Mark I'm the guy that sold the XF at the Barn find auction, a mate told me what you're doing with it, I'm completely blown away by your clips and the progress of the XF, she was sitting in my shed for a few years with not a lot of love, it's so inspirational not just for me but all the people out there with a dream of a barn find rebuild. Keep up the awesome videos, I can't wait to see what's next?? 👍❤️🍻
Man, 2 and a half grand for an XF in running order is a fantastic deal Mark. Here in NZ that sort of money would get you a bucket of rust with no wheels and no bucket haha. I bet the ol' 3.3 is just bristling with power mate, at least you probably wont have to worry about speeding tickets though eh. Cheers from NZ, Phil.
Yeah mate, they’re starting to become hard to find unless quite rusty hey! It’s actually a 250ci with a service replacement engine in it, I think that’s what’s with the blue rocker cover! Weird It actually goes quite well!
@@TheIronEmpire I'm pretty sure that the black rocker cover was a high compression engine and the blue was low compression. Nonetheless a great buy. Well done!
First the TE Cortina, now the XF Falcon, my 2 favourite cars for real. I will watch any content that has 250 Xflow’s in it, they are a brilliant engine that can make incredible power, first thing to do is replace that intake manifold and carb with an Aussiespeed manifold and 465 vac sec carb, it will wake it up even with the stock camshaft. There are 9 different castings of the alloy head and you can mix and match things to change compression. Speedway Xfows and their development was my hobby including cylinder head and intake R&D 👍
Weber 34ADM has a filter in the carby, fuel line goes in on the Rocker cover side then there is about a 1/2'' headed bolt on the front with the filter inside, later XF's sedans had disc brake rear ends along with body coloured bumpers & grill standard, think was 86-88
Late in 1986 Ford brought out the XF Series 2. The GL had more paint on the bumpers (the top became body colour instead of bare plastic). Power steering and ear discs became standard with this update. Basically there were three XF passenger cars. Leaded, unleaded and series 2. The very very last XF's had very wide side protection mouldings but I think they were a runout special.
I love seeing those awesome aussie versions of some great old european cars! The ooold Ford Cortina, the Opel Ascona, Record or Commodore, Ford Taunus, the "kind of" Granada mk2, such awesomeness!
@@TheIronEmpire strange but pretty awesome, most of these had a 1.3L 4banger in europe, i can only imagine how they go with those big displacement engines
Hard to believe this was the best selling Australian Ford Falcon made with 278xxx + rolling off the production line in its 4 year run. Amazing really as this doesn't even include the facelifted xf utes and vans in xg and xh form which went right thru to 1993. If only those dopes at Ford had thrown a Clevo or the Windsor in the Xf from the get go, these cars would be an absolute classic now. Im glad Ford finally had some sense and popped the Us Windsor in the later utes and vans. Im sure the Xf with V8 variants would have cracked 300xxx sales easily. What a missed opportunity for sure. Mark, i cant wait to see you put your spin on the mighty Xf sedan. Factory 4.1 cross-flow turbo with the new hardware and electronic tech available would make a stout sleeper...
I had the xf ghia with the electronic dash , it was very cool at night , gun metal Gray and orange strip, looked like someone tried to make it a Harley Davidson special, with Harley stickers, fuel injection 6,loved it ,
Loved the video of the show Mark. Well done showing all shapes and sizes. Got an XF the exact same colour in the shed. Lower drivers guard had some rust but I got a replacement section from rare spares to get stitched in. Love that she runs and drives, but looks like that plenum will need some touching up. Can’t wait to see what you do with her. Andy looks absolutely wrapped with it from her grin ear to ear. It seems she wants of every model falcon 😂😂😂 gotta collect them all. XY next?
Nice man! You cruise it much? This is super solid, I was surprised! He loves all the cars! Haha Nah man, had a heap of XYs over the years… I need to finish some that we always have
I stared and stared at that bar runner mat and I couldn't find the error. I'm one of the 9 out of 10 lol. Congrats on the falcon. I reckon that's a winner.
