What's In DFB's Cabinet?

[DFB5.0]

I haven't been feeling well the last few days, I seem to have picked up some sort of infection that's causing a lot of pain and a lack of sleep, and anti-biotics have always disagreed with me. But with the help of a cocktail of pain killers, I press on.

A little break from Mustang content, the XR8 has also been getting driven lately, because surfing the torque wave produced by that engine is so hard to resist. After also driving the Mustang a lot, the ride quality of the R-Spec suspension in the XR8 is, as my uncle would say, rough as guts. I can kinda see why FPV made the GT suspension so soft in the earlier FG's, the cars were targeted towards a more mature audience that would appreciate the cushier ride. I guess as I get older, I can appreciate that.

Then, as the media moaned on about the body control wilting at racetrack pace, FPV responded with the R-Spec package. While a version of this appeared first on the BF series in 2007, on FG, it was the 2011 GT R-Spec that first got this considerably firmer setup. It was then rolled out for the final fling GT-F in early 2014, and then transferred over to the FG-X XR8 from late 2014 till early 2016. As was usual for Ford in the media, the journalists then complained about the stiff ride. I have to say, this was one of the hardest parts about being a Ford man, dealing with so much blatant bias against the brand in favor of what Holden were doing. And while I can and do see the point being made about the suspension, without expensive adaptive dampers, you can't really have both ride comfort and firm body control. Interestingly, for the very last special edition Sprint series in 2016, Ford actually softened the suspension to create a S-Spec setup. This version combined with the new Pirelli tyres actually helped improve traction and compliance to deliver a superior balance. Still, R-Spec is part of the FG-X XR8's story and its cool to say that the car has GT suspension, engine and brakes..................and boy does that ruffle the GT guys.

And so, today was the XR8's turn, and now that it's starting to warm up, I washed partially in the garage. These wheels are my favorite to wash, the simple spoke design and relatively small 355mm/330mm rotors mean there is plenty of room for the softer microfiber brush.

Today, I washed everything with Reset, which has become my default maintenance soap. I've tried so many over the last couple of years, but very few approach the all-round excellence of Reset. Yes, I enjoy using other soaps, but I keep returning to Reset. Drying Aid was ADS Amplify on two Platinum Pluffle towels, with Amplify also used on the door jambs, exhaust tips and wheels. For the glass, I decided to keep trialing Bilt Hamber Trace-less.

The finishing touch, ADS Tire+ on the aged Dunlop Sport Maxx. Those tyres are toast, they have plenty of tread but struggle traction wise. Considering how nervous I am with people working on this car, I'm delaying the inevitable in replacing these tyres, probably with Michelin PS5.

Sponsored

 

[Brisvegas]

I haven't been feeling well the last few days, I seem to have picked up some sort of infection that's causing a lot of pain and a lack of sleep, and anti-biotics have always disagreed with me. But with the help of a cocktail of pain killers, I press on.

 

[DFB5.0]

I saw this at recent Knox Ford day. Complimented owner saying how I removed them from my car, yet they looked great on his Race Red.
Anyway, still got them, four roadworthy tyres and 2 new TPMS. Another option

Then this - 2022 Atlas running the previous model wheels

Looks ok too but prefer mine

They look great against blue, but as you say, more Fairmont than XR.

 

[DFB5.0]

Headlights!

## Full disclosure, I rarely if ever drive at night and therefore never use the headlights. So, the following post is geared towards the aesthetic side of headlights rather than their functional performance. ##

Stylistically, headlights are the “eyes” of a car’s “face”, they can therefore make or break the front-end design. Just ask the AU Falcon. Often, its said the human eye is a window into a person’s character, well, the same applies to car headlights and how they define its intent. For example, headlights with a lot of chrome often signify luxury, whereas black headlights define anger and performance. And it’s the later I have often gravitated towards.

I remember way back in late 2006, Ford released the BF MK II Falcon, a last roll of the dice to bridge the gap to the new generation and to compete with the then all-new VE Commodore. While this update was relatively minor, the hood, front bumper and headlights gave a clue to the FG Falcon that would arrive in early 2008. I also remember instantly loving what they did with the headlights, in particular the base model XT sedan, XL and XLS Ute, and the Fairmont Ghia.











