Sandst4rm
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2018
- Messages
- 195
- Reaction score
- 184
- Points
- 43
- Location
- South Australia
- Members Ride
- VT S1 Calais Ecotec - VP Ute 3800
Figured I would start a thread to follow along with the ute if anybody is interested. Have seen others do the same so might as well.
Picked up for $1,300 delivered. 2023 so all the utes are now $3,000 for what should've been $600 in 2019 - this was a decent deal imo.
First thing was to get a bonnet and hinges since it didn't come with one.
Got one off a blue VP at eliz u-pull with a rust hole in the drivers side above the headlight.
Next up was to jack it up and fix up the busted wiring; which I didn't take a picture of unfortunately.
During this i discovered a massive hole in the coolant reservoir which I replaced from rarespares. washer motor was blown so got that at the same time.
Alternator needed rewiring as it was not charging.
Pictured: P/S pump out for reseal + relief valve swap (to VX commodore valve)
Having the car jacked up I ran it at 2,000rpm to see if the misfire it had was only at idle (it wasn't) - car shot out about 200ml of oil from somewhere...
Checked out the saturated K-frame and saw it was the oil pan gasket. K-frame drop to swap it - discovered all the sump plug bolts were in by hand only, i could literally take them all out with just my fingers. Do not have a pic of this.
Next up i dropped the K-frame as the shocks were f*cked along with the dust boots. DO NOT buy the recommended repco ones for a VN-VP, use the VS ones because the others don't come close to fitting.
Picture here is after i rebuilt the struts with new top mounts, my VT standard springs, new shocks (insert type) and new boots/bump stops.
You can see where i had to wirebrush the body.
For some reason the driver side stub axle i have does not have the dust shield threads/holes but passenger does...
Finally i diagnosed the rough idle via compression test; Cylinders 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were at 149psi dry - cylinder 1 was at 105psi, probably a cracked valve but idk.
Moved on to other things after this discovery - ill just drive it as is, it's whatever.
Redid the rubber fuel hoses and internal fuel pump strainer - redid the transmission cooler rubber lines.
Did an oil change and filter because i had to drop the pan and redo the sump gasket.
Picked up a pair of quarter trims for $100 and a new tray seal - stripped the drivers door to replace the seals.
Put a couple bits of foam in some electrical tape on the hatch stops to minimize the slamming back and forth - would be great to get some little rubber covers for those bits if anybody knows a place that sells them!
Spent a bit of time touching up stupid things that went wrong after 20 years and neglect.
Slightly trimmed up front guards near the door in order to properly line up the bodywork.
Picked up a new cover for the rad support and properly attached the radiator shroud.
Got a new tensioner pulley to stop the squeeling.
Discovered that the hot/cold dial in the dash did SFA when turned, found the slide on the blend door was split in half.
Picked up one from u-pull and modified my wire/plastic arm attachment to stop it slipping like it was, now much stronger too!
I've now almost finished the front suspension - new wheel bearings are waiting here for my new rotors; then they'll be fitted up.
Just started restoring the calipers tonight (7th April)
Those tools in the picture are unrelated, i had em out for another job - I used the drill to wirebrush the calipers.
DON'T WORRY I didn't damage the bores or pistons.
That's where I'm up to so far, Please follow along if you're interested - no I am not lowering it cause I need an actual useful car lol.
Picked up for $1,300 delivered. 2023 so all the utes are now $3,000 for what should've been $600 in 2019 - this was a decent deal imo.
First thing was to get a bonnet and hinges since it didn't come with one.
Got one off a blue VP at eliz u-pull with a rust hole in the drivers side above the headlight.
Next up was to jack it up and fix up the busted wiring; which I didn't take a picture of unfortunately.
During this i discovered a massive hole in the coolant reservoir which I replaced from rarespares. washer motor was blown so got that at the same time.
Alternator needed rewiring as it was not charging.
Pictured: P/S pump out for reseal + relief valve swap (to VX commodore valve)
Having the car jacked up I ran it at 2,000rpm to see if the misfire it had was only at idle (it wasn't) - car shot out about 200ml of oil from somewhere...
Checked out the saturated K-frame and saw it was the oil pan gasket. K-frame drop to swap it - discovered all the sump plug bolts were in by hand only, i could literally take them all out with just my fingers. Do not have a pic of this.
Next up i dropped the K-frame as the shocks were f*cked along with the dust boots. DO NOT buy the recommended repco ones for a VN-VP, use the VS ones because the others don't come close to fitting.
Picture here is after i rebuilt the struts with new top mounts, my VT standard springs, new shocks (insert type) and new boots/bump stops.
You can see where i had to wirebrush the body.
For some reason the driver side stub axle i have does not have the dust shield threads/holes but passenger does...
Finally i diagnosed the rough idle via compression test; Cylinders 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were at 149psi dry - cylinder 1 was at 105psi, probably a cracked valve but idk.
Moved on to other things after this discovery - ill just drive it as is, it's whatever.
Redid the rubber fuel hoses and internal fuel pump strainer - redid the transmission cooler rubber lines.
Did an oil change and filter because i had to drop the pan and redo the sump gasket.
Picked up a pair of quarter trims for $100 and a new tray seal - stripped the drivers door to replace the seals.
Put a couple bits of foam in some electrical tape on the hatch stops to minimize the slamming back and forth - would be great to get some little rubber covers for those bits if anybody knows a place that sells them!
Spent a bit of time touching up stupid things that went wrong after 20 years and neglect.
Slightly trimmed up front guards near the door in order to properly line up the bodywork.
Picked up a new cover for the rad support and properly attached the radiator shroud.
Got a new tensioner pulley to stop the squeeling.
Discovered that the hot/cold dial in the dash did SFA when turned, found the slide on the blend door was split in half.
Picked up one from u-pull and modified my wire/plastic arm attachment to stop it slipping like it was, now much stronger too!
I've now almost finished the front suspension - new wheel bearings are waiting here for my new rotors; then they'll be fitted up.
Just started restoring the calipers tonight (7th April)
Those tools in the picture are unrelated, i had em out for another job - I used the drill to wirebrush the calipers.
DON'T WORRY I didn't damage the bores or pistons.
That's where I'm up to so far, Please follow along if you're interested - no I am not lowering it cause I need an actual useful car lol.
