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Leigh's '81 VH SL/X Project

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
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Adelaide
Members Ride
'81 VH SLX, '08 Prado Grande
(specs last updated 1/5/2021)

ModelVH Commodore
Year1981
EngineEFI 304 (originally 202)
Transmission4L60E (originally Trimatic)
DiffVL 3.45 Borg Warner (originally Salisbury)
BrakesVT master cylinder, VS V8 booster, VS disc rear
ExhaustPacemaker PH5600 headers, 2x high-flow cats, Hooker Aerochamber and resonator, dual 2.5" into 3" mild steel system
SuspensionKing Springs (ultra low front/rears) - Monroe Shocks, Nolathane bushings, strut tops etc. Nolathane rear trailing-arms
OtherJP double-row billet timing chain, Boot battery relocation, Alloy radiator



Hi all, been a long time away from these forums, but I'm back, with a new money pit.

Bought this 1981 VH SL/X a few weeks ago, figured I'll chuck it up here as a bit of a progress log as I fix things on it, and see where it ends up! A mate spotted it for sale at a local tyre shop and flicked me some photos - I took a pretty big gamble and bought it sight-unseen. The wife was not too impressed!:oops:

A quick rundown:
  • Interior is alright - seats are great, carpet is pretty good with no wear-through.
  • Door cards are also nice except for the speaker holes someone's cut out... Driver's door card is also worn and has a split where someone's arm has been resting for 30 years
  • Centre console's missing, as too are the eyebrow chromes on the bonnet.
  • It's had a closed-door respray at some point, the engine bay, boot-lid and door jambs are all the original colour
  • At some point, someone has done a hack-job of the radio wiring loom, and also installed ridiculously thick subwoofer wiring down one side of the carpet
  • Only rust I have found so far is a couple of bubbles in the normal spots under the front and rear windows, and a bit on the rear guard lip. Bottoms of doors/sills/spare-wheel well are all clear.
  • Bumpers are mint, nice and shiny and no dings
  • Engine is the original 202 but with a 350 Holley that's tuned horribly and runs faaaaarr too rich :rolleyes:
  • Compression test looked really positive till I got to cylinder 6 which is shagged - looks like the rings are worn/broken
  • Car has had some nolathane bushes, monroe shocks and king springs installed in the last year or two by the looks of things
  • Car is definitely a "10 meter car" - up close, there's a few shopping dings and nicks down the sides - all minor though, nothing a PDR person couldn't tidy up.

So far, I have:
  • Removed all the tint except rear window
  • Removed all the crappy speaker wiring and fixed all the loose carpet and scuff plates
  • Installed new exhaust hanger rubbers to stop things rattling around
  • Replaced oil and plugs
  • Installed gas struts on the bonnet
  • removed the seats and given them a wash and vacuum
  • peeled back the factory carpet and given everything a clean out (the owner before the current one lived in Clare, so the car was full of the fine dust you find up north)
  • bought a replacement end-cap for the front bumper plastic (see pic where it is missing)
  • Begun diagnosing and labeling all the chopped wiring in the dash, to slowly fix up

Pics:
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CiDNHDGl.jpg


IzB95fil.jpg


3vd0uGLl.jpg


aeIFbwGl.jpg


Ox1MUA0l.jpg


TBPS3WSl.jpg


5BNtA4sl.jpg


Hl3uIBZl.jpg


dvn6xRXl.jpg
 
Last edited:

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
154
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Location
Adelaide
Members Ride
'81 VH SLX, '08 Prado Grande
Yep, been looking around for a V8 to drop in. :) Would love an LS for its bang/buck.. but it seems the money I'd save on the motor would be sucked up by all the extra stuff required for a conversion anyway.

I would like it to be all legal and above board too, so I think I need to speak with someone about the different options I have (would be nice to avoid needing full engineering for now)

Kinda why I jumped back on here, the knowledge some of the guys on JC have is awesome and people are generally really helpful.
 

vc commodore

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Like the Leyland Brothers
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VC, VH and VY
Taken at City Discount tyres Port Adelaide I see.....Just watch out for the air conditioning in the building :)Looks in pretty good nick...

Look forward to progress pics and holla if you need help finding stuff.....I know a few people around Adelaide, so I might be able to help you out there
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
Joined
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'81 VH SLX, '08 Prado Grande
Yep that's the place! I bought it off the owner, Nick. He also has an identical looking VH (but drag-spec, with a turbo LS). I reckon that's probably where the high-rise console and headlight eyebrow chromes went, come to think of it!

So if you know anyone with a high-rise console, or those bloody bonnet chromes, please let me know!

I actually found a decent low-rise console, in indigo colour too, but I'm not sure if they're interchangeable with the high-rise? It looks like all the mounting points are different?

Would be nice to have at least something there in the interim..
 

vc commodore

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High rise and low rise centre consoles bolt up the same....ie 1 or 2 self tappers through the centre of the back section. (Changed my VC from low to high)

Might know where another high rise centre console is and I reckon the same person has the bonnet eyebrow moulds too....Will check for you and go from there
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
Joined
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Messages
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'81 VH SLX, '08 Prado Grande
See this is why I logged back in here! Not even an hour and I've got some great advice and a lead on some parts

Thanks mate!

Edit: forgot to ask; whats wrong with the aircon at CDT? :D
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
Joined
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Messages
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'81 VH SLX, '08 Prado Grande
Merry Christmas everyone!

Had some spare time yesterday so I pulled out the tail lights, wet-rubbed them a bit with 400, and painted them with some gloss black.

Decided to mask them up like SL/E lights. Took a while but I reckon they came up a treat.

WDYobqf_d.jpg


ajeEcA2_d.jpg


m4Vd7B2_d.jpg
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
154
Reaction score
77
Points
28
Location
Adelaide
Members Ride
'81 VH SLX, '08 Prado Grande
Quick update:
Picked up an LED conversion kit for the cluster and installed the new globes - best idea ever!
Removed the towbar
Scored a free set of VY V6 calipers for a brake swap (later once I get it through regency with a new motor)
Sourced a nice indigo SL centre console and chucked it in, and then last week found another wreck and was able to scrounge a few nicer bits out such as:
  • New roof gutter chrome set
  • SLE/SLX high-rise console in indigo
  • Proper SLX cluster with voltmeter and oil pressure (someone had swapped the current for an SL cluster at some stage...)
  • Various little bits n pieces like indigo coat hook and a new indigo window winder
Also have the opportunity to pick up a donor car for the engine swap, a '95 VS Statesman 5.0 - so I've chucked a couple questions out to get the ball rolling and make sure I don't forget anything

Lastly, the high-rise centre console has the vinyl shrinking back off the edges just like they all do - anyone got recommendations for a good motor trimmer in Adelaide?
 
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