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I would like to introduce you all to the reason I now have a Wagon.

This is Pippin. We have had her for a few years. Pippin is a Labrador, German Pointer Cross.



And this is Pepper. She has just joined our happy family. Pepper is Belgian Shepherd Cross.



As you can see, Pepper is quite large, and the two dogs in the back seat of my sedan was quite crowded. The the leather didn't like it much either.

So, it was decided a Wagon would be the solution and this is what we bought.

Year - 1991
Model - EB1 Ford Fairmont Ghia Wagon
Colour - Black Pearl
Engine - 4.0l six - LPG
Gearbox - BTR 4 speed auto
Diff - 3.23 LSD
Interior - Dark Leather and cloth, digital dash, pwr windows, Child seat in the rear
Condition - NEEDS LOVE BADLY
Cost - $400 (yes you read it correctly)

Pics.













I have plenty of plans which I will detail soon.

Cheers
BenJ

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Thanks fellas for all the positive comments.

Now for a reality check.

Current condition.

Body

While the clear is not peeling anywhere, the paint is not in the best condition. There are several large scatches, and numerous smaller ones.

There is a couple of small shopping trolley dings and a larger crease behind the left rear wheel arch. There is also rust in the rear wheel arches, and in the dog leg. The roof is a bit rippley but I am able to live with it.


Interior

The pwr windows all work. The trip comp seems ok, but the climate control and air con don't work. The digital dash all works and wipers, washers, lights etc are all working.

The roof lining is sagging (read falling down). The seats need a good clean, and the drivers seat is worn through on the right hand bolster. The leather is quite worn but I like the darker coloured leather. I have already removed the child seat. There is no carpet in the boot. The dash pad is cracked.


Engine/drivetrain

The diff seems ok, with no noise. Not sure if the LSD is doing its thing.

The auto shifts fine with no slipping.

The engine is buggered with a blown head gasket.

Suspension feels good, with no bounce, and the rear leaves seem to have extras in there, and they may be out of a ute, as the front bush is oval.

Steering is nice and light with no rattle.

LPG seems fine, but the wiring is a complete mess.

Petrol is not working.


So that is my assessment of how it sits.



Now for the Plans.

Repairs

The body will receive required rust repairs and the paint will be patched as an interim.

I will get the Engine running on petrol again and take care of the wiring for the LPG.

The EL engine and auto from my sedan will go in. The 3.45 LSD centre from the sedan will be installed in a diff housing from an EF/EL wagon so I can run the later model brakes on the rear. In the meantime I will test the LSD in the EB diff. Later a T5 will make it's way in to the wagon.

The interior out of the sedan will be moved in to the wagon with the exception of the seats. The darker leather will work nicely with the EL dash, console and door trims. I will need to acquire an EF/EL carpet before I can contemplate that conversion.

The front suspension from the sedan will be swapped over and lowering blocks will go in the rear. The wheels from the sedan should look great against the black. The Hayman Reese towbar will be removed and sold. I will find a normal towbar later on.


There will obviously be numerous smaller things that happen along the way, but I am sure the journey will be interesting for me and for you.

Cheers
BenJ

Last edited by BenJ on Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I like black EB/ED's they look more classy. Nice find mate.
Tell us your plans im interested because of what your EB has turned into.

Except for the leather cracking (normal unless you baby it) I love the interior in these, the wheels look good for stock mags of the era.

Awesome buy, I am very jealous of Ben as I have already told him.

BenJ when you say sedan do you mean the red EB?

oh no, is this the untimely end of the woman in red???

EDIT: Just read the update in the sedan thread.

The wagon fitted with all the sedan stuff will be so classy, sexytime.

if your interested ive got a "normal" wagon towbar that I want to change to a HD one....maybe we could work out a swap

Ben

If you don't do a deal with gogetta, I can still get the towbar of next doors wagon if you want it.

Cheers
RD

yup me too,
I agree your going to have one awesome & unique wagon.

sad to see the red one go by by though.. kinda like mine... I still find myself staring at the silver one even though I'm putting my effort into the blue EL now..

Good on you BENJ.

That rust in front of wheel arch --- I found a wreck without rust and cut the offending pieces to take home with me for eventual welding into my...

Recommend that one tonne leaf spring and three inch lowering blocks... Highly recommend finding a sway bar.... Jealous of your LSD....

The roof lining is typical too... The front lining is similar to the sedans, but have never tried actually fitting a sedan one to a wagon. Looks almost the same tho...

Dude - Before doing anything with paint or rust repairs, pull off all the trims around the aft end of the car. Note that there used to be circular shaped plastic / rubber washers around all those penetrations through the body work. Note how they have simply turned to dust over the last twenty years............

Basically, it's an old wagon that someone was proud of once but has been handed down through a couple of people that thought of it is simply a car, not a friendly face in time of trouble.

Rather than start ripping into your other cars, couldn't you find more EF or EL bits? I have a couple of EF dash boards and centre consoles etc etc lying around over here in NZ - surely there's someone over there who'd give you it for next to nothing. I've been offering the Fairmont, Futura seat, dash, etc etc for FREE to whoever I meet, but no one wants them. Seems a shame to throw them on the tip, so still have them... Gave away the door trims (finally) to NZEA for use in his RED FAIRMONT EA that one day will look remarkably similar to ... Your last thread... NZEA's name happens to be BEN too. There's something going on here, a little like twilight zone, that is difficult to explain....


I sold the digital climate control (EF FAIRMONT) for $50, which would have fixed your climate issues too huh?

Have I read this correctly by thinking you are going to rip the red machine apart? Mate - is nothing sacred to you Aussies?




Shot... $400 seems like a reasonable deal to me too...

Yes, my EB sedan will sacrifice itself to allow the Wagon to shine. Unfortunately the sedan is a bit like a red golf ball, with numerous hail stone dents. The paint is also shot on the sedan and it is suffering its own rust issues.

I am happier to put more development in to the Wagon as in the long run it will be a functional, yet unique vehicle that will meet the needs of me and my family.

Cheers
BenJ

this is a good base to start with and im sure you will be more than happy with the look of this wagon when its done..
plus you get the satisfaction of re-modding this car.
like i have with the ed...

Thanks Troyman.

Speaking of how it will look. I photoshopped up some inspiration.

Before



After



It is amazing what some wheels and 3 inches less in ride height can do.

BenJ

that looks sweet ben..

im loving the look of the wagon lowered.. tho the wheels just dont look right on it. look great on red tho