GILLO's VT Berlina - SS Kitted - VY Sigs - Leather Interior

[GILLO]

Hey Guys, this is my first post, just got my first ride, what do you think?

Name: Jason
Age: 20
Model: VT Series I Berlina
Year: 1998
Colour: Amazon Blue

Engine Type: 3.8L Ecotec 5 Speed Manual

Brakes: RDA Slotted Rotors with QFM HPX Police Spec brake Pads + Blue callipers
Suspension: SSL King Springs and KYB Shortened shocks
Wheels/Tyres: 19" VY Signature Rims
Interior: VX Calais Shale Leather 8 way electric seats and black plastics

Build Period: Since dec 9th 2008

Interior Mods:
-------------------
- Blue tacho background
- Silver speedo needles
- Phreddy Blue/White Dash cluster and buttons
- VX Series 2 black dash plastics and door trims
- VX Calais Sun Visors
- Blue SMD footwell lighting with switch
- All interior roof lights changed to white LED globes
- VX SS Silver Dash surround
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Leather Auto Shifter with Chrome button
- Leather Centre Console Lid
- VZ Sunglass Holder
- VY SS Leather and satin chrome handbrake
- VY SS Satin Chrome door handles
- VY Silver Air vents (front doors)
- VY SS Peddles
- VX Calais Shale Leather 8 way electric seats
- VY Calais Leather Steering wheel
- VY Satin Manual pedals

Stereo Mods:
-------------------
- Kenwood KDC-MP5043U USB/cd/iPod Headunit
- Alpine PDX-5 Amp
- Kenwood 12inch Sub
- Pioneer TS-A6962E 6x9 Speakers
- Pioneer TS-A1672S 6 inch door speakers

Exterior:
-------------------
- Window Tint
- VT Chrome Grill (DIY)
- Clear side Indicators
- LPG Conversion
- De-Badge excluding Lions
- VX Calais II chrome window surrounds
- VX SS Front bumper customised with Chrome VT Grills
- VX SS Side Skirts and VT SS rear bar
- VX SS fog lights
- 19" VY Senator Signature rims
- WH Caprice Chrome outer door handles
- VX Calais taillights and garnish with chrome strip

Performance:
- 1.9:1 High ratio roller rockers
- 2.5 inch redback catback exhaust with hotdog in the rear
- LSD with 3.45 gears
- K&N Panel Air filter

Other Mods:
-------------------
- VY rear cradle with toe adjusters
- LSD from VY SV8
- Redback 2 1/2" Catback exhaust
- RDA Slotted rotors to go with Police Spec QFM pads
- Brake Calipers painted Blue with Hi-Temp paint
- KYB Shocks and King Spring Super Lows
- Phillips Crystal Vision White Low beam and fog light globes
- Chrome mesh in lower grill behind front bumper
- Painted Engine Cover (Dark Blue)

What's Next:



Aiming to build a nice tidy car that will get me through my P's

Please post any comments/suggestions, thanks guys.

[Full Spectrum]

That's my baby !.. Great buy congrats - sweet colour (biased)..

Word of advice. Watch out for the swirl marks that colour just brings them out so bad.

Check out my ride.. The series 2 berlina.. Couple of little extra things, Chrome around the windwos sets it off a little more away from the exec.. Chrome door handles from the WL-WK caprice one of them look good.

[GILLO]

Got an update.

Put in new chrome interior door handles, K&N Panel Air Filter, and replaced the Orange Series I tail lights with Series II clear tail lights.

Just a few pics:





PLEASE POST COMMENTS GUYS

[VRFURY]

nice first ride, Be good to it nice cars <3 a berlina

[GILLO]

Been thinking about getting some new rims and lowering it a touch at the back. I am thinking Lows in the front and Superlows in the back. And for rims I would love some VY SS or VY sigs

[s1knt]

looks nice amnte need to be dumped

[sxc_sound]

sweet ride mate, make the gear shifter button and handbrake buttons in chrome first on your to do list. They look sweet and will match the interior handles really nicely.♠

[GILLO]

sweet ride mate, make the gear shifter button and handbrake buttons in chrome first on your to do list. They look sweet and will match the interior handles really nicely.♠

Yeh mate got a leather interior kit the other day

Also is it better for a mechanic to swap the steering wheel over? wouldn't want to do anything because of the airbag.

