Keeping it original or make a beast?

[perox]

Hi all,

Im sure this has been bought up in the past, but im wondering; when it comes to old cars should you just have fun with it and build up a car that you love or preserve it how it was made?.

I have an XC (x-pac) auto, with a 4.1 250 and beige interior. And pretty much the 1st thing im usually asked is "does it have a V8?!". sadly my answer is no. My XC doesnt sound tough, looks quite stock apart from being slightly lowered and having dragways on it. And im always jelous when i see a done up XB/C with the bonnet scoops, lock down pins, black interior with the half body colour/black bonnet that sounds and looks awesome.

So i guess i trying to draw the line between respecting and preserving the car as it was made to be or doing what i want and pretending its a GXL.
Then on the other hand how far would it be worth taking before reaching the point where its almost worth just buying a whole different car.
Either way, Id still love the car.

I understand that being my car, its ultimately my decition, but i guess im curious to know what is in the best interest of the car and to hear other opinions.

Thanks for reading

[HenryFordJr]

I think it all comes down to personal preference, all you can do is gather people's opinions and make a decision based on those..

If it were a GT / Goss / Cobra I would be keeping it original..

Being a X pack 4.1 I think it it would be worth more to you if you modify it and throw a 351 in there..

[tankclare]

My view on it is that it's your car to do what you want with it. Personally I'd leave a rare car like a genuine GT original or as close to it as I could with maybe a few reversible modifications like wheels etc.

I have an XR wagon but seeing as its only a falcon 500 I am going to build it how I want to and not worry too much about originality. Already been pricing up the parts for when I get stuck into it. Not much will be left original besides the exterior. I'll be completing removing the floor and firewall, in will go a macdonald brothers 4 link, custom flat floor and fire wall, independent front end, 22x15 rears 20x8 fronts, 460 stroked to 501 with 8/71 blower and methanol injection. Body wise will have all side stripes and badges removed, smoothed everything, HOK teal body with white roof. Interior will be old school but with a modern twist. Custom bench seats front and rear, venetians, old school steering wheel etc.

But as I said its up to the owner of the car to choose what they want to do.

[69Mach1]

I think it's tempting to go for a V8 but then it would be like every other XC out there. If it is in good condition and really original, I'd keep it that way. If it needs a lot of work then I'd be more tempted to modify. I know I am more appreciative of a good original these days regardless of what's under the hood especially if it is something you dont see every day. Think of it as something a little bit different than just another Falcon with a clevo.

But it sounds like you really want a V8 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that either!

[ebxr8240]

Won't be collector ..
Do what you want...

[RAPID_BA]

It needs the 351. If you drove through the cross with a stock xb/C 4.1 noone would bat an eyelid, you may be accused of being a backpacker.

In fact someone with an old xf 4.1 carby would show a clean pair of heels from a set of lights. Then he would introduce you to air conditioning and reclining seat belts.

But turf a 351 in there and the interest comes with it, all of a sudden its a muscle car and people are expecting it to take off from a set of lights with the front tyres off the ground. It will be rare and demand respect despite how it goes. A 351 is like a minimum specification that it needs to be appreciable.

Old cars need a wow factor about them to be appreciated, just because its rare isn't enough. (Hence why the cobra etc etc demands some respect)

[GhiaEB]

I say make it the way you want. It's your car, you want to put a V8 in it? Do it. Make a nice Sunday cruiser. I would.

I grew up sitting in the back of HQs. I'd love to get one and drop a LS1 into it. But thats just me.

[GhiaEB]

I should add if it was a GTS or an SS I would keep it original. But any other HQ, I would build it the way I wanted it.

[Iggypoppin']

If I owned it, I'd modify it. Even if it was a GT or a GXL I'd still do what I like to it. You only live once. Don't be boring!

[tranquilized]

I agree with the sentiment shown by most on this thread;

If its a collectable car in any way, it should be kept original. It always seems such a shame when you hear of something like an XY matching numbers 351 Fairmont, thats been molested, resulting in it being worth a fraction of what it could be. Yet some people have no problem messing with classics of the future. Go figure.

But anyway, I dont think anyone would shed a tear over one less 6cy XC on the road. Go to town on it I'd say.

[trippytaka]

I would make it a beast, without cutting anythihg - and keeping all the bits you need to turn it back to original at any time.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

I would make it a beast, without cutting anythihg - and keeping all the bits you need to turn it back to original at any time.

Good suggestion.

One question though. Why go V8??? Every rev head expects a V8 to be lurking underneath the bonnet. Turbos seems to be the weapon of choice these days, so why not turbo that ol' 250 and give a few of these V8 boys a fright. Then when you're asked "is it a V8", you can then say, with a grin from ear to ear, NOPE. Just a 6 that wooped you.

