Dave's VZ executive wagon

[davo43]

Hi everyone, though it was about time I introduced myself and my car.

I'm Dave and I drive a VZ executive wagon in odyssey blue. The mrs and myself bought the car about 6 weeks ago as we needed something roomy, comfortable and reliable for our upcoming road trip across Australia

The car came pretty much stock with window tint, bluetooth phone kit, towbar and cargo barrier.

First modification was to fit a stock twin pipe SS thunder exhaust system (cat back). I'm very impressed with the results as it not only looks good with the twin chrome tailpipes but it also has stronger pick-up and better mileage

I then spent some time removing the towbar, tow loom and phone kit as I doubt we are going to need them enough to justify the untidy look they give to the car...

I have since fitted genuine satin chrome door handles, door vents, a leather steering wheel with satin chrome spokes and a leather stitched/satin chrome handbrake. I also purchased black steering wheel controls off eBay as I didn't like the grey ones, only to find they were off a VY and had different connections! Un-phased, I disassembled the VZ set from my car and the new black VY set, switched the internals and re-assembled them and they work perfect!

I'm pretty excited today as I'm waiting for a phone call to say that my brand new 18" CV8 monaro/SSZ/Thunder rims and tyres have arrived Also arriving today is a genuine satin chrome and leather shifter from a Calais model...

So yeah, the car is coming along really well and looks 100 times classier than it did when we bought it! I have plenty more mods up my sleeve but I'll keep them quiet until I'm positive what's viable without wasting money... So far, I've managed to do everything for under 500 dollars (excluding the mags).

Anyway, so there's my intro, will post up pics as soon as I have them - watch this space!

[PaulSV6]

Well done, mate. Car seams to be coming along very nicely.

Cant wait for pics.

[davo43]

Cheers dude... Pics will be coming once I can find the connector for my phone

[88GreenVN]

Disassemble controls - sounds like somthing I end up doing

Mod in the pipeleine .... (the WL cluster looks sweet in the VZ too) Mine will be in the post to Phreddy by weeks end.

[DUK13Y]

Sounds good. Would love to see those pics.

[Johnsy]

pic's....pic's.....pic's

how much did you get the wheels for ? and did that include the rubber ?

[davo43]

Disassemble controls - sounds like somthing I end up doing

Mod in the pipeleine .... (the WL cluster looks sweet in the VZ too) Mine will be in the post to Phreddy by weeks end.

Yeah I'm waiting to hear back as I want to fit an SV8 cluster... Failing that, I wouldn't mind Berlina, calais or SVZ/Lumina...

Sounds good. Would love to see those pics.

Cheers dude... Wish I'd got photos before I started tinkering too...

[davo43]

pic's....pic's.....pic's

how much did you get the wheels for ? and did that include the rubber ?

Double-post cos I just missed your post... I managed to snaffle the CV8/SSZ/Thunder rims brand new with brand new tread for $1700 delivered... Only problem is the freight company are absolute rubbish and are giving me the runaround... All I want is to be notified a few hours before they are going to turn up so I can drop in home from work to collect...

[jameswh]

Sounds like a fantastic wagon mate. I'm keen to see those pics!
When do you head off on this trip of yours?

[davo43]

Sounds like a fantastic wagon mate. I'm keen to see those pics!
When do you head off on this trip of yours?

Leave on the 29th of December and arrive in Perth on the 9th of January - we're pretty excited about it - new horizons and all that... Plus the trip itself will be an adventure

I'll really have to get onto these pics... I don't have any "before" pics but I'm sure everyone knows what a stock odyssey vz wagon looks like...

[jameswh]

What better way to complete the trip than in a Holden.
Sounds like quite an adventure.
Hope it goes well.

[davo43]

What better way to complete the trip than in a Holden.
Sounds like quite an adventure.
Hope it goes well.

Thanks dude

Fitted the CV8 rims on Saturday - the wagon is really starting to look the part!

