Vh sl/e - 1983

[SLE-883]

Hi All,

Just picked up a 1983 VH SL/E

Is currently a straight 6 but will be replaced with a VR 5L from a Calais with HSV upgrades

I can see it's going to be a long and slow process but I'll try to keep you all posted along the way.

Here are the first pics of the car in Melbourne












Here she is loaded ready for her trip to Sydney - 21/10/09

[greenfoam]

Look like a very good clean starting point they don't come much better, how long till it arrives?

[SquishyShoes]

Look like a very good clean starting point

That's his starting point?!? I need to read better. Very neat.

[greenfoam]

Isn't it? hes been looking for a VH SLE for a while to stick his 5 litre in, this is it! (starting point)

[SLE-883]

Sure is my starting point!

It has a little rust on the bonnet and some one the rear guard but otherwise it's pretty clean. Not bad for a car that's been sitting outside a workshop in Melbourne for about 18months

Rust pics below







Mind the red dust from the recent dust storm


Should arrive next Wednesday

[greenfoam]

Did you go down to Melbourne to buy it? seems so since you have so many pictures?. Looks good anyway, I like the lighter blue tone tone alot. Have you got the centre caps for the wheels?, It's in very similar condition to mine really. The paint on mine is also worn out on top but that's no big deal

[SLE-883]

No, didn't go to Melbourne. The guy I bought it off took all the photos for me (top guy!)
He owns Lightwood Autos - Smash Repairs and Body Shop

I'm not sure if the caps for the wheels are in the boot of the car. I'll find out next week.

I'll eventually spray the car so the paint isn't a huge concern. I love the lighter blue colour too. I think it's Indigo Blue on Mercury Silver.

[clubsport_replica]

its not indigo blue as that is real dark like my old one

[SLE-883]

The paint code from the tag says

1B002-B/2J011-D

[Jo3_Blo]

Very nice dude.

Was the old owner a member on this forum? Coz I've seen those pics before somewhere.......

[clubsport_replica]

The paint code from the tag says

1B002-B/2J011-D

tag indicates.

1B002 is indigo
2J011 is aztec silver

but it sure dosent look like indigo in those pics. possible respray at some stage.

[greenfoam]

But that thing looks dead set like the factory paint to me 100%

[HoZy]

Looks just like my mates VH,

The SLE always seemed to have a shinier/glossier/mettalic look to the Indigo, to the Full indigo VH.

Awesome starting point mate!

Cheers
MaT

[gazman]

i like the look of the vh. car looks neat

[Tim_vs]

looks good , i want one of these

[SLE-883]

It arrived last week.
Looks like the body was resprayed to the lighter blue you now see. The engine bay is still in the original Indigo blue. The car will definitely need a new spay, the roof, bonnet and boot are all faded. So the question is do I go Indigo or the new colour. I have a while to make up my mind though.

Started preping the 202 over the weekend so it can be pulled out, have to get my self a hoist though.

Plan is to fit the 304, get it running and then strip it out and sort out the car body. While the car is getting sprayed i'll freshen up the engine and add a few things (cam, new pistons etc...)

Got a few pleasant surprises along the way. Te car has VK mirrors, 350 Holley, VL fuel tank, clear blinkers and has had the rust under the rear windws repaired. which has really saved me a bit.
not bad for a car that cost $1100


I'll keep you all posted.


Daniel

[v8commy]

It arrived last week.
Looks like the body was resprayed to the lighter blue you now see. The engine bay is still in the original Indigo blue. The car will definitely need a new spay, the roof, bonnet and boot are all faded. So the question is do I go Indigo or the new colour. I have a while to make up my mind though.

Started preping the 202 over the weekend so it can be pulled out, have to get my self a hoist though.

Plan is to fit the 304, get it running and then strip it out and sort out the car body. While the car is getting sprayed i'll freshen up the engine and add a few things (cam, new pistons etc...)

Got a few pleasant surprises along the way. Te car has VK mirrors, 350 Holley, VL fuel tank, clear blinkers and has had the rust under the rear windws repaired. which has really saved me a bit.
not bad for a car that cost $1100


I'll keep you all posted.