Despite these looking like a completely new headlight, Ford achieve that look by keeping the back half of the headlight assembly, then capping it with a new front lens and bezel treatment. Futura and Fairmont used the chrome bezels, which I thought gave the front end a dopey look. No, it was the blacked-out bezel treatment that I loved. I remember one journalist at the time calling them “broody”, well, that and the word sinister come to mind every time I see one of these cars on the road or in pictures.





Chrome for comparison –





Thinking back further, I have always liked blacked out headlights. On the AU III Fairmont I had as my first car, I fitted a set of those dot-matrix headlight covers to give the car a tougher look. I tried to find an image of those, but I don’t think they are made now, from memory I got them from Autobarn.

When the FGX Sprint series was unveiled, I instantly wanted a set of those blacked out headlights for my own XR8. Again, they gave the car an angry look, which I guess was appropriate seeing as the Falcon was mere months away from being euthanized.

So, after all of that waffle, we arrive at the Mustang’s headlights. Before Ford launched the configurator for S650, I landed on a website that allowed you to pick and mix various styling elements. At the time, it wasn’t clear what the local cars would get, while using that website was not an accurate guide, but it did give the opportunity to see what the car looked like in different configurations. The following images were what I was playing around with.

It became clear that those blacked out headlights were what I wanted. I knew they were intended for the Darkhorse, what I didn’t know was they would also appear on the Night Pony Package (Black Pack here). Once Ford Australia started to drip feed details of the car, I knew that I would be ordering the Black Pack………………..for those headlights alone! You will also note I was toying with a different colour, I loved Atlas Blue and how it would give the car a different look. But with the Black Pack, Race Red took on a different persona when comparing to the car I already had. The following images are what I fixated on for nearly two years.

Now, having said all of that, I don't necessarily dislike the standard headlights, I really like those three chromed J-hooks and how they link up with the tri-bar DRL's. They give the car a classier look, whereas I was aiming for that sinister attitude.

When I spotted that first image sent to me by my salesman, those tri-bars beaming back from those blacked out eyes, I knew I made the right choice. Then when I arrived to see my new baby in person, then seeing both headlight versions side by side, I was hooked.

So yeah, nearly 700 words to say that I like black bezel headlights. In defense, I place a big importance on how a product looks, and I then find myself fixated on certain design elements. In terms of cars, for S550, it was those two raised hood bulges, crisp body side lines and those big angular hips. And on S650, its those mean looking, angry, sinister headlights that are imprinted on my brain.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I think I remember him telling me about delivering a car with the Nickle Lustre wheels and they not suiting the car. Anyway, he now sells houses instead of cars.

I'm guessing someone like that is selling MOBILE homes. Ask him what color wheels he recommends for those.

 

[DFB5.0]

Well, the infection Has landed me in hospital.

 

[Evolvd]

Well, the infection Has landed me in hospital.

Hoping for a speedy recovery.

 

[skinnyb]

Well, the infection Has landed me in hospital.

Man get well soon

 

[DFB5.0]

Finally back home in my happy place, with a happy puppy at my feet and the fabulous Jessie Ware putting on a show for me.........................



I was sent to the emergency department with a letter at 12.30pm yesterday and was thankfully "fast-tracked" into a bed within 90 minutes. As I said, as soon as "diabetic" is mentioned, things tend to happen a bit quicker. My bed was in front of the admin/nurse desk, so I overheard on a number of occasions regarding extended wait periods. There was young mother with her son sitting on the floor of the main entrance to emergency who was there when I arrived and was only shown to a bed at 8pm just before I departed for Acute Care. Another poor sod's triage papers had fallen to the bottom of the rack, they had been waiting 7.5 hours to be seen as a "fast-tracked" patient. In situations like that, I understand why people get so agitated, but at the same time, I also understand that the public health system is under such pressure. I have private health insurance, but in this case, I needed to be seen to immediately, not be referred to a consult and booked for surgery at a later date.

