No more rice!

[Morton]

Heh, I'm the proud new owner of a VP Commodore. Until recently, I was the misguided owner of a four-pot Mazda 626. 17" mags, dropped 2.5", Extractors, cat-back, pod filter, cai built out of accordian tubing... the whole rice-boy shebang. I was lost (and have the stack of Fast-Fours magazines to prove it).

Just last month, I totalled the 'ole jap-crap, and got $7,000 insurance money. Payed off some debts, and with the leftovers, $2,300 got me a decent auto VP Executive with full service history, a recently reconditioned auto, straight body, cop wheels and a throaty 2.5" cat-back. DAMN she flies. One test drive, and I was sold. I was only looking for a bargain mind you, not a rocket, so I basically bought the car on the spot. My debts only amounted to $3,000, so I've thrown a few more dollars at the 'ole girl. New bushes and bearings for the control arms and sway bars, gaskets, power steering rack (a bargain at $100), new rotors, auto service, and a bunch of other minor details like rusted wiring looms, silicone sealant on the tail-lights etc.

I've never driven anything like it, and it takes off a fair deal faster than my mate's sister's VS wagon. I love the grumble of the Buick v6, too.

Couple of quick questions:

1) does the stage II dash just plug straight in to a stage 1 1991 VP Exec? I really need a tacho ^^ (and yea, I read the other threads... mixed answers though )

2) Are 2.25" extractors really worth the extra $500apprx in terms of low-end gain, when combined with a 2.5" cat-back? What about splitting the system into two stock cats? Any experience?

3) Is it true what I've heard, that the performance was dumbed down from the VN 'cause it got too tail-happy? If so, are there any quick un-fixes to make the VP capable of a VN-spec launch?

4) What do y'all think of the old Mazda? I'll grab a pic of the VP later. Holdens rock!

[90VN55]

1) does the stage II dash just plug straight in to a stage 1 1991 VP Exec? I really need a tacho ^^ (and yea, I read the other threads... mixed answers though )

1)yes it will go straight in no problem

[stocky]

3) Is it true what I've heard, that the performance was dumbed down from the VN 'cause it got too tail-happy? If so, are there any quick un-fixes to make the VP capable of a VN-spec launch?

Yeah somewhat. This was after the VN Series 2. The easiest thing to do is remove the bellmouth from the air intake

[hakhawk]

ok, nice change in cars, the mazda looks neat, but not my cup of tea, hence why i got me a commodore.

dash should be a simple swap over, easiest way is make sure you get ome from a vp and it should be fine.

couple of easy straightup mods for the motor, is get rid of the plastic bellmouth in between the intake manifold and throttlebody elbow.

VN Series 2 - VR Bellmouth

and get yourself a vs s/c cold air intake and a k&n panel filter,

clean out the throttle body and do the 100% open butterfly mod. this just requires grinding or sanding down the stopper.

Throttle body 100% open HOW-TO

hope some of that helps, just have a browse on the forum, theres lots of info and mods on here.

[HoZy]

Where in melb you at dude.

[Charg'd]

Where in melb you at dude.

narre warren lol

[Morton]

Thanks for the response, guys ^^ I'll see if I can pick up a stage2 dash from a wreckers for around $70.

I had a read-around about the bellmouth too. Seems it could be worth a try as long as I don't **** it up. I'll check today if my throttle body opens to 100% aswell. Thanks for the heads-up, hakhawk

Oh, and I'm from Box Hill. Mid eastern suburbs. Not Narre Warren... I resent the implication that I'm homeless

[Morton]

Just removed the bellmouth an hour ago. Slightly tricky to get the rear bolt out of the throttle elbow, but easy otherwise. I took the little 'trunk' off the front of the airbox too, to allow more unrestricted airflow. Results aren't bad. Same effect as installing an expensive cai. Thanks hakhawk!

After lunch it's time to head back downstairs and shave back the throttle stopper. I'm only getting 90% open throttle at the moment.

[hakhawk]

good stuff mate, time to get some pics aswell

[Morton]

Yea, I'll grab some pictures tomorrow. I'll leave the rest stock 'till I get her roadworthied.

I've been thinking: You can get lengths of accordian pipe fairly cheaply. (plastic pipe that's all bendy). It would be quite beneficial to cut a round hole in the bottom of the airbox, and mount (with cable ties or something) a length of pipe that runs from the front of the car (front fender or something), and joins up to the hole at the bottom of the airbox. Sealed with any rubber or silicone sealant. You'd get ambient air rammed up the pipe, and into the airbox, decreasing the amount of hot engine air sucked in. Especially useful when thrashing the living crap out of the car, and cheaper (and possibly more effective) than buying the whole SS induction kit thing.

I've got a pod filter and some piping from my old car sitting in the garage, but I'm reluctant to stick a pod in the bonnet. It gets quite hot in there. Am I correct in thinking an oiled pod would be counter-productive (and possibly illegal in VIC), unless I constructed some form of box for it? Saves me lashing out and spending $80 on a high-flow panel filter, too.

[hakhawk]

lol, there were many discussions about pod vs panel filter, but easiest way, is either make a heatshield for the pod and give it a cold air intake, like you suggested there, or leave panel filter in and do same.

now one thing, you dont have to spend up big on a ss inductions kit, as holden do a factory cold air intake that is jsut as good, for around $60 from your holden dealer.

you can fit it yourself with no hassles and it works well.

[Morton]

Ah yes... but $60 still sounds a bit rich for my ears. Besides, whipping up ghetto mods is more fun. I'll rip a spare air box off a wrecker's tomorrow and experiment a bit with pod setups. I'll keep y'all posted, hopefully with some photos.