Daniel

WHAT! only 1100 are you serious thats ***n not bad

[SLE-883]

UPDATE:
Had time on Saturday to rip out the old 202 block and gearbox from the car and chuck it up on ebay.

Next weekend I plan to clean up the engine bay and get rid of the unwanted wires.

[SquishyShoes]

Haha, I was just reading this thread and realised I'm more interested in the eh in the side of the pic.

[SLE-883]

I thought that there would be some interest there.

Its my mates. He's owned it for 10 years. It has a worked 186 in it. Last dyno run it pulled about 204HP@wheels and ran a 13.9 @ 103mph



It also had a draw through turbo set up on it for a while

[SLE-883]

Hi Guys,

Haven't posted an update for a while. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so...







I've also manage to install new front suspension parts. It now has Nolathane bushes and Nolathane adjustable strut mount for chamber and the K-frame received a new coat of paint.

The steering rack is now new and front brakes have also been updated with VT twin piston brakes (have to change the colour from yellow to Matt black)





Also ordered a VT Brake Booster and Master Cylinder kit to complement the front brakes. As for the rear, the idea is to keeping the standard size rear brakes and maybe just installing slotted discs.

The car currently sits in the garage with it bum up in the air and the original VH tank removed (i'm hoping to get a VL tank installed, or any drop tank that would suit) I just have to try and get motivated to install the new rear springs and shocks.

As for the engine. I've managed to change the seals and gaskets, water pump and ignition and put the engine back together. Just last week I gave it a good clean and then hit it with some colour.

I'm really happy with the way it finished up. Sprayed the block in a Matt Black and the Manifold in Aluminium.







Next is the fuel rail and engine covers/rocket covers. The plan is to spray the rail Matt Black and give the front pipe a brushed look. The engine covers/rocket covers will be sprayed the same colour as the car. Thinking of getting the rocket covers smoothed too. not sure yet.

Choosing a blue is also tricky. I want to stay as close to the original so i'm thinking VE omega Dark Blue over Mercury Silver. What do you think?

[SLE-883]

Also turned the motor over using the starter motor so that the engine is lubricated with oil. From this I discovered that the starter motor is stuffed (the starter motor gear doesn't pop back into place and is always engaged with the flex Plate) I also found that the flexplate is warped and also needs to be changed.

I was surprised to find that most Flex Plates are $300 as are the starter motors. I managed to get a Heavy Duty Magnum Flex plate for less that half the price of a standard one and this included Delivery!!! If anyone is after a Flex Plate save your self some time and money and contact Noel from Magnum Performance Speedshop Supplies - Magnum Performance. I can't recommend their service enough.

I'll keep you all posted, and all you other VH owners, keep the pics and updates coming.

Also, if anyone in Syd has a VL-VP fuel tank they want to sell or VL turbo diff, let me know.

Daniel

[Darren_L]

progress looks good Daniel
if I can make a suggestion, don't paint the fuel rails black... black absorbs heat. You want to keep the fuel lines/rails as cool as possible.
and it's 'rocker' covers, not 'rocket'

[SLE-883]

Thanks mate.

Didn't even cross my mind that the black will retain the heat. I'll probably just clean them up. They won't be seen under the engine cover anyway.

Funny thing is that I call them rocker covers. not sure why I wrote rocket - what a goose

[SLE-883]

Tried fitting the engine today with the headers on to see if they clear the power steering rack and they do. A real tight fit though.





Had to mount the right header pipe when the engine was out of the car and then mount the left one when it was in the car. Noticed that the power steering hoses are very close to the header, should I wrap the hose in heat wrap of should it be ok?

Also installed the VN drop tank to see if it fit ok and becuase I was dying to see what the car would look like. I'll be getting it sprayed in silver with black straps before fitting it to the car.





I have a few days off work this week so plan on dropping the transmission over to Hercules competition engines for a freshen up and perhaps a shift kit.



Here's a few more pics with the new lens I got while overseas.