Got the cash --> now for an engine

[Cogez]

OK, I've got the cash for a new engine for the VP Calais now...but where do I get one from??? I'm looking for a really good quality rebuilt ECOTEC V6 from somewhere in the Canberra/Sydney/Wagga area. Has anyone got any experience or tips???

[azkwazere]

why the ecotec? get a 3800 hundred rebuilt with some nice parts in it... save screwing around with the conversion....

aZk.

[nicko]

hit up ebay mate. there are some nice l67 motors on there for good price

[1991_Vn2nV]

My tip... Dont ruin the car with an Ecotec.

Atleast put a 5L in...

[Burnout_bro]

why ecotec man?, you live in canberra a vs in good nick is around 2k, it will cost you that for the conversion, look on allclassifieds.

[Cogez]

Why do you guys not think an ECOTEC is a good idea?? Word on the street is that the conversion is very simple as the ECOTEC is basically the same shape as the 3800. My3800's dead, so got to be changed anyway. V8 isn't on the cards, I really couldn't afford the fuel for it. ECOTEC is nice, efficient, and simple.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Why do you guys not think an ECOTEC is a good idea?? Word on the street is that the conversion is very simple as the ECOTEC is basically the same shape as the 3800. My3800's dead, so got to be changed anyway. V8 isn't on the cards, I really couldn't afford the fuel for it. ECOTEC is nice, efficient, and simple.

The difference in fuel costs is basically nothing mate. You're willing to spend a few grand converting to an ecotec yet you cant afford $5 a week extra fuel?

Ecotecs are poor man. I've owned a VS, my dad a VT and my uncle a VX and none have been as reliable as my Buick 3800 which has 100,000km's more on it and gets driven twice as hard.

A silly conversion and a waste of money I say.

[Just_a_stocker]

well depending on what your want but in my opinion the Buick is better..
cost of fuel? yeah they dont do too badly,, any modded engine will increase its fuel,,

thats why peeps go from daily to weekender.

[savage1987]

If you do an ecotec go with an L67, just be different! Also I think we need to hear the other side of the argument too, someone like Hozy should get on here...

Try to find a cammed up 6 with higher compression, that'd be fun

[Keesh]

i just did a 3800 and a box for $300 plus beers for al my helpers, dont bother spending big$$$ on a v6

[savage1987]

So.. what's the deal? Made a decision one way or the other?? I think a rebuilt motor with higher compression, or at least a VR 3800 (they come with a bit higher comp than the others...). Look for around 9.5:1 for regular unleaded, or 10:1 if you want to run 98RON fuel all the time.

[Mr Squiggle]

If you've done the homework and the cost to install it wont be much go with the ecotec, the extra 10-20 rwkw over the early motor will count

[nicko]

if you have a look at what motors people are telling you to get, you will see that buick owners tell u to buy the 3800 and ecotec owners want the ecotec. In the end it comes down to what you want mate, i would look at a L67 not because its ecotec but becuase with some mods you can have 200+rwkw which is good.

[azkwazere]

or at least a VR 3800 (they come with a bit higher comp than the others...)..

they did???

aZk.

[1991_Vn2nV]

they did???

aZk.

Yeah, VR was 9.0:1 and VN/VP was 8.5:1

[savage1987]

I'm sure they did, I read it somewhere... here we go, found a passage in the original VR sales brochure for "The new Holden Commodore. Executive, Acclaim, Berlina, S and SS."

If you want show and go, don't go past the Holden Commodore S. With its powerful V6 engine and five speed gear box, hardly anyone else will go past you on the road.
Put the big V6 through its paces. It's not only gutsy, it's tougher than ever with stronger conrods, which were actually developed by General Motors for a supercharged engine in the U.S.A., so it's built to last.
And when you do ask the engine to deliver, you'll appreciate the increased compression ratio, up to 9:1, which translates into a real lift in power.

[1991_Vn2nV]

if you have a look at what motors people are telling you to get, you will see that buick owners tell u to buy the 3800 and ecotec owners want the ecotec. In the end it comes down to what you want mate, i would look at a L67 not because its ecotec but becuase with some mods you can have 200+rwkw which is good.

Thats because they like what they own.. But I have owned both so im not as biased to say one or the other... And theres a reason I sold the VS.

Performance wise there will be a gain in a VN using an ecotec because the VN is a lighter body and the ecotec has 20kw more (at the engine, not rwkw). Also if its auto, the VN has the hydraulic auto not the sloppy electronic box. But I just dont find them as reliable/bulletproof as my 3800 has been and the performance gain is irrelevant due to the money it will cost for the conversion.

Engine wise, the VP V6 was probably the most reliable V6 ever used in a Holden and most mechanics would agree. The rest of the car might fall apart but the engine was good. VN S1 had problems as it was just dumped into the commodore after coming from FWD configuration and the VR's tended to have a few leaking issues near the injectors or something. Then ecotecs tend to use alot of oil and run hotter than the buick and as I found they had some cooling issues. There was a mechanic site with an article on the Commodore V6's somewhere that said basicly the above but with a bit more detail but I cant seem to find it anymore

I agree wholeheartedly regarding the L67 suggestion though. Very bulletproof compared to the standard V6 and very, very easy to make power from with still decent fuel economy.

[savage1987]

There you go Cogez, L67 time for you my friend unless you've already got something lined up??

[Keesh]

ive heard more complaints about the vs engine than the vn series 2 engine, i havnt had many dramas with my series 1 engine, you just have to give it a lil tlc.. id just stick with what its got

[excalibur]

yeah i to have owned both buick and ecotech and personally speaking i find the buick so much better

[Cogez]

OK the decision was made. There wasn't an L67 engine available in Canberra when I went in on Saturday, and listening to what you guys had to say, I decided the ECOTEC probably wasn't what I thought it was going to be.

So I asked for a rebuilt Buick 3800. They're rebuilding it for me with a whole bunch of new stuff (pistons, rings, bearing, seals, valves...and other things I don't remember) for a total price of $1800 installed, plus anything else they find broken when the engine comes out. The car goes into CJ's next Wednesday (March 19), so I'll keep you posted on how everything turns out.

Can't wait to get back on the road again!

[levymetal]

you'll be happy with it when you get it back, no doubt about that!

[1991_Vn2nV]

Excellent choice man

[savage1987]

Ermm.. you're not getting your own one rebuilt are you? Didn't that have coolant jacket problems??

GET HIGHER COMP and a little cam, it will cost you f**k all extra and you will have more fun

Sam

[Bz Kn33z]

Ermm.. you're not getting your own one rebuilt are you? Didn't that have coolant jacket problems??

GET HIGHER COMP and a little cam, it will cost you f**k all extra and you will have more fun

Sam

I agree with the Higher comp heads and cam it. heads shaved 30tho is like
$50-$60 perhead so $100 $120 all up just with that it will be better.