Doesn't look too bad for an XF! Well done guys 👌 don't worry Mark I'm sure you'll have it down in the booth soon enough to get rid of that patina haha 🤙
Good buy on the xf I have a soft spot for them as my dad brought one brand new from Stilwell ford and he had it till it fell apart was a tuff workhorse and u hardly see them my mate is finishing of his XF it's gonna be an animal
That FX Holden was really well done!! Also the barn find auction was very different and more interesting from my point of view, particularly that camper, not that many of those! Glad you bought something and look forward to see what you do!! P.S. Auctions are always over pirced things in my view BUT, also seems to be where the market is for that model
The UC Torry looked good under lights guys, that's a cool lil car you built there. Good luck with the XF Falcon, glad you didn't pay too much for it, looks like a great fixer upper to begin with.
@@TheIronEmpire I'm sure you guys will do good things with it. I bought an XF ute from your City over there at twice the price recently, similar condition but slightly better. You get what you pay for, and man SA city cars are a bit average compared to dry landers where i am. Enjoying the content and merch, keep at it aye.
👍 nice one mate! Nothing like an impulse buy! Maybe check the fuel tank breather incase it is blocked or the hose is kinked? Maybe why it runs for a while then starves for fuel?
Yeahhh up the new mighty sexf grate work man. can't wait to see where u go with it. Most definitely gonna start on my very soon. Anyway hope u an Andy had good night out mate take care 🤙
Great score on the XF , see it has door handles too haha . I still have mine which I parked up around 2006 , 6 seater , column auto . Has the cast steering column instead of plastic , no air con , NZ spec . Pleased I kept it , 99% rust free , just needs a good mechanical going over but great cruiser back in the day . Another great video Mark , cheers 🍻
Wasn’t that long ago an xf in that condition would have been $250, now $2500 is a relative bargain. Kinda the uc torana of the falcon lineup but always been my favourite for some reason. People hate on them for no v8 option but a v8 goes in easy enough if that’s what you want.
Cheap xf Bud that’s going to look sweet when it’s done, love the bar runner that is a very slight misprint still looks good though and not very noticeable at all took me a minute or 3 to pick it, keep up the good work love the videos 🙂👍
Mark if you get desperate for XF parts I have a 87 update model(I think)sitting in the paddock, motor is cactus but it is complete, I only obtained it for the front stubs for me XP but going in a different direction... Im barely 2hrs from you well before Pt Augusta
HI ALL SO Jerry is it a barra or 250 xflow ? yup had a friend put a 351 Cleveland 9'' and 4 speed he let me take the boys throw highnley st Adelaide with a run down to the bay glenelg up to top of taps man it flu nothing came close not even a torana v8 baby 253 but it had work done no slouch whoop whoop
The only sort of hero models in the XF is the full on S Pack and the Fairmont Ghia, thats why you don't see many of them now. Most of them have gone to the crusher as they were just family hacks or taxis.
Ahh the xf, good car. That was my 2nd car after my xw. As time goes on I regret every car I sold. What a collection I'd have. The xf will be a good build. But you'll hate those door handles with a passion, if u don't already. If only an engineer spent 5 more minutes on the mechanism they wouldn't suck so much.
