VN Luke's VN

[VTSPACK]

"LUKE" Its such an awesome name. it must go without saying, Lukes have good taste in cars.

[VN_Luke]

Update!

Cleaned out the garage - the VP is due to be towed away tomorrow - so now got a bit more room!

- Got a billet steel 'flexplate' (that doesn't actually flex) coming from the boys at KEAS autos.

- The engine is now sitting happily @ the machining shop! - It's gone to the boys at Dandenong Rebores... hopefully they do a good job - though I'll be measuring everything when it comes back!

on the cards is
- crack testing (block & crank)
- acid bathing/cleaning
- Torque plate bore & hone
- Deck block
- chamfer bolt holes and run tap in them
- Inspect Mains & Line bore if required
- Linish Crank
- Resize little end of new rods for a full-floating piston pin setup
- Nitrade crank (pending costs)
- Fit rods to pistons
- full balance (rods, pistons, crank, flexplate, balancer)
- Supply bearings (ACL Race Series)

so should see it back in a few weeks - mean, machined and ready for measuring & assembly!

Some pics....

[VN_Luke]

Flexplate arrived today engine still at the shop!

[immortality]

looks like you have something to aspire too, 10.6sec

[Morton]

Ooooh man that's going to be a mean machine. A sort of queer, bastardised gender-bender, but still mean. I'm amazed how much time and effort you're putting into this... you can tell it's just going to be perfect. not one detail missed.

When you get that engine back, I want a thousand more photos

[greenfoam]

looks like you have something to aspire too, 10.6sec

He's got all the bits every 9 second VL has so it should be able to do that if the boost is wound up to those kind of levels. Stuffed if I'd be getting in a VN that runs 10s lets alone 9s on the street though :P

[VN_Luke]

I don't want this car to turn into some kind of trailer queen - the goal is street car, with some massive power, but still friendly to drive! - but fassst!

11's in full street trim (street slicks), I'd be very happy with!

but add some good fuel, slicks, shocks, springs, and BULK boost.. and things could get very interesting!

either way, i'll get this thing finished before I start throwing figures in the air, and we'll go from there!

No real updates as such for now... just working my ass off to be able to afford the next lot of spendings!

I been dreaming and eating and thinking engine building I'm feeling pretty confident in assembly now!

[Emackulation]

Mechanic Luke and his expeditions to a 9 sec pass, what will his firt run be, how much boost, only time will tell ladies and gentlemen.

[slo_firo]

"LUKE" Its such an awesome name. it must go without saying, Lukes have good taste in cars.

hahaha excellent!!

[VN_Luke]

Well - the short motor is back and assembled! Pics up later today

[Emackulation]

Assembled? Already....I was only talking to you about it yesterday that you got it back from the shop? Damn this lad works quick.

[VN_Luke]

hehe I wish!

The guys at the shop assembled if FOR me! - I was actually looking foreward to putting it together myself.

I'm going to give it a good inspection, and probably pull off the girdle and double check mains clearences. If they're spot on then I'll assume they did a good job on everything else, unless a thorough visual inspection decides otherwise....

If they're out of spec, then back to the machine shop I go..

[VN_Luke]

wooooooooooooooooooop!

pics as promised

so next up is oil pump, gasket(s) and a new sump!

[greenfoam]

I don't think I will ever get used to all those re-enforcements the block has cast into it, massive massive overkill :P

[PaRaDoX]

its for the powa!

looks good man, im sure this will be one tough engine once completed keep up the good work, whats next on the cards?

[VN_Luke]

i been going to the shed and looking at the pretty glad wrapped block for a few days now High energy high capacity sump is on it's way, along with a gasket kit:



should look something like that.

I seem to be a bit stuck on the oil pump - I haven't yet been able to find anyone doing a re-co or new vlt oil pump :S, but i'll keep chasing.

once that's all done and assembled, i'll have to decide what to do about registration and engineering

[AirStrike]

i been going to the shed and looking at the pretty glad wrapped block for a few days now High energy high capacity sump is on it's way, along with a gasket kit:



should look something like that.

I seem to be a bit stuck on the oil pump - I haven't yet been able to find anyone doing a re-co or new vlt oil pump :S, but i'll keep chasing.

once that's all done and assembled, i'll have to decide what to do about registration and engineering

Mate is getting his VLT built at the moment and from memory they were using a R32 GTR pump off hand.......

[VN_Luke]

It might be a matter for further investigation. The gtr/n1 pumps are supposed to run with a twin cam head and two turbos - quite significantly more demand for oil everywhere than a sohc single bb turbo setup...

whether this is potentially a bad thing or not is a different story...

From what i've read, the stock vlt pump is plenty good to supply oil pressure at all feasible rpm from an rb30. The gtr/n1 pump also requires a different drive collar on the crank I think? I guess that's not much of an issue either, but all up it's around the 600 dorra mark, for something that wasn't quite designed to work with a sohc single turbo setup (although it might work quite well - more research required)

in either case, I'd stilll like to know if/where the rb30et pumps are available from, and what the damage is for one

[simc]

Far out Luke, looks like you have your hands full!! I didnt realise how much work you were actually doing to this thing. Should be insane fun to drive

[phat_com]

ooooooh i am liking this thread, it look a bit to find it now that its VnlukesVn and not VplukesVn. (don't ask why 1 letter made a diff lol)

[VN_Luke]

just a quick one

More engine bits have come, still waiting on a few more bits and pieces...

Have got the rocker cover sandblasted, ready for polishing... and just been doing liiitle bits and pieces.

I scored a new job, which is ace! - so kinda been busy doing all that (start next month)

I'm on the lookout for a VL guys! for cheap....... so i can get the VN registered shortly!!!

Also got a whiteline 30mm swaybar for the front... (keeping an eye out for possibly an adjustable one for the rear, also)

some pics for those interested.

[Emackulation]

Sweet! an update finally! So you ended up getting that high energy sump as pictured. Its looking good man. Good luck with the new job.

[VN_Luke]

wellllllllllllllll

I'm picking up a donor VL tomorrow! motor should be in within a matter of a few weeks... and we should be seeing the VN on the road in stock RB form VERY early in the next year!

and hopefully see it going bullsh*t fast within a few months after that !.....


blreaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!


what a score! ...... perfect for what I need it for!

[Emackulation]

Wooot! you didnt tell me you found a donor VL on msn!

[stocky]

thats cause theres not enough left on it to call it a VL
its a rb30 with some wheels