[pta slowchat] Ford Fairmont XE @ 466hp

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Gaaaaas? gas is for taxis! if so, you don't see taxi's running 11 second passes. Jason's Fairmont Ghia is proof that all those BBQ and taxi jokes should be kept to oneself because when this gas cooker decides to unleash 348kw (466hp) to the ground, you wont be laughing on the clouds of smoking rubber left in it's wake. Jason's Fairmont is a change from all the turbocharged Commodores boosting their way around Melbourne. Ford's pushrod 4.1ltr straight six certainly isn't known for it's efficiency or high revving ability. On it's side is strong low torque down from an engine which are damn reliable. When hit with some forced induction, these big sixes can turn into real animals.

We all know turbo's equal torque, and this motor is no exception. There's so much torque feeding the rear wheels, the only problems on the dyno is trying to strap it down to stop the tyres spinning, make that on the street too!. Aside from 1400Nm early in the rev range, at just 3000rpm, 300kW is available at approximately 3700rpm and at 5500rpm, a tad under 350 on 21psi. Unlike many motors making this much grunt, redline is a lowly 5800rpm.

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As for what this brute makes at the flywheel, with driver it tips the scales at 3550lb's. 11.0 at 123mph, you do the math. Jason has fabricated everything on the car himself and what's even more impressive is that it's daily driven and travels plenty of km's each week. On LPG, it's very economical to run. It's no good achieving these power levels, if it's not going to last. The bottom end now comprises of forged pistons, custom rods and mild camshaft. Pushrods, main caps, bolts and crankshaft are all standard. The head gasket and the head itself is completely standard, yep no porting whatsoever. I've personally seen the head up close and the factory casting marks are clearly visible.

Impossible to miss on the custom exhaust manifold is that huge Garrett turbo. A T66 front wheel sits inside the 0.72 compressor cover. The exhaust housing is a very large 1.32. Tucked away behind the front bumper is a cut down custom 3 inch thick, relatively small International truck intercooler. This feeds a custom plenum which is basically a large 3 inch pipe adapted to intake runners. It's large capacity is needed for the big donk.

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The factory C9 three speed has been upgraded with a manual valve body so in a sense it's like driving a clutch-less manual. The standard Borg Warner 3.23 differential is coping well with the launches on slicks at Calder and frying radials on the street. Listening to Jason stall it up to the 2800rpm convertor is a real treat with all the great induction noise every turbo fan loves. Nail the throttle and it will light the rears past 100kph easy. A very important point is that compared to most modified street cars, the Falcon is 100 percent street legal. Yes that's right. The straight gas system means the EPA cannot defect the car for emission reasons. Filling up at the local servo is also a darn sight cheaper than buying race fuel. Jason lives across town from Calder and has never trailered the car there, he simply changes tyres to race and then drives the car home. Jason's goal with the car is to use it as a test bed before building another XE, this time a detailed ESP version. Want to see this beast in action? Then come down to a Calder Park Off-Street meet and you'll see it warming the tyres in the water box at 200kp/h :-).