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xc fairmont gxl 1978 

 

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 Post subject: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:34 pm 
Oompa Loompa
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Ride: Ba xt,Xe 351,Fg mk2 xr6

Location: Thornlie
WA, Australia

Just wondering if any one on ford mods owns one of these and how much
they are worth nowadays?
I reckon these are easily one of the best handling old fords.
I remember being in one of these at high speed,it was a 302 not a 351
and my god they hold the road well,that awesome angry front end with square headlights and twin hood nostrils.
Standard with 4 wheel discs and 9 inch too. :evil:
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:17 pm 
Stock as a Rock
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Ride: EL Sapphire

Location: Kerang
VIC, Australia

My dad had one as his first car and still has it. Its sitting in the shed now and has been unregistered for years now.
Dam nice car.
Ive only got some dusty photos of when i pushed it a while ago.
Its got a 302C but I dont know if its a 9 inch diff and pretty sure the rear brakes are drums.

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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:39 pm 
Oompa Loompa
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Age: 48

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Joined: 10th Jan 2011

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Ride: Ba xt,Xe 351,Fg mk2 xr6

Location: Thornlie
WA, Australia

Awesome,that is asking to be done up bro.
Is it a fairmont "gxl" though?
I am pretty sure all of them came standard with the 9 inch and 4 wheel discs standard
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:02 pm 
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Location: Flinders
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All GXL's had 4 wheel discs, not many had 9" though.
Other than that the level of equipment/specification varied greatly according to option list tickboxes.
eg One of mine didn't even have aircon, neither had electric windows (one 302, one 351, both 2 prev owner with good histories but a long time ago now - I've had a couple over the years, miss them like I miss everything else!)

BTW, Robdog, that's a GS Fairmont. All GXL's had black bumper overriders and doorframes, not chrome; GT style flipcap (black) and black doorhandles. Some of the interior trims are different as well - doortrims, seat fabrics.
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:15 pm 
Stock as a Rock
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Location: Kerang
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Ah right. GS Fairmont it is then. I really should push it out and get it going again...
Im pretty sure the trans might be stuffed. It revs and sounds good but just wont go any where very fast :lol:

 

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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:59 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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I bought one of those in 1998 - purchased originally as a donor car for $400 (had a 302 and 4 spd single rail) that I was going to put in an XY rally car (long story..) but anyway, drove it home - then took it for a biig drive through the hills that night and made a decision to just drive it as is - it, as you say, handled and stopped really well, was a really comfortable car, lovely plush interior in it..

 

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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:50 pm 
Oompa Loompa
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Location: Hervey Bay
QLD, Australia

I had an XC Fairmont GXL many moons ago.
It was dark green, 351 FMX 9inch disc brake and electric everything.
It got stolen after 5 weeks. It was stolen the same day I was booked in to get an alarm system fitted.
It was never seen again. I have 1 pic of it from the rear 1/4 when my daughter came home from hospital.
Oh it was a country car with zero rust. :evil:

 

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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:05 pm 
Oompa Loompa
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Age: 48

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Ride: Ba xt,Xe 351,Fg mk2 xr6

Location: Thornlie
WA, Australia

That sounds like a perfect xc man.Dark green too :)
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:48 am 
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For what it's worth, I rate the XC by far the best of the series as a road car and from an engineering viewpoint. Currently, I own an XC s/w (302 C4), XB ute and an original XB GT Hardtop, In the past I had a '77 GXL 5.8L/ FMX with all options including sunroof and a '76 XC GS 5.8/ FMX. They were fantastic cars and I wish I still owned them, the only criticism I can make is the GXL felt very nose heavy and had a habit of buckling the front rotors due to heat, I much preferred the lighter feeling GS, optioned-up GXL's are very heavy!. Wheels did a road test in 1977 to find Australia's fastest road car and a fully optioned 5.8L GXL won easily with a true top speed of 197 kph, beating a SS Torana hatchback, a 265 charger and, in last place a 5.0L Monaro (176kph). The GXL also won the 1/4 mile, despite having to lug A/C, P/S, P/W, etc. Enough said.....
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:56 pm 
Oompa Loompa
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Age: 48

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Joined: 10th Jan 2011

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Ride: Ba xt,Xe 351,Fg mk2 xr6

Location: Thornlie
WA, Australia

I read somewhere that ford did some good suspension mods to
the xc fairmont gxl 1978 because they had to compete with the
just newly released vb commodore,thats why they handled so well.
If i hadnt had bought my xe 351 sedan,which i still own after 17 years
i would have searched for one to buy,but they are rare as rocking horse s**t in perth.
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:45 pm 
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Ride: Ford XC, XB

Location: Sydney
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Yeah, as far as handling went the XC GS'S, GXL's and Falcons in general were extremely good when set up with factory sports suspension, the update in '77 with the rear sway bar was better still. (identified by blue oval badge instead of FORD letters). People always seem to wanna bugger around with the original suspension and ride heights-my GXL had thousands spent on the suspension when I bought it- all name brands, lowered at the front etc etc and it totally ruined the handling and balance of the car (I had the GS to make a direct comparison with). It was like a lead tipped arrow. My advice is leave the original ride heights spring rates etc alone-unless you know exactly what you're doing. Lowering them is so 1980's and ruins the look of them as well!
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:59 pm 
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Oh, and one more thing while I'm at it- unless you've done some serious work to you're motor and are chasing big HP, stick with the factory Thermoquad carb, they run rings around a Holley when properly set up with no compromise in driveability. Holley's are fitted because theyre simple, not better...Lol
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:10 am 
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Ride: 1978 XC GS

Location: Wayout west
QLD, Australia

RobDog wrote:
Ah right. GS Fairmont it is then. I really should push it out and get it going again...


Wouldnt think its a GS (or rally pack) Fairmont either
The GS even in Fairmont, had the window blackout frames and the GS flip type fuel cap
The chrome door trims can be added, just like the fuel cap can be changed
The ID plate will have either "JG 34" for Fairmont or "JG32"for Fairmont GXL
IF it has an additional tag on the radiaitor support panel either at the top (early XC) or at the bottom (late XC) itll have "R PAK"and some corresponding body ID numbers on it
IF that plate is there its a factory optioned GS (Rally Pack) , but IF its not there doesnt mean it isnt, the plate could have been removed over time ???
13 FORD should be able to tell from the ID numbers what options were on the car from factory , but they wont help with dealer options
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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:03 am 
Smokin em up
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Location: sydney
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Dads xc fairmont GXL, has owned it for over 30 years. awesome car. colour is raw orange with black interior. by the way, if anyone knows of an XC coupe that is for sale, please let me know.

 

 

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 Post subject: Re: xc fairmont gxl 1978
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:21 pm 
Oompa Loompa
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Age: 48

Posts: 36

Joined: 10th Jan 2011

Gallery: 8 images

Ride: Ba xt,Xe 351,Fg mk2 xr6

Location: Thornlie
WA, Australia

Thats so nice,it looks brand new!Has it been fully restored?Any more pics?Details on what mods hes done?
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