Hi, First post but I have been lurking for a while as we have bought an absolute cracka VXII wagon for $800. My girlfriend wanted it and never having hafd a Commodore before I was keen to see what it was like. Well it is pretty much totalled underneath as the spring were ultra lows and the previous owner drove it like a 4wd! Car: 2001 VXII Acclaim Colour: Black Engine: Ecotec V6 Engine Mods: K&N air filter, CAI, Mace spacers, 1.9 rockers, Aluminium LAI Gasket Power: 200hp of fury Exhaust: Cat back Manta Gearbox: Stock 4L60E Diff: VY 3.08 LSD Brakes: Stock Suspension: Monroe GT Sport struts, King springs FEII height Full set of Superpro bushes throughout Wheels/Tyres: 18" GTS vx rims Interior: standard Stereo: standard Other Mods: Shitty fibregass Clubsport mock up Cost so far: Around $3000
Well the body kit got some love and sorted the suspension and LIM Gasket... So much crap in the engine! Just buggered! Better than a head gasket though... New water pump as well... High lift rockers... She's looking a bit better with the body kit in an interim matt black as we source other pieces Now the intake hits the bonnet, so the decision has to be made to either do a V8 or L67 with modded bonnet... I'm torn as I really like the V6 but the V8 seems the cheapest option...
So I found a couple of bonnets cheap and mixed and matched the two to fit. I think it looks good, but am unsure how to get a hood liner to fit.
It was my girlfriends choice and to be honest I'm a motorcycle guy so have never owned or cared for them. Turns out that I love it. Apart from the fact that it is a little old and failing... And it has the same horsepower as my last superbike lol. It is an XR8 bulge wedged on there to give more clearance for the engine... Still torn on the way to go with the build. There are a few things I'm certain of, but the engine is still up in the air.
It drove better, but I'm unsure as I did so many things at once and also had it Dynoed. I always like to have proof and am a little bummed that Kwinana performance didn't put the before graph overlaid. Still, I'm told 205hp is respectible for these engines, but also as Dyno's vary so widely I wouldn't be quoting it as a ridgey didge figure.
Go the VXII Acclaim Big Bus ! I'm often surprised about how much extra gear the 'Acclaim' came with when compared to basic trim level. Like an interim trim level before Berlina. Extra airbags, factory tint, body colour 'trolley strip', wired windows etc . The tint on the big dark body makes it stand out as 'something' on mine. Mine is the 'best' looking car in my family but it's nowhere near the newest. Just looks bigger and badder then their softroaders or little cars ! Inside I added some black leather and chrome extras and furry black seat covers. Can't see into it now. Looks extra dark,hahaha. Yeah I like mine more than I expected. Just need a GF to go with it now. Woman said I had a "neat ride" then I found out she's got a GF !! (......who doesn't like me. I guess I'm too cool ) Oh.......BTW: love the work on the bonnet. Very neat.
Not a bad wagon there. I'd be interested to see if you keep that faux HSV bumper or whether you'll go for a Berlina one cos of the headlights. I like the bonnet as it'll give it a different stance. Good wagons are hard to find as they've copped a lot of family abuse. The ones around where I live are used as family hacks.
Cheers for the input guys. She is driving well and has just tipped 340k, I'm kinda hoping for a fatal engine accident but she keeps driving fine. I'm amassing all the parts for a respray, but just can't locate an SS rear bumper anywhere! I rang a local wrecker here, but he said he wouldn't put a price on it as he wanted to keep it... Shame, it's the last piece of the exterior puzzle.
You can hope all you want for a fatal engine incident, but as long as it has oil and water (in separate locations) it won't die. Ecotec FTW!
I went to sydney and while over there I bought some bits It's now time for Sooty to get some love! I took her down the drags for her first run and had a best time of 16.024...
There was no such thing as a VXSS wagon, or any HSV wagons for that matter. and sedan bumpers are very different. So you won't find one just sitting around, unless its a 3rd party knock off.
Yeah mine had been a Family Wagon for a while so I had to fix a few things and cover over some others that had taken family 'Damage'. Good point was the bloke worked at a reputable workshop and in the country your reputation counts so the major work that needed doing was done. Have kept on top of replacing any worn bits and I'm always happy to read of big Kay cars. I'm just coming up to 300,000. Problem is my old tiny town mech is all old school and won't even do an auto box service. Means at some point it will have to go to the next big town down the road for a service. Maybe to it's previous owner. Pretty sure he'll like the look of it now.
