Finally got onto putting the door linings back on today. I have just had a brainwave though...

Because the 6x9" speakers I crammed into the doors are a bit deep - very close to the window when it is wound down - I think my waterproofing idea is going to fail.

The 6" speakers in unmodified doors get water running down the back of them, so I put glad wrap around back of speaker and a silicon seal at bottom. Only thing --- NOW THE DAMN WINDOW WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH IT as the 6x9" speakers I put in were at the VERY VERY VERY limit of depth to keep the standard door lining intact.


My courtesy lamp wiring is ALWAYS ON, which means previous owner had removed a few bulbs (which is why I thought it was faulty). I think one of the door switches may be faulty, thus the circuit thinks one of the doors is always open. Is the boot (stationwagon) a switchable part of this circuit? Am going to have to pull all the door switches out and check them somehow.


Started life as a standard Futura - still working on Fairmont electric DIGITAL climate control. Also Keeping my eye out for leather seats...

Issue with the Fairmont cluster - The ODOMETER does not light up when PARK LIGHTS are on... I know, I know - Read the technical documents... Well - Here's proof... And, besides which - My new trip computer is working perfectly with the dimmer and light settings... As is all the other lights.


Put the auto winding aerial in also - Before I realised the complicated computer swap required. Anyway - the stereo picks up almost all the stations with the aerial permanently down! Hahahahahah - Sweet, easy mod this one!

Anyone got any links for different steering wheels that can keep my air bag system?!

Here's some pictures (view my user gallery for pictures of the outside! Am I colour blind, or just plain good fun?)

 

 

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car_doors1.jpg [ 85.57 KiB | Viewed 186 times ]

File comment: Car dash with the stereo out for new surround... I don't smoke and hate the ashtray and lighter socket anyways... Have rigged up cellphone charger and TV aerial wires to come out near the rear passenger courtesy lights. car_dash1.jpg [ 87.01 KiB | Viewed 197 times ]

File comment: Even tho I soldered resistor on, the LCD display is not backlit... car_dash2.jpg [ 145.74 KiB | Viewed 183 times ]

Last edited by fiend on Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:25 pm, edited 7 times in total.

Here's the templates for the instrument cluster. You can see the MASK (being plain black) sits behind the colour print and provides contrasting and nice effects at night - Also allows easy reading of numbers.

Speed limits in NZ are usually 50 and 100km/h so I used a razor and cut the 50 and 100 marks out of this mask so those figures stand out at night.

I kind of forgot about the additional detail on the FUEL WARNING and TEMP WARNING bulbs! Ah well, you can still see when they come on, never you mind!

 

 

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File comment: graffix1@paradise.net.nz templates for Fairmont mid series instrument cluster speedo_tacho.jpg [ 383.99 KiB | Viewed 197 times ]

Last edited by fiend on Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Okay??

Question - Does your car really have the grill and lower bumper insert painted blue???

Why, yes... Yes it does... Started life plain WHITE, but that was boring. Latest thinking is to get whole car done in midnight blue, but will leave the grill and lower bumper blue.

Whatever... I also would like the plate "YUKKY" but am too broke!

With the motorised screen in the dash I had to make up my own insert to allow it to go past vertical for an effective viewing angle....

This option works quite well, although am having a lot of trouble finding a MATT GREY paint to match the Ford plastic... I also made the new stereo surround a lot lower so I can effectively hide my $1000 cellphone and other goodies when just popping in shop or what have you. Leaving valuables out of view is a big part of insurance contracts and reaching to glove box all the time is simply a pain in the a***.

As said above, I don't smoke and have wired up the cellphone charger and TV aerial to come out where the rear passenger courtesy light is (rear of centre console...)

I also use the power from the ciggy lighter circuit to drive the rear camera which is pointing out the rear window from ceiling of car (station wagon)...

 

 

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File comment: The primer grey surround... car_dash3.jpg [ 115.67 KiB | Viewed 181 times ]

not a fan of the blue 'mix and match' interior and exterior but good work on the in dash screen, looks good.