@@TheIronEmpire All those wonderful cars at the show were contemporary when my parents were first driving. By the time I was driving, they were............kinda too old to make a case for..........as a first car☹️
Mark for your own personal safety and future reference putting a can of flammable propellant near the positive of the alternator and air cleaner lid, not a good idea, plus your girl would witness the carnage
You bought an XF. You are a brave man. Go onto eBay and buy the genuine XF Ford workshop manual. They are huge but worth every penny. They come in two editions a two volume and a single monster. The single monster is my pick if you can get one. You’ll probably pay around $70 to $100. The Gregory’s won’t cut it. Door handles and head gaskets. I imagine the A/C is U/S. When the a/c on the XF is working they are brilliant. The heater, not so brilliant. It’s best heating result is when you fill the system, chockers and then bleed it through the screw on top of the thermostat housing. I had the update with the disc rear end. When I bought the car in 2001 I paid $3000 for mine. It had 37k on the clock. I took it to 250k. In 2018 I sold it for $500 and was happy to be rid of it. Two head gaskets and the second had an external leak when I sold it. I sold it to a bloke just over the SA/Vic border who for some unexplained reason collects XFs. Has a barn full of the bloody things. Ford sold 300k of these things and U-Pull-It alway seems to have at least five in stock. The accelerator cable needs protection from the exhaust manifold heat. I went through four before I wrapped mine in heat lagging. Rotors became an issue until I found a brand that didn’t warp. Do not alter the trip odometer when the car is moving. You’ll strip the gears. You can buy replacements on eBay and it’s an hours job to pull the cluster and replace the gear. The heater and vents are run by vacuum. Screen defrost is the default so if you turn the knob and the vent doesn’t change it’s the vacuum line. At this age the vacuum lines are prone to fail, they are plastic and crack and split and leak. The tree is located on the passenger side bulkhead. The only thing I never had any trouble with was the 3sp trans, but given it was a 20 year-old BW design even at the time they are pretty bulletproof. Watch out for rust in the pelum chamber and make sure the drain holes are not blocked in both the doors and the mudguards. Shoot a bit of fish oil into them. Lift the boot rubber around the top edge because dirt congregates under it as well as in the boot lid cavity. Sweep it out with a little brush and vacuum the cavity. The guard lips also need attention. Your XF was a duel fuel so the fuel lines from the tank may have glazing in them if the previous owner didn’t regularly run it on petrol. They are a big heavy car and when they are running right they are ok, but as they get older they can be a bit frustrating.
Mark I'm the guy that sold the XF at the Barn find auction, a mate told me what you're doing with it, I'm completely blown away by your clips and the progress of the XF, she was sitting in my shed for a few years with not a lot of love, it's so inspirational not just for me but all the people out there with a dream of a barn find rebuild.
Keep up the awesome videos, I can't wait to see what's next?? 👍❤️🍻
Cheers Paul! It’s such a solid car, you defiantly should have kept it! Haha
Enjoy the progress mate! Unless it sells again 🙈
@@TheIronEmpire like you mate I've got too many projects on the go and had to make a tuff choice. Enjoy the build. 👍👀
Man, 2 and a half grand for an XF in running order is a fantastic deal Mark. Here in NZ that sort of money would get you a bucket of rust with no wheels and no bucket haha. I bet the ol' 3.3 is just bristling with power mate, at least you probably wont have to worry about speeding tickets though eh. Cheers from NZ, Phil.
Yeah mate, they’re starting to become hard to find unless quite rusty hey!
It’s actually a 250ci with a service replacement engine in it, I think that’s what’s with the blue rocker cover! Weird
It actually goes quite well!
Yer bro.
@@TheIronEmpire I'm pretty sure that the black rocker cover was a high compression engine and the blue was low compression. Nonetheless a great buy. Well done!
Here in WA anything under $20000 and not from a major dealer is pretty much crap.
Gotta love a barn find, the XF goes faster up Chester Hill road then my Truck with a car on the back 🤣🤣
Not sure about that man, I had to stop twice haha
First the TE Cortina, now the XF Falcon, my 2 favourite cars for real.
I will watch any content that has 250 Xflow’s in it, they are a brilliant engine that can make incredible power, first thing to do is replace that intake manifold and carb with an Aussiespeed manifold and 465 vac sec carb, it will wake it up even with the stock camshaft.
There are 9 different castings of the alloy head and you can mix and match things to change compression.
