Vehicle Details
1971 Ford Falcon XY GT, originally a Track Red XY that had seen better days. Now fully restored and subtly modernised with a stroked 351 Cleveland, upgraded suspension, and modern brakes while keeping the classic XY GT look that makes Aussie muscle fans weak at the knees.
January 15, 2022
Stripped to bare shell and assessed
Spent the first 3 months stripping the car down to a bare shell. Removed all trim, glass, engine, gearbox, suspension — everything. Catalogued every bolt and bracket. Found surface rust in the lower quarters and floor pan but the structure was solid. Sent the shell off for media blasting.
May 10, 2022
Rust repair and panel work
After media blasting, cut out the rusty sections in the lower quarters and floor pan. Welded in new metal from a donor shell and reproduction panels. Block sanded the entire body over several weekends until it was laser-straight. Primered and sealed.
September 20, 2022
Engine build — 393ci stroker
Sent the original 351 Cleveland block to the machinist. Bored and honed to suit the 393ci stroker kit — SCAT crank, forged rods and pistons. Ported the closed-chamber heads and installed a hydraulic roller cam. Assembled the bottom end myself on the engine stand over a few weeknights.
March 5, 2023
Paint — Track Red with white stripe
Finalised the panel work and took it to a mate's booth for the respray. Went back to the factory Track Red with the proper white GT stripe down the middle. Multiple coats of clear, then cut and polished by hand. The colour just glows in the sun.
August 12, 2023
Suspension and brake upgrade
Installed coil-overs up front and a four-link rear conversion. Fitted upgraded sway bars front and rear. Brakes upgraded to 330mm slotted rotors with 6-piston calipers — massive improvement over the originals. The car now corners like it's on rails.
February 18, 2024
Engine install and first start
Dropped the freshly built 393ci stroker back in with Pacemaker extractors and a custom exhaust. Hooked up the fuel system, wired everything, and primed the oil. First fire-up was at 11pm on a Saturday — the sound through those extractors was absolutely unreal. One of the best moments of my life.
June 30, 2024
Interior retrim and final assembly
Got the interior re-trimmed in black vinyl with houndstooth inserts, close to the original pattern. Fitted the restored gauge cluster, sports steering wheel, and added subtle sound deadening. Bolted on the Simmons FR wheels, fitted the GT guards with driving lights, and gave her a final detail. She's done and ready to hit the road.
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