XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

XR4Ti / Sierra / Sierra Cosworth Discussions - Questions, problem resolution, general talk, technical tips and modifications.
Post Reply
Merkur Club web site
User avatar
grondie
Administrator
Posts: 166
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:25 pm
Location: Burlington, NJ
Contact:

XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by grondie »

Hi Everyone,

We're going to attempt to make a complete list of changes that were made to the XR during its production run. We've actually had a thread in an undisclosed location for awhile, but never got around to finishing it. So, if anything needs to be updated or changed, please just reply in this thread - I will then update the master list as time permits.

Thanks to Anglin for the start:

1985
Colors Offered:
Black with gray oxford cloth interior
Diamond White with gray oxford cloth interior
Rosso Red with Oxford gray oxford cloth interior
Regency Red Metallic with gray oxford cloth interior
Strato Silver Metallic with gray oxford cloth interior
Nimbus Gray Metallic with gray oxford cloth interior
Paris Blue Metallic with blue oxford cloth interior
Mineral Blue Metallic with blue oxford cloth interior

All cars came with gray lower cladding, maple red trim
Gray leather interior optional on all colors

Finned turbo to throttle body tube
E3 exhaust manifold
TRW steering rack
PF2 ECU on manual cars
Transmission mount sqaure style (Same as Scorpio)
Radio with Joystick Fader/Balance
Cassette Storage in Dash
Center speaker cutout in dash
Hatch unlock under armrest (Early)
Metal Base Door Handles (Early)
Safety Windows didn't roll down all the way (Early)
Window Seat Belt Sticker "Get it Together"
Wiper Fin on drivers side
Rear window washer built-in to wiper
Motorized Antenna
Merkur Logo on Rear Hatch
85 mph speedo
14x5.5 "Phone Dial" wheels
195/60HR14 Pirelli P6 Tires Standard

Options
3 Speed Automatic Tranmission (Late)
Cruise Control, Card Style (Dealer Installed, Late)

1986
Colors Offered:
Black with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Diamond White with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Rosso Red with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Regency Red Metallic with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Strato Silver Metallic with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Nimbus Gray Metallic with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Paris Blue Metallic with Raven Mallory cloth interior
Mineral Blue Metallic with Raven Mallory cloth interior

All cars came with gray lower cladding, maple red trim
Gray leather interior optional on all colors

Cloth interior changed from Window pane to Herringbone
High mounted third brake light added to spoiler
ZF Style steering rack
PF3 ECU on manual cars
Revised Oil Pan (2/19/86)
Revised Sierra platform introduced, wide transmission tunnel (mid model change)
Revised pedal spacing due to new Sierra platform (mid model change)
Revised Transmission mount round style
Diff mount and small diff mount bolts (mid model Change)
VIN Hatch on floor next to passenger seat
Window Seat Belt Sticker "Together we can save lives"
Rear window washer moved to nozzle on top of hatch
Full fuel tank cover (?)


1987
Colors Offered:
Black with raven/steel gray cloth interior
Diamond White with raven/steel gray cloth interior
Rosso Red with raven/steel gray cloth interior
Regency Red Metallic with raven/steel gray cloth interior
Strato Silver Metallic with raven/steel gray cloth interior
Blue-Gray Metallic with raven/steel gray cloth interior
Azure Blue Metallic with saxe blue cloth interior
Cystal Blue Metallic with saxe blue cloth interior

All non-Monochromatic cars came with gray lower cladding, maple red trim
Monochromatic cars offered Black and White, maple red trim
Steel Gray leather interior optional on all colors
K2 special edition offered

Finless turbo to throttle body tube
Valve cover redesigned (Late)
Single diaphragm booster to a dual diaphragm booster and also increased the size of the master cylinder (Late?)
Revised exhaust manifold (E6)
Gray interior now darker
Non-cracking dash surface material (Late 87.5)
Revised Radio with Amp/fader
Center speaker cutout in dash removed
Front speaker size changed to 5x7
Wiper Fin on drivers side deleted
Antenna intergrated in rear hatch glass
Merkur spelled out on rear hatch replacing logo (Late)
15" Pie-Spoke style wheels standard
195/60HR15 Pirelli P6 Tires Standard

