How to spend about $2000

[Gravity]

I'm wondering what the best use of about $2000 would be for my wagon.

It's already got: lowered Kings springs (sitting about 355 at the rear and 360 at the front, I think that's called SSL); new speakers; tinted; and is getting a Duspeed CAI plus tune from Oztrack next week.

The handling isn't great, so initially I thought I'd replace the shocks with KYB (from Greg GSL Rallysport) and have them installed locally. This would cost about $300 for the shocks plus maybe $300 to have them installed, total $600.

Then I read about Bilstein B8 and they are awesome. They're about $1320 for all four, plus say $400 to be installed since they need some extra work apparently, and that's $1720.

Then I thought, since I've got about $2000 budget for this, hmmm maybe if I got the KYB I could spend $1400 on something like:
extractors (I think I could get some supplied and fitted for that money) or,
new DBA rotors for more braking power (which would be $600 for rotors, $400 for new pads, plus the install I'd be at about $1400).

Any thoughts on which upgrade is best value for money, or other suggestions? Note I don't (can't) do the install work myself, so need to consider install costs.

Whilst I like power, I don't think the V8 really needs much more of it, so the idea of suspension or braking upgrades are equally appealing to me as rwkw. Lastly, I am not going to do a cam or anything else major like that to the engine.

[UFO]

you got a v8 mate.... get some quality extractors and let that baby sing.

i got a wagon, but no v8.
i'd upgrade brakes and shocks (since I already have lowered and 20's) with the $2k. but with a v8 under the bonnet, no question which way i'd be going.

and its not power.... its sound. yes, mufflers dictate 75% of the sound you get out the back.... but extractors add that sweet spot. added benefit is a little more kick in the pants, but its the sound mate. the sound of a nice deep gurgly v8.... sounds a cat back exhaust will never quite achieve.

[Gravity]

Yeah, the extractors alone would change the note even when fully-muffled, for sure, plus maybe 10 rwkw or something.
But the other options are still really valid! I definitely need some help to decide on this one.

[HSV085]

With that budget you could do the KYB shocks(which arent bad), aswell as some Hurricane or pacemaker 4-1headers & highflows cats. I know you mentioned in your my ride thread you wanted to keep it as quiet as possible, so with the bigger headers n cats you'll have a more decent v8 note & little more performance whilst still being reasonably quiet.

[DAKSTER]

You going racing? Unless you are, all you need is the KYBs. Why spend $1100 extra on something you just dont need?

I'd go the KYBs. Did you have the springs fitted yourself or did they come with the car? If you fitted them yourself then you know they are in good nick, so I would be looking at the rest of the suspension (bushes etc) and any other worn parts in the suspension and steering (tie rod ends etc for instance) before I did anything else. Then the brakes.

I think a major mistake people make is worrying about adding improvements before they bother fixing faults. Make the thing stop, turn corners, and run well first. You seem to be leaning in that direction, thats a good thing

You might not be able to tell your mates all about your fancy bilsteins but your car will be in better condition, and that will save you a lot of coin and maybe your life one day. No good having fancy dampers on a car that lacks basic maintenance. I'm not saying yours is a POS or anything of course, just saying there are higher priorities usually.

Another point to raise here.. is all that money on a tune going to be wasted if you add extractors afterward? I admit to being unsure.. but if you are going to work on the exhaust, I'd make sure you do it before the tune.

[Sabbath']

$2000 Budget.

You've spent money already lowering it. So the ride isnt going to be great, period. Now. Do you throw good money after bad asfar as trying to get it to handle better and have a car that handles well, but is still fairly stock?

Or

Do you put the money on extractors. $1400 should get you a set of extractors, and maybe some hi-flow cats aswell. Just depends who you ask and where you get it from.

Or

Do you put better brakes on a car that has brakes designed for the stock power?



My BEST bet/option/whatever would be on spending the money on the exhaust. Tickling some more power out of the car, so that you can then, as time goes on modify the car again, in the area where you think it needs it. Whether that be you want more power, or you just cant handle the ride from the lowered springs, or you think the car is really struggling to stop. Up to you.

[Gravity]

Dakster, the car's new so the Kings are in good nick. No mechanical issues since car's new.

Sabbath - Handling is not great because of stock shocks, I expect, not matching the springs. I don't plan on any track work.

With exhaust and tune, good point, I am pretty sure it's better to tune to the extractors, so if I was ever doing exhaust, I should do it now.

Definitely want quiet and stealth mods. Lowering made it look as it should, not very hoon-looking at all. I'd like to stick with that approach.

[astroham]

what ever you do dont buy munroe shocks ... i have these and they are crap ... i bought some bilsteins off GSL but havent got them put in yet cause of the extra work required ... i only have a six but extractors make a lot of difference in the sound ... thats the way i would be going ... and hi flo cats ... the only problem with doing this is to get the most out of this your should have it tuned again ... brakes are the biggest issue in my opinion ... but if i was you i would be buying the extractors

[DAKSTER]

My apologies didnt even notice it was a VE lol.. just assumed it was an older car, I will learn not to do that one day

yeah go with the exhaust then IMO.. but do it before the tune..

