Iron Empire EP 88 - Minty Fresh SURVIVOR Falcon! First Drive in 22 Years!

Yet another rusty wreck joins the fleet this week, and we love it!
Check out the progress we make!
ONLINE STORE - etsy.me/2zluIiC
Web - www.theironempire.com.au
Instagram - @theironempire_
Facebook - The Iron Empire
Email - [e-mail]

[@auzzieworker5183]

It doesn't matter how it looks when driving an XC Falcon, your always traveling in style.

[@michaelharris3036]

looks awesome mate!

[@holdenbrougham7768]

Spot on wheel choice

[@fossilfuelenthusiast]

God dam that looks good!

[@billyvilikai9301]

Cool had 302panell van✌

[@shaungrimley1203]

Excellent can control.

[@TheIronEmpire]

😎

[@pcorf]

Nice survivor. A simple XC Falcon 500 with vinyl bench seat in the front but well equipped, 4.9 auto, power steering, air con. The interior has held up well. A real sleeper indeed.

[@domenicutalktomuchziomickm1292]

Awesome video thanks for sharing love the XC falcon & the globes looks sweet!!!! Yes sir.. 🇦🇺👍🏻

[@shawnhill7504]

Heaps of smiles per mile in the old girl mark by looks of things mark .👌

[@daledenton9246]

The grin from ear to ear priceless. 😂👌🏼

[@Brendan.Wheatley]

A great find mate, with the patina, wheels and stance and it being a factory V8 Falcon 500, it won't take very long to sell once advertised! Cheers for another entertaining episode Mark...

[@honorrolls5415]

Hope those wheels ship to USA. Love ‘em

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

Needed to play old man Sam by spider bait when you did the paddock test lol

[@julianalderson3938]

More than most after 22 years. Like the mint. Interior. Just different.

[@frankmancini725]

Wow! My first car was an xc falcon ex police car 351 with fmx gearbox brings back good memories thanks

[@Chabbi01]

Nuts - That place you bought it from is just around the corner from mine !

[@Doc_in_the_carpet_truck]

The old man had a dark poo brown fairmont 302 bought back childhood memories of the old XC Top Video👍🍻

[@kevinwalker1874]

love XC Falcons but they were renowned for rust.

[@janeblogs324]

4:41 I bet that drain goes right back to the bowsers tank lol

[@memorialled_zeppelin-warew1346]

She's certainly a real looker of a car even with the surface rust. Absolutely amazing for her age. So glad you saved this one. Hope it keeps being a great car for many many years yet. And wow the T-Bird .. oohh she's hot. New subscriber from France. (I also restore classic muscle cars. I'm a panel beater and mechanic . ).

[@traviswyatt7922]

Cool baby yeah

[@towking_]

The last of the best Falcons 😍

[@noelgibson5956]

Awww maaaate........V8 XD's and XE's and their long wheelbase counterparts weren't bad! Back in the day, I bought an XE because the XC I test drove earlier in the day was to difficult to park and see out of. Don't know how women ever drove them. Maybe it's just me, but yeah....

[@RagdollRacingInc]

Best thing about the XC is the simplicity great score Mark 👍

[@rickford4550]

Gotta love the xc, I had a pine lime xc rally pack 4.9 litre,great car,regret getting rid of.

[@arkhsm]

Here in NZ we only got the V8 in GXL form, and even those were quite rare compared to how many XA Fairmont's we got with the 302 Clevo. So with it being a bare bones round headlight jobby, I was surprised when you said it was a V8 !!

[@chrisF351]

The XC turned out nice with those globes & lowering job, the AU Fairlane looks nice too👍👍

[@Missleindustry]

Factory 302 car and patina rather than cancer rust, good score!

[@holdenbrougham7768]

Great score mate , factory set up , original condition is very acceptable, standard height suspension, cant agree more leave that as it is , the drove fucking great and so smooth even through the paddocks at 100 kph , Hope to see you bring it back to life , even boot area looked good still, surface rust yeah but chunky rust no , get into her mate i,m gunna check in for progress

[@craigstuart4537]

KILLER....YA gotta build this one ????????

[@TheIronEmpire]

We’ll make it tidy, regas the AC and cruise

[@RagdollRacingInc]

Was that skid in Mexico

[@harryoffen9592]

Love it. Patina looks awesome. Globes suits it too.

