Best falcon model suitable for a race car??

GTENVY · 04-10-2007, 10:18 PM

Hey guys,

Just looking at my options for my next ford. The next falcon I buy I will be setting it up for targa class competition for track days. The falcon must be a V8, obviously manual. I am not looking a BA-BF, must be pre 2002 model.

Fire away with the opinions.

savagE · 04-10-2007, 10:25 PM

XD or XE, 351. You know you want to. Plenty of parts around the place.

Serial_Fool · 04-10-2007, 10:42 PM

Yep agree with the XD/XE, you'd have all the experience/parts of the 351 Clevo from previous models with at least some "modern" styling.

Plus XD/XE can be fitted with newer technolgy from XF/XG (XH???)

Mongoose · 04-10-2007, 10:49 PM

XW-XC, the best falcons of the lot, they look the goods and arent hard to modify

TEaaron · 04-10-2007, 10:56 PM

+1 more for the XD/XE

The XE had coils in the back as well I think.

normxb · 04-10-2007, 11:14 PM

Best to contact CAMS first and find out what "Regulations" are needed for the catagory you want to go in . Shame to spend $$$ and find you can't run the car .

Happened to me mid 80's , joined Sports Sedans & GT class , relegated me to just club events .

Norm

Trevor 57 · 04-10-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normxb

Best to contact CAMS first and find out what "Regulations" are needed for the catagory you want to go in . Shame to spend $$$ and find you can't run the car .

Happened to me mid 80's , joined Sports Sedans & GT class , relegated me to just club events .

Norm

CAMS will do that, and sometimes for no logical reason, hence this is why they are trouble now.

ReVd_uP · 04-10-2007, 11:16 PM

I agree, i read a story on a guy who spent big bucks setting up a kf 4wd tx3 turbo for targa only to find there wasnt a class for him to run in

Trevor 57 · 04-10-2007, 11:18 PM

BTW, I have an XE race car, they are shyte easy

tapeworm · 05-10-2007, 12:15 AM

Eb/d Xr8, Imho.

jason_85 · 05-10-2007, 12:27 AM

AU.......... who cares if you crash it

whos gonna bite

:

**Polyal** · 05-10-2007, 06:24 AM

XE for me to. Fits a clevo and you can also make it look like this!

fullysik.com · 05-10-2007, 07:27 AM

I guess a big factor in your decision will be budget, how much do you want to spend?

Trevor 57 · 05-10-2007, 07:37 AM

Here is MY reason for suggesting an XE

:

red_hotxr6 · 05-10-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

XE for me to. Fits a clevo and you can also make it look like this!

Doesnt that car look tough as...

T3man · 05-10-2007, 08:09 AM

What's your budget? This will determine your starting model.

If you can afford one, an AU II TE50 is going to be your best performance option for events like Targa. Or an AU III XR8.

An ED XR8 Sprint would be my next choice.

Next on my list would be XE, the second-best handling "straight from the factory" model ever built.

xbgs351 · 05-10-2007, 09:37 AM

XD would be a better choice than the XE due to the XD's better rear suspension.

By the way, just because a Falcon is raced, does not make it a race car. It would be a touring car or rally car.

4Vman · 05-10-2007, 09:44 AM

As others have said check the regs for what ever class you're looking to race before deciding, the Targa events are becoming strict about what cars are elligible.

red_hotxr6 · 05-10-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbgs351

XD would be a better choice than the XE due to the XD's better rear suspension.

By the way, just because a Falcon is raced, does not make it a race car. It would be a touring car or rally car.

True but if he is going to race or modify it would you be doing the suspension any way.?

4Vman · 05-10-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbgs351

XD would be a better choice than the XE due to the XD's better rear suspension.

By the way, just because a Falcon is raced, does not make it a race car. It would be a touring car or rally car.

True, the XD will be far simpler to set-up, the XE Group C cars were heavily modified in the rear to make them handle, XD would be much cheaper.

banarcus · 05-10-2007, 09:50 AM

Get an AU1 XR8. Doesn't matter if you crash it, parts are everywhere and you wont cry as much as if you crashed something like Eric Bana crashed.

**Polyal** · 05-10-2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

True, the XD will be far simpler to set-up, the XE Group C cars were heavily modified in the rear to make them handle, XD would be much cheaper.

Tomatoe, Tomato...LOL

Either one, tough as nails! Although Id imagine the kit being a PIA to source.

xbgs351 · 05-10-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_hotxr6

True but if he is going to race or modify it would you be doing the suspension any way.?

To fix the rear end on an XE would put you up against Steve Coad's Monaro in the most modified/expensive/fastest category and it would be hard to be competitive.

I would check with the organisers of events first as what cars they are looking for and what the rules allow. A XA or XB GT four door mock up would probably fit in with the rules better as it would allow a 9" and toploader.

**ebxr8240** · 05-10-2007, 10:24 AM

I'd go the AU but base version and modify it to tarmac specs etc.. Paying attention to its known weak points like CV joints etc..
That if the "rules" allow this? If its going to be raced etc I can't see the point in having the higher priced car when the money can be spent on better components....
The IRS set up right certainly put the power down, handle better...

xbgs351 · 05-10-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

I'd go the AU but base version and modify it to tarmac specs etc.. Paying attention to its known weak points like CV joints etc..
That if the "rules" allow this? If its going to be raced etc I can't see the point in having the higher priced car when the money can be spent on better components....
The IRS set up right certainly put the power down, handle better...

After following around this years Targa Tasmania, I reckon an IRS is not all that important. There were solid rear axled cars amongst the top twenty fastest cars there i.e. Toranas, Steve Coad's Monaro. These cars were quicker than the majority of the WRX's, EVO's, Porsches.

Trevor 57 · 05-10-2007, 11:21 AM

I am a little lost here, you are saying the leaf springs are easier to set up than coil?

I am confused, I have set up both for the track and give me coil any day.

BigAL_250 · 05-10-2007, 12:06 PM

Another vote for XD/XE here,

It's just sooo easy to get parts for them, and then you can drop in a worked 351, and when done up nicely, nothing looks tougher.

I got some mates who are starting soon on one, it's and XF though (one of em owns it, otherwise it would have been XD/XE. Good, cheap racing.

Rev28K · 05-10-2007, 01:03 PM

Wasn’t Steve Coad retiring his Monaro after this Targa? Something about new rules making it less competitive.

And a live axle on smooth tracks isn’t that bad – have a look at a V8 supercar (although the Sports Sedan guys tend to go for IRS).

Other than the type of class/competitiveness another consideration would be price & quantity. Large numbers of EB-EL’s shells should still be around in good enough to race condition. Parts for the earlier XR-XC Falcons are going up as numbers dwindle and value multiplies.

carnutt · 05-10-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

XE for me to. Fits a clevo and you can also make it look like this!

But don't let it look like this

http://scs.une.edu.au/StudentFiles/H...rst/Johns.html

**Polyal** · 05-10-2007, 02:26 PM

^^LOL...saw that when googling, so depressing.

Just a quick question, and I am sure there is a perfectly good reason. Why dont more people race utes?

I went for a drive in the XD just before, and it would be something different in a Targa event. Too light in the rear? Im sure you could move some stuff around or even add some weight to balance it out.