Speedway Xfows and their development was my hobby including cylinder head and intake R&D 👍
That LJ at 6:52......... I'd happily take it as is, and keep her that way!🤠👍
Oath
Weber 34ADM has a filter in the carby, fuel line goes in on the Rocker cover side then there is about a 1/2'' headed bolt on the front with the filter inside, later XF's sedans had disc brake rear ends along with body coloured bumpers & grill standard, think was 86-88
Great feedback mate! Appreciate that
Late in 1986 Ford brought out the XF Series 2. The GL had more paint on the bumpers (the top became body colour instead of bare plastic).
Power steering and ear discs became standard with this update.
Basically there were three XF passenger cars. Leaded, unleaded and series 2. The very very last XF's had very wide side protection mouldings but I think they were a runout special.
Cool mate, thanks for the info! 🙌🏼
I love seeing those awesome aussie versions of some great old european cars! The ooold Ford Cortina, the Opel Ascona, Record or Commodore, Ford Taunus, the "kind of" Granada mk2, such awesomeness!
Always strange seeing the other version on cars we know
@@TheIronEmpire strange but pretty awesome, most of these had a 1.3L 4banger in europe, i can only imagine how they go with those big displacement engines
Hard to believe this was the best selling Australian Ford Falcon made with 278xxx + rolling off the production line in its 4 year run. Amazing really as this doesn't even include the facelifted xf utes and vans in xg and xh form which went right thru to 1993. If only those dopes at Ford had thrown a Clevo or the Windsor in the Xf from the get go, these cars would be an absolute classic now. Im glad Ford finally had some sense and popped the Us Windsor in the later utes and vans. Im sure the Xf with V8 variants would have cracked 300xxx sales easily. What a missed opportunity for sure. Mark, i cant wait to see you put your spin on the mighty Xf sedan. Factory 4.1 cross-flow turbo with the new hardware and electronic tech available would make a stout sleeper...
100% mate!
This is not going to be any sort of big project for me at all, but I’ll make it look cool
I had a wagon the same colour, the camshaft was an issue with those models.
Interesting, I’ve never seen that.. lifters though!
Great colour
I had a lobe snap off, apparently when they treated the metal it became too brittle.
Congrats to you both on the auction purchase, look forward to the xf's journey among the fleet🙌
Thanks mate 👍
Nice find in the XF.
🙌🏼
gotta love the old falcons
True
Nice find with the XF Mark !! Now time to squirrel parts not too many left nowadays 👍🍻
Cheers mate
I had the xf ghia with the electronic dash , it was very cool at night , gun metal Gray and orange strip, looked like someone tried to make it a Harley Davidson special, with Harley stickers, fuel injection 6,loved it ,
XF Ghia is the pinnacle!
Absolutely love that colour combo too
Cool ep Mark, love the old XF, had a few myself back in the 2000's👍
Nice mate
the xf is nice, that colour was one of my favourites. had a gold one similar, slammed it with 5 spoke speedy Californians on it way back in the day!
Sick! I love a good XF!
I saw the XF at the EXPO (Adelaide boy here) , so happy you bought it and cant wait to see what you do with it :)
It was a very worthy candidate
A few nice cars in the auction actually
Loved the video of the show Mark. Well done showing all shapes and sizes.
Got an XF the exact same colour in the shed. Lower drivers guard had some rust but I got a replacement section from rare spares to get stitched in.
Love that she runs and drives, but looks like that plenum will need some touching up. Can’t wait to see what you do with her.
Andy looks absolutely wrapped with it from her grin ear to ear. It seems she wants of every model falcon 😂😂😂 gotta collect them all. XY next?
Nice man! You cruise it much?
This is super solid, I was surprised!
He loves all the cars! Haha
Nah man, had a heap of XYs over the years… I need to finish some that we always have
Sold an Xf ghia white no rust ,just did head for 3500 in 2000,would love that car back ,the engine bay looks clean,nice!
So good! Love a ghia
so when does the barra swap happen .. 😉
When the next guy buys it
I stared and stared at that bar runner mat and I couldn't find the error. I'm one of the 9 out of 10 lol.