Options
Cruise Control now Factory option, Standard Style (Late)

1988
Colors Offered:
Black with raven/shadow gray cloth interior
Diamond White with raven/shadow gray cloth interior
Rosso Red with raven/shadow gray cloth interior
Regency Red Metallic with raven/shadow gray cloth interior
Strato Silver Metallic with raven/shadowgray cloth interior
Cystal Blue Metallic with raven/shadow gray cloth interior
Biscay Blue Metallic with raven/shadow cloth interior
Sand Gold Metallic with spice brown cloth interior
Chestnut Metallic with spice brown cloth interior

All non-Monochromatic cars came with beige or gray lower cladding, maple red, black or silver trim depending on primary color
Monochromatic cars offered Black with black trim, White with silver trim (early), black trim (late), Rosso Red with black trim (Late)
Shadow Gray, Spice Brown leather and Raven Leather (Late) interior optional dependent on color.
Cladding trim offered in Black, Silver dependent on primary color
Beige lower cladding offered on some colors

Pusher fan redesigned
Revised hatch with Mono-Wing
Wing's added to side/rear windows to enhance stability
Glass tint changed from Bronze to Green
Trunk carpet changed to black in all gray interiors
150 mph speedo (Late)

15" BBS Style wheels standard (Late)
195/60HR15 Pirelli P6 Tires Standard

1989
Colors Offered:
Black with raven cloth interior
Diamond White with spice brown cloth interior
Radiant Red with raven cloth interior
Magenta Red Metallic with raven cloth interior
Strato Silver Metallic with shadow gray cloth interior
Antique Bronze Metallic with spice brown cloth interior
Gitane Blue Metallic with shadow gray cloth interior
Matisse Blue Metallic with shadow gray cloth interior
Tuscany Gold Metallic with spice brown cloth interior
Chestnut Metallic with spice brown cloth interior

All non-Monochromatic cars came with beige or gray lower cladding, maple red, black or silver trim depending on primary color
Monochromatic cars offered Black, White, Radiant Red - all with black cladding trim
Shadow Gray, Spice Brown leather and Raven Leather interior optional dependent on color.
Cladding trim offered in Black, Silver dependent on primary color
Beige lower cladding offered on some colors

Revised cooling system
A-Pillar trim enlarged, cut-out's on dash enlarged to allow for larger A-Pillar trim


Unknown
Interlocking method of kick panel and rock panel trim (87?)
T9 change from loose needle bearings to caged bearing
Trim switched from White to Light Gray (87?)
Air baffle and anti-vibration weight added to T9 (87/88?)

Image
Last edited by grondie on Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:32 pm, edited 35 times in total.
Bob in NJ

85 White XR / 85 Nimbus Gray XR / 88 White XR Automagic! / 89 Black Scorpio
m4ff3w
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 37
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:02 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX

Post by m4ff3w »

My 88 doesn't have 150mph speedo, has it likely been changed?
Matthew
User avatar
merkurdriver
Level 8
Posts: 6365
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:29 pm
Location: Northeast Ohio
Contact:

Post by merkurdriver »

150mph speedo came late in 1988. Early 88's still had 85mph speedos.
User avatar
merkurdriver
Level 8
Posts: 6365
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:29 pm
Location: Northeast Ohio
Contact:

Re: XR4Ti Change Delineation Thread

Post by merkurdriver »

grondie wrote:Unknown

non-cracking dash surface material (88?) 87.5
Grayson
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1318
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:34 am
Location: West Chester, OH
Contact:

Post by Grayson »

I suspect the changeover for the small diff mount bolts to the large diff mount bolts coincided with the switch from narrow tunnel to wide tunnel floorpans.

The cloth interior was different in 85 than it was in later years. It had that grid pattern on it.

