Hey guys, Im getting ready to change my interior over from a VR exec level to VS Statesman S3... These are the things ill be upgrading... Cruise Control Climate Control Level 3 Cluster Trip Computer controls Steering Wheel/Buttons Electric Front Seats Electric Windows Auto Headlights Fog Lights/Wiring to turn on with indicators Also toying with the idea of Dual Airbags and possibly ABS... Sound Deadening - approx 10sqm of Dynamat Xtreme New Carpet + Underlay Neons (Foot wells/seats) Stereo wiring - 1 guage power, 12 RCA pairs, heavy speaker/tweeter wiring etc 12v Power into roof (interior lights, possible DVD screen although ill probably do rear head rests) GPS power lead into top of dash Garage Door Button Wired into dash So basically, the entire interior will be pulled out, and a complete new loom installed. What else should i install while im at it? Any ideas would be appreciated. For the record ill also be installing the front clip/panels etc onto my wagon... So it'll be a Supercharged Manual Caprice/Statesman Wagon . Cheers, Errol.
Sounds like a plan, the only thing, which u may have thought about is, the cost involved, when it may possible be worth buying a fully optioned wagon already with most of the things listed there, and adding the extras that dont come on a VR/S. have you thought about purchasing another wagon? i think it would be more cost effective to buy another car, but in sayin that, you dont have the real chance of getting your hands dirty and getting to know your car. good luck with it
I thought about it, but so far ive sunk $10k into this wagon which i wouldn't get back. (Plus mine is factory manual with >150,000kms). I'm about to go have a look at a VS S3 Statesman which has been hit in the rear and is selling for ~$2k. So ill sell off the engine/box/diff/rear panels and get some cash back... So i figure after selling the unneeded parts the donar car will cost me $1-1.5k. Then all the extra bits and peices should cost me another ~$2-3k. So for $4k total i can have a Statesman front/interior. I have done a lot of work to VRs before, so i can do it. Just a matter of time... While the interior is out, ill need to run the wiring for everything so im trying to think of everything now. So basically after idea on things i can do...
yeap i understand, not many ppl know whats involved, especially with climate control interior courtesy/map front & rear lights.. i'll come up with more later, still in work mode
Hats off to you mate - a very ambitious plan that will be great when done. A lot of the stuff is hard - but can be done - peeps in the forum have done most of it - however - I can't see dual SRS or ABS being added legally ?
Yeah not sure on the legality side, but my model car (VR) did have Airbags and ABS fitted as standard... So the car was designed to have them, so it wouldn't need an engineering cert?? Went and checked out the donar car, wasnt in as good condition as i hoped. . Will have to talk to the guy about pricing... Anyone know a good site for damaged cars? Ive been looking at broadford carsales... Cheers
Sounds an excellent idea - I have been contemplating similar modifications to my VR. I do have to say though, IMO neons anywhere on a car look horribly tacky - I would give them a miss.
It's worth asking your local registration authority but legality should be OK. It will just be upgrading to a factory spec. if you use a complete system equivalent to an option available on the same type of car. Depending on how your state or territory handles vehicle mods., an engineering report will probably be unecessary but the rego. authority may have to sign off on it; I believe both SRS and ABS would be owner certifiable modifications in Vic., NSW and ACT. (The ABS may have to be from another wagon; the live axle sensors are different to IRS and there may be some difference with the modules between wagon and sedan.)
my duaghter has just helped me put leds into her vr. the blue looks a treat. the roof has a tricolour in it.
Ill be taking HEAPS of pics and doing a full write up, so you can see whats involved... As to the neons, it will be similar to the green ones found on later model cars.. that light up the foot well areas when the doors are open. Im considering green, blue or red. Nothing too bright or flashy, just enough to light up the ground when you get it. Cheers, Yeah not 100% certain weather i put in ABS or not.... Im not a very big fan of it personally. Handy if you dont know how to react in a crash or in wet weather, but in the dry (and for the type of high speed driving i do) i think ABS would slow me down. Main reason why im not installing traction control.
I know its not funny at all, but did anyone notice the irony in the above statement? Hmm thats actually a bloody good idea. Cheers for clarifying that one. So you just have them as a parallel split off your interior light?
LOL> Didnt even realize... Im sure that will become someones sig... Yeah ill probably wire it up instead of the interior light... Ill still be able to turn the interior light on via the headlight switch. Green or Blue are probably the best colours, but red might suite the car. Not sure yet, will have to do some testing...
