andrewxmgold

Owner:     Andrew

Engine:     302 Windsor

Trans:      Shift kitted C4

Diff:         9"

Circa 1983, Andrew was employed by a panel shop to move the cars and keep the place clean. He did, but not for long. Fortunately, the boss was after an apprentice spray painter and Andrew was quick to put his hand up. Twelve years later, having virtually painted everything you can name, Andrew took on a job as Automotive paint field representative with ICI Autocolour (Dulux). It is a technical position, not a selling job.
With the runs on the board and ownership of a string of modified cars that includes an LC Torans, Gemini Wagon, HJ Monato and a VL Turbo Commodore, Andrew turned his attention to the XM. "I've always loved older cars and I wanted something I could restore properly. That was the intention, at least" he said. He scored it in 1991 as a runner with a down 144 six cylinder engine, drum brakes and faded cream duco, but he felt it had potential.
"I stipped it down to the point where it looked like the shell on a production line. I mean, I removed absolutely everything. Lifted onto a trailer, the shell was delivered to mate Ron Ellwood's place for rust repairs.

The thing is, all it needed was two sill panels and two large floor sections, otherwise the old girl was in reasonable condition rust wise. Dents, well that was a different story. "Someone had kindly jumped all over the roof, bonnet and boot and it was a real mess". Andrew and his mate Dina Marin spent months (on and off) smoothing the panels, tidying the underfloor and sussing out what mechanicals were needed. "Once at the polyester stage, I sat back and took stock of what was done and what I wanted to do.

What it occured to me was that I should have a bit of fun with it. I mean, I had a nine inch sitting under the house and I was aware a V8 conversion was easy, so the decision was obvious."
As it had a stock body and Andrew was intent on retaining the original badges, moulds and chrome ware, he decided to deviate as little as possible from stock, only adding a little attitude with rims, rubber and ride height. Not too much took place over the two or three years following high filling and base colour.
Indeed the paint was allowed to harden for four long years, during which Andrew did little other than procure parts and play around with the undercarriage.

Every nut and bolt, door and window rubber, bailey channels, washers, ball joints, tie rod ends and every other worn or wearing part were replaced. Andrew added Monroe gas shocks and four inch lowered Lovells springs to the totally freshened front end. He also refitted the stock swaybar while updating the brakes with new XC Falcon discs and rebuilt calipers. A remotely mounted (under the right hand guard) VH44 power booster and XB master cylinder operate the disc and drum braking combination.
The old nine inch happened to fit perfectly at one inch shorter than the stock XM item. Filled with 3.5 gears and arrested with four inch reset leaf springs and the same Monroe gas shocks, The rear end was 'street' detailed before accepting seven inch wide Weld wheels and Dunlop tyres.
With the passing of four years, Andrew felt the time had finally come to apply a top coat of Cobra Raunch Silver and white Pearl over the roof. The finished paint also signalled time to complete the engine conversion and driveline. Thanks to some considerable input by Shoebox Classic Restorations, a mild 302 Windsor was readied.

It's nothing special, just a cruiser with enough grunt should the right foot need to be buried. Internal hardware includes Federal Mugal bearings supporting a stock crank and rods, cast flat top pistons with Speed Pro moly rings and a static of 9.6:1. A Rollmaster gets the job done with a mild Wade hydraulic camshaft, and there are anti pump lifters and ported and polished 289 cylinder heads. A port matched Edelbrock Torker manifold and 600 vacuum secondary Holley squirt the fuel and air with an Accel HEI, Super Coil and Motorcraft leads supplying the spark. Stock exhausts send spent gases through a single 2.5 inch system. Shoebox also fitted the engine into a home prepped by Andrew. His work revolved aroung relocating the battery into the boot and installing a three core VH Commodore radiator and 126 Mercedes Thermo fan.

You may also notice the lack of washer bottle - it's under the guard. The brake line and wiring were concealed while a BTR cooler aids the trans. Genuine Shelby Cobra alloy rocker covers adorn the engine. Bolted to the rear is a shift kitted C4 auto sporting a 2500rpm dominator converter and B&M Mega Shifter.
All that remained - apart from bumpers and other parts requiring rechroming, was to deliver the car to EDS Motor Trimmers. The boys retained the stock theme, stitching the seats in a combination of the original Futura insert material surrounded by grey vinyl. A similar combination covers the doors, while the dash is kosher, fully detailed and recalibrated, and there's even an original working radio.
What you don't see is a glovebox mounted Alpine head unit powering front 150 watt and rear 6x9 inch speakers. A couple of sublimely placed AutoMeter gauges reside under the dash plus a Street Tach is bolted to a cut, shut and smoothed honeypot. The XM has been reliable from day one, thanks to a full rewire from Vince Blanco at Connection Auto Electrics, the new engine, bolstered seating and fully rebuilt and detailed mechanicals, it will remain as is until Andrew has saved more cash. See, now it's a goer and the performance doesn't quite match the style, the plan is to open up the tubs and fit a killer engine. Then it will be a period cruiser with performance never imagined by Henry Ford.