[@bigal878]

Those wheels look MINT on the XC. The red walls are just icing on the cake 👍🏻

[@xacoupeguy]

Good score on the xc I saw it on marketplace and thought it was a killer car!!

[@Seiskid]

I was hoping for once you wouldn't lower it haha, but you know what, it does kinda looks alright at the new ride height.

[@tedcain9577]

That interior came up unreal!!! Just wondering if you could reveal some of your tips and tricks including what chemicals you use to get such great results?

[@TheIronEmpire]

We literally just use quality interior cleaner mate, usually is pretty good stuff!

[@stephenrzepka4179]

@@TheIronEmpire Mark go and buy yourself 5 litres of water based degreaser. No not the shit in aerosol cans, that’s solvent based. Mixed at 10:1 you can use it on engine bay, seats, carpets, roof lining, door jambs, chassis the lot. For really grubby stuff, you can mix it up stronger. Septone brand is a good one from Supercheap.

[@blairread4414]

Another cool Ford..👌👍👍👍..globe and altitude adjustment ...perfect. 👌

[@TheIronEmpire]

All that’s needed

[@thef71]

Wasn't expecting an episode. Yu made my morning and I just made a coffee. What a gentleman

[@allyboy8]

Top looking unit. 💪🏻

[@sheel2]

Looks awesome 👌. Epic cruiser.

[@joshuakerslake4193]

Needs the twin headlights!!!

[@TheIronEmpire]

100%

[@xaydemeyers3344]

How good is the xc! Turned out great, only talking to rowan about the KZbin channel a few months ago, love watching the videos!

[@SHAKAZ_ADVENTURES]

Awesome mate!!!! I want a cool cruiser like this its mint!!!!!

[@billspooner3792]

I got to go through my parents photo album that xc looks so much like my father's xc he trained at Clare fords place back in some time 1986 an he got a xf update.

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I’m surprised it got home without overheating since it was sat for so long Usually the water pumps have always been the failure point One hell of a find for you mark well done and a v8 to boot 👍👍👍 I had to add a little bit I’m not a fan of rusty 💩but I think all this car needed was the bumpers polished up and it would look super sweet It does look good with the wheels I’m a bigger fan of the mags that were on it polish them up

[@TheIronEmpire]

Nah she runs cool as a cucumber! You like those mags? You can have em! 😝

[@pnr9730]

Another great find. Well done.

[@lukestocks4370]

Wheels look amazing. Fit an XF?

[@TheIronEmpire]

Defiantly will!

[@peterjewell9436]

The good old xc perfect stance and the globe wheels and red wall are on point love it perfect when seat is repaired

[@rodneymcgiveron]

Before I got my drivers licence , I was 16 or so at the time I used to travel to work with a nice old bloke with a near new XC except it was the 250 six . Had bucket seats though ...At the time my dad still had a Mk2 Zephyr and I'd bought a 1969 Morris Mini 1100 as my first car and what I'd drive for a while when I did get my licence later . I remember Jack's 1977 XC well . Later on I had Escorts , a Telstar , a troublesome VC Commodore (big trouble) and then Falcons ever since . XE , EF , AU which I still have and have done since 2003 , BA Fairmont Ghia (also a few electrics issues) and also now a gorgeous FG XR6 .. The AU is awesome...Have never ever thought of getting rid of it . It's that good . Love your channel and can't wait for any new vid you do . Just love how you do them .. Cheers from Tassie ...

[@TheIronEmpire]

Cheers Rod, sounds like you got plenty of good memories out of the trusty ol’ Blue Oval!

[@kimbo167]

Love it! I had a Fairmont GXL 4.9 back in the day, same colour. Regrets, I've had a few...you know the rest

[@elisemcclymont8029]

Absolutely love it

[@JAStheACE]

Good score there Mark, the wheels look trick az 👍 Shine the bumpers up and replace those side protection strips, she be a cool lookin survivor cruiser. This episode made my wkend, Cheers.

[@TheIronEmpire]

100% we have a few bumpers here to choose from and I know the moulding is still available so that’s something I’ll be sourcing in the next week or so!