[Full Spectrum]

Nice mate.. I'd go Auto elec for the steering mate. That way they can reset the airbag light if it goes off. They would be more capable then a general mechanic.

[GILLO]

Have installed the new leather centre console lid, Leather handbrake with Chrome button and Leather Auto Shifter with Chrome button. Makes the interior look so much better. Also installed my new head unit, sub and amp.

Pics:





Have also got some Rear Super Low King Springs I was gonna get a mate to put in, do i need anything else before i get them put in? Like shorter shocks or anything?

[VTCommy]

Oi mate i reckon you should leave the rims that you have on it... i dont think the VZ calais rims look that good. but just my opinion. still a seet as car mate!

[GILLO]

Oi mate i reckon you should leave the rims that you have on it... i dont think the VZ calais rims look that good. but just my opinion. still a seet as car mate!

Yeh these rims have grown on me a bit, will wait a bit till i get some new ones, the vz calais rims are no longer in the plans

[Full Spectrum]

Hey check out Ebay. They have cheap Calais V rims for around $599 - $799. Already machined to fit the VT-VZ cars.

SL would look good. Most go SL front and SSL rear to make the rear sit lower. Sometimes it sits up a touch to much.

[GILLO]

SL would look good. Most go SL front and SSL rear to make the rear sit lower. Sometimes it sits up a touch to much.

So will i need anything else besides the springs? For now I will just lower the back to SL and leave front as is.



I did a mod to my air intake snorkel so more air can flow through to the air box. Pics:



Thoughts/Opinions appreciated

Getting some new brake pads shortly, QFM HPX Police Spec. Might paint the brake callipers blue while I am at it.

[Full Spectrum]

Maybe some lowered shocks, And you might need a camber/toe kit. Short term you wont, Long term for tyres yes.


How is that snorkel mod going ?.

[GILLO]

Maybe some lowered shocks, And you might need a camber/toe kit. Short term you wont, Long term for tyres yes.


How is that snorkel mod going ?.

Will probably just end up putting FE2 springs in there now, too much effort replacing shocks, camber kit etc.

Don't know about the snorkel mod yet, apparently more cool air gets into the engine, getting better fuel efficiency, what other little things can i do for better fuel efficiency/more power??

[Full Spectrum]

I just gave my air flow meter a good clean out. Starts better i hope fuel economy is up also. Power chip unleashed some hidden puppys make the motor more efficient.
KN filter. Plugs leads injectors cleaned. Larger throttle body could also be better for low down take off saving fuel. Even changing a fuel filter can help.

I get about 14.5 more town driving it's about 85% town hardly any highway. But if i change that to about 65-35% it comes down to 10.5-11.5.

[GILLO]

No real updates on the car. Got my P's two weeks ago tho.

Got some new pics up

[GILLO]

Just a small update. Had Gas installed the other day by EzyGas in Sunshine. Its running well, smoother than petrol but not quite as much power. Very clean install. Very happy with it at the moment. Some pics of the boot:

BEFORE:


BEFORE:


WITH GAS:

[mitch-vt]

hey mate lovin the car!
are you still looking at getting new rims?
would you consider selling those ones??

[GILLO]

hey mate lovin the car!
are you still looking at getting new rims?
would you consider selling those ones??

These ones have grown on me and cash is very limited at the moment, but in the future would love some VY SS, VY sigs or VE GTS rims.

[Fitzy09]

Just a kwik question, did you just dip the vents in paint stripper to get them chrome?

[GILLO]

Just a kwik question, did you just dip the vents in paint stripper to get them chrome?

Yeh i just unscrewed them and sprayed paint stripper on them. Then just put them under water to remove the black paint. Took about 20mins to do and it looks so much better. Here are some links mate:

Chrome grill on vt: this is how to do it cheap..

HOW TO: chrome your vx calais/berlina grill (lots of pics)

I am going to be creative and try to fit them to a VX SS bumper that i should be picking up this week, as well as the chrome trim around the middle, i have no idea how but hopefully I can manage something.

[BrotherFrank]

how much did the gas set you back?

[GILLO]

how much did the gas set you back?

Hey mate the Gas was $2266, but the Government Rebate is $1750 which you get back within 2 weeks. Doesn't cost much and is definitely worth it, saving about $30-$40 a week so I'm happy.