Sedan to Ute conversion

[titan 4380]

I have an AU1 Fairmont sedan, but I have a greater need for a ute. I have a plan to but a rough, cheap AU1 ute and replace all of the ute parts with my Fairmont parts right down to the wiring loom and re-register the car as a ute.
Can anybody see any problems in doing a project such as this? I really want to make sure there are no snags that could scupper my plan before I lash out on a clapped out ute.

[russellw]

Apart from the fact that you'll have hard time registering the car as a ute, you don't need to anyway as you can just register the Ute as all the changeover parts won't be enough to require a modification certificate.

You'll have some drama sorting out wiring looms as the sedan and ute are obviously different but most of the rest should just be time and patience.

If your Fairmont is in good nick you might just be better off finding a cheap AU ute to use for whatever it is you need and run it into the ground.

[titan 4380]

Originally Posted by russellw

Apart from the fact that you'll have hard time registering the car as a ute, you don't need to anyway as you can just register the Ute as all the changeover parts won't be enough to require a modification certificate.

You'll have some drama sorting out wiring looms as the sedan and ute are obviously different but most of the rest should just be time and patience.

If your Fairmont is in good nick you might just be better off finding a cheap AU ute to use for whatever it is you need and run it into the ground.

You make a good point regarding the registration, but it may be more prudent to register the donor ute and the re-fit it with all the parts from my Fairmont. My Fairmont has just rolled over 300,000k and is in exceptional condition both in and out (no kudos to me, but the previous first owner). By using all of the as new parts from my Fairmont plus a new coat of paint, I can effectively have a new AU ute.

[mad2]

Originally Posted by titan 4380

You make a good point regarding the registration, but it may be more prudent to register the donor ute and the re-fit it with all the parts from my Fairmont. My Fairmont has just rolled over 300,000k and is in exceptional condition both in and out (no kudos to me, but the previous first owner). By using all of the as new parts from my Fairmont plus a new coat of paint, I can effectively have a new AU ute.

i was thinking you did mean to swap everything over to the ute?. however if it is in "exceptional condition" i would do what Russel has mentioned as you won't have a car off the road as you would swapping stuff over, as it would take some time to do this.

[titan 4380]

Originally Posted by mad2

i was thinking you did mean to swap everything over to the ute?. however if it is in "exceptional condition" i would do what Russel has mentioned as you won't have a car off the road as you would swapping stuff over, as it would take some time to do this.

Thanks for your input. My intention would be to swap everything from the Fairmont to the ute right down to the ECU and wiring loom. My initial post was to find out if something stupid like incompatible bonnet or door would jump up and bite me in the **** half way through. Obviously there may be things like the drive shaft and grille. I dont think that Ford made an AU Fairmont ute, so this may be a first or the end of my sanity.

[mad2]

Originally Posted by titan 4380

Thanks for your input. I dont think that Ford made an AU Fairmont ute, so this may be a first or the end of my sanity.

no i'm pretty sure ford did not.

as to the bonnet .. yes it will fit along with the grille & bumper as i changed 'Ol yella from the Fairymont front to the XR front with no major problems. tailshaft will be short [who calls em driveshaft? isn't that FWD/AWD? ]. just remember there 'maybe' some differances with the wiring [such as door ajar alarm] etc.


still prefer to leave the Fairymont as is . . . . . . . but it's your car

[titan 4380]

Originally Posted by mad2

no i'm pretty sure ford did not.

as to the bonnet .. yes it will fit along with the grille & bumper as i changed 'Ol yella from the Fairymont front to the XR front with no major problems. tailshaft will be short [who calls em driveshaft? isn't that FWD/AWD? ]. just remember there 'maybe' some differances with the wiring [such as door ajar alarm] etc.


still prefer to leave the Fairymont as is . . . . . . . but it's your car

I hear what you are saying and my mates think I am mental for even thinking about doing this given that I scored this Fairmont for $500 in as new condition.Having said that, I did have to buy a cluster, climate control and new tyres, but the car was definitely worth it.
I figure that I have very little to loose. Its not like I am breaking up an FG falcon to convert it into a dune buggy. BTW: anything that drives a differential is a "drive shaft". I mean, where do "tails" come into the equation. Either nomenclature works.

[MrEL]

I built an AU Fairlane ute years ago.
Didnt have to swap wiring harnesses. It was all plug and play.
I started with a 5.0 5 speed XLS ute.

[titan 4380]

Originally Posted by MrEL

I built an AU Fairlane ute years ago.
Didnt have to swap wiring harnesses. It was all plug and play.
I started with a 5.0 5 speed XLS ute.

Do you have any pictures as I would love to see the results.

[Bill M]

I saw an AU Fairlane ute conversion about 12 months ago when I was buying the owners portapower kit. The owner was heading back to NZ. Sure was a good looker.

[Bill M]

An older for sale link http://used-vehicle-sales.com/au/sal...ute-31696.html

[MrEL]

Originally Posted by Bill M

I saw an AU Fairlane ute conversion about 12 months ago when I was buying the owners portapower kit. The owner was heading back to NZ. Sure was a good looker.

That's my old ute.
I built it from an AU XLS into that.
Was much lower and had wider wheels on it when I sold it.
Lots of lies in the sales blurb but.
Was really well looked after when I had it. Was driven in the manner a 5.0 5 speed ute should be driven too.