This topic contains 380 replies, has 16 voices, and was last updated by 
Judge1 Frazer 3 years ago.
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Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775
Cheers Guys but is there any issues using the spacers that you know of
Are they legal?
yes they are legal here in nz as engineer/certifier suggested them just got to be made right.
Hey all I have done some home work and modifying the cross member is out of the question so now looking at spacers ( I know I said I wouldn’t but ah ) so can any tell me pros and cons if any Castlemaine have a kit that would fit it under the bonnet (Thoughts)
So a custom tubular K frame is not legal either then?
yes and no I would have to prove it was made right and be equivalent or better than factory
I’d be using a later model K frame.
Talk to me what k frame would make this better but with or without spacers
Cheers Guys but is there any issues using the spacers that you know of
Will mess with the driveline angles, might get away with it or maybe needs correction, hard to tell each car is different.
I assume it is how you set it first as you would know Ian ,or am I wrong spacers have been used for years with old 350 and 400 Chevy’s
The output shaft of the Trans needs to match the input of the diff, putting spacers in drops the engine but not the Trans mount, this changes the angle, in a few of the AWD conversions I’ve done I’ve had slight mismatches that resulted in vibrations at certain speeds, not always just now and again… Just figured I’d put it out there.
Immortality
- 97 HSV Senator 185i 02 VX L67 Calais
View build HERE
Posts: 535The later K frames (VN onwards I believe) have a little more room for things like headers but won’t solve your height issue.
The output shaft of the Trans needs to match the input of the diff, putting spacers in drops the engine but not the Trans mount, this changes the angle, in a few of the AWD conversions I’ve done I’ve had slight mismatches that resulted in vibrations at certain speeds, not always just now and again… Just figured I’d put it out there.
It’s easy enough to change the pinion angle on a semi-trailing diff on a Commodore.
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775so had a go at a temporary spacers wanted to see if it worked first, so it does fit still sticks up 20mm but still needs to go back ,would still need to cut sump , I can see why others use a manual rack
20190616_162506 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickrbottom x member sump
20190616_161704 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickra lot lower than last time
20190616_161840 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickrheader clearance not much
20190616_162217 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickrsteering clearance not much
20190616_162448 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickrsump with 10mm clearance of x member
20190616_152817 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickrtemporary spacers
20190616_161829 by Frazer Russell[/url], on Flickrheader clearance drivers
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775The later K frames (VN onwards I believe) have a little more room for things like headers but won’t solve your height issue.
The output shaft of the Trans needs to match the input of the diff, putting spacers in drops the engine but not the Trans mount, this changes the angle, in a few of the AWD conversions I’ve done I’ve had slight mismatches that resulted in vibrations at certain speeds, not always just now and again… Just figured I’d put it out there.
It’s easy enough to change the pinion angle on a semi-trailing diff on a Commodore.
Yip I have the arms to adjust the pinion angle
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775spacer kit from Castlemaine https://www.rodshop.com.au/commodore-k-frame-spacers-suit-lsa-conversions.html
If you have adjustable arms by all means go for it, apart from the increase in ride height the driveline angles were the only downside I could think of, Holden went +50mm in the Crosstrac cars.
Bloody hell. That’s a BIG spacer.
I wouldn’t go bigger then 25mm personally. Change the blower hat. Or Mill the top of the one you have.
VRSenator065
- Adelaide SA
- VR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project)
View build HERE
Posts: 5 777Just thinking out loud, I assume with a 50mm spacer, you need to compensate with the coil overs adjusted down 50mm. Won’t that mean the lower suspension wishbone angles up at the end 50mm at normal ride height, does that affect anything like bump steer or whatever?
The LCA mounts go down with the subframe, ditto on the rack mounts, all it really means is if you want the same static ride height you lose 50mm travel from the shocks.
Holden screwed the pooch on bump steer anyway, eventually if you lower it too much you’ll drop the roll centres and it’ll handle like a pileOshit.. (#1 reason for the BMW build)
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775Bloody hell. That’s a BIG spacer. I wouldn’t go bigger then 25mm personally. Change the blower hat. Or Mill the top of the one you have.
milling the top is about 5mm off fuck all looked at that the hats are not cheap anymore as they have to come from the state
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775Just thinking out loud, I assume with a 50mm spacer, you need to compensate with the coil overs adjusted down 50mm. Won’t that mean the lower suspension wishbone angles up at the end 50mm at normal ride height, does that affect anything like bump steer or whatever?
What Ian said , probably gives me more room for the big gearbox in the tunnel it’s not small
the Lca are still about 50mm down lower than the x member so got a lot to play with
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This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Judge1 Frazer.
VRSenator065
- Adelaide SA
- VR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project)
View build HERE
Posts: 5 777Yep, noted. All good. Nothing wrong with wanting to keep it all under the bonnet
50mm will make headers a nightmare IMO. Collectors will hang heaps low.
will require brake lines etc to be modified. So keep that in mind. It would open a can of worms
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 77550mm will make headers a nightmare IMO. Collectors will hang heaps low. will require brake lines etc to be modified. So keep that in mind. It would open a can of worms
I hear you cava but the lot is getting modified or changed also building my own headers so the nightmare will be mine if I go this way
The Headers will have the same relationship to the subframe they always had…
I think if anything building the headers will be easier as there will be tons of room on the drivers side for a change.
Just to be clear I’m NOT advocating 50mm spacers just mentioned it as that’s how Holden got around it on the CrossTrac cars, I’d use what ever gives you 10mm bonnet clearance and call it good.
Heron SSV
- Central Coast NSW
- 2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3
View build HERE
Posts: 585MPW used a custom k frame made out of tube in their All Show VK. They have build videos on YouTube, wouldn’t be cheap but it might be an idea to get you the clearance you need. I think Street Machine did the vids
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775MPW used a custom k frame made out of tube in their All Show VK. They have build videos on YouTube, wouldn’t be cheap but it might be an idea to get you the clearance you need. I think Street Machine did the vids
Hey Heron yes, they have use McDonald brothers racing k frame but it’s deigned for racing and it would be set at the same height as a standard k frame would be nice to have but !!!!!!! very expensive 2500, http://www.mcdonaldbrosracing.com.au/frontsuspensioncommodore.html
some one on here did link some photos to face book of a vk getting done and the blower was only 40mm out the bonnet would be interested on what they had done , I could live with that as if I have to modify the bonnet might as well do it with out spacers , read another forum and the spacers still makes blower stick up
Judge1 Frazer
- new zealand
- 1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed
View build HERE
Posts: 775going to have another crack at this and remove the sump and see how it sits and what I can do to modify the sump without spacers
The Headers will have the same relationship to the subframe they always had… I think if anything building the headers will be easier as there will be tons of room on the drivers side for a change. Just to be clear I’m NOT advocating 50mm spacers just mentioned it as that’s how Holden got around it on the CrossTrac cars, I’d use what ever gives you 10mm bonnet clearance and call it good.
More so in retro spec to ground clearance.
I don’t know if you have mentioned it or not but what’s your engineer say? I’m shocked if they say yes.
Out of curiosity. What’s a CTSV hat worth? Is the cost difference that much? Bear in mind you could sell you brand new zl1 lid for decent money. ESP to someone in USA. Those guys are always looking for them. Just food for thought.
I didn’t want to stuff around with spacers, I didn’t like the idea of them and the potential suspension and steering geometry changes it could make. I was happy to run a small scoop and went with that.
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