1988 VN Executive - Work In Progress

[88VNExec]

Hey guys,

Decided that I'm going to keep the VN for now, budget is only going to be tight for about another 6 weeks, then school is over and I can work as much as I want.

Just a quick run down:

- 1988 VN Executive
- Series 2 3.8L V6
- 270,000km's
- 4 Speed Auto
- 2.5" Lukey Exhaust
- Pioneer Head-Deck with 6" Kenwood Speakers
- 15" Interceptors

The body is average, with a now new dent added to the front of the bonnet, had a bit of an incident with a giveway sign. (Gotta hate trucks that use their hi-beam while coming towards you)

Paint is average also, the roof is slightly fading, with various scratches, comes up alright with a polish.

Interior, probably the best point of the car, quite tidy, and with a good clean comes up great, although the clips on the door trims need replacing.

Future Plans:

- Full respray with colour-coded bumpers
- Replace springs and shocks, with lower springs on front and rear
- A set of REAL rims, not stockies
- New interior
- Replace window tinting
- CAI/Extractors/Performance Chip
- Upgraded stereo (single sub and amp, 6" splits in the front with 6x9's in the back)
- Removal of chrome trim on the doors

Guys, I'm pretty new to the commodore mod scene, so if anyone knows where I can source these parts, along with an approximate price, it would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers, Jake.

[Bz Kn33z]

I see you have the shorter belt. you should rip that aircon out your not using it and save some weight so it will go faster gotta love weight reduction.

[padrickz88]

looks good mate

i say superlows in the front, ultra's in the back and some silver ceptors will look immac...

looks like a good car to start with

[88VNExec]

Cheers guys =)

Well I actually have an AC belt in the boot, not sure why it wasn't fitted .. How much does an AC compressor weigh exactly?

Haha maybe when funds allow it Rick =P

Funny thing is, when the rear tyre blew out, the spare I had was an Interceptor, I chucked it on and it looked awesome, so now I'm looking at Ceptors =P

Just as an update, got the rear tyre replaced this morning, and took the beast out for a drive. She ran great, the exhaust attracts a lot of attention =D.

Just a quick question though guys, it has Scorpion 35% tint, is that factory?

[89berlina]

Thats one clean looking engine bay! Any chance you could get some more pics? Give the exterior a good cut and polish to freshen up that paint (if the paints still good)

[88VNExec]

Haha thanks =)

Yea I'll nick the digital camera off my aunt sometime soon, get some decent pics .. my phone is only a 1.3mp which is horrible.

I'm onto a set of Interceptors, interstate for $100, need tyres, worth it you think?

The paint is pretty decent, looks better up close, my camera does it no justice, the paint has its scratches, stone chips etc.

Gonna pull the bumpers off and respray them black, maybe even get the rear garnish done.

The engine bay is pretty clean too, I was shocked when I first saw it, looked nice. Could do with a pressure wash tho.

Cheers for the comments guys =)

[padrickz88]

NO WAY! there not worth that much


go to the wreckers and go get a set for like 80-100 with fairly good tyre's

[89berlina]

Haha thanks =)

Yea I'll nick the digital camera off my aunt sometime soon, get some decent pics .. my phone is only a 1.3mp which is horrible.

I'm onto a set of Interceptors, interstate for $100, need tyres, worth it you think?

The paint is pretty decent, looks better up close, my camera does it no justice, the paint has its scratches, stone chips etc.

Gonna pull the bumpers off and respray them black, maybe even get the rear garnish done.

The engine bay is pretty clean too, I was shocked when I first saw it, looked nice. Could do with a pressure wash tho.

Cheers for the comments guys =)

Cant say I know how much Interceptors are worth but I'd say padrickz knows what he's talking about. Dont spray them black! Try colour coding them. It will make it look heaps cleaner

[88VNExec]

Yea I was thinking that but, I've never had experience spraying with metallic, I also don't know the actual name of the colour of my paint, I've got the code though (from the tag in the engine bay).

I'll see what happens, just sprayed the stockies black today, took off the hubcaps.

Looks much better, but also looks like a burnout car now, hopefully don't pull too much attention.

Cheers guys =)

Ohh and will get new pics up as soon as I get in contact with my aunt.