In 1988 and 1989 moonroofs were standard.
User avatar
merkurdriver
Level 8
Posts: 6365
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:29 pm
Location: Northeast Ohio
Contact:

Post by merkurdriver »

Grayson wrote:
The cloth interior was different in 85 than it was in later years. It had that grid pattern on it.
Thats the "window pane"

From above, looks like

Cloth interior changed from Window pane to Herringbone

needs moved from 1987 to 1986.
User avatar
merkurdriver
Level 8
Posts: 6365
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:29 pm
Location: Northeast Ohio
Contact:

Post by merkurdriver »

Grayson wrote: In 1988 and 1989 moonroofs were standard.
Nope. Extremely rare to have an 88-89 non-sunroof car, but I have an original window sticker here from an 89 XR with:

TILT/SLIDE SCREENED MOONROOF 549.00

In the Optional equipment list, not standard equipment.
jasonty
Level 6
Level 6
Posts: 826
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2003 10:23 pm
Location: stephens city va
Contact:

Post by jasonty »

White trim in the trunk area on early cars.
My 87.5 has the same valve cover as 85-86
Rear hatch windows vary (defroster grid, etc) somewhere b/t 85-87

Update:
85 no third break light.
Last edited by jasonty on Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jason yancey
stephens city va
87XR-88XR
NOVAMOG



"as long as you keep picking on me I will tend to mad post about me getting mad......"
User avatar
whitelx
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1209
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2003 3:01 pm
Location: Riverside, CA
Contact:

Post by whitelx »

merkurdriver wrote:
Grayson wrote:
The cloth interior was different in 85 than it was in later years. It had that grid pattern on it.
Thats the "window pane"

From above, looks like

Cloth interior changed from Window pane to Herringbone

needs moved from 1987 to 1986.
I second this, my 86 had herringbone.



Also, shouldn't there be something on the cladding trim color? Some had red metallic, some were silver, and some were black.

Sometime in 87 they switched from a single diaphragm booster to a dual diaphragm booster and also increased the size of the master cylinder.

I found an early 85 had a different door handle material, they were a softer one piece handle instead of the harder plastic 2-piece. In the same car I found a factory hatch release button in the center console.
1986 XR4Ti - 294rwhp/315ft-lbs
1992 Mustang 5.0 notch - 434rwhp/445ft-lbs
http://www.youtube.com/user/whitelx
User avatar
grondie
Administrator
Posts: 166
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:25 pm
Location: Burlington, NJ
Contact:

Post by grondie »

Thanks for the input everyone,

Added "Late" to 150mph speedo's on 88's
Moved non-cracking dash material to 87.5
Moved Diff mount to 86 Late
Moved cloth interior change to 86
Moved valve cover redesign to 87.5
Added brake upgrade to 87



Questions:
Does anyone have a 88/89 without a sunroof? It may have been listed as optional on the sticker, but could have been on every car.
On the same note, was cruise standard on the 88/89's?
I think all cars had red cladding trim from 85-87?, then I've seen white 88's with both Red, Black and Silver trim. Anybody with an 87 with non-red trim?
On the different door handle/hatch release, does anyone else have an early 85 with these features? My early 85 has some differences, doesn't have these. Could these just be imported euro parts?
Bob in NJ

85 White XR / 85 Nimbus Gray XR / 88 White XR Automagic! / 89 Black Scorpio
michaelb
Level 3
Level 3
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:49 pm
Location: CT, Torrington

Post by michaelb »

some door handles were metal and some plastic there's pics at merkur tech.

