Meet Mack, a second-year MTA apprentice training to become a Light Vehicle Mechanical Technician. We’ve previously shared how his journey with the MTA began—click here to check it out.
Today, we’re excited to bring you an updated story featuring Mack and some great shots of his Ford Falcon Ute BF Mk II. His journey highlights passion, determination, and the power of self-learning.
After researching the power potential of the BF Mk II engines, Mack decided to invest in a Ford Falcon Ute. “I bought the most affordable Ford Falcon Ute BF Mk II I could find in Adelaide. Over the next year, I accumulated the parts needed and began the build,”, Mack shared.
“The most rewarding part of the whole process was that I had no formal training when I first started this project, before my apprenticeship, and carried it into my apprenticeship. I relied entirely on online resources to figure things out. Even with torque specs, I thought, ‘The information is out there, and I have the skills, so I know I can make it work.'”
“First off, I knew I needed billet oil pumps, upgraded head valves, springs, and head studs,” Mack explained. He gathered those parts along with an exhaust manifold, top mount manifold, and a turbo kit. After installing a freshly polished plenum, he removed the motor and pulled the head off, marking the start of the rebuild.
“Once I had the motor out, I reassembled everything and put it back into the car. After getting all the torque specs right, I upgraded the fuel pumps and injectors—everything needed to ensure big power safely and reliably. Then, I sent it off for custom intercooler piping since I’m not a T-Welder. A good friend of mine handled the piping and mounting for me. After that, I had to extend some of the wiring harness due to the relocation of the throttle body.”
“I then sent it to Heinrich Performance in Lonsdale for tuning. Honestly, I was a bit nervous because I had pulled the head off, done the timing, replaced the chains, and installed the heads myself. Despite my lack of experience, I felt confident I could handle it. I explained everything to them, saying, “I’m an apprentice and not very experienced, but I hope it works.””
“They told me, ‘Leave it with us, and we’ll call you when it’s ready. You’re welcome to join us for the dyno day if you’d like.’ I agreed and said I’d love to attend. A few days later, I received a call saying it was tuned and producing 437 kilowatts on 98 octane. I was surprised and mentioned I’d prefer to use ethanol. They agreed, and two days later, I got another call saying it was tuned to 500 kilowatts. They wished me luck and told me to come pick it up.”
“I was very happy with the result. It has a screamer pipe, which adds a nice touch without being too loud. I realised I didn’t want a noisy car, especially after dealing with a three-inch exhaust system that I couldn’t tolerate when I was sick one morning. The screamer pipe and quieter exhaust offer the excitement of a powerful car without disturbing the neighbours early in the morning. Heinrich Performance seemed to be really impressed with it.”
Reflecting on the entire experience, Mack shared, “Building this car taught me so much, not just about mechanics, but about problem-solving and perseverance. I learned how to be resourceful and that I can tackle challenges with the right mindset and dedication. It was a huge confidence boost knowing that I could achieve something like this without formal training at first. Now, as I continue my apprenticeship, I feel even more prepared to take on complex projects and apply what I’ve learned to my work. This build is just the beginning.”
With 500 kilowatts of power and a build that balances performance and practicality, Mack’s not only created a car he can be proud of but has also grown tremendously as a technician.
We can’t wait to see what Mack achieves next in both his career and his automotive projects.
