v6>v8 conversion

[MrNeil]

Hey guys

i have an alloytec v6 vz and im looking to convert to an l98. has anyone done it before? wondering what needs to be done to body loom to make it happy with the v8. i assume i need a vz late model v8 loom atleast, and im wondering well, what exactly is needed to be done?

all nay sayers please stay out. you're not being helpful when you say just buy an ss etc.

thanks

Neil

[Ozzie]

brakes, suspension, gearbox..........most running gear
cluster unless it supports it and memcal in the ecu

[MrNeil]

yeah its the electrics i need to get down packed. i think i need a vz 4l65e so that i can get iss to work if i use a vz l98 engine loom, or if i use an ls1 loom with modifications/extensions for l98 i need to change the reluctor and i think i lose fly by wire? but i think i dont need iss?

and im not sure if the clusters need to be changed for the v8 conversion... i think they MIGHT be swapable ... just need some input from someone who's played with an l98 conversion before..

[andyman]

engine harness is not compatible between ls1 and l98, comuter is in a different spot,

k frame, suspension, brakes, full exhaust, i think radiators are different, transmission, transmission control module, accelerator pedal, (still fly by wire but different pedal), i wouldn't be surprised if some of the dash wiring is different. if going legit engineering and plates

dash, tcm, bcm, software can be updated at holden via tech2 to make it compatible.

really your probably looking at 3000 to 4000 for the engine (new) transmission (2000 - 3000 (new) suspension, brakes, k frame harnesses, exhaust other miscellaneous item could be up to 2000 - 3000,

unless there is something special about your car really its not worth changing engines, if the alloytecs blown replace that and sell the car and by something with an 8

[BANKS]

edit: dont worry

[1991_Vn2nV]

The VZ V8 was L76. Might just be easier to use an L76 rather than an L98 (which is VE).

The L98 was in a few of the very very last VZ utes though I believe.

[ashbox]

the l98 has the sump at the rear and the l76 has it at the front.

[MrNeil]

im not 100% sure but i think the l76 and l98 use the same harness. the main difference is that the l98 doesnt have any of the DoD hardware anymore, which is no fuss as it wasn't enabled in the l76 anyway.. and apparently the sump from what ashbox has said.

andyman, you have had the ls1 computer retuned so long as you use the ls1 reluctor on the l76/l98, although it is a crank out job. The harness needs to be slightly modified but, and im pretty sure you can pick up a plug in modified harness for the ls1 harness

[listen_to_slayer]

another option is to buy a written off VZ with an 8 in it, and put all the things you need from the v8 into your car and then sell off all the parts you dont need as well as the engine, box, ecu, harness from your current car.

I've thought about it many times... just seems like a lot of hard work.

[MrNeil]

lol yeah i've thought about that too.. except its finding one with l76/l98 as opposed to ls1 that will be the challenge.

[1991_Vn2nV]

im not 100% sure but i think the l76 and l98 use the same harness. the main difference is that the l98 doesnt have any of the DoD hardware anymore, which is no fuss as it wasn't enabled in the l76 anyway.. and apparently the sump from what ashbox has said.

andyman, you have had the ls1 computer retuned so long as you use the ls1 reluctor on the l76/l98, although it is a crank out job. The harness needs to be slightly modified but, and im pretty sure you can pick up a plug in modified harness for the ls1 harness

The L98 was developed for the VE and a different ECU so I would be more inclined to think it runs a different harness, even in the few VZ utes it came out in. It would run fine on the L76 stuff, but you'd be best off (financially) getting all parts from the one vehicle.

[dijm8]

ohhh just go buy a new car with it in already soo much easier

[adamc11]

ohhh just go buy a new car with it in already soo much easier

+1. Why put yourself though the trouble and COST of it when you can buy the 8's cheap enough now. Makes no sense to me...

[1991_Vn2nV]

ohhh just go buy a new car with it in already soo much easier

+1. Why put yourself though the trouble and COST of it when you can buy the 8's cheap enough now. Makes no sense to me...

In case you two didn't read... Whilst I don't disagree with you its his car and his choice. Some people do develop attachments to their car or don't wish to buy another. Whatever the reason, its his choice so if you don't like it, don't post.

all nay sayers please stay out. you're not being helpful when you say just buy an ss etc.

[Ewok]

Agreed, he asked for the idiots to stay out with their negative comments for that exact reason, people always have to have a dig or say something stupid.

I reckon good on ya dude. I'd probably suggest, as previous people have, looking for a written off car and doing a transplant, might take a while but I would be sure that it'd be cheaper than buying all the parts brand new. Probably even be saving some cash if you still have to buy new parts because some are stuffed on the donor car. Not only that but if you are capable of doing it yourself, sense of achievement and lose the cost of a thieving bastard mechanic (no offense to mechanics ... hehe)

[Troy711]

Can I just ask why? And also, why not just buy an SS?

