My VP Ute

[Huntington]

Heres my little toy, had it for about 3 weeks, I also have a nice vt, but thats a story for another thread.
the ol buick has some good pulling power, I have thrown in a new chip which seemed to give me some better bottom end torque, and a CAI.

since I brought her I have also replaced the aircon, done a full system flush, replaced stuffed thermostat. My heater started working then, its great. I have replaced the cluster as the tacho wasnt working and I couldnt be stuffed soldering up the voltage regulator. (thanks green) the vr tacho does a much better job. I had few more jobs lined up, so i decided to pull it off the road for a bit (hopefully not long) so there is a before and after shot of todays work below, I got more done, but it got to dark for photos, I might upload the finished job tomorrow (or several days after when its actually finished), but besides the interior, she is also having cruise control fitted, I am using a vt cruise module (so there will be some complications for sure), they run smoother as they are motor driven, the vp cruise was vacuum fed and could be a little jumpy and suck the fuel down.

Heaps more to come in the next few weeks/months so I will keep uploading pics

Hint, the six is going, but the wife said I have to wait till after the wedding before I do the transplant.

and before anyone says it, yes im a backyard hack, but something has to keep me entertained

Edit: that tan dash is coming out, not going in, photos in wrong order

[Huntington]

some progress today

[Huntington]

Got most of the plasitcs all painted black today, clear coat them tomorrow and they will be ready to install, then its bench seat out and in goes the centre console. Having trouble finding a manual console insert that isnt broken, so i might be driving with no shifter boot for a while but thats no drama, need to tape up the heater vents and paint them to match the dash. it was a two tone dash, which is ugly as sin, all black now.

Door trims also arrived last night, they are nice as, unfortunatly i brought blue/grey ones without realising, they looked black on my monitor. they will do for now, they have sexy white trim and are in top nick.

moved her tonight to get access to the back of my garage and found out i have no headlights, parkers work and high beam does when the stick is pulled forward, but not when pushed back, will investigate in the morning. Anyone got any tips for a nice steering wheel? that is legal.

[Verynice]

Looking good man! That black dash looks heaps better man nice work

Bit different, but maybe a VQ statesman steering wheel? just a thought

[mrvdv]

it's coming along well hopefully pretty soon, it will all be done

[STEALTHY™]

VN Calais or VQ Stato wheel is the go. Not sure you'll find one in that colour tho (and i'd be sceptical about using spray paint on it)

Also, unless the panels have been changed from factory, its a VG Ute

[Huntington]

Late 92, thats vp isnt it? what gives away that it may be vg?

Yeah i dont think i would paint a steering wheel, I was thinking maybe a vs wheel with the leather trim, got to be thinking of comfort as well as style, I should be out working on it, but cant be stuffed, just needs all the trims put back in, then its seats out, new black carpet, new light grey roof lining and centre console thrown in. i need to pick up the handbrake parts before the console goes in tho. am also throwing in cruise control as soon as i can get hold of the switchblock and 2 brake switch clips

[STEALTHY™]

late 92 is def VP (infact i think late 91 is when VP started)

All the front panels are VN/G style. Giveaway is no side indicators, but the headlights/bumper are VN/G style too. The rest is identical VG-S so not much else will give it away. Maybe it was in a smash and VN panels were cheaper than VP panels.

Its not a bad thing or anything btw

[Huntington]

correct, the previous owner was in a small accident and did panal damage to the front end, it was the front bar, headlight and passanger quarter panal. guessing the drivers quarter panel and headlight were changed to match, must have got the brought each thing as a pair cheaper. he resprayed the whole car straight after to, so the paint aint to bad

[Huntington]

new door trims went in, nice easy change over. not sure if i like them being blue but will hold up until i can get around to re-upolstering them, I wont paint the vinyl, there is nothing worse than that look.
top of the centre console is in, just found out i need to change my heater control module, i thought i just turned it on its side and changed the facia, but that wont work the dials are still wrong. and the cable is too long.

also need to work out what to do with the switches i wont be needing, since the ute has ac and thats it.

new seats should be ready by this time next week so then the rest of the centre console go's in. Im putting VT SS seats in her, the rail change over shouldnt be any trouble, mostly done already.

Just need to a few more bits of plastic to go black and that will be the whole interior. also need a insert for the manual console. went to every wrecker in town today and couldnt find one that wasnt broken.

she is back on the road at least until the seats are ready, its a mess, but no point cleaning her until its finished. pictures later maybe

[Huntington]

dash and door trims are in, have a black steering wheel getting here soon for temp use (.99c on ebay) got to replace a few more bits of plastic then the carpet and roof lining. I know i should have done them while the dash was out, but I didnt plan on doing them at the time, seats are ready to go in, just have to find the time, also have the centre console waiting patiently (without the manual insert, hit me up if you have one for sale guys)

and she got a good clean


Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[mrvdv]

looks nice and clean mate

[Fu Manchu]

VP with a VG front end?

[Huntington]

correct fu, i have now finished the seat conversion, she is sporting VT SS seats, centre console is in and the handbrake has been moved to the centre where it should be, i have some vr speaker pods ready to go on, just need to get around to it, also have 90% of cruise control components waiting to be installed, and picked up a central locking kit for nothing of the guy next door, its not remote operated, so i am tossing up if i should skip it and just get a remote operated set installed when the alarm goes on it. i might post some picks of the conversion tomorrow, if i find the time, still looking for a console insert for the 5 speed, i have been holding off on the photos until complete.

steering is gone and a blue one is on as well. 99c ebay bargain. if anyone has any blue (or black grey green red yellow i dont care, any color but brown), plastics for the pillars let me know, looking to buy.