(New to me) car in Aus.

[SiPMerlin150]

After seven months in Australia and commuting 730 kilometers per week to my job (2 hours solid motorway driving per day) I've been after a car of my own rather than share one between my missus and myself (we go opposite ways to commute). I've always sought after something powerful and with a mix of 'caddillac' style floatyness, American looks and something large to roll down the road with. In the U.K I found that in a 1988 volvo 740 saloon. It was a 2.3 petrol 'beast' compared to other city cars..

Anyway's this isn't England anymore, It's Australia... so I though I'd up the size, and comfort....so I bought this:

1998 Ford EL Falcon EX 'Option 20 police package' Brisbane police pursuit car...
4.0 straight six engine - Police package tune - 274 BHP
Uprated suspension, neoprene bushings all over
Uprated Auto cooler /power steering cooler
Uprated brakes - tougher 15 inch steelies
Speedo in 1km/hr increments accurate to 'satisfy courts with catching speed offenders'
One piece tail shaft for high speed )
larger fuel tank for extra range
uprated alternator
darker window tint
Limited slip Diff
Unrestricted speed limiter
Autobox adjusted for harder shifts (no lockout gate for 3 and 2nd gears)

It became decommissioned and was given a full over spray original color, just minus the stickers and lights/sirens. Let me tell you... it puts down rubber too easily!

 

[zx9]

...............

1998 Ford EL Falcon EX 'Option 20 police package' Brisbane police pursuit car...
4.0 straight six engine - Police package tune - 274 BHP
Uprated suspension, neoprene bushings all over
Uprated Auto cooler /power steering cooler
Uprated brakes - tougher 15 inch steelies
Speedo in 1km/hr increments accurate to 'satisfy courts with catching speed offenders'
One piece tail shaft for high speed )
larger fuel tank for extra range
uprated alternator
darker window tint
Limited slip Diff
Unrestricted speed limiter
Autobox adjusted for harder shifts (no lockout gate for 3 and 2nd gears)

It became decommissioned and was given a full over spray original color, just minus the stickers and lights/sirens. Let me tell you... it puts down rubber too easily!

Sounds like the script to an updated 'Blues Brothers' have fun.

 

[tlovatt]

4.0 straight six engine - Police package tune - 274 BHP

How do they get so little power out of a 4l engine - do the Police actually have them detuned???

 

[atomant48]

Make sure the power steering belts in good nick. My dad's one broke as I came off the motorway one night. Very nearly ended very badly!

Most of that 274 is probably available at 1500 revs. That's why it's fun!!

 

[BrokenBiker]

How do they get so little power out of a 4l engine - do the Police actually have them detuned???

American engines, they are good at getting small power out of a big engine

 

[Robotstar5]

How much to have the lights and siren re-fitted?, would cut down the commuting time

 

[Shox Dr]

Make sure the power steering belts in good nick. My dad's one broke as I came off the motorway one night. Very nearly ended very badly!

Most of that 274 is probably available at 1500 revs. That's why it's fun!!

Peak BHP is around Max RPM. It's the torque yank motors produce low down

 

[ford34/2]

Ex Police vehicles in the UK are famed for not having many original components still fitted, especially body panels, Ford, Vauxhall Etc would give forces a free car or cars to run-- well test really as they were never off the road and cars easily did 150K + a year. With many drivers in all conditions and scenarios, never tell a Policeman it will not do this or that, they have already done it.I can remember a Ford rep come out to investigate a problem with drive shafts corkscrewing, yeah twisting, in the test drive at some ridiculous speed it went from forward to backwards to show him what was happening at 30/40/50MPH. Tyres screeching smoke etc, When he said they were not designed to do that, the inspectors reply was we have no trouble with the Vauxhall fleet.-- Oh dear,
Do hope yours is a wee bit more original and has a lowish mileage.
have fun driving, sounds the bees and ees

Stan

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Make sure the power steering belts in good nick. My dad's one broke as I came off the motorway one night. Very nearly ended very badly!

Most of that 274 is probably available at 1500 revs. That's why it's fun!!

This beaut has a new pump, and belt, along with new pads and great (near newish tyres)

Yeah the box is designed to utilise the power from 1 - 2000rpm but take it up there its max torque figure is at 3000rpm thats around 350nm for this machine.
Doing 60mph down the road the motor just burbles away at 1800rpm

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Peak BHP is around Max RPM. It's the torque yank motors produce low down

These are the aussie built straight six here

 

[SiPMerlin150]

How do they get so little power out of a 4l engine - do the Police actually have them detuned???

It's rated at 6.5 seconds from standing start to 60.. I think most smaller sporty hatches are at this mark,,, this thing weighs in at 1.8 tonne

 

[711jrp]

I don't think 274 is to bad considering the bm 540 of the same period is 290ish and that's a 4.4

 

[Robotstar5]

The police trialled the then new Range Rover for it's load carrying and towing ability but found the gearboxes failing after miles of reversing on hard shoulders due to splash lubrication only suitable for short distances so Land Rover fitted an oil pump to the gearboxes to overcome the problem. The storey goes the modified vehicle was then tested at Gaydon by reversing round the test track for hours holding a rev counter mounted on the parcel at near max revs, bet the test driver had a bad neck!

Another one was the Rover 827 having rear suspension turret welds failing, Rover sent an engineer to have a look and found they were overloading the boot with 3-4 times the recommended weight due to all the gear they wanted to carry

 

[SiPMerlin150]

This isn't my vid, but one of the same car as mine (This is standard, mine has the police tune) Not bad considering the size and weight of this car.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

How do they get so little power out of a 4l engine - do the Police actually have them detuned???

This was a car made in 1998.... Now they run holdens/fords with 5.0-6.2 V8's pushing 450 kilowatts (Around 612hp) is that enough?

 

[Robotstar5]

.... Now they run holdens/fords with 5.0-6.2 V8's pushing 450 kilowatts (Around 612hp) is that enough?

I assume fuel's a lot cheaper (less tax) than the UK?

 

[BrokenBiker]

I would hope so, those holdens are thirsty lol

 

[magnet]

After seven months in Australia and commuting 730 kilometers per week to my job (2 hours solid motorway driving per day) I've been after a car of my own rather than share one between my missus and myself (we go opposite ways to commute). I've always sought after something powerful and with a mix of 'caddillac' style floatyness, American looks and something large to roll down the road with. In the U.K I found that in a 1988 volvo 740 saloon. It was a 2.3 petrol 'beast' compared to other city cars..

Anyway's this isn't England anymore, It's Australia... so I though I'd up the size, and comfort....so I bought this:

1998 Ford EL Falcon EX 'Option 20 police package' Brisbane police pursuit car...
4.0 straight six engine - Police package tune - 274 BHP
Uprated suspension, neoprene bushings all over
Uprated Auto cooler /power steering cooler
Uprated brakes - tougher 15 inch steelies
Speedo in 1km/hr increments accurate to 'satisfy courts with catching speed offenders'
One piece tail shaft for high speed )
larger fuel tank for extra range
uprated alternator
darker window tint
Limited slip Diff
Unrestricted speed limiter
Autobox adjusted for harder shifts (no lockout gate for 3 and 2nd gears)

It became decommissioned and was given a full over spray original color, just minus the stickers and lights/sirens. Let me tell you... it puts down rubber too easily!

One careful owner.....................Mad Max

 

[SiPMerlin150]

I assume fuel's a lot cheaper (less tax) than the UK?

much cheaper (70p per liter)

 

[the snooper]

much cheaper (70p per liter)

ill send you a 1st class envelope stick 20 litres in it