Now the crappy thing about being a diabetic. I have noticed in recent years that it takes ages for cuts and bruises to heal properly. I recently got a heavily infected finger from a simple blister, and that's despite me being ultra careful with it and using appropriate disinfectant to prevent that from happening. The diabetes means I don't have full capacity to fight infection. On this occasion, a simple scratch turned into something major, something oral antibiotics couldn't solve, then required surgical intervention.

I spent the night with no more than 90 minutes collective sleep, in pain and total discomfort. The bed in emergency was comfortable, the bed on the ward was like a plant of plywood. I also need total silence to fall asleep, no chance of that in a hospital. Thankfully, I was put in a quiet room next to the window, I'm good a passing time watching the smallest detail, in this case a steam vent that would cycle from a gentle wafter to a full-on blast.

I was told that I would be first on the surgical list because of my diabetes and the need to fast. When the surgical team arrived, they poked and prodded, then were about to leave as if I wasn't to be the first on the list, I quickly asked how long it would be as "I'm a fasting diabetic". Que a quick shuffle of papers and an orderly arrived two minutes later to take me to theater. Please don't take this the wrong way, I do realise everyone wants to be in and out ASAP, but the dance of sugar levels, insulin, then rising ketones levels (acids that your body makes when it breaks down fat for energy during fasting, which then aggressively increases BGL's), it's as exhausting as the actual surgery itself.

There are two feelings you get with general anesthesia, that lovely sensation of the room starting to go fuzzy as you drift away, then shear annoyance of being woken from such a lovely deep sleep. I went under at about 9am, glancing at the clock as I came around revealed 11am. I then knew it didn't go to plan. What was supposed to be a quick cut-n-shut has turned into me having a drain pump having off my neck for a week, another visit to the hospital tomorrow, then daily visits from the home nurse, then another surgery next Friday to close it all up.

Sorry if this is all too graphic, but this is part of my coping mechanism. I'm bummed this is eating into my leave, but sh.t happens. Also, I'm not complaining about the human side of things above. It takes a certain type of person to be a doctor's or nurse, especially within a fast-paced hospital, I couldn't do it. They do their best under extreme situations. I especially appreciate and respect the work nurses do, they make a world of difference to how you feel.

So, I'm out of action for a while now, but I get to sleep in my own bed tonight.

 

[GT 550]

 

[DFB5.0]

Aahemm.................

"I've been bitten by the Bug and I am coming down with oh!"

Which is what I think happened to me, think?

 

[skinnyb]

Man that sucks. I can relate to the diabetes thing although mine is Type 2 and not as severe. But I do take forever to heal and bruise easily. Don't know how much of that is diabetes, or old age . You hit half century, things happen. I had to put brakes on my Mazda yesterday after 99K miles in less than 3 years and I banged up my right index finger pretty bad. Didn't even notice til I came in to take a shower and the water hit it... Ouch, will have to watch carefully and press on...

Hope you get cleared up fast and back to your leave (and Mustang Time ) ...

 

[larr12]

Received today some good stuff. Pending the fittings and the ADS Coating.

 

[DFB5.0]

Received today some good stuff. Pending the fittings and the ADS Coating.

With the foam cannon, there was some complaint that the body would loosen from the black cap, but I have not had that happen. Being mindful that it's a metal body on a plastic thread, make sure its firm enough but not too aggressive, or you will be buying another cap.

I see the gun didn't come with fittings. Those are typically attached VERY firmly, so lean into it. You will either use Teflon tape or some blue Loctite (my supplier uses Loctite). You need a male thread 3/8 plug for the inlet, and a 1/4 male thread quick connect for the outlet.

STAINLESS STEEL QC PLUG 3/8MPT - MTM Hydro

STAINLESS STEEL QC SOCKET 1/4MPT - MTM Hydro

 

[skinnyb]

Received today some good stuff. Pending the fittings and the ADS Coating.

Good stuff. Report back about the Ultra Rip N Rags. I got a roll of the standard ones and love them, but plan on getting the ultra next time...

Sponsored