[@stevendurieu6938]

Great vid mark 👌👍love the xc

[@johnallen372]

What an absolute ripper 👌 Great video as usual well done 👍

[@michaelsaba7765]

What a car!! It looks awesome and the Bathurst Globes with the red walls look mint! 👌 Love the channel, looking forward to following this build. 👍

[@TheIronEmpire]

Cheers mate!

[@richardtravers2436]

Well done on the xc a great find. 👍

[@delamanchaisdead]

I flippin love the 4 doors!!! That's a helluva find!

[@watsisbuttndo829]

And once again you have managed to replicate another car from my past. Friend of mine still owns his dads XC sedan, same colour as yours. Only difference is his is a 351 gs but still no stripes, bench seat column auto. Damn nice cars both of them.

[@dalejordan2565]

Loving them red walls 😍

[@TheIronEmpire]

They set it off 👌🏼

[@simcard027]

what a score 👍

[@jordytaylor_]

Love it! Hope it’s a keeper!

[@punkguy350]

Looks sick brother! Keep up the good work with the channel 🤘😎

[@302esky]

Mad car , What size tyres did you put on it front and rear thank you

[@willross4125]

That is paintbloke

[@kurtbryce9887]

Nice find 👏👏👏

[@brad.979.]

awesome SA content love it

[@markcampbell8685]

Great episode mate , it's unreal how much of a difference to a car once you drop them down.👍

[@benjohnson7170]

#goodtimes. And little help in the shed, sweet.

[@GTruck0]

Great job on the Falcon. Just grabbed some winter merch. Love your channel

[@TheIronEmpire]

Thanks for the support mate

[@stringybarkin]

Neat score, wheels are way cool, well done

[@jaxonrevell8871]

Still can’t get over this this, so tuff😍

[@TheIronEmpire]

She pretty kewl indeed!

[@gmhkiller]

Love the xcs tough cars

[@noelgibson5956]

Try to rescue as many as you can. These hoarders who keep them on their paddocks rusting away doing nothing, and looking discrepid really get up my nose. If they don't need them, they should pass them on to those who do. They should be back on the road. We don't make cars anymore, so we need to remake what's left, or they'll be all gone.

[@randomdude4669]

I wish valiant charger owners could learn this, they hoard so many dying shells and leave them in the paddock

[@noelgibson5956]

@@randomdude4669 A bloke on the edge of my town has ten HQ's and a pile of Datsuns sitting in the paddock behind his house...... they've been there for years. I made an offer for one of them. The selfish bastard said he wasn't interested, and to get off his property. There's men and women out there of all ages who could restore and enjoy these beasts. I've had some interesting cars in my time. When I lost interest in them, I passed them on. I'd rather the money than have them on my property taking up room, knowing the next custodian is appreciating them. When you pass on, you can't take them with you.

[@randomdude4669]

@@noelgibson5956 exactly, but the problem with charger owners is they are continuously adding rusty shells to there paddock colection stopping people who actually want to restore one, and also refuse to sell any, no clue why some people are like this

[@noelgibson5956]

@@randomdude4669 Yeah...... can't drive rusty shells! If they want to retain images of them, they should get some photo's of them for their walls or albums, then sell them on. That's our automotive history just rusting away!

[@noelgibson5956]

@NO ONE SPECIAL I certainly hope you find that special Torana mate! Keep up your search........ they're a great car! 🤠👍

[@Marcusyzf250]

Awesome!! Just started watching your channel, the videos are great. Well done with the XC it looks awesome. Keep up the good work mate

[@TheIronEmpire]

Thanks for the support mate

[@Darrylc73]

Red wall and globes look great,. What sizes tyres mate?

[@TheIronEmpire]

Can’t recall mate, I think they are 225/60-15

[@Darrylc73]

Cheers mate

[@grahamcockerill2406]

Great find, it would be great repainted great vids I've only just discovered your channel it's fantastic guys.

[@pjthatsfine3591]

Hey Mark, It went from looking good to legit sinister, nice work

[@mattygreig4434]

so wierd watching a youtuber pick up cars from around where i live, drop into my local servo and shops, and then the other day i spot you puled over on the side of the road with the thunderbird. keep up the good work and great content mate.

[@jeffreysabec6177]

Great video love the channel I've got a 78 xc rally pack 302 needs a bit of work but your channel pumps me to get things going.

