My new ride :)

[sleepa]

Hey everyone,
I just want to share with you my new ride. A 2002 series 2 VX 5.7L V8 Berlina wagon (wow, what a mouthful). I ended up swapping my turbo nissan 180sx for it. First Commodore, wagon, and V8, yah!

Model: 2002 VX Series 2 Berlina
Colour: Delft Blue
Bodykit: Stock
Engine Type: 5.7L LS1 V8
Engine Mods: None yet
Power: Stock 225kw
Exhaust: Stock with rear resonator cut out
Gearbox: Auto from VZ SS
Diff: Stock
Brakes: Painted red
Suspension: Lowered, don't know by who
Wheels/Tyres: Stock alloys
Interior: Gauge cluster surround painted delft blue
Other Mods: Dark tint, Blue Xenon style headlight globes
Stereo: Sony headunit with ipod wired in, MB Quart 4 channel amp bridged to 2 channels running Fusion 6.5 inch splits in front, stock rear speakers, Kenwood Mono block amp, Cadence 12inch sub

Cost: $10,000ish
Future Mods/To Do List

Performance Mods:
OTRCAI First incarnation complete
Exhaust system CAT BACK DONE
Tune
Extractors
Cam

Other Mods:
Colour code roof spoiler thing
fix up little scratches
fix gearbox (New gearbox! now to get it tuned
paint interior door handles and air vent surrounds silver
leather gear shifter
new wheels
chrome exterior door handles
White LEDs in footwells and under front seats
Replace dash globes with LEDs

The day I picked it up (those number plates are now long gone)

[OFF T4P]

looks nice mate. good to see you came across from the dark side. got any plans for it

[sleepa]

Thanks, None at the moment, It already has lowered suspension and the rear resonators taken off. Sounds nice, if a bit quiet.

I am upgrading the stereo though, 2 12inch subs, headunit and a few speakers and amps. I might get a bigger exhaust, cold air intake and a cam in the future.

[Mr_Clubsport]

noice

theres a cammed, geared, and stalled one exactly like yours here in SA its HOT

[sleepa]

Gave her a bit of a wax then thought i'd try my hand at some photography

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5...numberplat.jpg

[sleepa]

Got a few things going on lately, In the middle of some engine cover mods, installed my 4 channel speaker amp, working on building my sub box/cargo area setup, and I painted my dash cluster surround Delft blue. Turned out pretty good. Will post some pics up when I'm done.

Also spent 4 days cutting back, polishing, waxing and buffing the berlina. The paint was still in pretty crap condition even after the last polish, but it's better now.

[sleepa]

I had an idea for the stereo recently, properly connect an ipod to it instead of the annoying audio jack. So was looking at ipod cables, those ones that have the 30pin dock, rcas and usb in them, and most places wanted $50 for them and $25 for the usb cigarette lighter.
So I had a looksee on ebay and found both for the grand total of $7. So I started taking apart my dash, and then waited 12 days before they arrived so I could finally put it in, just finished the other day. Now my interiors all together again, and my ipod charges, still trying to think of the best place to put it though.

[VS_Wagon_Baby]

Nice car mate, saw it on street wagons

noice

theres a cammed, geared, and stalled one exactly like yours here in SA its HOT

Is that Grants wagon?

[s_ikari2015]

LS1 Berlina Wagon... probably the best value VT-VX ever made. Power, luxury and utility, all in one.

[VS_Wagon_Baby]

LS1 Berlina Wagon... probably the best value VT-VX ever made. Power, luxury and utility, all in one.

Yeah, they are pretty good they should have put suede in them like the calais though, that would top it off

[sleepa]

Yeah, they are pretty good they should have put suede in them like the calais though, that would top it off

I agree, I love suede! and leather would be nice too.

[sleepa]

Under seat, just fits


I also started painting my interior plastics, it's called desert rose metallic. (only the power windows surround done, the other surround is for comparison)


Might paint all the switches and buttons too, and to make things more difficult (but look better) keep all the original logos on them.

[NVMYVT]

you might wanna take a better pic of the plastics mate, it looks like you haven't touched them yet, (better sharper light source will be your friend with this sort of pic)

[sleepa]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if they turned out alright. Crappy phone pic and really late last night. Not to worry, will get better pics up soon.

[sleepa]

noice

theres a cammed, geared, and stalled one exactly like yours here in SA its HOT

Nice car mate, saw it on street wagons


Is that Grants wagon?

I just saw his on streetwagons, That is bloody nice. And they are pretty similar looks wise, only different wheels, slightly different colour and the rear chev badge is black not gold

[sleepa]

I did a bit more painting today, masked up all the logos and dots as well, took a while but it's worth it.

[Dum*P*ster]

keen to see the plastics painted !!!!!!!

[sleepa]

This arrived this morning.


Low km VZ SS 4L60e, Now to find the time to put it in.

[sleepa]

Just noticed the gearbox has the code 6HAD on it, so it was made in 2006, I heard they are stronger but can't find much info about it.

Can anyone give me a straight answer as to whether or not it has better components in it over the previous gearboxes?

Whether it does or doesn't it's getting fitted this week regardless.

[sleepa]

Gearbox is in! Second gear kicks in pretty hard. I missed that.

Has a few tuning problems as it needs new software to run properly, at the moment it is flaring between 2-3 and 3-4 gears if I give it anymore than medium throttle.

Not to worry, when I get some money I will be getting it tuned along with a maffless tune at the same time. And hopefully an exhaust and OTR.

[sleepa]

Well, I have picked up an second hand exhaust off ebay for $100.

Twin 2.5 inch mild steel cat back. Press bent but smooth angles, with twin Hotdogs and a resonator, twin 3 inch polished tips. Doesn't look very old at all.

Also it has some 2.5 inch engine pipes from the stock manifold back.

Just got to take it to the local exhaust shop to get it modified slightly to fit a wagon. Should sound nice.

[sleepa]

Just got the exhaust fitted, $70. Had to do a bit of cutting and welding in of new pipes but it's in.

We had a look at the engine pipes and they have no cats in them, and they weren't worth cutting the up and putting cats in, so it is just the cat back.

It sounds nice and deep. I wouldn't mind it a bit louder but it is good for now.

[sleepa]

The exhaust must have been pretty new coz in the last week it has become louder and more throbby, like how a v8 should sound. I reckon if I replace the resonator with a smaller straight through one it will sound awesome.

[sleepa]

Wow, I haven't done anything for a while.
So here is a run down.
Basically my exhaust blew a hole in it, and while it sounded way more like an oldschool V8, it would drone like hell on the highway. So I got that welded up again.

I have bought an autometer oil pressure gauge, first one was a mechanical gauge until I realised it would be a lot of work to fit, so I went electric. haven't installed it yet, but will soon.

I also built myself an OTRCAI suitable for a MAF from aluminum sheet. I found 2mm sheet half way through building it out of .5mm so this one may be more of a test mule. The only place that it is a little weak is at the front where the filter fits, but with the filter in it holds pretty well.
Its only riveted together but I think its pretty good for a first try even if it is a little rough.

Sorry bout the quality of the pics, I only have a camera phone at the moment.


I noticed that the exhaust sounds deeper with the OTR installed, but can hardly hear any induction noise unless I step on it.