Congrats on the falcon. I reckon that's a winner.
Maybe it says iron enpire instead of empire?? Hard to tell because of the font, whether if it's an N or an M.
That’s not it…
Doesn't look too bad for an XF! Well done guys 👌 don't worry Mark I'm sure you'll have it down in the booth soon enough to get rid of that patina haha 🤙
Haha I have a plan
In 1986 with the XF update to unleaded they come standard with power steering and rear disc brake end.
My first car xf, it’s probly jets in the carby
I’ll give it a clean out I reckon
It was a good show smaller than expected my favorites were the LC torana and the VF VALIANT but there were a lot of tuff cars there
Good buy on the xf I have a soft spot for them as my dad brought one brand new from Stilwell ford and he had it till it fell apart was a tuff workhorse and u hardly see them my mate is finishing of his XF it's gonna be an animal
That VF was so sick!
Good to see Jason from oh2 garage on your channel.
He loves it
Excellent buying, that XF great looking condition, your videos never disappoint , doing a bit of roadside servicing
Just where I like too do my repairs ahah
Cheers Jim
Dude 2.5k that's a steal looking on marketplace a car around that nick is about 10k
I thought si
Checkers Hill Rd... Driven that road many many times.. Enjoyed the video cheers 🍻
That FX Holden was really well done!!
Also the barn find auction was very different and more interesting from my point of view, particularly that camper, not that many of those!
Glad you bought something and look forward to see what you do!!
P.S. Auctions are always over pirced things in my view BUT, also seems to be where the market is for that model
Totally agree! We had a 2600 limit!
Also yeah, that FX was cool as!
@@TheIronEmpire Nice to hear and glad you bought it too! :)
The UC Torry looked good under lights guys, that's a cool lil car you built there. Good luck with the XF Falcon, glad you didn't pay too much for it, looks like a great fixer upper to begin with.
Thanks, we love the UC!
The XF is pretty solid, just a fun little project
Nothing crazy
@@TheIronEmpire I'm sure you guys will do good things with it. I bought an XF ute from your City over there at twice the price recently, similar condition but slightly better. You get what you pay for, and man SA city cars are a bit average compared to dry landers where i am. Enjoying the content and merch, keep at it aye.
👍 nice one mate! Nothing like an impulse buy! Maybe check the fuel tank breather incase it is blocked or the hose is kinked? Maybe why it runs for a while then starves for fuel?
Maybe… it’s going way better now, the line was a little kinked but maybe coincidence
Thanks for the video, some cool cars on show, the xf looks like a nice project 👍.
Cheers mate
How cool is that FX/FJ❤
One of the best there
Good buy I think and the show looked amazing 👍👍
Exactly like my first car lol love the xf falcons 👍👍
Sick!
Yeahhh up the new mighty sexf grate work man. can't wait to see where u go with it. Most definitely gonna start on my very soon. Anyway hope u an Andy had good night out mate take care 🤙
We did thanks mate!
Yeah, get stuck into it!
Great score on the XF , see it has door handles too haha . I still have mine which I parked up around 2006 , 6 seater , column auto . Has the cast steering column instead of plastic , no air con , NZ spec . Pleased I kept it , 99% rust free , just needs a good mechanical going over but great cruiser back in the day . Another great video Mark , cheers 🍻
Love it nice 👍👍
Thanks 👍
Misprint on the bar mat. Is the XY an XW? Luv the XF, if I was there though would've looked @ that Lexcen. In my old age have become a broken man.
Nope
Good old checker Hill road 😂
Long slow going
Good test for any car 😂
Love your confidence to always make these journeys hahaha.
Haha somehow I’m calm when a car is breaking down on the road… just about the only time I am calm
is the front number plate illegal
On what car?
check the mechanical advance in the dissy hasn't seized
Nice, will do
What as the price on the LC ?
🤷🏻♂️
Good vid 👍i think i should put my xf s pack into a auction after seeing that
Give it a go
The bar runners 😂 the XY has 12 slots 😂😂😂
First one to pick it!
