My VK

[teastpilot]

first shot is as it sits now, the pikky is dark and the car is a bit dusty, i've had the pursuits/caps powder coated and put on ( i was going for a more silver colour but thats the closest the guys could do). and a midnight express tint. other than that currently its stock.

second shot is what it looked like about 2 yrs ago 10 minutes after i got it back into brissy, awww its first photo shoot /grin.
EDIT: gunna change the shots and keep the first one lookin like i first got it, second will make that the latest pik of the ol gal.

if i may say so its a great example of a VK for its age, and my grandparents treated her nice for all the years they kept her from me

Name: Neal
Model: 1984 VK Vacationer Sedan
Colour: Blue
Bodykit: None
Engine Type: 3.3L carby black
Engine Mods: Stock
Power: atm tired 86kw std
Exhaust: std
Gearbox: trimatic
Diff: Single Spinner BW
Brakes: disks up front, drums at rear. VP discs on rear, new pads all round, brakes bled
Suspension: Stock. New kings springs, new monroe gtgas shocks, new strut tops all FE2 spec, VP front + rear swaybars
Wheels/Tyres: 205 wide on 15" chasers with centre caps. VX SS 17x8's with goodyear's 235/45/17's all round
Interior: std VK, rebuilt + calibrated instruments with led lighting, led interior light mod
Other Mods: midnight express tint and fitted the 15" powder coated rims and tyres. Gas strut bonnet mod, Autotechnica woodgrain wheel and bosskit
Stereo: Pioneer unit that needs new speakers aerial and a rewire
Build Period: Started May 2006
Cost: $1500 for VK, $650 for VP
Contacts: Me
Thanks: my grandparents for letting me have the car after 16 yrs of begging
Future Mods: VP V6 conversion along with rear discs, some chrome wheels, decal removal, and a few touchups paint and body wise

[Astranomical]

God, that thing is tidy for an original condition VK...personally, I'd keep the decals on - there wouldn't be many VKs like that still around!

[Tom_1569]

Thats a nice tidy example, will be sad to see it molested.
Personel choice would turn it back to complete stock, and a window venetian on the back, even a sun visor, it would look hot, not many standard one around these days.
But I also love a molested one, and i personelly would never own a stock one, so im just a hypocrite telling you to keep it stock lol.
Good luck with it, ill look forward to seeing the V6 conversion take place.

[teastpilot]

thanks for the positive comments fellas, i was originally just gunna do the v6 conversion so i could have my long distance cruiser, keep it as is an maybe even put the 14" rims and hubcaps back on and have that "omg its almost a sleeper" effect for round town, but yeh much like yourself i either want to retain its full standard effect or do what i've been dreaming of doing for quite a few years. so its either or for me as well.

[Tom_1569]

thanks for the positive comments fellas, i was originally just gunna do the v6 conversion so i could have my long distance cruiser, keep it as is an maybe even put the 14" rims and hubcaps back on and have that "omg its almost a sleeper" effect for round town, but yeh much like yourself i either want to retain its full standard effect or do what i've been dreaming of doing for quite a few years. so its either or for me as well.

mmmm Sleeper, my plan was to have two Vk's a mild and wild. One would be a sleeper, with either a gen 3 or a nice v6, 6 speed gear box, and low diff ratios accompanied with a long range fuel tank... mmmm cruising in the VK, and the other was just gonna be a wild beast. But my missus hates cars, so i will probly only make a sleeper ONE DAY.

[teastpilot]

new wheels, also fitted an autotechnica steerin wheel for drivin comphort.
wheels are vxss 17x8's, still working on the rear brakes 2 disc conversion atm

[EvoVIIIJDM]

looks good, crying to be closer to the deck.

[teastpilot]

been a bit since me last post, got the rear disc conversion done, repadded f & r, new fluid..stops better than it ever did. so while it was up in the air i bit the bullet and fitted the ol gal up with FE2 spec, new springs/shocks (incl fe2 gm strut top bearings) sits much nicer now i think, while i was under there i realised the stock VP swaybars were larger dia f & r , so threw them in also, and put on the adj panhard rod. the car now handles omg so much nicer. i'm starting to look for good corners rather than an oar to paddle the boat with, i'm pretty stoked. check out the new ride height =)

[180sc]

Looking great man keep up the good work!

[Tom_1569]

while i was under there i realised the stock VP swaybars were larger dia f & r , so threw them in also, and put on the adj panhard rod.

How hard was it to fit the VP sway bars? is it a straight swap?
Also what size sway bars are they. Definitly interested in doing this to my VK, though she handles like shes on rails now, just the standard steering wheel reminds me of driving a boat.