[toey@carfx]

id be fixing the suspension. you already said its not handleing too well. get some bilstien's or koni's. do the job right first time. wholesale suspesion in penrith do great work on commodores. also get them to throw in some decent bushes while they are at it too. im holding off lowering my caprice till i have the coin to get the koni's done at the same time. its a barge and wont see a track but thats not the point. getting it valved to match the springs will make a world of difference.

i would put the rest aside and add to it for brakes in next round of upgrades. dont know if you want bigger brakes (harrop/pbr/brembo/ksport/vttr) or just better pads and rotors. the latter can be a huge improvement using dba 5000 series rotors and semi comp pads, braided lines through out and high quality fluid. but a full blown setup will a massive improvment again, just depends on how you want to go with it.

i got pacemaker ceramic coated 4>1's and metal cats fitted to my old vy ss. that cost $2200 and doubt it will be much different in price now. yes the do add a nice sound and more power but you said you it doesnt really need more. yes the tune will need to be updated after fitting headers but places like oztrack dont charge an arm and leg to update the tune to suit if you decide to go that way later.

[Gravity]

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

Suspension:
One of things I'm wondering about is whether the KYB with my existing Kings will be 'matched', which I keep reading about. I think the damping rate of springs and shocks should match, and I'm guessing at the moment my stock shocks don't go well with the firmer Kings (or maybe it's just too low for the shocks). But will the KYB be better? The KYB height would be appropriate, because I'd order the shortened ones, but I wonder if its damping rate is suited to the Kings? I have to assume it's a big yes given the strong support from Greg rallysport and others here.

I spoke to Pedders today because a shop was near where I travelling, and the guy there also suggested replacing the "void bush" which he described as really soft in stock and can cause a kind of swaying feeling. Posters here on jc suggest that he's right, and replacing the void bushes with solids is a good idea this thread, this and here).

So maybe if I did the shocks, I'd do the void bush as well, which would add a bit more (maybe $400).

Extractors:
I emailed Castle Hill exhaust today to get a quote for extractors and (if I can afford it) high-flow cats too. Will see what that price comes up to.
Hopefully I can do both exhaust and suspension within the budget.

Brakes: not many votes for brakes so far.

[Gravity]

Got the Castle Hill quote, $1650 for 1 7/8" 4-1 long headers, new cats (100 cell), oxy sensor loom, all supplied and installed. They've got a great reputation, so I know the work would be good, but the price means I can't really do exhaust and suspension for my budget.

[Kieran263]

Why don't you save up for a while then dominate. Plus there's no reason you can't do the exhaust now and the suspension later.

[UFO]

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

Suspension:
One of things I'm wondering about is whether the KYB with my existing Kings will be 'matched', which I keep reading about. I think the damping rate of springs and shocks should match, and I'm guessing at the moment my stock shocks don't go well with the firmer Kings (or maybe it's just too low for the shocks). But will the KYB be better? The KYB height would be appropriate, because I'd order the shortened ones, but I wonder if its damping rate is suited to the Kings? I have to assume it's a big yes given the strong support from Greg rallysport and others here.

I spoke to Pedders today because a shop was near where I travelling, and the guy there also suggested replacing the "void bush" which he described as really soft in stock and can cause a kind of swaying feeling. Posters here on jc suggest that he's right, and replacing the void bushes with solids is a good idea this thread, this and here).

So maybe if I did the shocks, I'd do the void bush as well, which would add a bit more (maybe $400).

Just to respond to what you've said about shocks...
They wont be perfectly matched, but they will do the job sufficiently. Your King springs (and any other reasonable aftermarket lowered spring) will have a spring rate very similar to each other because they are specific to the VE. Accordingly, any shortened/firmer aftermarket shock specifically sized for the VE will also be sufficient. Ideally it would be nice to have a tuned suspension setup using complementary parts, but the only way you are going to do that is contact King Springs and ask for the exact specs of your particular spring. Then you take those numbers to a suspension specialist and they will match the shocks perfectly (and also suggest good sway bar sizes that will compliment those parts). If you are going to go down this path and start playing around with bushes, swaybars, and the like.... I'd recommend a complete setup from one supplier made specifically for your model/make (like a full whiteline setup or something). You dont have to go full coilovers (i think thats overkill for a daily driver), but there's no reason why you cant get a properly tuned suspension setup that you know fits just right.

It really depends on how serious you want to take it mate. Personally, you've already got the springs.... so just get a suitable shock (as I said before, any shortened shock specific to the VE will be fine), and save your cash. If you are really worried about spring rates, bump and rebound, and exact tuning... then your King springs arent going to cut it, and an appointment with a specialist is what is required.

[Gravity]

That's really helpful thanks UFO.