The "Halfcast" VT LS1

[TA 91 WA]

Name: Tom.
Model: VTII Gen III LS1.
Colour: Black/White.
Bodykit: VY Calais front end/SS body kit.
Engine Type: LS1.
Engine KM's: 190,xxx
Engine Mods: K&N Cold air intake with 3A racing pod filter. (Will be changed, as it looks cheap in my opinion)
Power: 280RWHP. (Dyno'd)
Exhaust: Factory manifolds, Twin 3" Manta Exhaust.
Gearbox: 4L60E 4-Speed Auto.
Diff: Factory LSD
Brakes: Stock.
Suspension: FE2 All round.
Wheels/Tyres: VZ SS 18" Wheels powder coated gun-metal grey.
Interior: Statesman/Calais leather? (Not sure to be honest)
Other Mods: None, yet
Stereo: JVC Head unit, Soundsteam Tarantula splits, Soundstream Tarantula 6x9's, Blaupunkt 2 and 4 channel amps, 2 x 12" Rampage subs (I got the subs for free so shhhh)
Purchase cost of vehicle: $5000
Money spent on vehicle so far: $500
Future Mods:
- Respray (Full respray, tempted to keep the same halfcast scheme).
- Audio installation (Will be ordering some nice equipment from shoppingsecure.com.au).
- Engine bay clean-up (Self explainatory really, just clean it all up and make it look nice).
- Cam (Of course).
- Radiator and new hoses.
- New diff.
- Pacemaker extractors (Still has stock manifolds).
- New VY front bar.
- OTRCAI and tune.
- Chrome door handles (Interior and Exterior).
- Super Low's all round
- New boot garnish

Notes: Not really a car I want to crunch dyno numbers or 1/4 mile speeds. My objective for this car is to clean it all up and be proud of it. I want the engine bay to look mint, I want the exterior of the car to look professional and just something to be proud of, whilst keeping a half factory look

(I welcome negative and positive feedback, IF it is negative, please make it constructive).

Tom.

[FORGIVEME]

Nice sterio set up mate the only bad thing i hav tO say is get rid of the vy front end imo it looks very mis matched with the rear of the car and maybe go a vt ss front end u cant go wrong with an ss front end imo but good work so far mate

[booders9]

Love the interior. I wanna seee the front end. Will be interesting.

[TA 91 WA]

Added new photos of the VY front end

[booders9]

Wow ! Different !
Some VY mirrors would set it off nicely. and maybe some series 2 rear lightS?

[Trayner]

Looks good mate , how did you go about the front end ?

[TA 91 WA]

Looks good mate , how did you go about the front end ?

I personally didn't do the front end. It was sold to me like that, but I am aware he had trouble passing pits with it as it needed more front end mounts or something.

-UPDATE-

Got some nice new accessories in the mail today. Got my new air vents and some new o2 sensors, let's hope for better fuel economy

[calais24/7]

Looks good, Not sure on the white and black though, definatly something differant. But i can't stand vt rear lights.

[NonStick Squid]

not a fan of the vts especially the rear end but tha leather looks shmexy as. Oh and they're vz ss wheels in the pics...

[TA 91 WA]

not a fan of the vts especially the rear end but tha leather looks shmexy as. Oh and they're vz ss wheels in the pics...

Fixed, thanks for that

[paynetrainvy]

It is very different I must admit if I was you I'd loose the chrome mesh an get the factory lower grille.

[TA 91 WA]

It is very different I must admit if I was you I'd loose the chrome mesh an get the factory lower grille.

2 questions based on this.

1) Can I just get another VY Calais Series 1 bumper with the fog lights built into them
or
2) Can I get the lower grille with the fog lights? I want to keep it looking factory, as I know the mesh looks like absolute crap.

[paynetrainvy]

You should be able to just buy the lower grille. Just keep watching eBay.

Another thing, you have thought about changing your side mirrors to the vy/vz style??

[TA 91 WA]

You should be able to just buy the lower grille. Just keep watching eBay.

Another thing, you have thought about changing your side mirrors to the vy/vz style??

I haven't as I'm not sure they'd fit, should I possibly invest in some?

(Coming to these forums with everyones creative minds are amazing)

[Calaber]

An interesting design. I've wondered how the later front end would suit the early rear.

I agree with some others. The series 1 VT taillights need to be replaced with series 2's. The 1's looked awful with that orange indicator.

Get the Calais lower grille. I tried to sell one on this forum about a year ago without success, but it went on e-bay for $40. Bet you won't find one that cheap now.

The two-tone doesn't work because of the way it runs around the C-pillar. It should either extend to the boot or go altogether.

Personal taste, but I don't like black or dark grey wheels. I'd have the rims resprayed to the original colour but I know lots of others here would disagree.

[TA 91 WA]

Basically I bought the car as is, I haven't changed anything exterior wise, as I'm slowly fixing the engine and the problems related to the check powertrain light.

But I'm inviting everyone to keep watching this thread and watch the car evolve into a nice overall car

The paint will be changed completely. Will be going a maroon as the same color as the leather interior. The front mesh will be changed to a proper calais grille and the wheels will be changed back to standard or chrome to match the maroon

It's all apart of the plans for this car

[Leighhills1]

Soooo......... Made any progress on this lately?

[TA 91 WA]

Haha. Hey Leigh.

Massive update. Car was for sale, deal fell through so car is staying with me.

Got the fog lights installed and working. Looks beautiful

Paint job is booked for this Friday. Couple of changes will be made to the vehicle on the exterior part.

1) The black will go all the way to the boot and not stop at the window as it is currently.
2) VX style boot will be replacing the VT boot, as it simply looks much better. (Unless I can get a Calais backend before Friday).
3) Got 2 new VZ style guards with flutes going on to replace the guards currently on the vehicle.
4) Got chrome door handles and also got new v8 badges for the guards.

Engine is still running sluggish, so I will be ordering the Altec OBD-II tech tool to see what's going on. Check engine light is intermittently coming on, but car is still misfiring even after new coils, plugs, leads and O2 sensors.

I managed to get an OTRCAI off a mate for $50, so will most probably get a tune off Steve @ Oztrack whilst the vehicle is off the road and install it all.

Besides that, not much else had changed, been fixing minor interior things and also the exhaust.

The to do list for the rest of the year:

1) Paint job and body will be done by the end of September.
2) New/Rebuilt diff with either 3.7 or 3.9 ratio, will probably go 3.7 to save on fuel.
3) Get an auto electrician to test the electrics and alternator. (Swear I need a new alternator).
4) Put OTR on and get a tune supplied on a BCM for me from Steve.
5) Get all interior lights working again (ASR rep here in WA can do that when I head up to Perth).
6) New brakes all round thanks to GSLRallysport.

Will update when the paint job is done and will upload pictures.

Tom.

[Leighhills1]

where the pictures at c#nt

[Whitesack07]

personally i dont like the look of the VY front on it the backend doesnt suit it, if it was me i would go with a VX SS front end on it with the SS side skirts an rear bar, would set it off nicely i reckon, paint job will look good once its complete

[troykinsvt]

seriously 2 days ago i thought about doing this to my series 1 vt , i love how fat the a*se is of the vt after light conversion and i like the mean grunt the front brings with it , looking at it now i actullay wouldnt do it round and sharp dont go to well, look oober sexy in a way GOOD SCORE

[Noisy]

why is there series one tail lights on a series 2 any way who would have put them on or is it a series one with a motor swap