DAD'S PRIDE
MICHAEL CEYHAN SENIOR HANDED DOWN HIS XD FAIRMONT TO HIS SON, WHO TURNED IT INTO THIS SHARP 574HP BEAST TO ONE DAY GIVE TO HIS OWN KIDS
THE impetus for Michael Ceyhan Jr refurbishing his ’81 XD Fairmont is simple yet 100 per cent heartfelt. “I built it in memory of my dad, and to show my sons different life experiences – not just automotive but also how to be patient.” The XD’S story goes well beyond this recent three-year project. “It was love at first sight when Dad picked me up from school in it in ’83; I was 10 years old,” Michael remembers. “Dad used it as a daily for our family of six. Later he upgraded to a newer car and parked up the XD. When I was 18 years old Dad said: ‘Son, would you like to have the car?’ He’d always let me wash it but never drive it before then.”
It became Michael’s passion, and he slowly added minor mods. “Then in ’93 I did its first rebuild, including the paint that it now wears.”
After Michael’s dad passed in 2006, he felt the need to give the XD another overhaul, and now had the financial backing to do it justice. Yet curveballs were hurled from the outset. “A lot of businesses didn’t deliver,” he says, “which gave me the boost to do it myself – especially assembling the engine.
“The original 351ci is in mint condition; I just couldn’t bear to tear that down,” he continues. “So, I had my friend Ed Brodie suggest two combos, and this is the one I went with. While I’d changed head gaskets, valves and piston rings before, I’d never done a ground-up build.”
The stout mill is built around a 434-cube Dart Iron Eagle Clevor block. On top, Michael’s bolted a 1050 Pro Systems carb to a CHI manifold. Below is a COMP cam, CHI 3V heads, JE pistons, Oliver conrods and a Callies Magnum crank. A Magnafuel Quickstar 300 delivers the PULP from the custom-made 60-litre alloy fuel cell, while an MSD Pro 7AL takes care of spark. Two-inch Pacemaker fourinto-one headers are backed with a Michaelcreated twin three-inch stainless exhaust system to exit the spent gasses. Strapped to a chassis dyno, the combo’s good for 574rwhp and 968lb-ft.
“I did a lot of research with a heap of trialand-error, so I have lots of parts left over,” Michael laughs. “I did all of the work myself at home. And while I’m a mechanical engineer, I don’t think that helped me, as everything has its own trait. It was a big lesson for me. From welding thin sheet metal, to folding and rolling, smoothing, how to mix paint and how to apply it. I did the entire engine bay paint and panel.”
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT WHEN DAD PICKED ME UP FROM SCHOOL IN THE XD IN ’83; I WAS 10 YEARS OLD
The now-silky smooth and super-sano bay has been topped with a bespoke fibreglass bonnet to handle the non-factory mill. Yet this was more than a mere engine swap and top hat; Michael also took the time to add some custom parts, address a range of issues and add extra rigidity to the XD along the way. “I re-welded and cleaned up many of the factory welds, then strengthened the jacking points, engine X-member and rear diff area.” Underneath he’s slotted in a Pro9 third member, surrounded by colour-coded Carrolls Springs leaves and FG stoppers.
During his time in the shed Michael had a few mates lend a hand, but he attributes a fair whack of the work to his then-neighbour Cam. “He’d just finished high school and was one of my biggest helpers,” he says. “Recently I repaid him a little, by having the XD as Cam’s wedding car.”
As mentioned earlier, Michael was also keen to have his sons in on the project. “My boys Romani and Ramsey were involved every step of the way, from sanding paint to passing tools, as well as learning how everything worked. I just did what Dad did with us really. That’s reflected positively in their school projects too.”
And when the was XD fired up again, it came full-circle as a family affair. “When I said to Mum that we’d do the build to commemorate Dad, she asked that I take her out for dinner in it once it was done – and I did,” Michael says. “Since then I ran a 10.9-second quarter-mile at Eastern Creek, just to get a time on the car. But I didn’t build it for that – it’s too nice! Instead we go cruising and family outings.”
With the XD done, you’d think that Michael would be off the tools; instead, he has a new project. “My wife Michelle turned to me saying: ‘You did such a good job on the XD, now do me one.’ So, for her I’m putting together an ’84 XE Ford Fairmont Ghia Limited Edition with a Barra turbo and six-speed auto,” Michael smiles. “Later on, we too will hand down cars s to our sons.”
I RAN A 10.9-SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT EASTERN CREEK, BUT I DIDN’T BUILD THE CAR FOR THAT – IT’S TOO NICE!