Walshy227
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- Joined
- Mar 4, 2014
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- Location
- Bathrst, Australia
- Members Ride
- 2001 VU S Ute
Hey, so I have a white 1991 VG V6 Ute sitting unregistered at home, hasn't been driven in a few weeks as it ran out of rego. It was my first car and I finally have another, being a 2001 Mitsubishi TJ Magna which is quick but I prefer my ute. The ute has 330 000 kms on the clock and is in need of a complete overhaul! I have a list of things wrong with it that NEED to be fixed in order to make it a daily driver for me, but also I have some things I would like to do but aren't necessary. I am posting this on here not only to see what you guys suggest, but also where I can get all the parts, whether or not I can easily do it myself (no mechanical experience), and the cheapest way to do it.
Things that are good about the car:
- it's a manual
- it's a V6 (p-plate legal)
Yeah, that about it!
Things that need fixing (to name a few):
- seats: it currently has the bench seat and the material on them is all torn to bits.
- Interior trim: I want to know if I can pull everything out (dash, door trims, etc.) and paint them or if I can get new stuff in a better colour than brown.
- air conditioning: it has no A/C and my local town is extremely hot in summer and extremely cold in winter so a nice AC/Heater would be nice.
- rubber door seals: the door seals are currently falling off and perishing.
- tonneau cover: just a soft one but I have the "sports bars" or whatever they are called on the back so will I need to get it cut to fit or something?
- centre console: upon replacement of the seats, a centre console with cup holders and a storage would be amazing but I have no idea how to get a hold of one.
- handbrake: it was enough struggle getting my handbrake cable replaced since they don't make them on the door side anymore, so any tips on re-positioning it in the centre would be great.
- gear stick: the 5 speed manual is fine and I don't need a short shifter or anything, however I would like to know, if I get a nice centre console, is it possible to get a nice leather gear boot surround to fit rather than the standard frilly plastic that makes me feel like a truck driver? And a nice gear knob?
- carpet/roof lining: The carpet on the floor is all faded and worn from time and the headlining is all saggy and a strange greyish colour, would I be able to fix these up and make them like new or am I better off getting new?
- instruments: the instrument cluster is not necessarily a big issue but a new one would be nice with a tachometer. also, my fuel gauge doesn't work properly so I never know how much I have.
- lights: so a few things with lights:
- the cabin light on the roof needs to be replaced if possible
- the headlights are very poor and I can hardly see where I'm going, should I replace the bulb, plastic cover or the whole unit?
- the handbrake light only works when it wants to and keeps flickering all the time.
- steering wheel: already it has an aftermarket wheel but it's in terrible condition so needs replacing. Also - is it at all possible to get a newer commodore wheel that can be adjusted and/or have stereo controls on the wheel? Again - not necessary but would be nice!
- wheels: currently sitting on little 15" wheels that are an eyesore, what would be the best size to go to and also should I lower the ute on the bigger wheels?
- window tint: I don't what the legal tint level is but I want them as dark as possible and how cheaply could I get it done?
- central locking and power windows: these are things I would be able to do myself but if I have a centre console, would it be possible to have the window buttons located on the centre console like in newer commodores?
- one other thing is, I am 6'1 and it's a little struggle sitting comfortably with the steering wheel so low and the roof lining sagging down. is there anything I can do to make more room?
That is pretty much most of what I want to do. I don't know what performance mods to do. I want to get an idea of how much this would all cost and to see if it's worth it, because with all that done, I would probably keep the ute for at least another few years. If it costs way too much I suppose I wouldn't do it but I love this old ute and I would love to see it come back to life!
Any help, tips or other ideas would be incredible! Or if anyone has a VG ute and has done any of this to it, lemme know! Also, any performance mods you'd suggest, I'm happy to listen!
Thanks, Julian.
Things that are good about the car:
- it's a manual
- it's a V6 (p-plate legal)
Yeah, that about it!
Things that need fixing (to name a few):
- seats: it currently has the bench seat and the material on them is all torn to bits.
- Interior trim: I want to know if I can pull everything out (dash, door trims, etc.) and paint them or if I can get new stuff in a better colour than brown.
- air conditioning: it has no A/C and my local town is extremely hot in summer and extremely cold in winter so a nice AC/Heater would be nice.
- rubber door seals: the door seals are currently falling off and perishing.
- tonneau cover: just a soft one but I have the "sports bars" or whatever they are called on the back so will I need to get it cut to fit or something?
- centre console: upon replacement of the seats, a centre console with cup holders and a storage would be amazing but I have no idea how to get a hold of one.
- handbrake: it was enough struggle getting my handbrake cable replaced since they don't make them on the door side anymore, so any tips on re-positioning it in the centre would be great.
- gear stick: the 5 speed manual is fine and I don't need a short shifter or anything, however I would like to know, if I get a nice centre console, is it possible to get a nice leather gear boot surround to fit rather than the standard frilly plastic that makes me feel like a truck driver? And a nice gear knob?
- carpet/roof lining: The carpet on the floor is all faded and worn from time and the headlining is all saggy and a strange greyish colour, would I be able to fix these up and make them like new or am I better off getting new?
- instruments: the instrument cluster is not necessarily a big issue but a new one would be nice with a tachometer. also, my fuel gauge doesn't work properly so I never know how much I have.
- lights: so a few things with lights:
- the cabin light on the roof needs to be replaced if possible
- the headlights are very poor and I can hardly see where I'm going, should I replace the bulb, plastic cover or the whole unit?
- the handbrake light only works when it wants to and keeps flickering all the time.
- steering wheel: already it has an aftermarket wheel but it's in terrible condition so needs replacing. Also - is it at all possible to get a newer commodore wheel that can be adjusted and/or have stereo controls on the wheel? Again - not necessary but would be nice!
- wheels: currently sitting on little 15" wheels that are an eyesore, what would be the best size to go to and also should I lower the ute on the bigger wheels?
- window tint: I don't what the legal tint level is but I want them as dark as possible and how cheaply could I get it done?
- central locking and power windows: these are things I would be able to do myself but if I have a centre console, would it be possible to have the window buttons located on the centre console like in newer commodores?
- one other thing is, I am 6'1 and it's a little struggle sitting comfortably with the steering wheel so low and the roof lining sagging down. is there anything I can do to make more room?
That is pretty much most of what I want to do. I don't know what performance mods to do. I want to get an idea of how much this would all cost and to see if it's worth it, because with all that done, I would probably keep the ute for at least another few years. If it costs way too much I suppose I wouldn't do it but I love this old ute and I would love to see it come back to life!
Any help, tips or other ideas would be incredible! Or if anyone has a VG ute and has done any of this to it, lemme know! Also, any performance mods you'd suggest, I'm happy to listen!
Thanks, Julian.
