My 1997 Series II VS Ute

[jokerflingo]

Name: Matt

Model: 1997 VS Ute Series II

Colour: Botanica Mica

Bodykit: Stock

Engine Type: Ecotec 3800

Kms: 190,000

Engine Mods: -

Power: 147kw

Exhaust: 2.5' + Muffler + Hotdog

Gearbox: Billet M35 Getrag 5 Speed

Diff: Stock

Brakes: Stock

Suspension: King Spring Superlows + Monroe GT Sport Lowered Struts/Shocks

Wheels/Tyres: 17" VT SS Wheels

Interior: Dash Mat, Floor Mats, Tacho Dash, Seat Covers

Other Mods: - Holden CAI

Stereo: Alpine CD Player

Security: Central Locking, Immobiliser, Keyless Entry

Build Date: 09/05/97

Cost: $7000

Future Mods: -

Well here she is, my pride and joy. I have just turned 17 and this is my first ute, which will hopefully be one of many to come. She is a beautifully cared after VS Ute and is probably the main reason it took me so long to find one, along with the fact that it had to be a 5 Speed Manual and a 2 Seater But the wait was definitely worth it.

Please do leave comments and feedback along with tips of what i should do first. But one hint i am only 17 so $$$ are very hard to come by and the cheaper the mod is the quicker it'll get done

[txhog]

Nice ute, I did this to my VS ute, maybe if you can afford do these things over time.

First get Cold air intake, Chip/Mencal off Blackstar off Ebay, made heaps of difference. That will initally keep you very happy.

Then Super Lows to dump it a bit.

Then save up and get 3.9 Diff gears about $250 plus $300 to fit.

Maybe extractors if in price range or at least sports exaust

Then if you like stuff like Altezza taillights/headlights thats good mod too.

[Leathal11]

thats a nice looking ute you have there mate looks nice and straight!

and yeah im like you haha bit short on cash!
i havent done any engine mods as of yet only cat back exhaust system but am planning to get a CAI in the neat future,

but i have done the altezza rear lights wacked on a sports bar new front seats and a few more interior mods have a look at my page tell us what you think!

good luck with it all mate

LeAtHaL!!

[tim005]

mate this is such a nice ute.
definitely would love something like this for my first car.
one mod that would make it look better is lowering it.

[kazz]

Nice ute I love my to. 99 VS SS Series III Limited edition.
Cheers

[jokerflingo]

mate this is such a nice ute.
definitely would love something like this for my first car.
one mod that would make it look better is lowering it.

I want to but no money

Plus finding full time employment aint that easy now

[tim005]

I want to but no money

Plus finding full time employment aint that easy now

fair enough, all in great time i guess.
good luck with the job search.

[SLO 057]

nice looking ute you have there,
if it was mine i would go the frosted tail lights, not a fan of these chrome and balck ones.
i also have a set of lows (same as in my pic) sitting here looking for $150 + extra if you wont them fitted that i can do.
and try finding a ss lip for the front and stato/ss ute sides skirts to match cleans it up a bit.
OTR cold air intake, holden sell them for $60 (was when i got mine) and K&N pannel filter
good luck with it,
cheers matt

[lippy6]

nice clean ute

[jokerflingo]

Thanks for all the comments and tips guys, too bad im only 17 and at tafe studying and working part time and am moneyless

Cant wait for the one thing i can afford which is the Billet Shifter

[lippy6]

hey mate get a set of lower springs will dramatically improve the look. its got preety good kms on it. do ur self a favour and treat the gearbox nicely coz when getrags stuff up its very costly

[Ross D.]

hey mate as you know i have a vs v6 as well. things you deffinately need to do is get 3.9s in that diff and a greenfoam tune thats for sure!! and lowering it makes a huge difference not only in looks but handling too. feels a thousand times better once its lowered handling wise. next thing you should get is a foamy tune then save up for diff gears thats for sure, you wont be dissapointed let me tell you. only if you lived in cairns i would show you haha

[tristanjp]

mmmm cant see pics?

[jokerflingo]

hey mate get a set of lower springs will dramatically improve the look. its got preety good kms on it. do ur self a favour and treat the gearbox nicely coz when getrags stuff up its very costly

Yer i have heard about the getrag boxes being expensive to replace but that doesn't change anything as i would never treat my ute badly, also the superlow king springs are on the drawing cards.

hey mate as you know i have a vs v6 as well. things you deffinately need to do is get 3.9s in that diff and a greenfoam tune thats for sure!! and lowering it makes a huge difference not only in looks but handling too. feels a thousand times better once its lowered handling wise. next thing you should get is a foamy tune then save up for diff gears thats for sure, you wont be dissapointed let me tell you. only if you lived in cairns i would show you haha

With the greenfoam tune can i just go to the local wrecker and grab a ecu out of any commodore even if its a auto and greenfoam can reprogram it for my VS V6 Ute Manual? Because i would like to keep a backup just incase and rather not pay an extra $50-$60 dollars and avoid the drivable downtime in between, and it is that box on the passenger side under the glove box bit right? Also the diff gears would be nice but again the $$$ grrrr, and what sort of rpm are you doing on the highway at 110km/h with the 3.9's? As currently in my 5 speed with what i presume are the stock diff gears i get abouts 2250rpm at 110km/h i think it was.

mmmm cant see pics?

Pics are definitely still there and should never move, must be a problem your end.

Thanks guys
Matt.

[jokerflingo]

Bumpety

[Ross D.]

i sit on 2650 on 100 so bit more then that. but how much highway driving do you really do? i only drive at 100 for about 3-5 minutes max and i have gotten better fuel eco. good luck trying to get a memcal, they wouldnt sell me one with out the ecu and they want 130 at the cheapest. just pay greenfoam an extra 50 and he'll send you one.and yeah its that box at the feet of the passenger

[jokerflingo]

Detail is Tomorrow

[jokerflingo]

Well here is the detail update along with some shitty photo's



Thanks so much Tom(SIG-054,) Highly Recommended Detailer, Well worth the trip
Matt.

[SIG-054]

No dramas mate, im glad you like it

Any more pics?

[jokerflingo]

No dramas mate, im glad you like it

Any more pics?

Hmmm, not yet, haven't got around to it, ill try grab some more soon even though they are terrible photo's

Too bad its like a dust magnet now

[old mate]

geez, you arent wrong when you say that they are similar

but you dont have the two tone paint on the right hand side..... was annoyed with that. that will teach me.

[old mate]

any updates with your ute? just a quickie, where did you stick your sub? are you doing it inside the cabin or in the fuel tank compartment?

do you get many rattles with it all and whats the quality like with your system?

cheers.

[jokerflingo]

any updates with your ute? just a quickie, where did you stick your sub? are you doing it inside the cabin or in the fuel tank compartment?

do you get many rattles with it all and whats the quality like with your system?

cheers.

It went next to the fuel tank, was no room in the cab, as for vibrations, when you have it cranking it vibrates a bit in the back, the fuel tank cover, but you cant hear it from the cabin so it doesn't matter, sound quality is as good as its gonna get for a sub in a ute.

[jokerflingo]

Can anyone spot the difference?

[hulmy29]

thats a really nice colour mate. i have 2 12" subs in the back and slowly beating the vibration by using dynamat and single side sticky foam tape and just finding single vibrations and fixing them. all underneath the under fuel tank cover i dynamatted which ended up costing me bout $100 and the little covers in the tub sides which virbrates like hell, so much better