VZ alloytec sparkplugs

[paz-6]

im goin to be doin my 120 000kms service soon,

it says in the book to change oil,oil filter & spark plugs.

i no how to do the oil & filter

but not 100% sure on how to do the spark plugs,

i know i have to take the manifold off,
ive been told that i may need to get some more gaskets incase i break the ones on there now??

my mechanic took my manifold off about 1yr 1/2 ago, i had to get some work donee on there, & he replaced my gaskets then. but not sure if there reusable.?

as i dont wanna take the manifold off & find that the gaskets on there are unusable, but they'd be metal ones aye, as he replaced my gaskets when he did the work??

and also would be very helpful if someone had pics on how to do this

[MattMarkey]

mate i did my 110000km service a couple of months ago and i had to take the intake manifold off, i dont think there's any way around it. just go buy a new gasket or even get gasket paper and cut one out urself. easy as to cut it out urself and is proper and only costs like 5 bucks.

[HoldenOnn]

Wouldn't suggest trying to cut gasket yourself when you can go to holden and buy a brand new set for not much more. The gaskets for the manifold, if taken off gently, can be used again....but why bother. I had mine replaced when I had my plugs done last year and the cost was minor....from memory it was $25 or less. The gaskets are not metal gaskets. Buy some and use the new ones even if the others look usable. For the sake of a couple of dollars, why risk having to muck around again later on down the track with a leak from the used ones.

[Trent L]

The VZ was a paper gasket and can tear when lifting the manifold.

The VE is a metal gasket that is compatible and is re-usable. Cost is about $50.

[paz-6]

righto well ill buy a new gasket aswell, cheers fellas,

i was thinkin of buying this from mace engineering, ive heard good things about them

https://www.storebuilder.net.au/epag...Products/MI603

you reckon that'd be the go to replace my gasketss???

or just get one of these

Holden Commodore VZ V6 Manifold Base Gasket 12595278. - eBay Engine Parts, Engines, Components, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 27-Apr-10 10:30:09 AEST)

[Trent L]

I thought about the Mace setup for $150 but nobody on these forums seemed to mount a conclusive argument to go that way.

As for Ebay well the part is about $50 to $55 direct from Holden so why pay $70 (inc postage)?

[calay]

get the manifold insulators - they replace the gasket and keep the temps down in the manifold which gives more response from the engine as its got cooler air going in.

I did my plugs a couple of months ago and put a set of insulators in at the same time - there ARE 6 bolts holding the manifold on so make sure you get the one right at the back...

[mattyr82]

mantello holden in fawkner quoted me $64 for the gasket, they said they only do the rubbery metal gasket as in the VE's. i will be changing my coils and the heater tap, and o/2 sensors at the same time as the plugs next week along with all the usual service items, mines on 115000km. check ur tap for leaks it looks easier to change with the manifold off, but mine has the L.P.G injectors in the way too.
insulators look good its only and extra $84 and u might gain some power and torque and economy so why not. bit iffy on smearing that gasket sealer s&*t every where tho.

[paz-6]

thanx fellas,

well ive ordered the mace insulator one,
should be good i reckon, & yeh i was abit iffy about the gluee sealant, but after having a chat to the guy at mace engineeringg, about it he reckonn its fine, works really well, so now ill wait till i get it & wack it in

[impulsive]

get the manifold insulators - they replace the gasket and keep the temps down in the manifold which gives more response from the engine as its got cooler air going in.

can you back this up with dyno results and Temp Readings before and after? Everyone i have spoken to has said the manifold is 'cool to touch' but that is about it! As for performance, i think it wouldnt be enough to notice a feel, maybe a drop in fuel economy though?

[supercellkid]

hello everyone. I have an 06 VZ Calais. I need to do the plugs. i just been reading all you guys comments and im a little worried. My knowledge is limited to older cars like VN's and EA's thats where I started to get out of cars. The only cars I have ever owned before where $500 to $3000 bombs. I would usually do all the work my self unless I needed something pressed or a special tool etc. I have even rebuilt a few older carby engines like the 250 x flow. But when I look under the bonnet of my Calais Im a bit daunted.

I would say the best bet for me is going to be a work shop manual as a guide so is there anyone here who would sell me one? or maybe lives close enough to me to borrow me one? (Im in Finley NSW)

I really shouldn't own this car as I cant afford to operate it. The cheapest import tyres including Fit & bal where $125 each (17") I cant remember the name but they are sold by tyre power. They are pretty good for cheapies. Im used to paying maybe $60 to $90 for tyres. The local holden dealership charged my elderly neighbour who has a VY with Le0 motor (175Kw) $350 to change his plugs so I mean its just crazy that I have this car. while one part of me wants to sell it and get something cheaper that I can fix my self with ease, the other part of me knows that nothing will be able to replace it and ill be sad and regretful when its gone. So im stuck with it. dont get me wrong I love my car dearly, but I am afraid of crashing or being crashed into. I cant give her the money she deserves to be spoiled with. There's a good book to write: "Spoiling your car with NO money" LOL Geez I'd buy that in a heart beat.

Can anybody who has performed this task inform me of things I should watch out for. I mean things I might inadvertently damage while removing the intake? Is there anything I should service or replace while I have the intake off.? Also Will the VE LY7 metal Gasket fit in place of the VZ LY7 paper manifold? I dont know if paper gasket technology has come along way or not, but the old paper gaskets Im used to working with were terrible F***ING things!

So any and all info or links to info will be greatly appreciated?

