To all the EFI V8 first gen owners

[juiceie vh sle]

Hi all long time lurker first time poster

Before ya roll your eyes thinking this is another twit asking questions about doin an EFI conversion ya wrong. i know how to use a search bar and there is pretty much everything ya need to know on other threads.

Im half way through this conversion into a VH SLE and what i wanna know is what are they like to drive say compaired to a VN V8 or a carby fed 308, how do they handle , steering feel ect

Also what set ups have yous got eg diff ratio and trans and stuff like that.

So pretty much just let me know all the pros and cons on a converted old girl (even though i know ill love it)

Cheers all

[Darren_L]

I did the conversion on my VH back in 03
here's the thread on my car if you are interested 82 vh ss

Driveability is a long way ahead of the carbed engine. Cold starts, power delivery, fuel economy
handling, steering etc is the same as any other VH V8 Commodore as the engine is a similar weight.

I'm running the standard 3.08 diff ratio with a Borg Warner T5 gearbox. With the cam I have, I really should run lower diff gears (3.45's would be ideal) but I do a fair bit of highway driving, so I want to maintain the fuel economy and minimise wear on the engine.

Pros - driveability, fuel economy, more power potential, a well serviced engine will easily manage 300,000+kms before it needs a rebuild
Cons - can be more expensive to do upgrades, tuning generally needs to be done by someone with the right gear/knowledge, can't fix it with screwdriver and a hammer

[HoZy]

Before ya roll your eyes thinking this is another twit

Wrong section,

Cheers
Mat

[DANNY8]

I've just done the conversion in me VK. I'm having a few minor drama's due to a slight missfire I can't find, and it stalling coz the speed sensor isn't hooked up (I think it's worse coz of the slight miss). But it starts easy, first go, no need to pump the throttle. It's an easy conversion coz the only stuff I've had to customise is really the wiring which I done myself. Everything else to make the EFI 304 and T5 fit is available, like the VL tailshaft rear, VL intermediate shaft etc etc, so far everything which didn't fit, does fit using something from another model.

Also my steering is heaps better. I haven't driven it enuf to really notice coz I lack a licence at the moment, but the people that have had a drive comment on how nice it steers. That's using the VN rack and power steering setup.

I'm using a VN 304 and T5. And my diff is a borg warner 3.23:1 ratio.

[mr j-man]

hey mate! ive not long completed mine in my vh sle!
picked up a vr 5.0 calais engine with 120.000kms on it. a new t350...standard stally till new cam is fitted, runnin the standard v8 lsd with 3.08 grs. its pretty good as darren said in terms of drivability and start up, instant kick wen ya floor it. this stock 5.0 doesnt have as much hp compared to my 308 that was in it prior to this one but it is good and has its pros and cons like anything really. i love it but still miss the 308, one day ill have 2 sle's....one with the 5.0 and another with the 308. check my thread below my post for some pics. let us now how ya go with conversion. good luck

[mr j-man]

I've just done the conversion in me VK. I'm having a few minor drama's due to a slight missfire I can't find, and it stalling coz the speed sensor isn't hooked up (I think it's worse coz of the slight miss). But it starts easy, first go, no need to pump the throttle. It's an easy conversion coz the only stuff I've had to customise is really the wiring which I done myself. Everything else to make the EFI 304 and T5 fit is available, like the VL tailshaft rear, VL intermediate shaft etc etc, so far everything which didn't fit, does fit using something from another model.

Also my steering is heaps better. I haven't driven it enuf to really notice coz I lack a licence at the moment, but the people that have had a drive comment on how nice it steers. That's using the VN rack and power steering setup.

I'm using a VN 304 and T5. And my diff is a borg warner 3.23:1 ratio.

hey man noticed your runnin a vn-vp str-rack! can u mount these to a vh v8 k-frame?

[Pub247]

hey man noticed your runnin a vn-vp str-rack! can u mount these to a vh v8 k-frame?

No you need to use vl,vn,vp,vq V8 k frame mounting points for the rack are different on k frame

[DANNY8]

Yeah like Pub said ya can't use them with VB-VK kframes. Another advantage to using the VN kframe and rack is the VN extractors fit, so no need to splash out 700 bux on a new set. I'm even using the VN y-piece and some of the original VN exhaust. It only seems to change when it gets down the back. So mine's dumped at the diff for now.

[mr j-man]

yeah ive got the vh kframe atm, fitted 1-3/4 pacies and havent had any clearance issues anywhere......was very suprised how it all sat in nice and snug. all in all im pretty stoked with the entire conversion and no major issues. i see your is comin along pretty sweet to danny....good fun hey!

[DANNY8]

Yeah mine's pretty much 98% done. Takin it for a spin to Adelaide 2morrow for C4C. Have put a few k's on the clock within the last few days and everything seems fine so far, except this bloody misfire it has. Think it's a burnt valve, but she'll be right haha!

[mr j-man]

Yeah mine's pretty much 98% done. Takin it for a spin to Adelaide 2morrow for C4C. Have put a few k's on the clock within the last few days and everything seems fine so far, except this bloody misfire it has. Think it's a burnt valve, but she'll be right haha!

could it be the ignition module? mine was miss firing too! fitted a new/reco ignition module and havent a drama/miss fire since

[juiceie vh sle]

hey guys thanks for the replys.

danny8: ive been following ya thread fairly closely it looks like its coming along nicely. didnt take ya very long at all. good to see that ya close by ill have to drop in and check it out next time im down your way.

mr j-man: all i can say is wow... killa paint and body.... love the look with the 308 filter just sitting out of the bonnet but the 304 looks right at home. i was wanting to get a gilmer drive on mine are they worth the extra coin. have ya had any trouble with the altinator because of the gilmer. also is it worth hooking up a MSD ignition like you have... did you end up doin a twin 3" system

darren: the vids look killa lining up with all the new models commys.. is ya car a track car only or does it get some street time aswell.