[88VNExec]

Hey guys, as I promised, new pics up, better quality.

Hope you all had a great christmas =)

[NEDWOB]

looks real good in the new pics, i would still paint the ceptors silver and colour code the bumpers

[crazywog]

yeh looks nice its been awhile since ive posted here and urs got my eye nice ride bro keep her up.

[88VNExec]

Yea, cheers guys =).

Ceptors are still on the list, if anyone knows of someone who has them, let me know =).

I'll definately paint them silver.

Gonna go down to look at a nice stereo for it, probably just a CD player with a USB slot and some 6x9's, or even 6" speakers, just until i can afford to buy a sub/amp combo.

Cheers for the comments guys, I'll keep ya updated =)

[padrickz88]

what state are you from?

[88VNExec]

SA mate =)

[padrickz88]

ok forget that then :P if you were in melbourne i could of got u a good price on car audio lol

[88VNExec]

Update:
Went to Autobarn yesterday, got a really good deal on a Pioneer head unit. $191 on special, was down from $330, its a DEH-3050UB, has USB, 50x4MOSFET etc.

Also, went down to UPull-It, got myself a new wiper setup as one arm was completely warped, made driving in the rain a real bitch.

Bought a new radiator water reserviour too .. Hopefully get all these things install today.

Have a great new years guys xD

[88VNExec]

Hey guys, update again.

Bought myself a set of 15" Interceptors (steel, as they have the J on the wheel), 2 have brand new tyres, 2 have 50% and the other has about 70ish %.

Only paid $60 bucks for everything, gonna paint them silver within the next week and chuck them on.

Next on the list: Cold Air Intake, car seems to be running very rich under high rev's so hopefully the CAI fixes that.

Will get pics up soon.

[levymetal]

ceptors are the only way to go

[89berlina]

VN is starting to look nice and neat. Good job Good to see another P-plater driving a VN At the moment Im on my green P's and probably the only P-plater around town driving a VN

What's so great about it, is most of my mates bag it out for being old and whatever but most times I come up beside them in there 2000-2009 model Toyota, Kia, Daewoo and whatever else and absolutely flog them. And thats not even the best part. Whats even more ironic is that they're still owe money on their buzz boxes

[Bz Kn33z]

I love a good VN, heaps of P platers are getting newer cars and the VN would still take em down its great,

You should also tighten the Accelerator cable if you havn't already, The A/C all up with the condensor and everything was something like 20-30kgs i think i weighed it at, all body deadner was like 30kg or more,
If you are handy you should make your own CAI with some 100mm flexi tube from bunnings i found 3m of it and i am going to do it aswell, "Morton" has done it to his old car (VP) and his new VQ and would be the best bang for buck, alongside of a foam chip, if you wanted to go fast on the cheap side there is alot of little things you can do to make your commy a car or 2 infront of your mates commodores

[88VNExec]

*** bump ***

=)

[Auzziephoenix]

Wow! your right mate haha.. they really are identical :P

i thought it was black until i clicked the pics, nice VN mate

Hope to meet up with ya someday!

[88VNExec]

Hey guys, been a few months since I had an update here.

Been throwing the idea around of selling it to buy an economical 4cyl, but since I work a bit now, money for petrol is not a problem =).

I love this car way to much to part with it anyway haha ..

Anyway, I'm now in the process of mocking up my CAI, its a similar design to that of MACE's box, but will of course be homemade =).

Just a question though, what material would be suitable to make the box to hold the POD filter? I was thinking some clear perspex for the sides and black perspex for the lid?

Also recently, the car has been running slower than when I first got it .. It has a few noises coming from the engine and runs a bit rough at idle.

Any SA boys willing to take a look at it? Or maybe suggesting what could be wrong with it?

Here's just a new pic taken with my crappy camera phone *thumbs up* (in original post)

[88VNExec]

Ooooh 2 updates in one day ..

Just installed a POD filter .. Has the lovely induction noise although its pretty quiet when the hood is closed.

I need part of the intake piping to be longer, is there any places you can find black piping like what is used?

I need to extend it down into where the original box is, any ideas?

I'll post a pic after the engine has been cleaned hehe