Uniacidz Ride VX SS Monaro Themed

With the VZ Berlina roof lining, the wiring is imbedded under the insulation foam and there, however you can take off the whole loom which will do the sunglass holder and rear courtesy lighting with some mods.

Basically in a nutshell, its 3 wires that connects it all for all lamps.

Courtesy Lights
New Lighting Loom from VZ .......... ......... ........... Existing VX Loom
White/green - BCM trace ............. ......... ........... White/green BCM Trace
Black - ground ........................... ......... ........... Black - ground
Orange/black - positive ............... ......... ........... Orange/black - Positive

NOTE : On existing VX Comm loom is a yellow/green. Tape up and place aside, not used.

VZ Sunglass Loom Wiring loom plug
Have to get 6 wires down to 3

Plug in your hand from VZ
Orange/Black Pin1 - ..........................positive - Leave the one on far left of 6 wire plug
Purple Pin2/Black Pin6 - .....................ground - Connect and form one wire as this connects to black ground
White/green Pin5/Orange Black Pin4 - ...cut and join together, wrap up and insulate and place aside
Yellow/green Pin3 - ...........................BCM Trace

Once you get your head round the different colours and such, its ok.


You could theoreically make up a loom and add it into an existing interior lighting as the rear courtesy lights go into the rear trim (you pop out the blanking piece)
Now that i seen it, and know how, would be time consuming to make up (this is always the longest part) but could get one working easily.
And could feed it underneath the existing roof lining, without having to drop it (in the centre is a section on the roof lining that doesnt have insulation foam, feed from one side of car to other.

I was thinking of redoing my entire roof lining wiring, even though confident in my abilities, it wasnt as clean as i liked the wiring so when i have spare time, might make one up as still have partial loom from the half i ripped out.

Wiring below shows kinda what it looks like for the rears. Was off ebay but used it as a control image
The wiring connections are perfect, as with the light and loom, it has different sized connectors so became simple.

NOTE
I just reread this post, has now become confusing. lol

 

Trim no, they have a blanking plate that pops out. Mind you the lights are delicate and envision that the trim has to be pulled off to change a globe as the clips look fragile.
You could connect up a set of courtesy lights easily enough using the wiring details above post

They do make the interior better IMHO.
Map lights shine down like Halogen downlights from offices etc and the rears are soft.

Eventually will be adding a LED strip light to rear compartment of the centre console for the rear passengers like my cup holder LED light
And also adding a LED strip under the ashtray section near ciggy lighter.

 

yep, exactly that.

When my conumdrum of the existing loom on the car not working with the new lining loom yet the test plug it did work even on the car rigged up temp, soemtimes its just easier to not think too much and make it simple.
Now even thats confusing me again. lol.

BUT in the end its worth it. Others on the foiums have done it different ways, just be prepared.
Everyone whom has done it never regrets it and it is exactly how they said, its a great mod and so worth it.

And the roof lining also, if you can upgrade it. its a different material, not felt or whatever it was on normally.
Seems to feel more durable.

But wait for the one with the individual map lights. Its so much easier. You simply reach up and push it without fiddling round and trying to turn it on.

 

Car Insurance.

Quite surprisingly, Coles Car Insurance has been the cheapest for me. (underwritten by Wesfarmers)
Dunno why, dunno how.

Flybuys Discount, with mag wheels shown etc and pay by the month in Sydney and insured to agreed value + 1 accident in 3 years = $959 a year.
Free Roadside assistance, $750 excess, Hire car and Windscreen Options selected.

Current insurance with GIO was $1200 per year + $750 excess + $300 driver excess and agreed value
And their renewal is not so friendly
Now they wanna insure for only $9532 and premium to $1467.77 a year

So bye bye to GIO, hello Coles.

Handy trick, if you have a flybuys card, get the quote and then select on Beat Agreed Price Guarantee or something button, and they can beat ya quote down in price a bit more.

Mind you, im over 30 so hence cheaper quote, but the accident 2years ago damages the prices a bit. Oh hum.




Spark Plug Gap
Changed all gaps on the plugs to 1.05

Used a computer part to tighten the gap.

Even though the LS1 can handle between 0.8 to 1.3, i decided a happy medium for better spark and detonation.
Just awaiting on my spark plug boot protectors, and also have to get some Anti Freeze Lube for the plugs and some Electric Connector Dielectric Grease for the lead to plug connection

And really need to see if I have the correct socket.
Hmm

Sunglass Holder/Map Lights
Still stoked with it, its the beez knees and gets my jizzle da fizzle

Door Strikers
Reseated door striker on passenger side rear and also removed and refitted some felt round the edges of the door frame as a fraction too tight and sister in law had issues getting out on Sunday.
Now its perfect.