Current mods:
Leather/satin chrome interior upgrade
- steering wheel
- handbrake
- door handles
- vents
CV8 monaro rims (version two I think??)
Tint
SVZ badging (love it or hate it!)
SS exhaust system (catback)

Waiting for fitting:
SS accellerator pedal
Satin chrome/leather shifter
Black shifter surround and power button
2 hole mod
Black hubs and calipers

Waiting for delivery:
SV6/SV8/SVZ headlights
SS footrest and brake pedal
Leather shifter boot

Future mods(let me know if you have anything you want to sell):
Upgraded cluster
SS console (upper and lower)
6 stacker
Satin chrome cluster surround
HSV leather door trims
Extractors
FE2 front suspension
Floor mats
Front strut brace
Rear swaybar
Berlina/Calais/SVZ front bar

I have pics now, just waiting to get them onto the computer

[davo43]

Car is almost finished and as promised I finally have some pics! Enjoy

Still left to do:

- 2 hole mod
- Black hubs and calipers
- Upgraded cluster
- 6 stacker
- Satin chrome cluster surround
- HSV leather door trims
- Extractors
- FE2 front suspension
- Front strut brace
- Rear swaybar
- Berlina/Calais/SVZ front bar

But you have to admit it's coming along pretty well

[andyman]

looks great, that was the colour i was originally going to get with mine, but the guys at work delayed the disposal of the vehicle so i ended up with the one ive got now,

needs darker tint though, and drop that thing on its guts!!

[PaulSV6]

Car looks awesome, Dave.

Got any plans for her?

[davo43]

looks great, that was the colour i was originally going to get with mine, but the guys at work delayed the disposal of the vehicle so i ended up with the one ive got now,

needs darker tint though, and drop that thing on its guts!!

Dude, the tint is already illegally dark - I just had it re-tinted lol! The front two windows are around 30% and the rear 5 are 20% :P The exposure of the camera might have made them look lighter as I did take the photos at dusk so it automatically lightened them up...

As for lowering, I only want to go as low as FE2 so I don't run into trouble with my insurance company... They already ummed and arred about the 18s...

Car looks awesome, Dave.

Got any plans for her?

As listed in my previous post lol!

[PaulSV6]

As listed in my previous post lol!

My bad. lol
Im wanting to change some of the dash items to satin chrome. First will be the hand brake & gear knob

[andyman]

Dude, the tint is already illegally dark - I just had it re-tinted lol! The front two windows are around 30% and the rear 5 are 20% :P The exposure of the camera might have made them look lighter as I did take the photos at dusk so it automatically lightened them up...

As for lowering, I only want to go as low as FE2 so I don't run into trouble with my insurance company... They already ummed and arred about the 18s...

fair enough, all mine are 20% just didnt seem as dark lol,

dont worry about insurance, do it first and then just tell em its done lol, that what i do

[davo43]

My bad. lol
Im wanting to change some of the dash items to satin chrome. First will be the hand brake & gear knob

Good idea, just remember when you do up your interior that not all items are available in satin chrome (some will be steel or nickel pearl). If you run into any trouble and need any help that isn't available on the forums, let me know

fair enough, all mine are 20% just didnt seem as dark lol,

dont worry about insurance, do it first and then just tell em its done lol, that what i do

I decided to keep the front ones 30% in case I ever get pulled up on it - the rear is technically cargo space so I figured they'd have to be pretty anal to complain...

Not with RACT mate, they will blanket refuse to cover you - it happened to me before when I put 17s on my SSS Pulsar - they have some retarded book full of rules and regulations for what you can and can't do to your car (even if it makes the car SAFER)... I told them to stick it, got a refund and switched to Just Car... Yeah I had to pay a tiny bit more, but they allowed unlimited mods

[davo43]

Update! Have now fitted leather statesman door trims, full FE2 suspension, front strut brace, Calais stereo, monaro airbox and Crewman 'S' cluster! Cluster needs speed correction but otherwise absolutely thrilled with the car!!! The FE2 gives a perfect balance of crisp, precise handling and comfortable, firm ride.

