JustBlown

Anyone else ? With all the on-line sellers of air bags you'd think every second vehicle had them...... They would be awesome in front struts,but expensive. But I want to hear from Falcon Ute owners putting them on the leaf springs and if anyone has heard of cracked or damaged chassis using them. Brands ? Thanks.

Okay,I've joined a BMW forum and found this : that's what the BMW HE and probably ours look like inside when cut open. This one obviously had a problem after having done 215,000 kms,no telling about the maintenance ( or lack of it ) that the vehicle had. Not maintaining coolant quality,electrolysis and poor manufacturing are just three things that could cause premature failure of any HE...........

RB snake,yes its probably not too low for my application after all,the engine sump,ZF sump and Turbo exhaust all are projections worthy of a good rough road bashing.In my other n/a FG,one tonner (sits higher of course) ,I stove in the sump on the 5 speed tranny,luckily no internal damage.Yep,as many have said-you should have a fourby ! But I just like a Ute.Total comfort,and now,super performance. Back on topic,just looked at photo of my factory cooler,mine made 5/2010- in China and the one Adelaide parts have on Ebay now,supposedly " revised "-http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121496948212?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 Also made in China.I don't really know what " revised " implies.Surely,you would think that after making many parts,the manufacturing process would be improved-but who knows ? Who would take the chance ?-not me. For the Bimmer HE,I will use an angle,probably ally,get two tubes,the I.d. of which suit the coolant outlets and weld these to the angle.Then press the HE in ( it has "o" rings).Use the other leg of the angle to pickup the original HE mounts on the engine block.I wouldn't want to start welding/brazing/s.soldering the HE as an Alfa-laval type HE has many very thin plates inside and damage could ensue.Yep,photos for sure-I'm 95% sure I'm going this way.

ratter,you would have seen this interesting link I posted by this guy in the states who seems to know a lot about the ZF's he told me the BMW HE's are very reliable.But to the link which is very interesting reading: http://www.bmwlogicseven.com/?p=3738

Yes it looks absolutely well made,I have no doubts,its just a cost thing with me....I have so much to do to my new toy and I really don't feel I'm taking a quality shortcut going this way,I've done a reasonable amount of research.

wouldn't be a direct fit but neither is the PWR kit,there's going to be jigging around with both.The Bimmer one is designed to plug into the radiator and held with a bracket,to put on the FG ,I will probably just clamp the coolant hoses onto the existing tubes exiting the HE.As for the trans fluid lines,use Furious Performance's transmission adapter barbed fittings and run good quality hose forward to the HE. I use my Ute on a lot of rough roads and the last thing I want is that PWR unit hanging underneath the trans mount.If anyone's going this way,buy the genuine BM unit not the Chinese copy-Yep,they've copied this as well.Incidentally the crappy Ford unit is made in the PRC,the BM unit is made in Germany where Porsche,BMW,Audi and Mercedes Benz are made ( not in any preferential order ! )

I'm curious-why would you pay $695 for a kit ( meaning put it together ) ,when you could buy a BMW quality H.E.,this:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BMW-e60-e61-e64-e63-Auto-Transmission-Oil-Cooler-NEW-oe-heat-exchanger-/231178764467?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d35400b3 Its specifically designed for the ZF 6HP26 box,reputably very,very reliable,for $A285 delivered to Oz ? I found Atlanta BMW selling them and the price I quoted was from them. Made in Stuttgart by Behr GmbH & Co. There would be no comparison.....

This: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/30-Flat-Plate-Heat-Exchanger-WVO-oil-biodiesel-WORT-Brew-FPHE-SVO-/191458546405? or this :http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231278639104?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 will replace this :http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121496948212?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 for hundreds of $'s less than the PWR H.E.'s and both will sit where the crappy Ford one was removed.I'm considering doing this.

So,how do you guy's actually carry anything remotely heavy in the back of your XR6 utes ? I weighed mine yesterday ( 1780 kg with alloy tray) and adding two ppl ,I'm left with a puny payload of only about 435 kg. Its a new vehicle here so haven't loaded anything yet but I know my other FG one tonner wouldn't take anything like a tonne.So I'm thinking that half of this payload would set an XR6 right down in the bum.Here's another link to the relatively new Firestone rolling sleeve airbags: http://www.4wdnews.com.au/4wd-accessories-news/suspension/item/2026-new-firestone-airbag-suspension-to-suit-ford-falcon-utes.html

Thanks Pixy Angel,they were on the list for a call when they are back after Xmas.They should be proud of the positive response from forum members,obviously a well run business.

Anyone have airbags in the rear of their ute ? This one whilst being expensive seems to be totally LEGAL as it doesn't remove the bump stop as most do.Also is mounted in the STRONGEST position ie the doubled,overlapped chassis bracket behind the bump stop. http://www.airbagsales.net.au/index....ry&path=69_180 Just want to level it up for towing etc PS its model 4659,right down the bottom

Hi all,my first post here on the boring ( but prob. necessary ) insurance topic as in the last hour I just got quotes for my newly registered 2010 XR6 T.Ute NSW Mid-North coast.60% NCB.Realistic agreed write off value.GIO $1200,AAMI $1150,NRMA $782.Just wifey and I at the controls. I hate insurance ! But looks like NRMA who, out of the lot of them are up at the top of the pile IMHO. But I like this forum and I'm looking fwd to messing with my ute and sharing info !