Mod suggestions?

[Peter89]

I want to spend a little bit of cash, around $500, fixing my vn up while saving up for a new car. What do you guys suggest? some better handling would be nice but if its out of the price range then performance is always good.

'90 VN 3.8L A4 Executive Wagon @ 206,000kms: some performance chip, front brakes (calipers and discs) from a V8 VL or VN, 15" steel rims, suspension rebuilt, newer 2nd hand auto (since the original blew up).

so yeh nothing great, just want a bit more out of it because its going to take a year or 2 to save up for a new car.

[Morton]

cold air intake: $20-$60
greenfoam tune: $50-$100
auto shiftkit: $400

That's my opinion

[Ozzie]

Maybe spend the $500 on polish, touchup paint, replacment parts ect....
Spend a bit of time making it look "new" again and by the time youve finished it youll be able to sell it for more. It will help you with the cash your saving for a new car.

Anything performance wise really wont give it value to most buyers.

Just a thought anyways

[Peter89]

cold air intake: $20-$60
greenfoam tune: $50-$100
auto shiftkit: $400

That's my opinion

thanks for the suggestions.

cold air intake for that much would be a DIY right?

greenfoam? how do i get in contact? how long would it take? because i need the car for work and such, cant have it off the road for too long.

auto shiftkit sounds interesting yet my auto gears dont autoshift anyways. if i leave it in 1st im sure it will blow the engine, hit 70 or so in it and i don't think theres a rev limiter.

Also thinking of front/rear strut braces and maybe new heavy duty sway bars.

its my dads car, i change it within reason but i cant sell it :P

[TVR-190]

for the CAI, go to your local holden dealer and ask for a CAI from a supercharged VS, mine cost about 60, you need the intake and the snorkel piece, and the bottom of the airbox if you dont feel like cutting up your existing airbox, but there is a how-to guide on the forums

[greenfoam]

Cold air intake $60, springs $200, corvette servo $50. I'd leave it at that. Your tunes probably ok allready

[Peter89]

for the CAI, go to your local holden dealer and ask for a CAI from a supercharged VS, mine cost about 60, you need the intake and the snorkel piece, and the bottom of the airbox if you dont feel like cutting up your existing airbox, but there is a how-to guide on the forums

i dont mind cutting it up but which is better?

[Bz Kn33z]

they both have there pros and cons, thats why i am putting both on lol, but mine is F/I,
Just go to bunnings and get 100mm flexy pipe with the ripples and cut the bottom of your airbox fit it in and seal it screw it maybe cable ties and send it to the front of the bumper, should cost around 20 or so, unless you have some lying around.

[Cogez]

Spend $500 taking the performance chip out. Those things are frikken useless!

[greenfoam]

Thought you were making nearly 950 ks a tank on one :P?

[Eliminator]

sounds like a few repairs are on the cards before any mods, but thats just me..

shift kit
exhaust
cai
tune

Theres your winners

[Peter89]

for the CAI, got some spare black draining pipe that would work perfectly for it, its large though so may need to cut a hole or two.
http://www.americanconprod.com/image...s/dualwall.jpg

-king springs lowered for front and rear. $240. not sure if ill be able to install the front myself but the rears shouldnt be too hard to do.

-corvette servo

-maybe gets some sway bars or new exhaust, would need a tune after then new exhaust.

that ll probably use up or more then my planned budget yet get the desired results.

[Bz Kn33z]

Just remember its a V6 and hard to pull power out of, unless cam and headwork or boost.
so when it comes to engine mods shop around and get it as cheap as possible.
That drain pipe looks the good messure across it and see if its 100mm.

[Renno]

Id do the CAI definately....but other than that i would get the car on some jack stands and have a look around for parts that need replacing!

You said it urself that your saving for a new car, so why bother modifying this one!

Replace all of your sensors (O2, Temp etc) and give the TB a good clean, retension the throttle cable to your preferred setting ( i have mine tight-ish so its a more sensative throttle) and just generally look for parts that need to be replaced or rebuilt!


My two cents...

[Eliminator]

[QUOTE=Renno;1033845]Replace all of your sensors (O2, Temp etc) and give the TB a good clean, retension the throttle cable to your preferred setting ( i have mine tight-ish so its a more sensative throttle) and just generally look for parts that need to be replaced or rebuilt!QUOTE]

Thats some good advice, i noticed a good gain from my old efi 5 litre from replacing all the sensors, something that should be done at this stage in a vn's life. You guys should of seen the state of my coolant sensor !

[Cogez]

Thought you were making nearly 950 ks a tank on one :P?

mine's not really a performance chip greenfoam...you made it, you know it's for lean cruising =P

and i don't think i've actually got 950km out of a tank yet, but we'll see

[levymetal]

i would personally only do the CAI. save the rest of your money, $500 won't get you anywhere and by the end of it you'll wish you had $500 in your pocket rather than whatever's in your car. remember you'll never, ever get that $500 back. not even part of it.

my cai cost me $30 and it's definitely the cheapest bang for $$$

[PaRaDoX]

luke proved you can turbo a vp for $1100....

*runs and hides for putting idea's into peoples heads*

if you dont mind getting dirty corvette servo is a good one to do, and a LSD