VC SL Wagon - new budget build starting :-)

[no-doof]

Howdy,

I picked up this VC SL Wagon yesterday for $600. It's currently registered until May 2010, but I bought it unregistered. For a roadworthy it needs tyres, two little rust spots in the front doors fixed and the indicator stalk replaced (typical).

It's pretty much a pov pack with Blue 202, auto, no air-con or power steering and drum brake rear. The body is pretty much perfect apart from said rust in the front doors. No smashes previous and no rust in the usual places (not that it obvious anyway). It all feels nice and solid! It has some sort of exhaust on it too, no idea what it is but it's definately not standard 1981 spec. (It's nothing special though, just sounds a little balsier than normal). It still has the old school radio tuner (not even a cassette deck)

These photos were taken after I drove it home yesterday. I haven't given it a wash or done anything to it yet. I am driving it to work this morning and going to give it a service and a wash/degrease. The lady I bought it from wasn't really a car person and I'd dare say it hasn't been serviced in a while!







FUTURE PLANS:

Like I said I am building this on a budget over-time. First things to be done will be get it registered, so I will be fixing the rust in the doors, servicing, the exhaust is rattling around a bit so a few of the brackets seem to be missing but I'll check that out on the hoist later. I want to try and find some 15" pirsuit rims with half decent tyres to put on it, rather than the old 14's so if anybody has a set cheap in Brisbane, let me know!

It's gonna look like a pov car for a while as I'm more interested in making it mechanically sound that looking good first. Eventually I want to work towards a V6 conversion with T5 manual. I think the first major sort of part of the build will be changing the diff over to a disk brake rear end and rebuilding all the rear suspension at the same time, springs, shocks, bushes, panhard bar etc... Then working on VT brake upgrade and front end. I want it to be a neat streeter that goes hard, handles well and has no chance of being defected, so I won't be going to low..prob just 2" lowered...see how we go :-)

Here's what my plans are...

Model: VC Wagon SL
Colour: My missus and I can't decide between a rich metallica purple or a nice lime green
Bodykit: No bloody way!
Engine type: V6
Exhaust: I want ceramic coated/stainless steel headers and I reckon a twin system would be cool
Gearbox: 5 speed manual
Diff: Not sure yet, prob V8 disk brake rear end, LSD...maybe 3.45's
Suspension: Everything is getting replaced, 2" lowered, springs shocks, nolathane bushes, adjustable panhard bar, adjstable bearing strut plates
Brakes: 4 wheel disk, slotted rotors, VT calipers all detailed
Interior: Prob pretty close to standard, later model center console with cup holders (haha), tacho, re-trim
Stereo: I'm a big fan of Kenwood, and a custom boot install
Other: Shaved aerial hole and locks, later model side mirrors, SL/E bumpers, detailed engine bay, I want to move the rear numberplate from the bumper into the tailgate, tinted windows

Nice neat streeter

I'll be making DYI threads as I go along for anybody who is interested :-)

[Kirbs]

That's a score man. You should buy a VN wreck and do a full transplant? That way you have everything you need, Diff, Transmission, Engine, Interior, K-frame (not 100% sure you will need it), Brakes etc. Looks like a nice building point.

[no-doof]

Thanks mate, as far as I know (could be wrong) but the VN diffs are a little wider than the early girls. But as for the conversion I will definately be buying a cheap donor car for all the bits and pieces. I gave it a service this morning and a de-grease (still filthy under the bonnet though) and I will put it up when the hoist is free as the exhaust is rattling around and making a hell of a racket.

[no-doof]

Delivery didn't show up yesterday for my exhaust rubber mounts so fingers crossed I'll have it done today. I picked up 4 15" standard commodore rims off a later model with near new tyres last night for the right price, so thats cheaper than buying tyres for the old 14's and will look a bit tougher too, especially lowered over the pirsuit rims :-) I also have a new indicator stalk ordered as this one is snapped. Once the exhaust is sorted out and I fix the rust in the doors she'll should be ready for rego :-)

[redrags]

more photos? nice one

[VBRED]

Mate

I am just finishing a V6T5 conversion into my VB. This is definitely worthwile. I fitted a VN V8 LSD. It is 60mm wider okay if you just stick with the 15x6.00 rims. I am running VL calais rims with 205/65R15s and it fits okay. I have dropped mine 40mm all round so you need an adjustable panhard rod.

Your car looks extremely clean. A good pick up. I am keeping the body stock as well.

Iwill be interested to see how you go.

Good luck with it.

[no-doof]

Cheers mate! I have been reading the thread about your VB :P

I will probably hunt around for a V8 diff from one of the early girls or something as eventually it will be running 18x8 rims and I don't want to have to change it again later on, when the wheels go on it.

We are sorting the rust out tomorrow but here is a couple of pics I took at work this morning after I gave it a quick wash, by no means did I do a very thorough job though haha.

I bought some new vaccuum hose today so I will be re-routing a lot of it under the bonnet so it's a bit more hidden. I will post some more pics up of the engine bay once I've played around a bit more.





I am hoping to get the road worthy done on Tuesday so will be rego'd this week. First port of call once the festive season is over and done with will be getting it into a panel shop and getting all the rust properly fixed, front doors, front windscreen and I found a bit under the left hand back door just on the sill in front of the wheel. Once that's done I'll be replacing the carpet and lowering it.

[Captain Kermit]

Sure that's an SL? It's got all the chrome window surrounds, I thought SL only had top and bottom, not the bits on the front and back of the windows.

Beautiful car one way or the other, the car my mum owned when I was little was a VB sedan in that colour. Half the reason I bought the car I own now (red VH wagon)

[no-doof]

Well it has SL badges all over it. I'm just disappointed it doesn't have SL/E bumpers or disk brake rear end. Ah well, just more things to sort.

[no-doof]

Road worthy is all done, now just got to transfer the rego. So far it owes me $900. This is for the car, the wheels/tyres, indicator arm, the gear to sort out the rust and the cost of getting the road worthy done.

Next step I'll be writing up a build plan and slowly starting to make it happen

[Jo3_Blo]

Good score.

Come up a treat with a wash, looks neat on the interceptors too.