beware of driving thru water

[harry3]

I think the VL isnt suitable for bush bashing or rough track driving
theres a poor arrival angle, that is the front end is low down and a long way out in front of the front wheels, grownding the front on steep driveways is common
also the power steering rubber equallising hose is easily torn off from its position below the front steering ram, although it can be protected or armoured

an important worry is the engine air intake being so low down and well forward,
great care will be needed when fording creeks or deep puddles to avoid water being sucked in to the engine with an eventual hydraulic lock, in other words one of the pistons will try to compress a cylinder full of water with drastic results

since the front was especially sloped down on the VL, it wouldnt be easy to raise the level of the air intake, a snorkel, perhaps?

also any cold air intake drawing air from under the front mudguard is very doubtful

hydraulic lock engine damage does happen but is seldom mentioned

I read that the reshaped VL front was tested in the then new GM windtunnel and showed a good streamlining improvement over the earlier commodores

[Tree cutter]

Try fitting a GTR Skyline transmission so you can fit a front diff to it,then put detroit locker diffs in front and rear raise the suspension fit all terrain tyres, a bash plate underneath and a snorkel. If you need a bit more power to get through the boggy sections fit the RB26 engine out of the GTR Skyline and wack a big turbo on it. Should be unstopable

[Holdfast]

Mmm!

Interesting!

Yeah ya can cause heaps of damage scrub bashin and water aint great if the dizzy cap gasket is buggered.

If the fan picks up water and drenches the motor the odds are you may get water down into the distributor (Only if you have a damaged dizzy gasket) and if the bearing is old it will trash out quick if water gets in there.

Then you have major running probs until you clean out the dizzy and replace the bearing and maybe the CAS.

If I was going through water I'd spend plenty of time water proofing the electrics specially the Distributor, Coil, and Power Transistor.

[Stewart1000]

the vl doesnt have the suspension travel, artic, or anything of the likes to go bush bashign with it. i wouldnt do it.

but the snorkal idea isnt that hard, get some tubgin made up that goes from the tbody to outside the engine bay upwards, stick a pod on top of it, oh and make room for the afm somewhere alogn the line.
i'd be protectign the sump from bashign against rocks.
and i'd have steel wheels on it and some good water resistant brake pads

[Bax]

Yeah if I had a vl dedicated for offroad driving I'd be setup completely different, I'd put stock suspension back in, re-route the air intake with a new 2.5" pipe that comes to the back of the engine bay. May even raise the sucker haha.

[gungazza]

simple buy 4x4 lol

[harry3]

the VL was available with country ride suspension, added gtound clearnace, and a sump and fuel tank guard, but Ive never seen one