VY Berlina Drive Train Strength

[PeterVX2]

I have the opportunity to buy a VY Berlina 5.7 auto with 140,000 KLM on it at a very reasonable price.

It is a one ( older owner ) car and has the LSD.

I am sure the motor will need work.

Is it better to just put another rebuilt stock 5.7 in or can the drive train take a 6.0 or 6.2 motor in standard tune.

I am only interested in good low speed torque for cruising and easy overtaking etc.

The standard 5.7 does not have good low ( rev ) torque.

I realize that the 6.0 and 6.2 motors may require different software in engine management.

I would welcome any comments from people with experience in this area.



Regards all

[Adds_05]

what makes you think the motor will need work? its only done 140,000kms which isnt a lot...

[Techofred]

I agree with adds_05
My VY 5.7 has done 135k and runs as sweet as.

With the original owner being older, he probably hasnt thrased it, and serviced it regularly.

[chargedvx6]

6l or 5.7l.................if you want better bottom end a set of diff gears and or a cam will fix that quick smart. The most expensive diff gears and head n cam install will still be cheaper than a 6l conversion and just as good

[VYMAD]

I can't see why the engine will need work either. If the old bloke has serviced it and not hammered it, then it should have at least another 140,000 + in it yet!

[Sabbath']

By the time you're finished messing around with unnecessary work on this motor. Why not just buy a 6 or 6.2L if you're so hell bent on the "extra torque".

[Surfwagon]

Nothing wrong with the kilomtres on that engine, don't waste your money changing ($3-10K depending on mods and who does it) it for more low down torque, much cheaper and easier to change ratio in diff, probably no more that $1000.
A VY 5.7L berlina will only have 3.07 gears in it.
If you do a lot of highway driving then a set of 3.46 gears will be good allrounders but if you want a jack rabbit down low and aren't too worried about fuel economy then go for some 3.73 or 3.9's.

[PeterVX2]

Thanks all for the feedback.

I have been down the low ratio diff once before many decades ago on a modified Fairmont V8 in the early 1970's and was not happy overall with the result.

A lower ratio diff means higher engine revs when cruising, more noise and more fuel consumption. Yes the improvement to performance was there. From memory, I went from a 2.9 to a 3.5.

I realise that a lot of people go the diff route, but in reality, it is only disguising the 5.7's lack of low rev torque.

The reason I am not interested in a vehicle with stock 6.0 or 6.2 motor is because it would be a VE Commodore. An awfull ill considered heavy car. VX II and VY's are approx 200 KG lighter.

I know a few 6.0 litre VZ's were made, but I am tired of looking at thrashed / modified ones.

My current vehicles are a 2002 VX II Equipe V6 auto ( best Commodore ever ) and a current XR6 Falcon. I prefer driving the Commodore.

If I settle on a VX II VY V8, it is the Falcon to go.

[Surfwagon]

A few points you bought up have merit but there are a few things to consider.
Yes the LS1 has a lack of low down torque but it also likes to rev unlike earlier Holden V6 & V8's and current ford V6 & V8's, all of which sounded like they were being thrashed when you upped the revs.
Your eralier Fairmont V8 would have been straining at the bit going up to 3.5's.
That lack of revability is still a ctriticism by motoring journos of the current Ford V8's even with there so called high tech double overhead cam heads.
I had a VS supercharged V6 fitted with 3.45's and yes you noticed the higher revs on the highway but it had both better acceleration and better fuel economy.
Yet my current LS2 Senator 6.0L 4sp auto has 3.46 std and I have never noticed the extra revs because as I said they love to rev and never feels strained at higher revs unlike the earlier mentioned engines.
Sometimes I even forget that I have it 3rd not drive and only notice the difference when I accelerate and the car bursts out of the blocks do I then realise its not in drive (4th gear overdrive).