Review: FPV BA GT Series (2003-05)

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• Powerful 5.4-litre ‘Boss 290’ V8 engine
• Impressive dynamics
• Accurate steering
• Powerful Brembo brakes

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• For BTR transmission, coolant lines in heat exchanger were susceptible to failure
• Steering lacks feel at low speeds
• Prone to drivetrain clunks
• Suspension, driveline and road noise
• Low standard of interior fit and finish

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Review: FPV BA.I GT and GT-P (2003-04)

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Overview

Released in February 2003, the FPV BA Mk.I (BA.I) GT Series consisted of the GT and GT-P models. Manufactured in Campbellfield, Victoria, the GT and GT-P were powered by 5.4-litre Boss 290 V8 petrol engines that were mated to either four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmissions.

Boss 290 engine

Assembled by hand in Campbellfield, the 5.4-litre Boss 290 V8 engine had a cast iron block, cast aluminium cylinder head (shared with the Mustang Cobra R), forged steel crankshaft, cross-bolted main bearing caps, sintered connecting rods, double overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder bank, roller finger followers, four valves per cylinder, an alloy inlet manifold, coil on plug ignition and a compression ratio of 10.5:1.

Compared to the Boss 260 engine in the Ford BA Falcon XR8 , the Boss 290 V8 engine had:

• High performance pistons with domed tops, larger internal pillars and a special ring pack. As a result of the higher compression ratio (10.5:1), the Boss 290 engine required 95 RON premium unleaded petrol;
• Re-engineered connecting rods to accommodate the larger gudgeon pin of each piston;
• Specially balanced crankshafts to match the new piston and conrod combination;
• High performance tri-metal main and big-end bearings for extra durability;
• Cobra R inlet and exhaust camshaft profiles (for 13 mm inlet and 12 mm exhaust valve lift);
• Longer valve stems and springs to match the high lift camshafts;
• A modified camshaft cradle for the longer finger followers;
• A high-compression ‘Terminator’ head gasket;
• High-tensile head bolts that were stretched under tension for greater strength; and,
• A unique Boss 290 engine management system.

Transmissions

The FPV GT and GT-P were available with either the:

• Four-speed BTR M97-019 automatic transmission which had a special high torque gear set and low-stall speed torque converter. With this transmission, the driver could perform console-mounted sequential shifts with full manual override; or,
• Five-speed Tremec TR3650 manual transmission which, for the Boss 260 and 290 engines, had a unique input shaft, clutch housing, extension housing, shift rail and 31-spline output shaft.

Development and dimensions

Although based on the Ford BA Falcon , the FPV BA GT and GT-P driveline differed in that it had:

• Two-piece tail shaft with a 105 BCD Flex coupling behind the transmission to absorb driveline shocks;
• A 1310 universal joint behind the centre bearing;
• A plunging CV joint at the differential; and,
• A 2.5-inch (diameter) steel tail shaft that was balanced in three planes.

Furthermore, the GT and GT-P were both fitted with the Dana M86 limited slip differential which had a wet design heavy-duty multi-plate clutch.

The FPV BA GT and GT-P were 4917 mm long, 1870 mm wide, 1444 mm tall and had 2829 mm long wheelbases.

Suspension

The FPV BA GT and GT-P had double wishbone front suspension, while the independent rear suspension (IRS) had three control arms:

• A forged upper control arm;
• A stamped front lower control arm; and,
• A stamped rear lower control arm.

Each control arm had a cross axis ball joint on the wheel assembly end and was attached to the subframe and knuckle. Furthermore, the ‘Control Blade’ was a stamped trailing arm which provided lateral support and acted as a vertical pivot point.

Compared to the BA Falcon range, changes included:

• Stiffer front springs;
• For the Control Blade IRS, -0.5 degrees camber;
• 38 Nm/mm rear springs and 14 Nm/mm damper rebound springs; and,
• A 19 mm anti-roll bar.

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Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the FPV BA GT and GT-P included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters

Brakes

The FPV BA GT had 325 mm by 32 mm grooved and vented Rossini front brake discs with two-piston C6 calipers and 303 mm by 16 mm grooved rear discs with single piston calipers.

The BA GT-P, however, had a Brembo braking package with 355 mm by 32 mm front discs and 330 mm by 28 mm rear discs; both front and rear discs were fitted with four-piston calipers (twin pistons on each side of the caliper).

Features: FPV BA GT and GT-P

Standard features for the FPV BA GT included 18-inch alloy wheels, a six speaker 100 watt sound system with CD player, air conditioning, cruise control, sports seats with suede-feel bolsters, a four-way power adjustable driver’s seat, adjustable front seat lumbar support, split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, a tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, trip computer and an immobiliser.

The FPV BA GT-P was further equipped with a six-disc CD player, dual zone climate control air conditioning, more contoured and supportive front seats with colour-coded stitching, large LCD screen, an FPV ‘performance’ steering wheel and floor mats.

Review: FPV BA.II GT and GT-P (2004-05)

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Overview

Released in October 2004, the BA Mk.II (BA.II) GT and GT-P introduced a six-speed Tremec T56 manual transmission and revised suspension settings. Visual changes were largely limited to a stripe package; inside, however, there were ‘Sports Instrument’ gauges on top of the upgraded Interior Command Centre (ICC) – which featured a large TFT colour screen – and illuminated window switches.

The close-ratio six-speed Tremec T56 manual transmission had double synchromesh on all forward gears and single synchromesh on reverse, linear bearings in the shift rail, direct linkage shifters and an electronic reverse gear lockout.

For the suspension, front and rear spring rates were increased by 14 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. [su_table responsive=”yes”]

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Features

For the FPV BA.II GT Series, standard features were enhanced with the introduction of a 150 watt sound system with six speakers, a subwoofer and six-disc CD player, dual-zone climate control air conditioning and automatic headlights.

Furthermore, the BA.II GT-P was fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels with 245/35 ZR19 Dunlop SP9000 tyres.

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: FPV BA Range