Persist with the power window conversion too. I did it, took 2 days at a relativly relaxed pace. Its well worth it and the armrest trims look good too. Leather seats will really set the interior off too. I get so many compliments about my leather.

the blue inside ... ok...

but the blue grille??? ahh i dont get it and ill keep my opinion to myself...


we all do what we all do i suppose...

The 'mix and match' was purely accidental on outside of car. I chose a colour and gave the painter the colour code and it turned out WRONG WRONG WRONG. I wanted the late model Ford blue on grill surround - it's just the bonnet and bumper were meant to be a different colour entirely! Never fear...

The interior isn't really 'mix and match', although you are totally forgiven for suggesting such!



Hey mate - HOW DID YOU DO YOUR GRILL AND GEARKNOB?!

HAHAHAHHAHAH... Sorry, kidding!

The EXTERIOR of my car stalled due to financial complications (injured back at work, now on A.C.C - medical insurance for the Socialists...)


The car is originally gun metal grey EF FUTURA. Is in serious need of a paint job, sure... Was looking at a MIDNIGHT BLUE... Will then make up my mind on keeping the interior or re - doing it all.

Just cannot find any leather (or vinyl) in the blue colour to redo some of the Fairmont door trim and centre console box lid. Am now doing the small panels above arm rests in black, so may need to rethink all the shades of gray that Ford seemed to love in these cars. May do the lower half of car in black (ie - glove box, bottom door trims, centre console (excluding the blue bits - just the original grey plastic Ford YUK...)

Ho hum. Will get back to you - Would love some black leather seats with blue piping!!!!


I notice in LOW GHIA's user pictures that he has a different air supply to the standard EL. I have an EF (and it is standard...!) I cannot work out why the EF has that huge bit of plastic above the rocker covers. Can I just replace it with a straight 4" pipe like you seem to have done?

keep the EF intake piping. According to Jim Mock Motorsport (this guy knows his fords) it has very good flow properties. Im not sure if a custom made 3" pipe setup is better though. Alot of people here have them so im sure someone can answer that.

RATAPUS - How about some photos from the inside of your nice looking EL XR? I can only see "old interior" photos!

haha. no worries ill give it a clean tomoz and get some pics up. Ive been meaning to start a thread in 'The Garage' for a while now.

Still no photos of the inside of your ride then...

Finally got onto putting the door linings back on today. I have just had a brainwave though --- Becuase the 6x9" speakers I crammed into the doors are very close to the window when it is wound down, I think my waterproofing idea is going to fail. The speakers in unmodified doors get water running down the back of them, so I put glad wrap around back of speaker and a silicon seal at bottom. Only thing --- NOW THE DAMN WINDOW WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH IT as the 6x9" speakers I put in were at the VERY VERY VERY limit of depth to keep the standard door lining intact.

Also changed the centre console to black. Will get photo up one day...!

Have YOU ever pulled the lining of the front doors off and been dismayed at the amount of rust buildup around speakers?!!!!

 

 

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car_doors1.jpg [ 85.57 KiB | Viewed 166 times ]

As long as you can still read your speedo fine I guess its a good idea. You don't want to be distracted and not be able to tell what speed your doing at a quick glance. Also it wouldn't help you in court if you decide to fight a speeding fine.

I say this becuase your design makes my head spin.

You put 6x9s in your front doors??

As it turns out, I can read the speedo absolutely fine. It works A.O.K! I think the effect on computer screen may be a bit stronger than what it is in car, although everyone who has looked in car goes "oooooooooooooooo" (yet to decide if everyone is being kind or truly appreciates it - I am leaning towards the appreciation thing myself... It is kinda cool, all the blue and purple and black!!!)

Speeding fines - You guys in Aussie can actually have a chance of getting of speeding fines? Hell...!




YEAHP.... 6 x 9 in the front, sure thing...

These speakers are a KENWOOD variety that only just make it in. The huge output 6x9's wouldn't make it into this position, so they stayed in the boot.

 

 

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car_doors_speakers.jpg [ 77.94 KiB | Viewed 163 times ]