VN Luke's VN

[VN_Luke]

Okay!

so the new toy is a phoenix red VN exec!

I was looking around for a daily driver, so i could do some work to my VP... but somehow i ended up buying a project car :S

Pretty much a bog stocker except for a later-in-life added leather interior, some fast glass, tinted windows, and faded paint.

she needs a bit of work, but the body is straight and the car drives straight

Now for the fun bit! - she's in the garage awaiting some work!

I haven't got any solid plans for it yet really, other than it's going to receive a modified RB30ET motor with some form of big snail attached to the side, and a tuff auto! I'm aiming for something powerful enough to scare me - and also pull some good times and impressive hp figures.

I plan to update this thread weekly or so with pictures and progress, as i hope for this to be a pretty intensive operation over the next few months.

So for the first of hopefully many updates, attached are a few pics of how she looks at the moment.

plans for the week are
- remove lpg stuff
- remove motor and gearbox and ecu and wiring and lots of other little bits and pieces
- start neatening up the engine bay

[HoZy]

Nice man!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to follow this project.

Cheers
MaT

[1991_Vn2nV]

Ahhh sweet. Be good to watch this man. Good luck with it!

VN Power

[JSTPOZN]

haha nice collection of signs there

looks like some fun ahead of ya will be good to read

send me the spotties

[greenfoam]

I'm going to call him "aka dendenmushi"
Red Snail

[slo_firo]

Hey man, nice plan but can i suggest something a bit better?

dump the single cam head and bolt a twin cam off a r32 Rb25DE engine, these take boost sweet and will give alot more power (and lets face it twin cams sound mean on boost) my m8 over here has built an N/A 1 with the 25 pistons, damn it gos hard

the non turbo head bolts straight on, he just had to move the cam belt tensioner a little bit, for turbo you dont need to change the pistons

[Goon]

Nice project ride mate, good luck with the motor when u get around to it, if u find that your getting slack crack open a coldy

If you wanna work fast slap on some tunes!

The interior looks very clean

[JUDDO13]

i love the interior its hell sweet, i was also thinking about doing this to my vn but with the rb25det then scrapped the plan when i figured out how much it would cost but would be grate to see somethink similer to what i had planned

[VN_Luke]

dump the single cam head and bolt a twin cam off a r32 Rb25DE engine, these take boost sweet and will give alot more power (and lets face it twin cams sound mean on boost) my m8 over here has built an N/A 1 with the 25 pistons, damn it gos hard

I've considered the twin cam head, I'll see how much money I feel like spending..

however, a lot of dudes are running in the 10's with just the rb30 single cam head, with a bit of work, and a crazy cam!

[greenfoam]

And on day seven the phoenix arose from the ashes

Because it's 400kgs lighter now????? :P

[1vngal]

Ooooh...Nice car. Planning on making a monster out of it like your VP??

Have fun with it Luke....

[VN_Luke]

hey guys! as promised, here's a bit of an update!

the car made it into the shed last monday, and since has had everything foreward of the front doors removed.......

i mean EVERYTHING it's down to a bit of sheet metal

The plan over the next week is to stitch weld some of the more important joins, in hope to make the car a bit more rigid once back on the road.

I will also be filling all the un-used holes in the engine bay (holes from gas conversion, different modifications, holes that didn't get used from the factory etc)... so the bay should be pretty smooth bar the holes that are needed

I've started sanding a bit already, but there is a good solid weeks work worth of sanding in the engine bay to get it to an acceptable kind of quality... so stay tuned for next weeks update

other than sanding and painting and welding, the whole front suspension is getting an overhaul with new bushes and ball joints and all kinds of nice stuff. (along with a coat of subframe black)

.. oh! and a brake upgrade! (vt twin piston)

so stay tuned over the next few weeks, i hope to have this thing back on all fours with rebuilt suspension and new brakes by VERY early next year.

And until next update! here's some pics!

[greenfoam]

I have noted the VL magazine , is your shed carpet full of oil yet?

[VN_Luke]

I have noted the VL magazine , is your shed carpet full of oil yet?

hehe the vl magazine is motivation, filled with 9/10 second vl turbos

noo oil the oil is in containers, where it belongs.... not on the floor!

but the carpet does get dirty due to wet sanding, and all the dirt that came from the guards/suspension etc....

but that's cool, there's always more hard rubbish with new and clean carpet

[VN_Luke]

if u find that your getting slack crack open a coldy

hehe that's such bad advice! I cracked a few just before, and i don't think ANY more work will get done for the rest of the night.

[dawg]

be good to see this project progress. get stuck into it!

[padrickz88]

mate thats nice and its going to be one tuff car when it has the rb in it =].... cant wait to see what this thing does when your done, if you can put a buick into the 0-100 5 sec mark then im sure you will do wonders with this thing good luck mate

[cohn]

looking very similar to mine a while back, lol.
Can't wait to see what she look's like when its finished

[VN_Luke]

weeeeee more sannnnnding

[HoZy]

hehe I saw this beast yesterday ^_^ Can't wait....

HeHeHe Easternats =

Lukes Phoenix Turbo VN
HoZys Phoenix Supercharged VN

Cheers
MaT

[VN_Luke]

weeeeeeeeee

internally gated gt35/40 turrrrrrrrrrrbo on it's way bargain!

(image to demonstrate coolness of gt35 *is not actual product* )

[1vngal]

Ahahahaha, Good to see you enjoying yourself Luke!! And that turbo is just oozing with super coolness.

[VN_Luke]

bit of a quick update:

bay is 90% bare metal now, going to finish off the edges and corners and real hard to get to places tomorrow night

I'm also aiming to get all the holes and welding done tomorrow night/thursday night, along with trying to fill in the spot weld dimples with a bit of weld, then grinding them alllll flush....

if things go well, and temp and humidity is right on the weekend, she'll have a coat of putty primer on and sanded by next weeeeeek!

parts still haven't arrived, but as i said before, gt35/40 on the way!
I've also put a deposit down on an RB30 block, apparently with ACL pistons, 8.5:1 comp, shot peened standard rods. all rebuilt and never been used thus far. (new bearings, seals, etc)...

With the block comes a VLT ecu, and a set of 6 650cc injectors with rail!

Soooo, presuming I don't get ripped on this deal, I'll be playing with these parts around next week I guess!

So far the bigger scheme of things is going:

- get engine bay blingin'
- buy vl K-frame from wreckers
- redo all bushes/ball joints/springs/shocks/rack..
- clean up suspension components and give 'em a coat of subframe black.
- get car back on all 4 wheels.
- buy vl, and roll that into the garage and strip
- get vl towed away
- re-insert vn into garage.
- ....... this is where the plan gets hazy but i'm sure by then i'll work something out

oh! and i'm glad i'm keeping updates and track of the project so far it's been going for 2 weeeeeks!

Enjoy!
Luke.

[1vngal]

Wow, it's coming along really fast!!! You'll have this done in no time!!

[VN_Luke]

You'll have this done in no time!!

hehe! thanks for the optimism.... but take note that this is just about the only part that doesn't involve forking out lots of money