5.0l V8 into VR Calais (no bull please)

[harry000]

Hey peeps

I have a V6 VR calais that I am modding.. I've spent a fair bit of money on the looks interior sound system etc. Next step is the power.

I am interested in dropping a 5.0l in and was wondering what sort of cost I am looking at if I got it done professionally.

I have looked around the forum but all I can seem to find is negative blokes telling people to just buy a new car with a V8 because its cheaper... I am quite attached to the car and I am prepared to pay the extra cost to do the swap rather than buying a new car.

So please can somebody give me some positive feedback and leave out the negativity.

Cheers

Harry

[someguy360]

While it is cheaper to sell the current car and buy a V8 VR I am in a similar boat

I have spent around 8k on my VS since I bought it in February and have the car setup exactly how i want it, but would like the power of a V8.

Its a reasonably straight forward swap for a 5L engine, but an LSx engine would be much more trouble.

The hardest part is swapping the wiring looms/computer over for the 304 conversion but its all doable.


Its not a hard conversion and if you are fairly handy and feel comfortable doing it yourself then you can probably get a second hand engine and get it all done for a few grand.

If you get it professionally done you are probably looking at between $5-8k, it would be a couple of thousand for a decent engine then the rest in labour (see here: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VT-Holden...#ht_645wt_1139 )

[HamaTime™]

$5-8k?

You serious? You can get a box/motor/loom (full conversion kit) for like $2k (or even just a wreck) Take it to a mechanic's and it would take about 2 full days to do the conversion @ $60 an hour X 2 days = $960
Add on maybe another $500 or so for extra time to weed out any problems...

$5-$8k lmfao

[someguy360]

$5-8k?

You serious? You can get a box/motor/loom (full conversion kit) for like $2k (or even just a wreck) Take it to a mechanic's and it would take about 2 full days to do the conversion @ $60 an hour X 2 days = $960
Add on maybe another $500 or so for extra time to weed out any problems...

$5-$8k lmfao

Most mechanics I have found won't even do it, they say to take it to a specialist, then your paying specialist prices

[VSSS_5L]

Find some new mechanics maybe? Its not the sort of thing you're gonna get done at profix or ultratune.

[304runner]

Did the exact thing about 12 months ago. My mate had a v8 Calais he S/charged and then wrote it off so he ran out and bought a v6 Calais donor car for 2.5k and we swapped it over in a weekend.

The loom is probably the easiest thing to do in fact. I requires the rubber grommet to be removed from the fire wall and the old loom taken out of it and the new fed threw it.

The hardest part (if you call it that) is removing the v6 K frame and replacing it with the v8 k frame.

We had all the tools and hoists needed and had extensive knowledge on the Aussie 5ltr.

Not something you should try with a Greggory's in one hand and a spanner in the other.

[NickVR]

Did the exact thing about 12 months ago. My mate had a v8 Calais he S/charged and then wrote it off so he ran out and bought a v6 Calais donor car for 2.5k and we swapped it over in a weekend.

The loom is probably the easiest thing to do in fact. I requires the rubber grommet to be removed from the fire wall and the old loom taken out of it and the new fed threw it.

The hardest part (if you call it that) is removing the v6 K frame and replacing it with the v8 k frame.

We had all the tools and hoists needed and had extensive knowledge on the Aussie 5ltr.

Not something you should try with a Greggory's in one hand and a spanner in the other.

I agree with that being the hardest part.

I bought a wreck for $2.5k but replaced as much as possible on it too.
Heater hoses
A/c Condenser (did this one out of necessity, the line stripped the thread in the old one)
Ignition parts (Dist cap, rotor, coil, leads, plugs)
All hoses incl fuel.
New radiator (the one out the wreck had been damaged in the accident it had)
Engine mounts (even one bracket had to be changed, again damaged as a result of the accident)

There were other parts as well that added to the cost of it too. I replaced most things because I wanted to make sure as much as possible was new and saved me the trouble later (Especially distributor parts as that can be difficult to change later).

So the whole conversion (without the parts that I didn't need to do, eg. ceramic coat extractors, brand new AU therm fans etc.) would of cost about $3.5-$4k. If you had someone do it I would think it would be about $4-$5k but this can change depending on the labour rate the mechanic charges and what you get the conversion for.

[T-rex]

@ $60 an hour

Bloody hell in the ACT they try rob $110 an hour out of ya.

[304runner]

Yeah its much cheaper to just sell the car you have and buy a car with a v8 in it.

As much as you maybe attatched to your car (we all are or were at some point) its better on the old wallet in the long run, mate.

Trust me..

[harry000]

Thanks for the replies guys..

Does anyone know of any mechanics in the Melb area that are known for Holden engine conversions?

[304runner]

Mate, why would you spend near 5k on an engine conversion when you can just run out and buy a car with one in it for that price. (just about) Your from Hobart and want to ship your car to Melb for a conversion? All I can see this being is a massive fcuk around and a waste of money.....The only way I see a conversion being worth it to an old VS is if you can do it yourself and save on the labour costs.

And most wreckers will do a conversion anyway.....

[GothicKidd]

My bill for a new engine was $1734.
$850 S/H motor
Labour was $731.. 9.5hours $77/hour
then bits of pieces.

Then wouldnt you require new brakes and suspension to suit..?

[HamaTime™]

My bill for a new engine was $1734.
$850 S/H motor
Labour was $731.. 9.5hours $77/hour
then bits of pieces.

Then wouldnt you require new brakes and suspension to suit..?

I'm guessing your second hand motor was just a new V6 donk...that's completely different to a V6 out - V8 in job

[harry000]

Mate, why would you spend near 5k on an engine conversion when you can just run out and buy a car with one in it for that price. (just about) Your from Hobart and want to ship your car to Melb for a conversion? All I can see this being is a massive fcuk around and a waste of money.....The only way I see a conversion being worth it to an old VS is if you can do it yourself and save on the labour costs.

And most wreckers will do a conversion anyway.....

As I said I'm not interested in negative comments I have made my mind up that I want to do this. $5000 is nothing compared to what I have already spent on the interior upgrades and sound system. That's why I want to keep this car

The reason I am looking for people in Melbourne to do the job is because I am moving there soon.

[VR38]

put the interior and sound system into a BT1.

[304runner]

As I said I'm not interested in negative comments I have made my mind up that I want to do this. $5000 is nothing compared to what I have already spent on the interior upgrades and sound system. That's why I want to keep this car

The reason I am looking for people in Melbourne to do the job is because I am moving there soon.

Yeah Im not too sure what negative comments you have read, you were after advice and I gave it.

Weather or not you were expecting everyone who stumbled across your post to give you the thumbs up based on wishful thinking then, I guess that's your prerogative.

Good luck with it.......ENJOY

[Andrew426]

Why not keep your super awesome V6 commo just for show/hobby and go pick up an old v8 calais just as a daily driver?