My VN project - VT dash --> VN, ecotec, the lot

[Grega]

Hi

Some years ago I sold my old grey one --> I had it for a VERY long time ; I formed a website with a friend about it and yeah ; rebuilt motors later ; it was a good car.
Now I'm older and supposedly wiser (not) - I'm at it again.

I bought myself a 1990 VN S pack.

The motor was pretty much well knackered; 330,000km and LPG will do that to. Plus its been stolen at some time in its life ; different locks, new barrel, ect ect.

After a quote from 1200 for doing the heads and machining the block I said f..k that - an ecotec will fit nicely. So scored a brilliant one of those for next to nothing - from a VT - but now how to run it?

Much investigation later ; bcm simulators and all that joy, I figured ; nup - no good. VT dash time, VT PCM, BCM, loom - lets have some fun, so, today, it starts :0

A pic for your enjoyment ; if anyone is interested I'll keep a running tally as to whats going on, on here, as I have to take a MASS of photos for the engineer anyway

Lets start with this



Thanks for reading, namaste

[1SIKR8]

this will be so awsome when its finished, keep up the sweet work =)

[Grega]

The VT dash hangs out too far, so Ive hacked up the VN dash and taken the skin (they remove on the VT) and put it onto the vn dash frame if you like. With a bit of cutting here and there I think this will be the way to go I'll be able to keep the vn heater box as well see how we go

[FXST01]

Good to see you back doing this type of stuff Grega, I enjoyed your last website.

Cheers and good luck.

Eddie

[Warranty Void]

You are my new hero.

[Grega]

ok so i am looking at my first option.
as i've written above the VT dash pad comes away from the plastic frame it sits on pretty easily - its actually screwed and glued together. a bit of cursing and it comes apart reasonably easily.
i have the plastic piece now sitting in situ on top of the vn original dash. the cluster/binnacle has been removed off the VN original pad as has most of the foam and material and it looks like that adhered to the original frame then the VT pad screwed back to its original plastic frame might be the way to go. i have photos but i havent put them up yet as today was bathurst and no work was really done other than consuming way too much beverage which has left me feeling a bit shabby at the moment. no sympathy

otherwise i need the plastics from where the VT radio and the like sits (not sure what that looks like) and the piece which goes around the cluster.

i also have a VT calais interior i got from someone for next to zero which i need to mock up on the original VN door(s) as i'd like to use the vent arrangement from the VT on the VN door but not too sure how that will pan out. should be interesting.

thanks for the comments all, namaste

[Warranty Void]

What about the air bags?

[Grega]

No air bags in my application, SRS or otherwise

[lemusa]

Sounds pretty cool, I often thought about doing something like that but thought for the money and time I may as well buy a vt! But definitely happy to watch you do it. You do make it sounds simple...hmm....

[Grega]

Yeah wont be simple let me give you the mail there matey. See how we go. No progress this week I am in the job market for a new contract :/

[FXST01]

Any updates Grega?

[ucwepn]

This is a very interesting project, the vt was the most produced commodore this could be the way in the future hehe.

[50LTRv8]

This is a very interesting project, the vt was the most produced commodore this could be the way in the future hehe.

I would find a VS Series 3 Stato with a VT interior very hard to resist

[BLUEY_VP]

lookig forward to see how this turns out

[shnap2nd]

im loving this thing coz its the only thing i liked about the vt where the interior lol would be good to see u match it with a gen3! lol

[Grega]

Taken me a bit of time to get my bits together but getting there.......post pics soon.....need flaming tranny tunnel to mod as well lots of things to do

[Grega]

That shifter in the vn is in the worst location ever.....that has to come out holus holus. I have the tranny mount from a VT which i have to weld in to suit the VT shifter and the like.

The dash actually sits pretty high about an inch higher incl the console than the vn....so far i have the lot sitting in there, the bracket from the back of the radio facia will attach to the section which holds the steering column, on the passenger side a tab needs to be bent straight at the top and then the dash slides in no issues there, can pickup on of the original vn mounting brackets too. The floor under the console section will need a spacer to sit it up about 1" and a similar support under the back of the console. Also the stock handbrake is going and the VT one will be welded in. More pics coming

[alpha_au]

Good stuff mate, this will be awesome when done!

[Grega]

Still going the motor and box are in using original vt mounts for the engine to the vn k frame, the gearbox mount is a vs item bolts up just fine to the stock vn tail shaft. Still working thru this slowly slowly hope no one is in a rush for this

[orinoko]

This will look very very good once its all complete. Keep the pics coming mate, anything at all!

[de_overfiend]

any updates to this project? iv been looking into doing the same thing but was a bit put off by the dash/electronics. Have you got any other pics of the dash install? Did you use a vt steering column? where did you mount the airbag sensor?

[dodgy]

Grega - Talk about a blast from the past !!

[orinoko]

Hey mate! Hope the dash conversion is going well! Any news/pics?

[*uwishn*]

looks like a good job mate keep us informed.

[Grega]

Hey dodgy been a while mate hope you are well

Work keeps getting in the way and sending me places.....makes things hard...sitting at the airport typing this
Plus it's cold down here but have the patio heater to keep me warm

Latest update - broke the windscreen not that bothered as it was broken anyway
I am thinking that a vt firewall may find it's way in there actually if I can get the front chopped out of a vt by a friend....which will have the vt column the lot go in there you would be amazed at how similar in dimensions the firewalls are I was shocked when I measured it up in a vx!!!!!!!!!!

If not, I will keep the stock vn firewall, adapt a vt column to it, mod the vn Calais hvac unit I have with the sensors and bits and pieces from the vt berlina hvac unit and put that back in and fibre glass up some custom bits and pieces to route the air.

One thing I found interesting is the ve onwards have gone back to welding in the firewalls and not gluing them in. mine will be welded in that I would like for sure but will have to see wha mr engineer says about that he may prefer the factory glue idea


It's a challenging prospect but it's good to have a vn again.