@@TheIronEmpire well spotted, Mark send this bloke a bar matt.
Looks a great project mark. Aussie Graham.
Cheers graham!
Wasn’t that long ago an xf in that condition would have been $250, now $2500 is a relative bargain.
Kinda the uc torana of the falcon lineup but always been my favourite for some reason.
People hate on them for no v8 option but a v8 goes in easy enough if that’s what you want.
Yeah true, exactly these sold well still because they simply won’t die haha
@@TheIronEmpire highest selling falcon for a long time. Helps when they keep one model for sale for nearly a decade haha.
Go the XF! It may not seem like it, but this was a wise purchase! Lol
It’s not bad haa
Cheap xf Bud that’s going to look sweet when it’s done, love the bar runner that is a very slight misprint still looks good though and not very noticeable at all took me a minute or 3 to pick it, keep up the good work love the videos 🙂👍
You must be the only one whos seen it then 🫣
You're game running the ol xf up checkers hill!!!
Built Ford Tough!
Not sure on the XF mate, haha, but I have chucked an order in for a shirt and some stickers :)
Just you wait and see! Haha thanks mate, apprentice the support
Nice examples
Indeed!
Mark if you get desperate for XF parts I have a 87 update model(I think)sitting in the paddock, motor is cactus but it is complete, I only obtained it for the front stubs for me XP but going in a different direction...
Im barely 2hrs from you well before Pt Augusta
Awesome mate, thank you. I appreciate the offer
Its money some buy art. Will go up in price.cheers is art
Have a prob with buyin shit. The prob is its shit,
But nakes me happy
Nice barn find.
What model ford are those wheels from?
The XF wheels? No idea
Yes the wheels that are on the XF
@@nicholassmyrnios5925 el xr8 maybe?
Now looking at 10:40 I have no idea what they are. Besides being maybe 16" or 17" maybe?
What show was this called
Adelaide Auto Expo
I love the music in your videos
Thanks mate!
@@TheIronEmpire Always liked the music in your videos as well. Do you write/record it all yourself?
No mate, just find online
HI ALL
SO Jerry is it a barra or 250 xflow ? yup had a friend put a 351 Cleveland 9'' and 4 speed he let me take the boys throw highnley st Adelaide with a run down to the bay glenelg up to top of taps man it flu nothing came close not even a torana v8 baby 253 but it had work done no slouch whoop whoop
Nice combo
Next best car after the au
Bulletproof
@@TheIronEmpire look after them and they’ll look after you.
Like the XF even back in the day, it aged much better than the EA.
I love the E series also, but it’s no XF
Paint it and throw the big block in it
Simple
For a moment I thoght he paid 25K...2.5k I think is a bargain
Haha not on this one mate
So did I ,
Yeah thought the same!
Hahahah
The only sort of hero models in the XF is the full on S Pack and the Fairmont Ghia, thats why you don't see many of them now. Most of them have gone to the crusher as they were just family hacks or taxis.
Good move 😁
😂
Hi mark what's going on with cortina
It’s fixed! And It’s for sale!
@@TheIronEmpire how much
@@markbatchelor3429 $8k
mark@theironempire.com.au
XF seems great for the money Mate.
Pretty happy with it hey
@@TheIronEmpire I would be stoked.
How wet do the carpets get in the XF when it rains 🤣
They’re dry mate, actually really solid car
Ahh the xf, good car. That was my 2nd car after my xw. As time goes on I regret every car I sold. What a collection I'd have. The xf will be a good build. But you'll hate those door handles with a passion, if u don't already. If only an engineer spent 5 more minutes on the mechanism they wouldn't suck so much.
Nice mate! Great memories
They are very average, the key is to adjust the handles correctly BEFORE they break! I have some work too do! Haha
Xf looks good for money, ya gotta keep the other half happy, good excuse anyway
She loves it
Gotta love a shitbox xf ✌️, Another great episode mate!