(I did read that you didn't want people telling you to buy an SS, so I am asking.. not telling)

[MrNeil]

pft why modify any car when you can always spend more and buy a faster one straight off the bat. this is the way im interested in going about it and i'd only sell if i was going towards a senator or ve etc.

I really dont think it'll cost the millions of dollars everyone expects it to be. ffs a brand new crate motor you can get for <4k if you have a decent look and brand new gearbox is nearly half that too. Thats chips. My other cars gearbox alone cost that money.

only bit that'll be a headache is the electrical side of things. i dont see why there's so many whingers.

[MrNeil]

The L98 was developed for the VE and a different ECU so I would be more inclined to think it runs a different harness, even in the few VZ utes it came out in. It would run fine on the L76 stuff, but you'd be best off (financially) getting all parts from the one vehicle.

i might be thinking about it wrong too, but you can do drive in drive out ls1>ls2 conversions using adapter looms and a retune to suit them on ls1 ecu. im at least telling myself that the l98 would be pretty similar to them.

My eyes are peeled for a vz 6l ss wreck at the right price too !

[danja]

pft why modify any car when you can always spend more and buy a faster one straight off the bat. this is the way im interested in going about it and i'd only sell if i was going towards a senator or ve etc.

I'm not going to offer advice in either direction, there's the warm fuzzy feeling of accomplishment taking a stocker and turning it piece by piece into the beast you've always dreamt of, sometimes people want that more than the actual car they're building I think.

I will give you some food for thought though, based on my own experience.

The price difference between 6's and 8' really isn't much these days, because the demand for V8s is so low. I got my SS for $24k with 70,000kms on the clock (from a dealer, subtract several thousand bit if going private), and immaculate inside and out. If I'd gone for an SV6 in similar condition I would have paid about $20-22k. Not a huge difference, and you get all the bells and whistles that come with the SS, like leather interior, climate control, etc etc.

I suspect the outlay in this case would be far less than the cost of conversion, but of course that's pure dollar value, and you can't measure the price of satisfaction if/when you pull it off

Good luck, whichever way you end up going.

[Troy711]

It would be easier to spend 10K on a twin turbo/supercharger setup for the V6 than spend the same money on swapping the engine to an 8.

But hey, it's your car.. do with it as you please! If you do decide to go ahead with i make sure you post up some updates

What model is yours? Exec, SV6, Berlina..?

[MrNeil]

its an exec. i figure spending a bunch of cash on the v6 to make it as powerful as a std/lightly modded v8 seems abit pointless, but doing this conversion also probably seems pointless to most of you guys haha

one of my previous cars was an n15 pulsar pov spec with 1.6 liter auto which i converted to gtir turbo version and manual etc. most pulsar guys said the 1.6>2l turbo swap was gonna be expensive and time consuming etc when it only cost me an extra $800/1000 compared to 2l>2l turbo swap.

this is probably where i get most of my motivation from i really dont see it being a hard conversion for v6>v8 in the vz if you do your homework though.

i could spend the extra 15+k on buying a 6ltr ss or boosting the v6 but form where i see it i can spend that money or probably less doing a v8 swap where i get a brand new engine/trans and then i have my old stuff to flog off as well.

Probably wont be done for a year or so but i just wanted to start gathering info now so when im ready it'll be as smooth as possible.

[danja]

How much did the whole 1.6 > 2 swap cost you, with parts and labour? Did you put it in yourself, or pay a shop to do it?

[MrNeil]

about 5ish k for the motor installed in standard guise with fmic 3" exhaust and manual about 3 years ago

only went to the shop for pipework

[danja]

That is a pretty good price by the sounds of it. If you can get a V8 in your car for that then I say go for it! But just bear in mind you'll need a lot more than just the motor, you'll need the entire powertrain and all the electronics, plus other items mentioned above.

You might at least want to check out what SV8s are going for these days, they are in fact an Exec with the SS powertrain and suspension in them. The SS only has cosmetics and creature comforts extra in it. When I was shopping for mine I looked at SV8s, you can get them with about 30,000kms on, manual 6spd, great condition for under $20k
if you think that provided your exec is in decent nick you could fetch up to $15 for it it might be a worthwhile trade?

[helmsy]

In my opinion and I am not disregarding what has been said, but there is a lot more involved than just changing an engine and gearbox.

Suspension and brakes are maybe more important than engine power as you want it to ride and stop as well (if not better) than it goes.

Even if I had a blown alloytec I would still want brake and suspension upgrades. Hell I even did suspension, exhaust etc. even with the standard engine.

So I guess we really need to know why you want a v8? Is it the sound, performance, throb in your pants? because there is more to performance than just an engine and box upgrade. It's a major engineering excersise that shouldn't be done lightly (if you value your life and others).

Just my 2 cents but if you are going to the trouble, do it properly.