Extractors and high flow cats are due to be fitted on monday!

There's probably more that I've forgotten to mention... The bill is now getting close to 5-6k so it might be time to settle down haha... I will say one thing - it's like a completely different car to when I bought it and should make the perfect bus for our trip across Australia

If I was keeping the car long term I might go for MAFless tune and OTR CAI but I don't really see the point on what was once just an exec... Might save those goodies for my next car which will most likely be a 6L manual...

[baracuda]

nice set of wheels mate, good luck with the trip across to Perth.as with the headlights why not go for the SS/Calais lights mate? i had them fitted to my SV6.

[Weekend Warrior]

Hey mate im interested in the exhaust you put on it. So it's just the stock exhaust of a storm ute (5.7L im guessing)

1. is it the same as a SS ute?
2. does it sound good?
3. how much did u get it for?

Thanks

[PaulSV6]

Good idea, just remember when you do up your interior that not all items are available in satin chrome (some will be steel or nickel pearl). If you run into any trouble and need any help that isn't available on the forums, let me know

Hey Dave,

5-6k, geez it mounts up! Car is coming along well, cant wait for updated pics.
So ive fitted the satin chrome door handles, hand brake bezel/button & steering wheel spokes. Ive found out the HBD 6 spd gear knob doesnt come by itself, it comes complete with the boot cover aswell which costs (brace urself) $330. Thats the HBD Gear boot/cover, i said to the guy, "mate dont worry bout it".
Next on my list is the VY SS centre dash facia (satin chrome/black) then 2 hole mod, HBD pedals & the VZ Calais 3 window cluster.

Basically im doing all my mods here n there, not doing it all in the one hit.
Pics are in the link below.

Paul

[andyman]

wow, 5-6g's, i dont even think ive spent 2500 lol with everything ive done, and thats including 1500 worth of tyres and wheels

[davo43]

nice set of wheels mate, good luck with the trip across to Perth.as with the headlights why not go for the SS/Calais lights mate? i had them fitted to my SV6.

Cheers dude! I decided on the SV6 ones as they were less common, cheaper and looked more classy in my opinion...

Hey mate im interested in the exhaust you put on it. So it's just the stock exhaust of a storm ute (5.7L im guessing)

1. is it the same as a SS ute?
2. does it sound good?
3. how much did u get it for?

Thanks

Hi mate, exhaust sounds awesome! It's the same as an SS ute and it bolts straight on... I have no idea how much they are new but I got mine for free from a friend who upgraded... I found that it got very loud when I first had the new cats and extractors fitted but it soon settled down with time

Hey Dave,

5-6k, geez it mounts up! Car is coming along well, cant wait for updated pics.
So ive fitted the satin chrome door handles, hand brake bezel/button & steering wheel spokes. Ive found out the HBD 6 spd gear knob doesnt come by itself, it comes complete with the boot cover aswell which costs (brace urself) $330. Thats the HBD Gear boot/cover, i said to the guy, "mate dont worry bout it".
Next on my list is the VY SS centre dash facia (satin chrome/black) then 2 hole mod, HBD pedals & the VZ Calais 3 window cluster.

Basically im doing all my mods here n there, not doing it all in the one hit.
Pics are in the link below.

Paul

Yeah it certainly added up quickly but I've already had a few nibbles advertising it close to what it owes me so I'm not concerned! Can't wait to sell it and buy a clubsport - get something that doesn't need any modification I saw a display at Motorvation with some LS2's making close to 1000hp so I reckon I'll be concentrating on the motor!

wow, 5-6g's, i dont even think ive spent 2500 lol with everything ive done, and thats including 1500 worth of tyres and wheels

Yeah if I'd tried to do it cheaper I could have but I wanted everything done properly with the best parts... It's certainly paid off in my opinion