custom PCM tunes from Ford that are applied to some Police vehicles - propbably pursuit vechiles as they are only for V8's in BA/BF and I6T's in FG. I don't know if they are there for different mappings, or if they are there for fixing specific problems that come about due to the way police cars are driven. These mappings have versions across just about all the PCM hardware variants for those models that I can see.

3R23-12A650-BHB Barra - Falcon XR8 Auto Police
5R29-12A650-BKB BF - Falcon XR8 6spd Auto - Police
AR29-12A650-BAA I6T 6SA Sedan - Police Turbo 6-speed auto sedan

Lukeyson

Fled74 · 10-09-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spannerman

Reminds me of a movie

Elwood - It's got cop tyres, cop shocks, cop brakes, it's the model before catalytic converters so it will run good on regular gas. So watta ya say, is it the new blues mobile or what?

Jake - Fix the cigarette lighter.

Dang, you beat me to it.