[Darren_L]

darren: the vids look killa lining up with all the new models commys.. is ya car a track car only or does it get some street time aswell.

thanks mate, it's actually the other way around ie a street car that gets some track time as well. To date I've only taken it to 2 track sessions, plus the rather spirited 'cruise' session at the recent C4C . Love to do a lot more track days though

[mr j-man]

mr j-man: all i can say is wow... killa paint and body.... love the look with the 308 filter just sitting out of the bonnet but the 304 looks right at home. i was wanting to get a gilmer drive on mine are they worth the extra coin. have ya had any trouble with the altinator because of the gilmer. also is it worth hooking up a MSD ignition like you have... did you end up doin a twin 3" system.

thanks mate im pretty stoked overall and i guess i owe a little thanks to darren for seeing his ride and getting the inspiration to do it.
the gilmer i had originally setup on the 308 as it liked to spit the odd belt then fitted it to the 5.0 just because it was there.
alternator trouble?? what would u be referring to??
the msd i also had ready to hook up to the 308 as she was bit of a screamer but then ended up doin the conversion so i just threw it in whilst it was getn wired up....dont think it does too much but not really 100% sure as ive never experience the motor without it, the rev limiter chip comes in handy if layin rubber.
exhaust setup i ended up goin was pacemakers 1' 3/4 primarys, 100 cell staino cats, twin 2' 1/2 to the diff then merged into a single 3" over the diff and then a round muff out the back...... has a good deep note with no drone luckily - no matter what the rev range it sits at.

[juiceie vh sle]

thanks mate im pretty stoked overall and i guess i owe a little thanks to darren for seeing his ride and getting the inspiration to do it.
the gilmer i had originally setup on the 308 as it liked to spit the odd belt then fitted it to the 5.0 just because it was there.
alternator trouble?? what would u be referring to??
the msd i also had ready to hook up to the 308 as she was bit of a screamer but then ended up doin the conversion so i just threw it in whilst it was getn wired up....dont think it does too much but not really 100% sure as ive never experience the motor without it, the rev limiter chip comes in handy if layin rubber.
exhaust setup i ended up goin was pacemakers 1' 3/4 primarys, 100 cell staino cats, twin 2' 1/2 to the diff then merged into a single 3" over the diff and then a round muff out the back...... has a good deep note with no drone luckily - no matter what the rev range it sits at.

i heard that gilmers can put extra stress on the bearings of altinators causing them to fail... but i guess thats only if ya over tighten them.

did you have to get your exhaust custom made or did you modifiy a a factory one. i was wanting a twin 3" but not sure if it'll fit without to much drama.. deep meaty sound is what i like to none of the sounds like a fart in a tin can shit haha

it would of been a tuff decision to pull out the 308 if she was a weapon of a motor.

[DANNY8]

could it be the ignition module? mine was miss firing too! fitted a new/reco ignition module and havent a drama/miss fire since

Nah not the ignition module. The one in the VK is a different one to when it was in the VN, and yeah both had the miss.

I put me vac gauge on it and it was reading I think about 18" which is in the "late ignition timing" area on the gauge. Checked the timing and it was at about 10 degrees, bumped it up to about 16 degrees. It's borderline in the "good" and "late ignition timing" areas on the gauge now, but the needle moves up and down slowly over about 1" and still has the miss (well wat sounds to be a miss).

It runs good overall tho, so I think for now I'm just gonna leave it and focus on getting my other wagz on the road.

[mr j-man]

i heard that gilmers can put extra stress on the bearings of altinators causing them to fail... but i guess thats only if ya over tighten them.

did you have to get your exhaust custom made or did you modifiy a a factory one. i was wanting a twin 3" but not sure if it'll fit without to much drama.. deep meaty sound is what i like to none of the sounds like a fart in a tin can shit haha

it would of been a tuff decision to pull out the 308 if she was a weapon of a motor.

yeah i have noticed that when i first fitted the gilmer belt and was setting the tension that there was potential to pull the alt on a slight angle so i set the tension to keep the alt shaft true and centered without the belt being sloppy.
all the exhaust is brand new from headders to tailpipe. the onlything 2nd hand throughout the entire conversion is the motor.
are u plannin a twin 3" all the way through or merging at the diff?
it may be almost impossible to run twin 3" over the diff on the passenger side.
was a tough call to pull the 308 but she was droppin 1/2ltr of oil everytime i took it for a burl, rear main seal was almost gone, was bored 60thou over and was gettin a little tired and the money i got for it i couldnt refuse

[juiceie vh sle]

not 100% on the exhaust setup yet just thought a twin 3" would sound mean. the 5lt probably only needs a twin 2" at most but i think ill do what you did and merge it at the diff. how many mufflers/resignators have you got. im looking for a deep sound rather then just loud and droney.

[mr j-man]

just 1 at the rear...hiflo straight thru 3" after the diff

[juiceie vh sle]

just 1 at the rear...hiflo straight thru 3" after the diff

hahaha that would sound insane.... are there any other mods that you would suggest doing... did you have any trouble getting it registered

[mr j-man]

hahaha that would sound insane.... are there any other mods that you would suggest doing... did you have any trouble getting it registered

rego? the car was already rego'd b4 the motor went in then once it was running i declared the new engine numbers to queensland transport signed a form and that was it! they didnt even do a visual on the car....pretty bloody good if u ask me..... i thought it may have been more involved more than that