The Fox 2.0 - VZ V8 Thunder

[one_and_only2004]

So there comes a time in a man's life where he realises that he's wasting time playing with V6's - this happened to me in march 2011 when I traded in the Blown VY S for a 2007 VZ SS Thunder utility.

The ute came standard with a 2.5" twin straight through exhaust - It sounded awesome, but it was obnoxiously loud so it HAD to be replaced, by a set of pacemaker Tri-Y's, magnaflow cats, and an X-force 2.5" twin stainless exhaust.
The standard thunder rims made way for a set of 19" XHP Jets in chrome but all they did was emphasise the 3 feet of ground clearance - soon to be fixed I hope.
The choked standard intake is being replaced with a much easier breathing DuSpeed OTR whenever I can find someone reputable to tune the thing, and after I can work out if I want a cam or not.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Ka Kawww!

[one_and_only2004]

So I rang up Bayside Performance Services in Brisbane and talked to a fella about my cam, tune and all the other bits required. I'm getting a 218/233 112 LSA cam installed plus tuned for under $3k - he said I'll be easily over 300rwkw.

[Essassin]

Sounds like you've got the power lined up, just needs to be dropped a bit! And maybe some mesh to go behind that huge gap in the front bar. Manual or auto?

[one_and_only2004]

I'm very hesitant over dropping it much, maybe a little in the back. I've done the lowered car thing and all it does is flog out all the other suspension bits. The front bar has mesh in there, I just need to take it off and paint it up again as it's got a bit of stone chip syndrome... And it's a manual, would have preferred an Auto but this was what I could find at the time.

[drift-it]

any forced induction plans???

[one_and_only2004]

I was contemplating maybe an ASE turbo kit, but in all honesty it has traction issues as it is. I do have a Raptor supercharger sitting in the shed off my old VY and I've thought long and hard about putting that on...

[Essassin]

I'm very hesitant over dropping it much, maybe a little in the back. I've done the lowered car thing and all it does is flog out all the other suspension bits. The front bar has mesh in there, I just need to take it off and paint it up again as it's got a bit of stone chip syndrome... And it's a manual, would have preferred an Auto but this was what I could find at the time.

I can understand that, my driveway is an absolute bastard so I can't really lower my car too much, but I lowered that back so it sits even with the front. Looks spastic with the back higher imo. Can I ask why you'd prefer auto? My last car and my current one are auto and I'm so bored of it lol

[one_and_only2004]

I'd prefer an auto because of the fun. Everyone knows that the standard auto setup in the commodores is pretty shit, but once you get a tune they adjust it up and it makes the car completely different to drive. I used to be a 100% manual is superior kind of guy till I met RaptorChargedVX in Brisbane and he took me for a drive in his auto VY SS - never again will I bag out an automatic car.
Manuals are indeed a lot of fun when doing EPIC skids though.

[soop]

Looks very tidy.
Not a huge fan of the front bar, Never have been a massive HSV fan.

Love the colour though.

Needs to be lower.

[Raptor Charged VX]

twin snails julian

[one_and_only2004]

twin snails julian

I'll swap you a fuel system for a set of turbos?

[Raptor Charged VX]

No deal buddy

[one_and_only2004]

Trent - the guy who's never been a team player.

[Raptor Charged VX]

Come on mow Julian

[vysute]

car looks great! hopefully it comes along as well as the old fox ey mate haha!

[one_and_only2004]

car looks great! hopefully it comes along as well as the old fox ey mate haha!

Thanks boss, I hope so! I head up to Brisbane next Wednesday to have the cam and otr fitted and tuned, then we'll see how it goes after that I guess.

[Lazza78]

nice ute u got yaself julian .... bayside performance is near me so u better drop by and show me the beast while ur in my area mate

[one_and_only2004]

nice ute u got yaself julian .... bayside performance is near me so u better drop by and show me the beast while ur in my area mate

Thanks boss, it's a little bit of a step up eh? I'm going to the Cleveland branch and I'll be staying with Trent (we're ATTEMPTING to do the fuel system for his turbo rig) so you should drop by or something, or we'll come around if we finish up early.

[Lazza78]

u have to pretty much go past my place to get to the cleveland bayside performance... either way we will have to catch up as im on hols for the next 2 weeks....

big step up mate, im digging the red rocket

[one_and_only2004]

So I got back from the tuners today after having the cam installed. Car drives like a stocker with a bit of an angry idle but it rips skids like there's no tomorrow!

[Lazza78]

nice work julian..... i heard about the gateway episode this arvo lol... hope u enjoy it mate

when u headin back to nsw buddy ??

[one_and_only2004]

nice work julian..... i heard about the gateway episode this arvo lol... hope u enjoy it mate

when u headin back to nsw buddy ??

Yeah, it was hairy, a bit of smoke and screeching, but I made it onto the ramp.. I should be around to saturday most likely, I think we're doing the fuel system tomorrow, come around!

[one_and_only2004]

So these showed up at my door this week, koni adjustable shocks for the back, and adjustable strut inserts for the front. There's also a set of kings lowered springs in the mix too.





Got into the rear end tonight, Installed the right side spring and shock, plus the whiteline swaybar, along with some nolathane swaybar linkages. I found out that I need TWO sets of nolathane swaybar linkage bushes, so I've ordered another one so I can finish the other side. I couldn't find a spring compressor, so I bought a packet of cable ties and found some bailing twine...

[Gus]

nice car, so i have an automatic would the same apply to my acclaim? I've been thinking about a tune for awhile but never really got around to it..
haha and i like the DIY Spring Compressor. Would love to try it sometime. How did it work out?

[one_and_only2004]

Well it did the job, though I put it outside when I finished and could hear the cable ties snapping for the next 30 minutes. As for the suspension in your acclaim I'd assume it would be the same, I've never looked under a sedan so I don't know to be honest.