Door Check Strap also seemed to have a couple layers of thick dirt so used a stanly knife, water and silicon mix and scraped it off and regreased. Seems much better.

 

This is what i meant.

Its done in steps.
Example below only

My initial quote was for $1207 or similar, then i tried the steps below and got it way cheaper.
If you have flybuys, becomes a fraction cheaper also

Step 1



Step 2



Step 3



Step 4

 

I guess everyones situation is different, Shannons wont touch me lol

And here you go, map lights, black
Genuine Holden Commodore VY VZ Sunglass Holder Black NEW | eBay

 

AAMI doesnt like me, quoted $1820 with windscreen and hire and 9800 max insured for car.

Shannons dont like me at all
GIO doesnt, $1500 ish
NRMA is like $1800 ish
Progressive - $2700
CGU - $1800

 

All Happening at once

Sway Bar Links
Went for 5km walk, came back and decided to change the swaybar links, as one does.
First time ever done it, after the first one, the second one was super fast.
New ones are double ball jointed Heavy Duty.

As per factory specs, torqued top bolt to 25-35nm and bottom bolt to 45nm
Seems to drive better now also.

Anyhoos, heres what i found
Old
1. Left sway bar link boot damaged and alot of movement in its balljoint.
2. Right sway bar link bent, Im shocked actually. Pictures do not do it justice.


Oils
Dropped the Nulon oil in the car, added the gulf western 2.5 litres whilst filter still on and ran for 5mins and dropped that oil and changed filter to the AC Delco filter ACO25
Then Added the Liqui Moly Oil and some additives

Placebo effect perhaps, but gone quieter again

Pictures Sorry for the sway bar link pictures, only had mobile camera handy

 

Hey

from here
Commodore VX VY Swaybar Heavy Duty Link Pins | eBay

They are different then the normal, but feel good on the car.

 

Oil Update

Is a strange one, but for the life of me, always had a small oil leak and could never find the damn thing.
Suspected the oil filter seal to sump gasket to rear main seal and even rocker covers.
Was never able to pin point it at all but suspected rocker gaskets more so.

Anyway, its stopped and definately have oil in the car.
Either, mating surface with oil filter or the oil has seal expanders or something. But now its bone dry. Not a drip

I know with the Nulon, some Ford 6cyl would leak more and change oils and would fix itself.
I really dunno though.

The Liqui-Moly oil is also the best oil I have used for the LS1.
Cold starts, heavy foot and hot ambient temps and works greatr
Smoother running car, just seems to like it more and virtually silent.

Also using the AC Delco oil filter. So bought some more.

I have had it in the car now for a couple weeks now, expecting some drippings of oil but nothing.

Definately gonna stick with it for now, its a keeper for me.

 

Mobile Fun

Well havent been playing with the car of late.

At this stage between working on it.
Been also busy with work, and also being all healthy and tanned and all.

Well got a second hand mobile.
Not looking for best of all mobiles, just something that can do the trick and I can mod and enhance like my old one

Found a HTC Velocity 4G Telstra rom, network unlocked but worse for wear and only cost $108 + postage.
Its a bit heavier then a Samsung S2/S3 etc but again hardly notice it now in pocket.
Literally picked it up Friday night, and between things got it unlocked, rooted and modded the kernal with Swipe2Wake over the capacitive buttons
That kinda made it randomly reboot.

So found a Holics rom and kernal, stable and has been working well actually
Thought of others like CyanogenMod or touchwiz, but all have some slight issues, call volume being the main

So went with the HolicsROM V1.3 Official with Holics Kernel installed, and hasnt rebooted once and seems great.
Its using ICS 4.0, and Sense 3.6 but not much diff with the newest, and this is most stable anyway.
Sweep2wake is updated in the rom and kerna, and working great.
.
.

MIght do wet and dry paper the battery plate as its metal and have a brushed alloy look to it instead of the black.
Only gripe, power connector is on the left side of the phone. Not too much of a issue, just odd.
New more powerful china batteries on the way as with screen protectors.

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Also changing to Amaysim on Optus network, finally getting off the Vodafone.
Works out cheaper on Amaysim, and more data and always been happy with Optus network.
And not really interested in the 4G with TElstra anyway.

Few pics below, Samsung D900 on the left, HTC Aria in the middle with Liberated Rom, and HTC Velocity on the right with HolicsROM V1.3 Official with Holics Kernel
Below is generic pic for the Holics.
Amazing how far technology has come thinking bout it.

 

Did the backing plate for mobile

Used a dremel tool and then grinder bit for it.
Came up trumps, very happy with it

Is like a industrial look.

Gotta be different.