There was a plug change in the wiring harness I believe in 87 over by the master cylinder.
Roll cages= viagra for car
User avatar
merkurdriver
Level 8
Posts: 6365
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:29 pm
Location: Northeast Ohio
Contact:

Post by merkurdriver »

grondie wrote: Questions:
Does anyone have a 88/89 without a sunroof? It may have been listed as optional on the sticker, but could have been on every car.
Grayson has a white 5spd 88 XR with no sunroof, I think blugg has (or had) a red 89 shell with no sunroof, I've personally owned a silver auto 88 with no sunroof.
grondie wrote:
On the same note, was cruise standard on the 88/89's?
No. Listed as an option both years. Its very likely that most late 88's and virtually every 89 has cruise from the factory, but it was not standard equipment.
grondie wrote: On the different door handle/hatch release, does anyone else have an early 85 with these features? My early 85 has some differences, doesn't have these. Could these just be imported euro parts?
Very early 85's with 84 yr build dates had the door handles that had a metal mounting base instead of the plastic ones used there after. Metal base euro Sierra door handles were metal base from 82-85, then went to the same plastic base ones we all know and love.
User avatar
grondie
Administrator
Posts: 166
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:25 pm
Location: Burlington, NJ
Contact:

Post by grondie »

Couple of questions:

Was the Air Baffle on the T-9 standard or a late change? Same thing with the big weight on the rear of the tranny? Neither of my 85's have these, my former 88 did.

Does anyone know what year they added the plastic cover on the fuel tank?

Can anyone confirm that early 85's came with 30# "Green Top" injectors?

I'm going to assume that the E6 was a late change, since those 86's made in 85 wouldn't have the change?

Added Change: Metal Base Door Handles 85 Early
Bob in NJ

85 White XR / 85 Nimbus Gray XR / 88 White XR Automagic! / 89 Black Scorpio
User avatar
merkurdriver
Level 8
Posts: 6365
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 4:29 pm
Location: Northeast Ohio
Contact:

Post by merkurdriver »

grondie wrote:Couple of questions:

Was the Air Baffle on the T-9 standard or a late change? Same thing with the big weight on the rear of the tranny? Neither of my 85's have these, my former 88 did.
There was a thread on here a few years back discussing "early" and "late" XR4Ti T9's. I can't remember the details exactly, maybe someone else will chime in. I think one of the fireant racing guys had a write up with pics if I remember correctly...
grondie wrote: Does anyone know what year they added the plastic cover on the fuel tank?
My understanding is that it was there on every year XR from the factory.
grondie wrote: Can anyone confirm that early 85's came with 30# "Green Top" injectors?
Definately NOT. ALL XR4Ti's had brown toppers. Early Turbo Coupe and early SVO had greens, but never an XR4Ti.
grondie wrote: I'm going to assume that the E6 was a late change, since those 86's made in 85 wouldn't have the change?
Every 86 I've ever owned (maybe 9 or 10) or seen (maybe 50) has had a factory E3 manifold. Early 87 is the first thing I've seen come with an E6. Cannot say this is 100% accurate, but I'm at least 98.5% sure 87's were the first car with an E6. Same with turbo Coupes, the 87 was the first one to see an E6 manifold. And the SVO never got an E6, ending its production in 86. etc.
Also, as you've noted most 1986 MY XRs have 1985 build dates, so hard to have an E6 (86 casting) part on an 86 built in 85...
jkxr4ti
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1003
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:43 pm
Location: Rochester, NY

Post by jkxr4ti »

Was the Air Baffle on the T-9 standard or a late change? Same thing with the big weight on the rear of the tranny? Neither of my 85's have these, my former 88 did.


There was a thread on here a few years back discussing "early" and "late" XR4Ti T9's. I can't remember the details exactly, maybe someone else will chime in. I think one of the fireant racing guys had a write up with pics if I remember correctly...
As I remember the big change on the T9 as discussed a while back was the bellhousing..



There were also a few very early 85's with the hatch unlock under the armrest. Ive seen one myself.

Were manual windows offered on all years? I had an 85 with manual windows but all the rest of the options.

What about the changeover on the steering rack? Anyone know a date on that?
Jeremy Kemp

RIP: the Mutt….1988 XR4Ti Chestnut Brown/Spice Leather
MC2 Coilovers and Bushings, Contour Rims and Rotors, Ported Motorsport Head, Cosworth 4x4 Intercooler, Holset HY35 Turbo, 80LB Injectors, Megasquirt2 EFI
Post Reply