Engine Question

[RazzaCaine]

hey JC,

so i should be getting a VN S1 V6 5spd at the weekend and am not sure which way to go as far as modifications are concerned. im looking at getting some more power from the driveline, nothing drastic, just for a bit better response. at current the car has extractors, exhaust (muffler) and a lsd.

my budget is going to be $1000 to $1500. my question is should i simply modify the current engine (if so what should i do)?? or should i rip out the VN donk and replace it with a VS ecotec? if i go for the VS ecotec, i should have another $500 to $1000 left to spend modifying that (after selling the VN buick), so what could i do with that?

i have a mate who can do all the work for me on the cheap (just chucking him some beers haha) so really i need to just pay for parts.

my mates currently piecing a supercharging kit together for the buick in his VR for about $1000 so should i get him to piece me up one as well?? and follow this up with some other basic mods (e.g. CAI, upgraded throttle body, injectors etc)?

basically for the best bang for buck, with reliability in mind, should i use a VN S1 motor or a VS ecotec?

i have done some research on what sort of mods people do to both engines (e.g. larger throttle body and injectors, CAI, superchargin, memcals, removing bellmouth on vn, etc etc) but im mainly wanting to know which would be better for reliability as well as power potential.

also on a slightly different note, and a possibly stupid one, will VR/VS interiors fit into VN without any major dramas? im guessing they do but just one to check!

thanks for the help guys and girls

[RazzaCaine]

see im thinking if i get the vs ecotec motor dropped into the vn itll provide a 25hp gain outright, along with better fuel efficiency, hopefully more reliability and easier/cheaper parts. does anyone know the weight difference between a ecotec motor and a buick v6? i can get an ecotec for about $600, should be able to get $300 for the vn motor with any luck, so the whole conversion will only set me back $300 roughly. that could leave me $700 to $1200 left for other mods. as far as basic mods for the ecotec go, besides getting a bored out throttle body, otr cai, supercharged ecotec injectors and a full exhaust set up, what other mods should i perform? i doubt the budget i have goes far enough for any drastic internal mods. as i said before, i might be able to get a mate to piece together a supercharger set up, probably using an sc14 from a toyota. whats everybodys views on this?

[mischa]

Someone on here has done the ecotec conversion, i think he said it was a waste of time

Personaly i would go for susspention mods first, but if you only wana go fast in a stright line theres not such a need for that!

Get some lower ratio diff gears for more accleration and that will help you go faster. Ive got 3.45 gears in mine.

VR/VS front door trims are different because of the air vents being on the door and not the dash. Or you can change the whoel dash.

[RazzaCaine]

hmmm ok thanks for that, ill spend a bit of money on some suspension work and sus out what the gears are in the lsd. do you have any shocks and springs you would recommend? id want something sporty but comfortable as a daily drive. ive heard that for strut braces and sway bars whiteline is the go and ive looked at their prices which seem fairly reasonable

[mischa]

Anything to do with susspention i deal with Greg on the forum from GSL Rally Sport.

GSL RallySport

His got springs and shock combo upgrades to, ive used them and recomend them.

KYB / Kings Commodore Lowering Packages!

I havent ever heard anything bad from whiteline and if getting any sway bars, strut tops, braces ill would go with them. I recently inquired about some sway bars and I couldnt find a cheaper price elswhere.