Cadsky's auii xr8 ute

[CADSKY]

Hi guys. So after a long hiatus (6 years) from this site, i thought i better join up again since i bought this little beauty this morning.

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Previously i have owned a '95 EF XR6 and an '07 BF MKii XR6. i sold the BF when i got a company car a few years ago and i have always had the erge to get back into an XR. I decided the time was right to start looking at what was around and came across this 2001 AUii XR8 manual ute. I couldnt resist going to have a look at it and taking it for a test drive. I was hooked! since i bought it from a dealer, im not too sure what mods it has other than the obvious. Quad exhaust, H/D clutch and short shifter.

Dont know alot about AU's so hopefully you guys can give me some help along the way. Looking forward to getting back out there for a few cruises in
my new weekender

[Uncle_Ken]

Welcome back nice upgrade from the BF LOL
UK

[CADSKY]

Thanks UK. Looking forward to learning more about AU's and having some V8 power under my foot.

[EATHSV]

That looks neat mate. Congrats on the purchase

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by EATHSV

That looks neat mate. Congrats on the purchase

Thanks mate. Ill post some more pics and info once i have her

[CADSKY]

Opinions on what to do with the cargo bars? I kinda like them, but i think a canopy would be more practical.

[Jack91]

Are they steel or aluminium? Personally I love them, very handy for roof sheets or lengths of steel/timber. If they're aluminium I'd just hit them with some purple polish. These are an awesome car, even better as a manual. Very underrated. Canopys are a pita.

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by Jack91

Are they steel or aluminium? Personally I love them, very handy for roof sheets or lengths of steel/timber. If they're aluminium I'd just hit them with some purple polish. These are an awesome car, even better as a manual. Very underrated. Canopys are a pita.

Thanks mate. They are aluminum bars. I know wht your saying. Ill probably just keep them for a little while atleast. Keen on a shaker though

[CADSKY]

Have had my ute for a couple of days now and im wrapped with it so far. Taking it for a run from the Peninsula to Geelong tomorrow to see how she handles it. I dont foresee any problems though.

Perfect time to pick her up too. Getting my tax done monday, if all goes well ill be getting her some new extractors and hiflow cats. Im thinking pacemaker 4001's. Any thoughts? Also im not too sure what cats to go with.

[Sox]

Originally Posted by CADSKY

Have had my ute for a couple of days now and im wrapped with it so far. Taking it for a run from the Peninsula to Geelong tomorrow to see how she handles it. I dont foresee any problems though.

Perfect time to pick her up too. Getting my tax done monday, if all goes well ill be getting her some new extractors and hiflow cats. Im thinking pacemaker 4001's. Any thoughts? Also im not too sure what cats to go with.

I would use Advance or Hurricane tri-y headers over the Pacemakers.

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by Sox

I would use Advance or Hurricane tri-y headers over the Pacemakers.

Thanks for that. Should i expect better performance than the pacemakers? I have had pacemakers in my last two xr's and was very happy.

[mcfly94]

Originally Posted by CADSKY

Thanks for that. Should i expect better performance than the pacemakers? I have had pacemakers in my last two xr's and was very happy.

You probably wont notice it much of the difference on a near stock car, hurricanes are supposed to be the best for 302 AU and come it at the cheapest at $600.

[Sox]

Originally Posted by CADSKY

Thanks for that. Should i expect better performance than the pacemakers? I have had pacemakers in my last two xr's and was very happy.

I would expect slightly more grunt from bottom to top due to the smaller primary pipe diameter, probably more noticeable down low though.
Higher velocity = better scavenging.

[CADSKY]

Thanks guys. Ill look into the hurricanes. Any advice for cats?

[Sox]

Originally Posted by CADSKY

Thanks guys. Ill look into the hurricanes. Any advice for cats?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/400731743...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Followed by a dual 2.25" exhaust.

[CADSKY]

Thanks sox. Yeah the ute already has a very nice sounding quad exhaust, but i haven't gotten under there to have a look at what it actually is. That'll be tomorrow's job!

[beardo]

Nice purchase pal. I really miss my old silver xr8. I don't mind the carryboy canopies. I have a similar one on my current ute its quite handy

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by beardo

Nice purchase pal. I really miss my old silver xr8. I don't mind the carryboy canopies. I have a similar one on my current ute its quite handy

image

Sweet ride dude! Thats almost exactly the look im going for. What springs did you have? Perfect ride height. Also were those rims 18's or 19's? Not sure what size i wanna go

[beardo]

Whatever pedders lowest springs are in the front and i bought some 2nd hand leafs that had been reset and flipped the smallest leaf aswell. It was pretty low but still very comfy. The rims were 18" ba gt's.
Dam i miss it

[beardo]

Couple more for motivation. They really are brilliant cars, hopefully I'll have another xr8 ute one day

[Sox]

Out of all the later wheels, the GT rims suit the AU the most.
Looks really good.

[beardo]

Yeah at the time i bought them because they were cheap and ended up loving them and never had any desire to change them. Au's tend to compliment a lot of wheels

[CADSKY]

Gave the ute a good run this weekend. Mornington Peninsula to Geelong and back friday then to Melbourne and back today. No issues so far which is always good. A mate and I got the head unit all hooked up properly again. The front speakers and tweeters aswell as the sub were not working. Turns out they were all connected to the amp and the cable from the head unit to the amp had been damaged somewhere along the way and no power was getting to the amp. Reran the wiring and all is working as it should.

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by beardo

Couple more for motivation. They really are brilliant cars, hopefully I'll have another xr8 ute one day
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Beardo, probably a silly question but will i need to replace the entire rear tub for one without the tarp hooks? Dont think it will look very good with the hard lid.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by CADSKY

Beardo, probably a silly question but will i need to replace the entire rear tub for one without the tarp hooks? Dont think it will look very good with the hard lid.

Nup, you can get little blanking plugs that fill the holes. Drill the rivets out of the cotton reels on the side (hold onto them with a pair of pliers while you do it), paint up the plugs, pop 'em in and job done.

[beardo]

^^^ what he said. I believe all tubs have the holes drilled in them anyway, i had the little plugs but you barely tell in the photos.
I think you have to be pretty careful not to pull some paint off with the tarp hooks

[CADSKY]

Awesome. Thanks guys. Any idea where i get my hands on these plugs?

[b2tf]

Ford or Tuff Tonneaus do them.

[hales231271]

Plugs
http://www.tto.com.au/en-au/tonneau-...of-twenty.html

Go to your local autobahn and get a spray can made up with your color code.
Also get a can of clear.

Paint the buttons and when dry give them a coat of clear.

You will have slight marks where you had the cotton reels on the side.
As suggested hold tight when drilling out to prevent them from turning and damaging paint.

When drilled out give the area a good cut and polish with cutting compound and you can get most of the existing marks out on and around where the reels were.

Or you can weld up the holes , finish area , however this would require a full repay of tub to make it smick.

Buttons are a good option and you hardly notice after a while.

Cheers
Dazza

[CADSKY]

Thanks fellas. Those buttons seem like a fairly easy option. Think ill give them a crack.