Cheers
dump a Barra or 351 windsor 8.8 axle aod 4
Next guys job haha
Show room only.
Good old XF
The only model they made where they never produced a V8 option…..
Pity
The N on the word FALCON was in lower case.
Cheers Damo ✌️
Nope
every time i go to the store the best tshirts are sold out.
..........I was born thirty years too late!
I'm 54 now.
Haha why
@@TheIronEmpire
All those wonderful cars at the show were contemporary when my parents were first driving. By the time I was driving, they were............kinda too old to make a case for..........as a first car☹️
I would have done the same thing left with a ford
I've always wanted to see your do an XF after you talking about your dad's XF in an much earlier video. Awesome stuff Mark!!!!
Great memory
For the price we had too
@@TheIronEmpire ive got a webber off a xe was a runner if ya interested
Thanks mate
I have a few also I think, I’ll have a tinker and let you know!
Cheers
Mark
Mark for your own personal safety and future reference putting a can of flammable propellant near the positive of the alternator and air cleaner lid, not a good idea, plus your girl would witness the carnage
Haha all these radelaide cops watching at home taking note that u dont even wear a seatbelt ✅
And filming ur self while driving 😂
Congratulations… you played yourself!
What
Sorry lot ov love gone in. But not me.
Buetiful yet not runin cars
I saw that car, a very average thing, To me worth about $700
Fair enough, I feel it’s worth more… wrecks usually go for that sort of money, but never mind.. it will be a bit of fun 👍🏼
@@TheIronEmpire ignore this bloke, you would struggle to find a shell for $700
Definitely worth more than $700 don’t be stupid mate
You need a slap
Lol, I sold my last xf pano with no engine or trans for double what mark paid for this, I reckon he did all right.
You bought an XF. You are a brave man. Go onto eBay and buy the genuine XF Ford workshop manual. They are huge but worth every penny. They come in two editions a two volume and a single monster. The single monster is my pick if you can get one. You’ll probably pay around $70 to $100. The Gregory’s won’t cut it.
Door handles and head gaskets. I imagine the A/C is U/S. When the a/c on the XF is working they are brilliant. The heater, not so brilliant. It’s best heating result is when you fill the system, chockers and then bleed it through the screw on top of the thermostat housing. I had the update with the disc rear end. When I bought the car in 2001 I paid $3000 for mine. It had 37k on the clock. I took it to 250k. In 2018 I sold it for $500 and was happy to be rid of it. Two head gaskets and the second had an external leak when I sold it. I sold it to a bloke just over the SA/Vic border who for some unexplained reason collects XFs. Has a barn full of the bloody things. Ford sold 300k of these things and U-Pull-It alway seems to have at least five in stock.
The accelerator cable needs protection from the exhaust manifold heat. I went through four before I wrapped mine in heat lagging. Rotors became an issue until I found a brand that didn’t warp. Do not alter the trip odometer when the car is moving. You’ll strip the gears. You can buy replacements on eBay and it’s an hours job to pull the cluster and replace the gear. The heater and vents are run by vacuum. Screen defrost is the default so if you turn the knob and the vent doesn’t change it’s the vacuum line. At this age the vacuum lines are prone to fail, they are plastic and crack and split and leak. The tree is located on the passenger side bulkhead. The only thing I never had any trouble with was the 3sp trans, but given it was a 20 year-old BW design even at the time they are pretty bulletproof. Watch out for rust in the pelum chamber and make sure the drain holes are not blocked in both the doors and the mudguards. Shoot a bit of fish oil into them. Lift the boot rubber around the top edge because dirt congregates under it as well as in the boot lid cavity. Sweep it out with a little brush and vacuum the cavity. The guard lips also need attention. Your XF was a duel fuel so the fuel lines from the tank may have glazing in them if the previous owner didn’t regularly run it on petrol. They are a big heavy car and when they are running right they are ok, but as they get older they can be a bit frustrating.