The XW

[Road_Warrior]

So as some of you are probably aware, I have this week come into possession of this bad boy:



It's kind of like getting reacquainted with an old friend, my first car was a white XW, and even though it was a bucket of shit, the desire to own a good one one day never left me. An XY Fairmont I bought for $1100 as a project car some 15 years ago had to be sold due to being kicked out of the workshop space I was in. Since then, I've always had that itch that needed scratching.

It's in overall great nick, but as you can imagine with a 45 year old car that had it's resto done about 10 years ago, there are a few little things needing attention. Mainly mechanical.

First cab off the rank is a cooling system flush. The radiator was half empty when the car arrived and what "coolant" was in there appears to have been diluted with tap water. So that shit is out; a good flush with the hose and in goes some Tectaloy 90. I'm going to replace the thermostat while I am at it as I don't know how old it is and the engine seems to get very hot. The heat radiated by the...err, radiator is just bullshit, it shouldn't get that hot. The old thermostat is a 71 degree unit and the replacement Stant unit I have bought is rated at 82. I will replace the sender unit once I get hold of one as the temp guage seems to hardly budge but I know full well that donk is getting HOT. The wire going into the temp sender plug is dodge as well so I will have to replace that.

A new battery won't go astray either. It has this pissy little 360CCA battery in it that doesn't seem to last long. Needs new battery clamps too.

Then to get it licensed.