[@rickford4550]

Show us a picture as I owned an xx rally pack 20 years ago

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Absolutely love it, cool its got the V8 magic stance always watching cheers KC Cradle Mountain Tasmania 🇦🇺🇦🇺🤝🇦🇺🇦🇺😎🙂👍👊

[@rockbiterhd]

I wouldn’t have thought of those wheels but it turned out fantastic great job👍🍺

[@matthewolerhead8275]

Xc looks sweet! Seems Andy has the same addiction to cars as you, that is awesome

[@JustinDoherty333]

I loved this video and love that falcon even more i just subscribed

[@TheIronEmpire]

Cheers mate!

[@markmathews206]

Nice xc👍👍

[@markcampbell8685]

Hey mate what did you use to clean the interior cheers .

[@tan.91]

whats the plans for it if you dont mind me asking? honestly it would make a tough streeter if you were to put the time, money and effort into it

[@TheIronEmpire]

We’ll get it running mint and leave it at that id say man

[@thef71]

Yu got that sitting MINT

[@trevorcook3143]

Looks cool, my first car was a XA Fairmont, it's colour was Ford Satin Brown with a 302 Cleveland, are putting an exhaust system on the XC.

[@TheIronEmpire]

Nice mate! Yeah sure will, it sounds shit haha

[@dennisfreebairn8754]

Those wheels look so good on an xc. That’s brilliant

[@TheIronEmpire]

We love it!

[@thewholls7176]

I wonder how the motor would go with a decent dose of anti sludge….. liqui Moly or something…… Might fix the smoking….. especially if the rings are stuck in the grooves……

[@turbojim8552]

Would never had picked Globes for it, but they look mint! 👌

[@TheIronEmpire]

They are an underrated wheel!

[@janeblogs324]

10:02 you got a link to this song? Could you make a youtube mix of you're fav AU's/alt/metal music too?

[@aaronhogan2371]

Nice find Mark. Globes are the perfect choice. From experience the 302 will respond really well to a couple of basic and inexpensive mods like electronic dizzy graphed to suit modern fuel and do a basic shift kit on the c4. If you can find a bw diff with better gears you are laughing as the 2.77 ratio makes them feel sluggish but a 3.27 is about perfect. Look under an XG ute to find one.

[@TheIronEmpire]

Yeah cool, I have a ZH Fairlane in the paddock which will be perfect for any parts I need. Aside from a tune and exhaust I think she’ll be staying pretty much as is

[@wesleygoullet3909]

Are white/red walls illegal where the tyre wall is ground slightly before applying the colour? What about in vic?

[@nickgalea82]

So sick. Back in '99 when I was in high school, I came close to buying an XC Fairmont with a 302 that was basically rust free and was $600, but was sold before I could get the cash together. Still a regret haha, every time I see an XC it makes me realise how bloody good they look. Good luck with it, looks like another cool cruiser for the fleet.

[@TheIronEmpire]

Spewin man! The day will come again

[@nickgalea82]

@@TheIronEmpire yeah, the bucket list car for me is an XB or XC van with GS stripes and on Bathurst Globes haha. Your channel is probably my fave car channel, being that all of the projects you have are attainable for the average bloke. Takes me back to stuffing around on my parents driveway with an LC Torrie when I was on my P plates.

[@noelgibson5956]

Cars & coffee at the Barossa? Sounds like the place to be on Sunday morning!

[@robcantwell1981]

Hi mate Just watched this vid and seen your gold au. Wondering if it’s a fairlane or Ltd? I only ask as I had one that looked identical from what I could see and wondering if it’s my old car.

[@harryx6968]

I mostly watch for the doom sled.

[@holset82]

Where do you find these?!

[@TheIronEmpire]

Gumtree or marketplace

[@holset82]

@@TheIronEmpire it was more of a rhetorical question😆 all the cars up here in Qld are overpriced shitboxes

[@adamheazlett1179]

What about new bushes?buy some new springs sway bars and shocks do it right and improve the drive

[@chrisF351]

What is that machine that your using to put the red band on the tyres, also how do you get a hold of one?

[@TheIronEmpire]

You’ll have to search online mate, I purchased mine over 13 years ago second hand

[@chrisF351]

@@TheIronEmpire Cheers for that👍