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I
purchased my XR Ford Station Wagon back in the mid to late 1980s. Can’t
remember exactly when. It was a good original vehicle and was running
the original 200 Cu In six cylinder motor in it. I drove it like this
for awhile, then a friend of mine had a 250 2-V cylinder head that
he was trying to sell. As my clutch on the old 200 was starting to
give me hassles for some reason, I purchased the 2-V head, complete
with separate inlet manifold, freeflow exhaust and 360 cfm 2 barrell
carburetor. I then found a 250 cu in motor and gear-box out of an XA
Falcon. I took this to Dave Sheldon, who then owned Bay Engine Reconditioners,
and told him what I wanted done. Some weeks later I collected a reconditioned
motor that had been bored 60 thou, was completely balanced and fitted
with a sports ground cam, lightened & balanced flywheel, Up-graded
oil system, Solid lifters, adjustable rockers and sported a ported and
polished cylinder head, shaved 60 thou and with a 3 angle valve –grind
done on it. Cost me a bit to get all this done, but not owning up to
just how much. Well, With the help of some friends, the motor quickly
got installed in the vehicle. Then for the test drive. What a difference
from the old motor. Talk about responsive. I have to admit it was a bit hungry to
run, but boy could it fly. As it was a bit soft at the rear, I put
an extra leaf in the springs and up-graded the shocks. I did a few
trips to various swap meets towing trailers as well as some other memorabile
trips in it.One particular trip of 360 miles was covered in just 5
hours, which included two petrol stops. (Told you it was hungry) No
speed cameras in those days, thank goodness. A
really good mate of mine was without a car for a while and as he had
been a big help to me at various times, I lent him the Falcon SW and
I used my Ford Sunliner to get around in. I’d get reports back like ”Boy that Station Wagon of yours
can go, I saw ??? smoking it up through the ??? round-about” or “I
saw ??? racing another car”. I’d ask which car was in front
and most times it was the Falcon, so that was ok. The only trouble I
ever had with this car was one diff gave up the ghost, but my friend
happened to have another one which he donated to me, seeing I let him
use it at times.
The only reason I sold this car was to
help finance the purchase of a 1972 Mercedes 300 SE LWB Sedan, but
I often think of how good a vehicle it was and how much fun I had with
it.
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