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I am not familiar with Australian regulations. I believe up to 20% power increase is okay. So if you have Ecotec, one can replace with L67 or non-HSV 5-litre, as it is within that band. However a 5-litre roller engine, although it was factory option (in Series III) is too powerful, so will need...

This one has been driving me nuts. Ecotec done about 300,000 km (odometer display died). When you start it first thing in the morning, misfires on 2 cylinders, and spews white smoke, smell of unburnt petrol. Seemed like bad DFI coil, replaced them and DFI module - no change. White smoke suggests...

My mum's Ecotec Commodore had the wrong sender fitted (from a VR or something like that) which caused guage to show too low.

My mum's old wagon conked out suddendly, and it got towed to a workshop. I looked over the invoice and it had the generic stuff like change spark plugs and air filter, plus one item "retension PCM pins". So is this a common problem for contacts to become loose after 20+ years?

VU-VZ utes didn't get side airbags (except for the Crewman)

I found some moron had used the wrong socket spanner on the bolt holding the connector and have rounded the head of the bolt. I barely managed to get the thing off. So looking for a replacement: a 3/16 inch fits, but seems slightly sloppy. Possibly difference in pitch angle BSP or Whitworth?

I just replaced an alternator. There were no Bosch in stock, so had to take the OEX brand. The battery light flickers for at least 5 seconds after starting, and tach is above 1000 RPM. I checked all the connections, nothing loose. Bit of a worry with el cheapo crap.

I just got a new DFI module. I know it is pretty simple job, but just wondering is anything needed between the module and mounting plate, such as heat sink paste or high-temperature waterproof grease?

A mate has a VX that has clocked up just over 400,000 km. But it's one owner, well maintained and has transmission cooler fitted. About a week ago, he was going downhill, put it into 3, and tacho only went up by 200, didn't slow down at all. Seems like something has failed. Apart from that it...

A high-mileage VT is hard to start from cold, and idles pretty slow. But when you put foot on brake, the idle goes up to normal RPM. I would suspect a vacuum leak. But I check all the hoses - PCV, fuel regulator, purge valve, ventilation controls and brake booster. All looks okay. So what else...

Less energy in LPG. The higher octane rating (slow burning) allows more advance, so you gain torque at lower RPM. So the maximum torque is about the same as petrol engine. But the LPG engines seem to fade away above about 4000 RPM, hence the lower peak horsepower.

A VU ute, Ecotec motor. On really cold morning, driving down the freeway the needle only goes to the first mark. Does that mean the thermostat is stuck open? Or that freezing cold air whizzing around the engine block is enough to cool it while crusing? Middle of the day, stop-start driving, the...

Maybe, I will do one thing at a time. Probably air intake and exhaust as well. I don't know about high-ratio rockers; whether they might clash with high-compression pistons.

I got a low-mileage Ecotec from a VY. Was thinking about increasing compression ratio. Would 10.1 get by on 95 RON, or would 98 be needed? That is assuming no tweaking the engine map to reduce spark advance....

I had a ute that went for 400,000 km and the aircon evaporator crapped out, which is an expensive job, so that was end-of-the-road. The 4L60E transmission should last forever if you have an external cooler and flush it now and then. They can handle an LS1, so wouldn't be stressed if you have a V6.

So GMH got the mix of models wrong. Another hypothesis put to me (by a Ford dealer) was that they were running low on ute-specific parts, maybe fuel tanks or rear bumpers or whatever, and couldn't be arsed firing up the machines to make 100 more.... Anyway, bad planning.

Don't you mean NO SALES anymore? There was demand. VF utes sold out well before the sedans and wagons. I think the dealers got it wrong stockpiling SSV, Redline, Calais V anything with a V8. I bet if they ordered a few more SV6 utes, they would have sold them, while the Motorsport limited...

Well Chev/Buick are also using Epsilon platform. Their stuff wouldn't fare any better than the Opel-made ZB. Also note that the "leaner and fitter" GM has abandoned their RHD markets, such as Britain and South Africa. If they make a new platform to replace Malibu/Regal sedans, would they even...

I presume you mean the pulsation damper. Yeah they do age. Another symptom of them failing: you will probably find then that the fuel drains out of the fuel rail when you park on a hill with nose up, then engine will not start unless you prime the pump a few times.