[2011G6E]

Recipe:
1: Visit a wreckers specialising in late model cars.
2: Find a reasonably new FG 4.0 liter and six speed auto.
3: Take back home to your XC
4: Stir well and wait to develop...

Optional extras to toss into the cooking pot:
* A nice RRS strut and steering rack setup for the front


As said above...why does everyone think you "need" to go V8? Even a non-turbo new 4.0 will run rings around a standard "legendary" 302 or 351 that the XC had fitted...even a worked one. And you'll certainly have something different...different to all the other people who think that dropping a V8 in one is the only track to power...

The old 4.1 x-flow is a bit of a problem in one area...the stroke to rod length ratio can't be changed easily, meaning it will always develop it's power around, I seem to recall, 4300rpm, so big revs aren't really any point. They do indeed respond well to turbos...one or two, whatever you can afford.

[phillyc]

Do what you want! Turboing the 4.1 can be done pretty easily, can make great power and has been done several times over, just not as many times as the 'usual' V8 transplant.

I'm a big fan of retrotech streeters! Putting a turbo on an AU i6 or even a bog stock N/A FG i6 would be pretty cool.

[Powdered Toast Man]

It's your car so since you are the one living with it make it what you want.

Personally like already mentioned by tankclare if it was a special model like a GT or Cobra etc then I would keep it looking original with reversable mods to the mechanicals. But since it's just a cooking model XC go crazy I'd say.

If it was my car I wouldn't be making a copy of anything though, I hate clone/copies. I'd probably throw in a warm 351 with a nice exhaust (it's the persoanlity of a V8 I like, not the outright grunt), add some personal touches and keep it looking stock. Thats what I was going to do with my 4.1 XC Falcon years ago. Car is long gone now.

[93EB_SXR6]

Make it the car you want it to be.
Who cares what it's worth if it's going to belong to you anyway?
I doubt a 4.1 XC will ever be worth BIG money anyway.

I've had people tell me I should have kept my XR6 original (it's an E series, it is practically worthless original or not)!

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

If I owned it, I'd modify it. Even if it was a GT or a GXL I'd still do what I like to it. You only live once. Don't be boring!

out of over 300 GT's at the Nationals, you could count on one hand the ones with chrome aircleaners and non std wheels.....
stuff the GT police...



run your own race OP.. you can have a crazy car thats way easy to return back to a stocky..

[2011G6E]

I recall there used to be a company back in the 1990's that would supply exchange 4.1 x-flows at several "stages" of tune. All were turbos, and started at, I believe, 250hp, going right up to a twin turbo intercooled fully modified one putting out 600hp. Not entirely sure how long one would last putting out that power level, but jeez it'd be fun trying. I recall having fantasies about fitting one to the 4.1 four speed TE Rally Pack Cortina we owned at the time...

[Iggypoppin']

Sheetmetal tubs, 500+ cube big block, glide and 9". Hehehe

[Windsor342ci]

Depends what you'd call and old car. Some would say the T series is now getting on. For me, that is my dream car. So much so, I wouldnt know whether to garage it and keep it stock for life, or supercharging it. Id probably s/c it, but Id at times which i left it original!

[TheZHLANE]

Build the car how you want it too be. Who cares what someone else thinks about your car. dropping in a clevo is always reversable anyway.

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by TheZHLANE

Build the car how you want it too be. Who cares what someone else thinks about your car.

This post sums up my thoughts on the matter.

[mik]

the old cross flows can be made to boogey, but do what ever you think will make you happy, if it`s not what you really want, you will never be happy.

[Mickxr8]

Just my opinion , dont cut anything just drop a clevo in there, keep the ol 6cyl stuff in case you wanna revert back later, 6cyl xc`s are pretty plain imo , ( puts flamesuit on lol ),

[Paull]

You know you want to!!!!!!



These engine bays just look incomplete without a lovely big cleveland in there!

[u2canb12]

Originally Posted by Scotty85

This post sums up my thoughts on the matter.

Yeah what they said x 10 Its yours and so are your ideas make it the way want it . Not too many original ideas out there anymore as most have been thought of so put your own slant on how you want it to look.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Paull

You know you want to!!!!!!

image

These engine bays just look incomplete without a lovely big cleveland in there!

Ah! Holy crap, I'd heard whispers about one of these, but never dreamt I'd see one! The ultra-rare 351 Cleveland "hidden distributor mounted inside the valley under the inlet manifold" engine!! Great find!!

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by TheZHLANE

Build the car how you want it too be. Who cares what someone else thinks about your car. dropping in a clevo is always reversable anyway.

like anyone would do that anyway (pull the 8 for a six)

[davenl5l]

yep join the clevo mafia i would (will soon i hope)

[302 XC]

Do what ya want
Build it/mod it to your taste and enjoy it
Dont be like others who build what the masses want (at the time) then when built hate it then unloaded it