XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

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merkurdriver
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by merkurdriver »

zero pistons wrote:did the canadian market ever get an 85mph/135kmh speedo or not? I have a 4/87 and a 6/87 and both my speedos go to 240 kmh.

oh, and i see all these odometers with only five spaces. both of mine have six.
ALL Canadian market XRs received 240 kmh speedos and the 6 digit odometer.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by merkurdriver »

Headliner changed in 88.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by merkurdriver »

Windsheild washer fluid tank changed in 1989 to a taller, more narrow style take to make room for the driver's side coolant bottle and factory cruise control parts that are located in the same area of real estate.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by merkurdriver »

Just wanted to add a little information to this thread I received from the Karmann assembly plant:

Job one and Sign off for the Merkur XR 4Ti was November 27, 1984.
The production numbers of the next years were as follows:

1984 819
1985 16,483
1986 12,575
1987 8,568

December 23, 1988 6,968
(end of production)

Total 45,368 vehicles.

Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
- Historisches Archiv -
Karmannstrasse 1
49084 Osnabrueck
Telefon: +49 541 581 2932
Telefax: +49 541 581 132932


Please consider those are assembly dates, not vehicle model years. What I find interesting is there total # of XR4Ti's built is 45,368 -- the MCA home page states that only 42,464 XR4Ti's exist ( http://merkurclub.com/MCA-New/History_5_Facts.htm )
That's a 2,904 difference. Does anyone know where that information posted originated from?
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by dunhamr1 »

Maybe there were some made near the end that got scrapped? Doubtful, as my Radiant Red '89 has a 11/30/88 "birthday." Interesting difference though.
-Ryan Dunham
1989 Merkur XR4Ti - nickname: "SheaXR4"
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by merkurdriver »

Sunroofs are different.
1985 to early 1986 have the black "dots" all the way to the edge of the glass, while 87-89 have a large solid black border around the glass.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by worked_xr »

Is there any resource that has a breakdown of XR or Scorpio production based on exterior color/interior color combinations? Is there a resource for original build sheets or invoices (like the Eminger invoices for classic Mustangs)? I wonder if either Karmann or Ford might still have those...
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by DAReese »

When organizing my parts stash, I noticed the slosh boards had different resistors. Not sure of the years, some were 85MPH speedos and some were 150MPH.
David Reese

88 XR4Ti - mono white T5, someday to be bi wing
89 Scorpio - waiting on some parts before it hits the road again
88 XR4Ti - mono red C3, parts car
used to own 86 dark blue traded in on a min van, what was I thinking?
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by andyofcolumbusmerkur »

I have two different looking xr windshield wiper motor and linkage assemblies. Not sure if one is improved version.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by andyofcolumbusmerkur »

The front wheel bearing (hub assembly) I just removed from my 86 xr is not as nice as the one I pulled off a parts car in Barberton. Mike says that it changed most likely when the steering rack changed. It appears to have some extra material near the steering knuckle and looks to be superior to the 86.
Last edited by andyofcolumbusmerkur on Sun May 31, 2020 12:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by andyofcolumbusmerkur »

The T-9 in my 1989 shifts smoothly and is great. While the older 86 is buzzy over 120mph and has a clutch disengagement issue from 1-2 and 2-3 near redline. I figure the transmission was abused and the car was a former race car. But I also think the late t-9 boxes have more refinements and possibly better synchros. It's hard to say for sure without experiencing them new off the showroom floor.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by andyofcolumbusmerkur »

Using the PE (SVO) computer in the 1989 is easy and no extra ground wire is needed to run it in premium fuel mode. The 1986 needed an extra wire spliced into the harness, I'm told most years need this.
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Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by DPDISXR4Ti »

andyofcolumbusmerkur wrote: Sun May 31, 2020 12:49 pm The T-9 in my 1989 shifts smoothly and is great. While the older 86 is buzzy over 120mph and has a clutch disengagement issue from 1-2 and 2-3 near redline. I figure the transmission was abused and the car was a former race car. But I also think the late t-9 boxes have more refinements and possibly better synchros. It's hard to say for sure without experiencing them new off the showroom floor.
Mid '86 the T-9 in the XR4 was indeed upgraded to the "heavy duty" version. The bell housing also needed to be changed slightly to accomodate the change in the way the counter-shaft was supported.
Brad
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