[teastpilot]

the rear was identical in every way, just use the VP "D" bushes to accomodate the slightly larger dia. bar (front and rear).

The front of the VP uses a mount off the side of the strut and the links go down to the swaybar eyelet, the sway bars on the ground together were within 40mm or so eyelet to eyelet and the same overall shape. The VK uses the links up to the swaybar eyelt from the lower control arm.

So it was just a simple matter of swapping the bar over to the VK linkage setup and tossing away the VP linkages, i checked it for suspension travel clearances and no hits rubs or klunks, all sweet, really noticable on the road sits much flatter and more controlled, in short probably the cheapest and most effective mod i did, without having to resort to aftermarket options.

Interestingly the VP's lower control arms had holes to make use of the lower mounting system. i think i gained about 3-4mm in thickness in both bars (the rear possibly more) by using the VP's and its certainly noticable on the road. I think the VK was 23-24mm std on the front and the VP front was about 27mm, i didnt measure the rears but its visible, i still have em so i can measure em tomorrow n repost.

An yeh, the steering wheel was the second thing i did to the car.

[Tom_1569]

the rear was identical in every way, just use the VP "D" bushes to accomodate the slightly larger dia. bar (front and rear).

The front of the VP uses a mount off the side of the strut and the links go down to the swaybar eyelet, the sway bars on the ground together were within 40mm or so eyelet to eyelet and the same overall shape. The VK uses the links up to the swaybar eyelt from the lower control arm.

So it was just a simple matter of swapping the bar over to the VK linkage setup and tossing away the VP linkages, i checked it for suspension travel clearances and no hits rubs or klunks, all sweet, really noticable on the road sits much flatter and more controlled, in short probably the cheapest and most effective mod i did, without having to resort to aftermarket options.

Interestingly the VP's lower control arms had holes to make use of the lower mounting system. i think i gained about 3-4mm in thickness in both bars (the rear possibly more) by using the VP's and its certainly noticable on the road. I think the VK was 23-24mm std on the front and the VP front was about 27mm, i didnt measure the rears but its visible, i still have em so i can measure em tomorrow n repost.

An yeh, the steering wheel was the second thing i did to the car.

Sweet as, doesnt seem to bad, should be easier done on the hoist :P
Ill try and grab a whiteline sway bar and new bushes, should tighten it up so more, i want to redo all the suspension so i might just do it then.
hh the steering is giving me the ****s, its great for parking but anything else its a dog to drive, but in saying that the actual car still handles better then mums VT. Some corners i have taken at 20k's more then her and could porbly go more if my tyres wernt bald haha, yet she has brand new tyres and its so spongey. Go the mighty VK

[rch-13z]

nice colour, looks heaps better closer to the ground.

[teastpilot]

removed the vacationer pinstriping. whatchas think?

[teastpilot]

got the vx ss 17's on the ol gal now, finished the brakes, and suspension, de-pinstriped it, got the E6GMX haltec and wideband kit, YT 1.7:1 rockers, got the gas strut bonnet mod happening next week, started ripping the vp motor out.

[starfire vc]

lookin good mate...take those mudflaps off tho..i'll give u an extra 10 points!!!

[quick308]

very nice car have not seen one in that cond with original paint job. if it was me id be sticken a 355 stroker engine in it but thats jus me. good luck with it mate

[180sc]

lookin good mate...take those mudflaps off tho..i'll give u an extra 10 points!!!

i agree ditch those flaps!

[teastpilot]

lol guys yeap, the flaps r comin off, asap.

Got my gas strut bonnet mod done today, wont have that annoying steel rod obstructing my underbonnet area now. Startin to collect bits n pieces for the v6. V6 is almost outa the VP. Tank remove, gearbox dissconnect, and about 16 bolts left to lift the body off the k frame.

[V-ahhh]

man your vk is clean as, and putting the vp motor in it will make it all the more sweeter. and yeh looks alot better with the pinstripes removed good on ya. lookin forward to seein this thing transform.

[Tom_1569]

Looking good, definitly looks good with out the pin stripes. Going to be a big difference with the V6 in it, do the suspension/brakes, and it will be a nice car with its original style.
Mud flaps do look ****, ill admit it, but id never remove mine, they protect the paint when you drive on gravel roads (if you do)

[teastpilot]

Getting close now, my spare room has filled with spare parts (thanks to danny8 on forums here was able to get a niche fuserail to sort out the electrics), the vp engine an box is sitting on bricks underneath the VP untill i can organise 6 mates to come lift it off. Still driving the VK daily untill my running around minimises, hopefully off the road soon.