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Author
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Topic: Falcon GT
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-01-2003 03:17 PM
   
Hello,
I��m new to this Website and looking for a good place to ask some questions and get to know a few other Muscle Car enthusiasts. I own two 74 Ford Falcon GT Coupes, they��re both XB models. They actually look more like cross between a 71 Torino & a 73 Mustang, and they��re about the same size, so I figured it would probably be better to post any questions in this forum instead of the section set aside for ��Falcons and small Fords��. Both of my Falcons still have the original engine, a 351 Cleveland. I was just wondering if there are any other Falcon GT enthusiasts that use this forum, I��ve corresponded through e-mail with a few people in the Falcon GT Club of Australia (that��s the country the cars were built), and got some pretty good responses from them, but I was really interested in meeting more people in this country who share an interest in these cars.I also own some American Fords including a few Mustangs built between 1965 & 1967, and a 68 Galaxie 500 Fastback with a 390 4 bbl. Zoom
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-01-2003 09:04 PM
Welcome,Zoom! Sounds like a cool set!You're the first to join us with a Falcon XB. How did you aquire these anyhow? They are very rare here in the states. Do you like the right hand drive? It must be a chore in a car with real power in it. 
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-02-2003 05:49 PM
Thanks for the welcome. It��s definitely no chore driving on the right, it��s really fun; especially freaking out passengers who ride on the left.
Here��s how I found the cars: I was looking for an XB Falcon with a ��66�� code which means it��s a genuine GT Coupe. Only 949 were produced. I wanted it to be all or mostly original including being black with black interior, and also be a 4-speed. I found out that only 33 Onyx Black XB GT Coupes were produced. Surprisingly one was found for sale, the only drawback being that is was an automatic. I decided to buy it anyway since I doubt I would ever find any of the other 33 coupes for sale. It��s also very hard to know how many still exist, out of the 949 XB GT Coupes only about 400 are left.
In the process of getting the Black GT shipped over from Australia, I found another genuine XB GT Coupe that was a 4-speed, this one had all the matching numbers as well. The only thing that differed from my preferences was the exterior color, it was Red Pepper, everything else was what I wanted. I��m not rich, but I was able to get a good loan for this one, so I decided to buy it as well.
It��s really funny to see people who think they know all there is to know about muscle cars look at them and try figure out what they are. I��ve been told that there are less then 20 genuine GT��s in the U.S., that��s including a couple of XA Coupes as well as a couple of XB sedans.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-02-2003 09:08 PM
The shipping must have cost you a small bundle. Was the wait long,too? I always thought those cars were cool. Kind of a cross of a 70 Torino GT and a 71 Mach1. I heard that some came with a 302 "Cleveland". Do you have any info on these? Were there any big block cars?
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-03-2003 01:54 PM
It was a very long wait for the Falcons to get here. They both took over 6 months each. In fact, the second one just cleared through Customs last week. I made the original deal for it all the way back in October. I am really pumped  I can��t wait to take it for a cruise.The 302 Cleveland was a standard engine in all XA, XB, & XC Falcons. Ford Australia took 351 blocks and put 302 cranks in them, 351 & 302 Clevelands were the primary V-8��s during the 70��s. The GT��s never came with 302 Clevelands. Ford had performance options for their 351��s (Windsor & Cleveland), but the 302 Cleveland was never marketed as a major performance engine, a lot of Aussie Gearheads did modify them themselves. The 351 Cleveland was the biggest engine Ford ever put in any of their Australian Muscle Cars. No big blocks were offered  However, there are plenty of aftermarket & hot rod shops that specialize in 429 & 460 engines and parts for engine swaps. I��m not sure how common the FE engines are Down Under.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-03-2003 10:39 PM
That is just a 71-73 Mustang suspension in there,just flopped,right? Is the clutch pedal at the tunnel,or the door side?
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-04-2003 02:39 PM
The suspension is very similar, Mustang replacement parts usually work. The frame is much stiffer though, the shock towers don��t need support braces that extend back toward the center of the firewall like Mustangs do. Also, I was going to add a Monte-Carlo Bar to help stiffen up the frame (like I did on my 67 Mustang Fastback), but sveral people told me not to. The ride is just as good, if not better, then the 67. The only problem, if you could call it that, is the brakes. They are completely Australian, there��s no American equivalent when it comes to replacing them The good part is that they are actually superior to any of the American Fords from the same era. It came standard with 4-wheel disc brakes
The gas pedal is on the right, clutch on the left, just like here.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-04-2003 10:05 PM
Thanks for the info,I've learned alot from you this week. You get the Aussy 351C heads as an added bonus,too.
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-05-2003 11:11 PM
One more thing,
Here's a website that has a picture of my Red XB GT:http://www.xbgt.info/couperegistry.html Scroll down to January, 1974. You��ll see my name listed as the owner, and in the background you��ll see two of my Mustangs, they still need a little work.
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73torinoqcode
Gearhead Posts: 417
From: Buffalo,NY,USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 06-06-2003 12:41 AM
I love the 78 Bathurst Cobra and someday will own one. I bet those cars were definitely worth the wait. Good luck with them.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-06-2003 09:11 PM
Ausome car,zoomzoom! Do you know how much they weigh?
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73trials
Gearhead Posts: 1218
From: IN EXILE
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 06-06-2003 11:01 PM
 That's one fine ride. ------------------
Erwin
'73 H-code vert
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-07-2003 01:29 PM
The weight, according to Thomas Nuss Jr.��s website, is 3308 lbs.
It��s a little bit longer & wider then a 71-73 Mustang, but it��s about 300 lbs. lighter, go figure. http://community-2.webtv.net/tenjln1346/197071TorinoSports/ Also, those 78 Falcon Cobras are pretty rare, only 400 were built. Only 30 of them were built to exact Bathurst specs. There��s not an exact count on how many are left.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-08-2003 10:17 PM
72 and up American cars had to have side intrusion beams. Maybe the Aussie cars didn't? There's some steel there,but not 300# worth.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44921
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-20-2003 07:20 PM
Plenty of them at the Ford 100th last weekend:http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/Ford100th/Australians.html ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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Zoomzoom
Journeyman Posts: 21
From: Triangle, Virginia, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-21-2003 01:19 PM
Too cool
All the Fords look great. I wanted to go, but just couldn��t get the time.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4063
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-23-2003 09:34 PM
At the very last minute,my wife asks,"Why didn't you go?" 
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Aussiexport
Journeyman Posts: 2
From: Newcastle NSW, Australia
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 10-18-2003 01:03 AM
Hey Zoom, I have a Onyx Black Manual XB GT coupe in my workshop, lol. I only know of about 4 Onyx Black XB GT coupes, yours is one, we have one and I had a guy contact me a few months ago with a fully restored auto he wanted to sell. The other I saw at a show a couple of months back. Hey do you want an Onxy black and Silver South African Fairmont GT to match your coupe? hehe, I have one of those on the way here now, it's on my site if you want to have a look. See ya mate
Cam ------------------
www.aussiexport.com Importers and exporters of all makes and models of Australian car, in the XA, XB, XC Falcon coupe.
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