(ps: just checked the forum thread in your sig, hakhawk. love the VN ^^)

[hakhawk]

lol, thanks dude, and i agree, ghetto mods are hella fun.

[PaRaDoX]

lol, there were many discussions about pod vs panel filter, but easiest way, is either make a heatshield for the pod and give it a cold air intake, like you suggested there, or leave panel filter in and do same.

now one thing, you dont have to spend up big on a ss inductions kit, as holden do a factory cold air intake that is jsut as good, for around $60 from your holden dealer.

you can fit it yourself with no hassles and it works well.

lol refering to my heat shield ????
DIY pod head shield / intake system

im finishing off the rubber coat,

nice choice in car chipping it is worth doing also,
yes it is true the vn;s are tail happy... REAL easy to get sideways and in troubble, i think it has something to do with the max torque at 1500-2500rpm

[Morton]

That's an interesting little shield you're working on, paradox I may try something similar with insulation on the airbox I use. Insulation could always help.

I've got to set up my sound system at some point too... ... Guess I'll have to find some 5x7 speaker mounts. I'd make them, but I don't have access to a jigsaw :/

And paradox, is chipping really worth the money? I've heard mixed opinions on this. Some people say it does sweet f/a for the money you spend, and others swear by it. Does anybody have before/after dyno charts? I'll google around and see if I can locate anything.

[PaRaDoX]

speak to foam, he might beable to hook u up, he did my chip and hakhawk is burning it, as for 5x7 speaker mounts, just fit 6" and a sub, much easier, you can probbly find a calais parcel shelf at the wreckers for cheap and it has grilles, that combined witha sub will give you a nice full range sound

(ive got 6.5" splits in the front, 6 &1/4" rears, and a 12" pioneer subby)
and 2 amps sounds pretty mint, need more bass tho

and i like the sound of a pod WAY better than air box, it just roars =P

[Morton]

heh, I know what you mean about the pod. I'll find some way to use it I'm sure.

As for the sound system, I already have four 150watt 5x7 Fusion speakers out of my old car, and they produce top-end sound and bass, so I'm reluctant to turf them just to use a more convenient speaker size.
And I already have a sub and amp, so there's no hastle there. Just gotta get motivated enough to install it all.

I'll have a talk to foam about a chip too. at some point. ... If I had more money, this would all be so much easier ^^

[PaRaDoX]

lol, you probbly have more than me,

working 9 hours a week at a crappy pizza joint and studying fulltime at tafe... oh well, yeah make your own custom mounts for the speakers then, maybe make a new parcel shelf out of 1/2-1" thick MDF, then you get to pick where the holes go

[fazz1977]

Congrats on the purchase. The commodore is definitely a much cooler car than the mazda, not that the mazda is without it's charm.

[TazmanCrash]

Id thow away yourthrottle body & get one from a V8(Has to be a VN, VP V8 tho). That will give you a good kick. Also Id put on better plug & leads.

[jack.mc]

in regards to twin cats: I have two standard ones on my VN, and it's excellent. The guy at the shop (been there a long time, and earned my trust) said that two standard commy cats are far better than 1 hi-flow. So thats my 2c...

[Morton]

Finally, a spare moment to reply! Been doing a little work to the car. Good idea making a new parcel shelf Paradox. I may just do that. Could be worth getting two cats, too. I need to replace the current exhaust system. Cat is busted. Would a twin-cat system fit nicely onto the stock v6 setup?

And here's a question for y'all. What in the world causes my brake light relay to go spastic? I've replaced the rusty wire looms on the rear lights, and when I have my headlights on, everything's good. No dramas. The second I apply the brake, the centre light comes on, the top-left and bottom-right lights get brighter, and the bottom-left and top-right lights go off! wtf! I've seen these nasty little disco tricks being performed by other commodores out there - where in the wiring system does this problem usually start? I'll start going over the whole system with a volt tester on Monday, but it would be great if someone who's done this before could save me a day looking in all the wrong places

My air fans don't work on number 4 either... that's just annoying, and is preventing me from getting a roadworthy. I'm going to check the plug behind the console on Monday, but if it's not a small electrical fault, I hope the problem won't be expensive. We'll see, eh? I love cars ^^

Either way, here's a couple of snaps I took of my baby the other day. More coming soon!

edit: as you can see, she could loose a few inches of ride height.

[hakhawk]

lookin good, my dad, being registered to do roadworthies in vic, said that your fan should pass no problems, he said as long as the fan works on any speed to demist the windows, its fine, doesnt have to work on 4, just as long as at least one works, so either explain that to the guy doing it, or find someone else.

it should just be the switch in the front panel thats not working properly, so just get a whole aircon control from the wreckers if you want to fix it.

not sure on the tail lights though.

[Morton]

Wow, the fan -doesn't- have to work on number 4? Hmmm... that's food for thought. Perhaps I sould ask VicRoads myself. Would you happen to know anybody who could fix oil leaks in the sump and rear main too? I could use a bargain, they're pretty expensive jobs. I thought of just getting it steam-cleaned to hide the oil for a rwc inspection, but if it gets double-checked by VicRoads it'll fail.

[hakhawk]

go steamclean it, the day you go for roady, as long as its not leaking fast, should pass and vicroads i highly doubt will check. they usually just check lights, engine number and that. take a jack down to your local do it yourself carwash, jack up the front and really get in there and clean under the engine.

not sure on good places for work up your way though, someone else might be able to help with that.