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Sleepas new VR work ute

sleepa

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2010 VE SS Sportwagon, Audi A4, Combo work hack
Model: 1993 VR Ute
Colour: Gloss Black (Jet Black?), Was once white
Bodykit: None as yet
Engine Type: Original 3.8L V6, Now 5L V8 (from a VT Clubsport apparently, but has been converted to VN - VS spec)
Engine Mods: None as far as I can tell
Power: No Idea, above 165kw hopefully
Exhaust: Single 2.5 inch Catback
Gearbox: Was Manual T5, Now 4L60E
Diff: Yep, no idea what it is though but it's F****D
Brakes: Painted red
Suspension: Lowered on Kings (Gonna get something better soon it's killing me)
Wheels/Tyres: At the moment 15inch factory alloys of some sort
Interior: Series 2/3 Statesman Dash, Climate control and Level 3 Cluster, Leather and woodgrain
Stereo: SONY BT thing, and some Pioneer speakers
Cost: $1,500

Mods:
Converted to 5l V8
Changed to auto
Series 3 Statesman Dash and Cluster
Full Statesman wiring loom and BCM with factory wiring for power windows/mirrors/door locks, etc
Leather Seats (2 seat conversion)
Power windows installed
Climate control added
Cruise control
Custom made polished aluminium hard lid
Chrome window surrounds
Statesman Variable speed steering rack
Statesman Variable speed intermittent wipers
Chrome inner door handles
Tub liner
Statesman Leather Steering Wheel
VS Caprice Glovebox fill in panel/glovebox
VS Caprice Door trims


Future Mods/To Do List

Performance Mods:
Extractors
Cam

Interior Mods:
Air Conditioning
Some Caprice bits, bit more woodgrain and leather
Leather Shifter and Handbrake
Caprice Electric Seats with memory

Other Mods:
Higher front springs for the weight of the V8, FE2 maybe
VS Caprice front end conversion
Fog Lights
Caprice grill
Maybe 2 toned, Black over dark grey
Polish up these factory alloys


New Photos here.




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Original post here.

I recently decided that I needed a proper work ute so started looking to find something that would suit.

After a few weeks of searching I found this.

1993 VR Manual V6 ute.
260,000km on clock but a new engine was just installed with 160,000km on it (Stripped down and cleaned, all new gaskets, etc)
2.5 inch Cat back
SS Inductions intake
Lowered on Kings
Koya 18 inch rims

It needs a bit of work tidying it up, but I reckon for $1500 it was a good buy.

It was once white but has had a respray a few years ago, they did a pretty good job but missed the tub.

Plans so far:
Polish paint, clean interior, fit new taillights and a few other plastic bits that are broken.
NewVRWorkUte-12_zpsafcd22c1.jpg

NewVRWorkUte-14_zps991c6f91.jpg

NewVRWorkUte-11_zpsd540f5e3.jpg

NewVRWorkUte-04_zps68bbc5cb.jpg

NewVRWorkUte-03_zps3f1d11a2.jpg

NewVRWorkUte-02_zpscea064ae.jpg
 
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peeds13

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Looks great for $1500 mate!
 

sleepa

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Cheers.

Since the body is pretty nice I may even consider dropping an 8 in there in the future, and a full statesman dash, leather seats.. etc

But I bought this as a work ute not a project, the Impala will come first if I don't get carried away on this.
 

peeds13

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There's nothing wrong wit having a comfy work ute though, stato interior wouldn't cost too much.
Lol it's always hard not to get carried away
 

sleepa

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Comfy, fun work ute. Sounds perfect.

I know a guy who did a full statesman conversion including V8 into a VS ute and it turned out amazing.
I would love to do something similar, and I probably will as this ute will be advertising a business so needs to look pretty damn good.

But once again first is to get it regoed, then I can start getting carried away with it after lol.
 

sleepa

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Did I mention that it is a 3 seater?

Kinda cool to have a bench with a manual.

Anyway, I started some work on it. First was to clean the interior as it had previously been used as a work ute for a tyre shop for most of its life. So was covered in dirt and grime. As I am a detailer I like a clean car, so this involved taking out the seats, shampooing the carpet and cleaning every plastic surface.
Also the seats were lucky enough to get a full shampoo.

Still been very busy with work but trying to get as much done on this as soon as I can.

I will get some more pics up later but here is a little teaser for now.
 

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VS_Pete

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Nice pickup mate. Looks good.
 

sleepa

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Here's a lesson for everyone.

Don't assume that just because things are meant to be easy doesn't mean that they are.

Today involved simply installing a head unit that I had lying around.

So I hooked it all up then found out there was no sound, realising the previous owner ran new speaker cables I hooked them up, but still nothing. So off came the door trims and I found out there were no speakers there. Ok easy fix, I was gonna replace them anyway.

Then I realised they took the spacers too. So out to super cheap to grab some 25mm Speaker Spacers which just fit the speakers.
So ok, door trims on, speakers and head unit work. Then I tried to mount the head unit.

No head unit mounts!

And as I don't have much time to get this ready I made some of my own, turned out pretty good actually. So that was in.

Then I noticed the speaker wiring (and aftermarket central locking wiring) was just shoved up under the dash. I hate that, so I ripped out the glovebox etc and rerouted (and lengthened) all the cabling up and around the original wiring loom. They put the module for the central locking under the dash on the drivers side, just above the pedals, and the power wire for it was just looped around a fuse and plugged into the fuse holder. Obviously that needed fixing, so I mounted that under the dash just to the right of the heater controls and wired it up properly.





That's where I'm at now.

At least it will be all good after I'm done.
 

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sleepa

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Everything sorted stereo wise.

All trim back together and air vents cleaned out.

Problem i'm going to have is one of the previous owners broke a few plastic bits, on of them is on the heater controls the plastic bit that screws down is broken, so when I turn the knob to hot the whole lot pushes out at me.

A few other clips and screws have been broken. I reckon they did them up with an electric screwdriver and went too far.
Gonna have to find some time to go to a wreckers now and get replacements.
 

sleepa

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Photos!

When I got it






After I shampooed the passenger seats.


More to come when it gets light again. Maybe tomorrow if I don't have work.

Also, started on the next step to getting this regoed.

The engine had been freshly replaced before I bought it and as such had only driven a few hundred metres, so I need to double check everything and make sure it all works.
So far it looks good. Checked for any codes, I got a few, but unplugged the battery and put it back in and now its all good, so that is nice.

Only major problem I have so far is the oil light is flickering. I think it might be due to the pins on the switch covered in oil. When I get time i'll take it out and clean it all up with white spirits, hopefully get rid of the oil and any remaining moisture.

The oil is by far the nicest I have ever seen, it is perfect!. I guess that's what happens when you have an engine rebuilt. So I am assuming that the oil pick up is also good. Will check the switch and electrical side of it first before going any further. Then try to find an oil pressure gauge to double check.
 

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