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VR Senator with LSx454

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VRSenator065

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VR Senator LSx454
VR Senator with LSx454 retuned now making 378 rwkW

Hello, well thought I would have a go at posting a thread up here on my car. This is my car, I am building it how I want, if you dont have anything constructive to say, but feel the need to post, fair enough but truthfully I couldn't care less. I have a full build thread on the other Commodore forum, which the other members are great, and absolutely everything is on there, trouble is its been a bit flaky lately with dropping off line, its also on Performance Cars but its nice to be amongst other Commodore/GM enthusiasts.

I have been building my car for the last 18 months or so. My car is a 1993 VR Senator. Its build number 065. I have owned it for over 10 years and it used to be my daily driver. I have had it stored in a container for a few years whilst I worked out what to do with it.

I am fitting an LSx454, 4L65e auto, Wilwood GTO brakes, Harrop 12 bolt diff, Coil Overs, Strengthened rear sub frame, 8ITB intake, remote oil coller/filter set up,. There really wont be too much of it I don’t touch. I have done pretty much everything myself except for the paint. The car will be fully engineered and street legal. Once its through engineering and on the road I will play with it a little, shouldn't be hard to me making 700HP at the flywheel. Should boogie along pretty nice in a 1300+kg car.

The idea is I have not drilled or filled one hole, I still have the original 5L under my bench. Every mod I have done is either reversible, or I have done to a common Holden part. So one day the car could be returned back to original condition if I wanted. I haven't just done anything because that's what everyone else does, I like to take my time and research everything, to understand the best option for me. I have spent a lot on "just a Commodore" but I figure I could have ploughed the money into a new SS and not had anywhere near the fun I have had building this. To me building is half the fun.

This is how she looked a few years back
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It went for a full bare metal respray, it took 7 months, its as straight as.
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I have braced the rear sub frame, a known weak spot with VR’s. Everything is gusseted, and plated with 5mm plate, and there is a 10mm mild steel plate welded vertically through top and bottom tying both halves together. Then its all been media blasted and powder coated.
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Rear suspension has been totally rebuilt, its running a Harrop 12 bolt, with Detroit Locker, full SuperPro bush set, Whiteline sway bar, XYZ adjustable shocks, and Wilwood GTO 4 pot rears. I also swapped the hand brake mechanism (a huge job) to the later VT-VZ which is a larger diameter to give me more braking options.
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I am going for a stock look until you get close. I want a HSV person to think wow that's a nice early Senator, then when they get closer see that its been enhanced. Hopefully when I start it up it will really give the game away. The wheels are the original 17x8’s. I have done the CAD work and 3D modelled my own 17x10’s after having the originals 3D laser scanned. I have been working closely with Ian Splatt at Dragway's and they are making me two rims for the rear that are 10" wide. I did a lot of work mocking it up swinging the suspension through its full range of travel, seeing where the foul points were etc. to get the right offset. I should be able to run 295’s on the rear.
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I sourced a 4L65e out of a VY Clubsport, and fully rebuilt it myself. I have never done one before, made up a jig to turn it on the bench, has a full suite of Sonnax parts in it, will be interesting to see if it stands up to the torque of the 454. Rebuilding it was a huge job. Very satisfying to do, but to be honest not sure I would do one again.
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The stock HSV interior is a part of the car I love. I have completely stripped it out, the seats just needed a clean, I have redone all the carpets etc, also restored the steering wheel, its pretty much ready to go. Currently it has the stock shifter but may go a B&M, but if I did might do a stealthy install so it looks original.
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Front suspension is XYZ Coil Overs, again all new SuperPro bushes, Wilwood GTO 6 piston brakes, also strut brace etc. Also modified and strengthened the front sub frame, everything has been stripped and powder coated.
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So originally I had bought a crate LS3, and that was what I was going to use. Then I had a change of heart and fell in love with the LSx454. Out of the crate its good for 600-650HP depending on induction, tune etc. But the block (iron) is capable of up to 1800HP, so I have plenty of room to move ha ha. I have match ported the Pacemaker headers, I plan on running an 8 throttle body Jenvey system. Also have a Mezierre electric water pump, plus some other goodies.
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And this is how it pretty much stands now;
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VS 5.0

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Awesome !!!

Looking forward to seeing the intake and those new rims.
 

yZoH

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ephect

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Yep, monster of a build, and also an avid follower on sc.

Keep up the good work, love this thing to bits. Hats off to U and its progress
 

someguy360

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Looking good mate, been following the thread for a while on SC, glad to see you on JC though. (I rarely visit SC other than to check progress on your LSX, now I don't have to hehe)
 

Matt02SS

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Looks great mate. Must have poured some big $$$ into it.. Will be good to see it when it's finished.
 

someguy360

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Looks great mate. Must have poured some big $$$ into it.. Will be good to see it when it's finished.

Think he said in another post insurance valued it at $40k and it's not even done yet
 

tim005

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This is actually incredible mate, looks like you haven't left anything behind. Lots of attention to detail. Will be watching this one very closely....
 
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