I have got thermal switches from Jaycar - they had 70 and 100 degrees. Only rated at 10 A, so only good for a "low speed" fan. Not exactly what you were trying to do. I found that fitting the 70 degree switch close to the radiator would turn on a fan when you stopped at traffic lights, but once...

Well with semi-trailing arms, you are basically stuffed. Comes from the Opel Omega. They knew it was a poor-man's IRS and only lowered their "sports" models by 1 cm, but as for the Holden FE2, it is what 1 inch?

Yeah, I had a Sprint Gas system on old car, and the LPG controller was just sitting on a shelf behind the glove box, so slid around if you swerved suddenly. So I wrapped it up with sponge rubber (from an old camping mat) to protect it.

I have looked around - they do exist with driver airbag, but very rare with 2 airbags.

The priming sound changes, but you can probably only tell for a ute with the tank right behind you. When the pump is on its last legs, it won't deliver full flow, so you will find going up steep hill, engine loses power.

So are they different threads? The Z154 and Z160 are same size. I presume the 5 litre filter is higher flow rate....

Well, Ford went for the tradie market with its Falcon utes, but I was under the impression that Holden was also going after people who used them as personal transport, and occasionally needed to cart some crap from Ikea or Bunnings. So we got the first ute with IRS, and they were offering...

In VZ utes, one got EBD and seat-belt tensioners, but no side airbags. The dual-cab Crewman did get side airbags. I am aware that side airbags require a lot of R&D (computer modelling and crash tests) to get right. But why did Holden only offer them for the Crewman, which would have been a...

My sister bought an Astra. Under the bonnet is a sticker (from a company I never heard of) claiming timing belt was changed at 54177 km. For this engine, change is due at 90,000 km. The older Z18XE was 60,000 km. Curious why it would be done early. Unless something else crapped out, and they...

I have drained engine oil, no sign of coolant in it, but looks like a whiff of oil in radiator overflow bottle. No white smoke after starting. ATF looks good too. I have checked all vacuum lines, no leaks. I agree starter/solenoid might be ailing. It hasn't failed to crank last few days. With...

I have a VT series 1 V6 with 274,000 km. For at least a month, it has needed topping up coolant more than a litre a week. I have checked everything, even the heater core, and no leaks. So I start to wonder if coolant is going into the engine. Second problem: for about a week, it is hard to...

No - quarter inch bolt do not go in. Thread pitch is 1 mm for M6 and 0.9 mm for 1/4" UNF. The M6 goes in easy, then suddenly stops, so I presume that is right thread, but it is going in a blind hole that isn't deep enough. I do not know if it is the original harmonic balancer, as it looks...

I have been trying to remove a harmonic balancer from an Ecotec. I got some M6 bolts to attach a gear puller. I can only get the bolts in 3 turns. I put some paint on one of the bolts and screwed it in, and counted how much paint was off. Now when I screwed in the threaded rod on the puller...

Get a Volvo 240 - they had much more steering angle than any Commodore. Mind you, they only had 185 mm tyres to worry about in those days....

I moved the jack from the right side to left side, because I am obsessive nutter for the weight distribution.

I looked up a radiator catalogue and it only shows 25 mm thick for the standard Ecotec. Strangely it didn't show size for V8, but I have seen 38 mm thick for the basic 175 kW motor. So I would guess you need 35 mm for the supercharged donk?

I remember reading in a Kings catalogue that they make springs for Commos which are only lowered half an inch. Would these be equivalent to FE1.5? (based on FE2 being an inch lower)

I saw this on a locksmith website: Adelaide Car Keys and Remotes, The Original Port Adelaide Locksmiths Why are all keys needed? I know VZ, VE, VF have personalised keys, so a third key is programmed with a new number different to the 2 that came with the car. Does the VY also have...

The Mustang got an impressive new suspension (after running with something similar to a VB Commdore), but they couldn't justify putting that into a Falcon when they are making less than 100 a day.....

I work in an office opposite a carpark. There is some cnut who fitted ultra-brite LEDs for reversing lights to his Hilux in a reserved bay facing my drone cubicle. If I am working late I get dazzled by this cnut as he leaves. I would hate to encounter him on the road.

I presume that is because there are lots of them around, and the usual method of stealing cars nowadays is to break into house and find car keys near front door.