A new ride for Aussie Mike

[Aussie Mike]

I've been mumbling about buying an XR8 ute to replace the ageing F100 for a while. Well I finally took the plunge and bought one. I was originally going to get BA XR8 much like AC Andys beast but I found a 2002 AUIII Pursuit for the right price and the more I looked at it the more I liked it.

It's the last of the Windsors and interesting since Ford Performance Vehicles (Tickford) went all out on the little 5.0 windsor to make it keep up with the LS1 powered Holdens. They stroked it to 347 added higher comp pistons, special rods, bigger cam, a Tickford designed intake manifold with 84mm throttle body and a bunch of other mods. It's all old school hot rod stuff compared to the next years BA model with it's twin cam head 5.4 Boss motor. It makes some pretty respectable numbers for an iron pushrod motor with 250KW and 500NM and all pretty low down in the rev range.

Here's a pic: Pursuit 250

Can't wait to pick it up!

Cheers

[Mohuska]

But...I hate to tell ya.....the steering wheel is on the wrong side..

Seriously....Nice Ride !

[BMK]

Mike



Whoaa nice ute.

Perhaps some white stripes down the centre.



Cheers

Bernie

[boxhead]

Glad for you Mike that you found a car that you like, sorry to say but me being a holden guy then I would not buy it.

I do like the color though Mike as this is what color my stripes will be if I end up fitting chrome bumpers and chrome side pipes.

[pneall]

Mike,

Congrats thats real nice. If the Cobras not ready for Wakefield you will still have a lot of fun in the ute.

Phil

[justbetter]

Top Ute Mike, now as mentioned, WHO'S COBRA is gunna look the right colour towed behind that top ride...

Thanks again mike could'nt have chosen better myself

Lucky Man...

[pneall]

Garrett,

I gave Mike an article on a blown 5.7. Something like 400+kw at wheels with very few mods. Did you see it. If not let me know your fax number and I will send.

Regards,

Phil

[justbetter]

You have PM mail.

Thanks

[Aussie Mike]

Well I picked it up this afternoon and I'm pretty happy right now. Unfortunately I had a dinner meeting organised with one of our customers so haven't had much of a chance to take it for a decent drive.

I test drove it and so did my wife and I thought for something that's supposed to make 340HP this is surprisingly civilized, almost tame even. The idle is a little bit cammy but it tootles along in traffic nicely. On the way home I thought there has to be more to it so I stuck my boot into it a couple of times. It's an auto and it kicked down quite snappily and the ute took on a whole new character. The engine note changed dramaticaly as If I'd given the sleepy rotweiler's testicles a good squeeze and it lept into action. Great fun! This thing is going to cost me my licence if I'm not careful.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Mike...Mike...Mike

I got a recommendation.......
Now that ya got a proper motor ... why not take that LS1 thingy and put it in the ute. Like no-one will ever want to look under the ute bonnet, so it dont matter if it's not "correct".

The cobra however, thats a different story, it would go very well with that nice ford engine in it. Would look somewhat correct too.

On a serious note...those 347 fuel injected Tickford thingys go very well with the right diff ratio in the cobra. Pity there's not more around in the wreckers yards.

Congrats on the new ride mate

cheers

[PCC]

Lesley,

This site was becoming quite moderate until the Rebel returned!

Wher've you been? Not in the Garage by any chance - getting that beast finished?

Nice to see you haven't lost your wit.

When we gonna catch up - what with Craig pretty busy at the moment, you polishing your whatever its about time we got together again.

Your venue, your food, your grog, your charm - all sounds good, but for the last one - ah well, you can't have everything!

[Jamo]

Assy Mike

Sweet lil sumb!tch ya got there.

[Rebel1]

Oi Peta

Who's this lesley ya referrin too heh?.

And..whats this about wit?....someone once told my wife that her husband ( me) had wit......My wifes answer was that they were only half right ..now ya know why I introduce her as the first wife.

Now, In answer to ya questions about what I been doin. Wellllll, Tis sorta like this...All you fellas have been lifting the bar somewhat ( In your case literally) with regard to standards and I been strainin to keep up. Would you believe some local bu$$a has gone covered all his wires with this blue stuff and now I gotta do the same. Fair Dinkum!!, will it ever stop

Seriously tho Pete, Tis about time we had a get-to-gether and and I've got something in mind...will keep ya posted

Dunno if they'll let you southerners over the gateway tho

[ac andy]

Mike, i think we will have to start a ute category at the Nationals this year. I have already totalled a set of tyres on the back of mine. At $700.00 each i might try for something a bit cheaper next time round. They are very nice to drive. Wait till you drive it in the wet!

Andy.

[Aussie Mike]

Hi All,

I had the blue beastie on the dyno on Sunday and got 196.2 KW (263HP) at the rear wheels so it's no slouch (and that's with an auto too).

If I haven't got the Cobra ready for the nationals I'll be contesting the new ute class with Andy. Though hopefully your Cobra will be ready by then though Andy?

Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

Originally posted by ac andy


Wait till you drive it in the wet!

Andy.

It rained cats and dogs today and they are slippery little suckers when they are all over the road. I think the Windsor stroker makes a bit more bottom end than the better breathing Boss 260 motor. The AUIII Pursuit doesn't have traction control either

Cheers

[ledge]

I had a vy ss ute ive only recently sold it to finance the cobra and that was a huge amount of fun in the wet ,oh and in the dry ,gravel was good to

[ac andy]

I dont think my cobra will be ready for the Nationals, (im getting sick of saying that) so i might take the ute again for another spin around the track. Last year i scored 26th outright in the sprints out of about 80 cars, mostly cobras. Didnt think that was too bad! Got a trophy in the go to whoa as well!

Andy.

[Aussie Mike]

Originally posted by ac andy


Got a trophy in the go to whoa as well!

Andy.

ABS, You've got to love it.

Cheers

[ac andy]

Do you think your car will be ready for the Nationals Mike?

Andy.