[keeny]

it is an extremely easy job and you can get step by step on various site if you do a google search. as for the gasket i spoke to a few people at different auto shops and a few mates who have vzs aswell and they all said dont bother buying a new gasket everytime you take the manifold off just use high temp gasket maker. so when i did my plugs i removed the old gasket which was stuffed with a razor blade and ran a nice bead on both the head and the manifold where the gasket was, no probs as yet and no audible leaks. i used about 1/4 tube that wasnt much more than $10.

[tommySV6Ute]

can you back this up with dyno results and Temp Readings before and after? Everyone i have spoken to has said the manifold is 'cool to touch' but that is about it! As for performance, i think it wouldnt be enough to notice a feel, maybe a drop in fuel economy though?

Where does the heat that the manifold is no longer dissipating go to?

Does the engine block's temperature rise up with the Mace insulators installed? Or does the radiator cooling take up the extra heat that is no longer passed through to the manifold?

Buy the gasket or gasket cement, cutting your own gaskets is a fiddly and highly inaccurate way to do it.

[Trent L]

Pasted some instructions in this thread

Alloytec spark plug removal

[vz sv6 68]

just a quick one ..does the insulator fit under a standard strut brave or will it foul on it .there is not a lot of room.

[mattsv6]

Hey,

I can understand where you are coming from with regards to mechanical knowledge. Being in a similar position, I managed to replace my VZ spark plugs with no problems at all.

The biggest issue is the intake manifold sits on top of some of the plugs so this needs to be lifted slightly (but not taken off completely) in order to access the plugs.

The following guide is very helpful,

http://www.maceengineering.com.au/We...TALLATION_.pdf

It has step by step instructions and pictures how to remove the manifold. Once the manifold is free, rather than removing it completely and risking the integrity of the paper gaskets I managed to chock it up slightly with a wooden block. This gave me enough clearance to remove the plugs. Mind you I did have a spare set of gaskets just in case.

Id say give it a go yourself, if you need anymore advice there are quite a few threads on this forum..

Thanks

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Hey,

I can understand where you are coming from with regards to mechanical knowledge. Being in a similar position, I managed to replace my VZ spark plugs with no problems at all.

The biggest issue is the intake manifold sits on top of some of the plugs so this needs to be lifted slightly (but not taken off completely) in order to access the plugs.

The following guide is very helpful,

http://www.maceengineering.com.au/We...TALLATION_.pdf

It has step by step instructions and pictures how to remove the manifold. Once the manifold is free, rather than removing it completely and risking the integrity of the paper gaskets I managed to chock it up slightly with a wooden block. This gave me enough clearance to remove the plugs. Mind you I did have a spare set of gaskets just in case.

Id say give it a go yourself, if you need anymore advice there are quite a few threads on this forum..

Thanks

You'll never get it off with those Mace instructions. Step 14 is wrong! Anyone care to explain why?

[Luke52]

You'll never get it off with those Mace instructions. Step 14 is wrong! Anyone care to explain why?

Because in that picture, the circled hole on the bottom right doesn't have a bolt in it, and the third bolt on that side is all the way up the back

[tommySV6Ute]

lower left no bolt..

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Give the men some Cuban cigars.

[count drak]

Hi guys, taking off the intake manifold isn't hard although you have to be carefully not to brake something as for the manifold gaskets they must be replaced if they are paper based otherwise the manfold will leak Vz's are normally paper.
VZ/VE Intake Manifold Gaskets + Water outlet Gaskets (eBay item 270706284826 end time 28-Feb-11 10:10:27 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

[MACE]

Yes the fitting instructions need to be updated sadly

On the manifold insulators note they are completely reusable if you ever decide to take the manifold off again down the track. Just ignore step 14

Cheers,
Steve

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

mantello holden in fawkner quoted me $64 for the gasket, they said they only do the rubbery metal gasket as in the VE's. i will be changing my coils and the heater tap, and o/2 sensors at the same time as the plugs next week along with all the usual service items, mines on 115000km. check ur tap for leaks it looks easier to change with the manifold off, but mine has the L.P.G injectors in the way too.
insulators look good its only and extra $84 and u might gain some power and torque and economy so why not. bit iffy on smearing that gasket sealer s&*t every where tho

NEED YOUR HELP.
it seems like you came accross the same problem i am having with the gas injectors in the way, i would really apprecite if you can please give me a call on 0404544776 or text me and i will call you back as im stuck atm and really need help. i bought the metal gasket but it didnt sit on as it should because the gas injecters are in the way.
anyone that has come across this and has a solution dont hesitate to give me a call.
thanks
Dave 0404544776

[bcw61]

NEED YOUR HELP.
it seems like you came accross the same problem i am having with the gas injectors in the way, i would really apprecite if you can please give me a call on 0404544776 or text me and i will call you back as im stuck atm and really need help. i bought the metal gasket but it didnt sit on as it should because the gas injecters are in the way.
anyone that has come across this and has a solution dont hesitate to give me a call.
thanks
Dave 0404544776

My VZ V6 has the BRC LPG injection system fitted, and I have just gone through the process of changing the spark plugs & the manifold gasket. I found that I had to push down on the LPG injector outlet lines, to ensure the new metal gasket sat correctly on the lower manifold while fitting the top manifold. It was a little tricky, but not impossible to do, as mine worked out OK.

[Running 1971]

Hi Trent . My Name is Andrew I would Love to know Where you got the service manual for the vz. I own a vz belina wagon v6. I have a gregorys edition but it does not show any details and is very limited. Could you please send me any info?