After comparing it to the other i think it is quite f**k lol. With the passenger side shock, i can compress the rod inside the shock body and it'll return at an even pace, and even when i try to compress it, its quite firm. On the other hand, the drivers side shock, when i compress that, it wont return at all, it just stays in position where ever point i compress it to, and doesnt even think about returning, seems to have a slow leak aswell and is making a bit of noise compared to the other side so i think im in for new ones. Also when i compress that one, it is a fair bit easier to push in. Anyway, called up Autolign for some replacements, $190 pair for normal Monroe ones or $255 for shortened monroes. Another suspension guy i know has a second hand set of bilsteins that he can shorten and re-valve etc and give them to me for $500 or around $680 pair brand new lol. For now, i think i'll see if i can get some from the Pedders place over here, price pending, i reckon they cost a fair bit being the only Pedders outlet i know of in NZ.

I think you're right about the ride height mate, the springs are labelled RH LH and they seem to be on the correct sides, probably the weight of the spare on one side and an empty tank of gas on the other making it look a little out of whack lol. Oh well f**k it, will just see how things go for now.

Heres a quicky of the rear shocks, with one compressed and the position it stays in compared to the other which returned completely if you get what i mean.. Stupid f**k lol.. Still rides okay though so im not worried about it for now. It is semi lowered at the rear (took off half a coil each side while i was at it) for now which will get sorted properly once new shocks go in.



On a positive not, heres how the Mont is looking as of this morning




Looks very sleeper-ish now, love it

Looks good bud. Why did you put the NF grill back on, you just like to change the look dont ya

I need to find a set of concordes, they are a good looking rim.

+1

Thanks Ash and Mar55s, couldnt agree with you guys more, im f**k stoked with how it turned out aye. When they first went on i was having a few doubts, but then stood back and looked at them on the car as a whole and i just smiled Might not be everyones taste, but it definately works for me.


Cheers Josh, haha yeah its pretty good having a few grills to change between, took the chromed fairmont off, just to respray the centre insert again, the gloss has dulled and looks a bit s**t in there again a fresh coat of chrome - the fairlane looks pretty good, but i do like the chromed fairmont one. So it will go back on soon

Definately need to get some better pictures up of it, the pictures do not do this thing justice. It actually looks a fair bit lower in person, i think the angle i took these pics give it the illusion of it being a bit high. I was amazed at how many looks it got today, had a family function on today and it got a few comments, was funny when my cousin was showing his mates my car, they all thought it was just standard so they called me over so i could pop the bonnet then they started popping all the questions

I tell ya what, i am so tempted to start putting some spare cash aside to save up for a bit of boost now, make it a real sleeper

Def looks the goods... have u thought about tinting ?

Definately mate, one thing that ive been dying to do but it just keeps slipping my mind when i have the cash in hand. Will be getting that done soon hopefully, will probably only go darkest legal which will cost me around $250 -$300 tinted all round bar the front windscreen obviously. Deciding to play it safe and not go any darker especially with the amount of police rolling around my area. Im tempted to go for 20% though

I'd go for it... it isn't like they would stop you randomly to check yr tints.. unless yr not behaving on the road..

Yeah your right mate, they like picking up people for noisy exhausts, or cars being too low mostly. Dont see how they could do me for having 20% tints when there is some Jap imports coming in with windows that are like 5% from factory so i may just go 20% now that you mention it.

On the topic of tinting, a couple of weeks back i thought i was smart by buying some cheap tint on Trade Me (NZ's equivalent to ebay), picked up 2x 3m rolls for $20. I only got 35% just to be safe seeing as thats the darkest legal tint, plus you have to factor in the factory tint in the glass etc. So yeah had all my windows measured and cut out, ready to start applying, did the rear quarters and it came out mint. I was like "f**k yeah this s**t easy, im not paying $300 or so to get my car tinted when i can do it myself".

Famous last words, got to doing the rear door windows, hit it with the heat gun to shrink it to the curve of the window and i f**k melted the C*** to the window bad thing is i did this 3 times on the same window thinking i could master it. Heat shrinking is one b**ch of a technique to learn. Ended up ripping off all the tint and chucking the stuff

So unless the glass is completely flat, im not touching it

A couple of other shots in the carport




Will get better shots with the chromed Fairmont grill back on tomorrow maybe..

More pics as promised with the Fairmont grill back on.. I think it looks better now







And a happy snap of something i just realised today from looking at the car side on from a distance, lol you can just get a glimpse of the secondaries on my extractors lol


Now that i look at these photos, im reminded of what FordFairmont's EF used to look like, wonder where that guy ever got to

Looks great mate!
That's the grill u want def!

Looking better with your fairmont grill mate.

I love them rims.. I do wonder though about getting a set and getting the face machined would look like a sprint or svo rim...

Nice car mate

very nice car mate!