VR Senator with LSx454

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

And a few of the dynamic stuff

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Had a bit of fun today, only had a few hours as had a family show for my lads 21st.  Never been a bodywork kinda guy, but figure I have to start leaning for the Kombi.  So made up an infill panel for the spare wheel well and got it welded in.  Should have a full day tomorrow, bit of luck may get to start it with the Varex.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Well, got it all done, so spare wheel well reduced to make space for the Varex.  Actually I think turned out pretty neat.  So the million dollar question is, is it quiter? answer heaps,.  But I don’t have any rear wheels at the moment as I am getting them re powder coated (thanks Bob Jane for chipping them)  So its stuck in the shed hard against the wall.  Anyhow, hopefully next week end with my mate will take it to a park or something with a db meter he has loaned me and see how much its attenuated it.    For now I have wired it with the switch in a little box so the idea is I will for now just bring it through the rear seats up so can operate it whilst driving it to test it all out. Then once its all sorted will permanently mount the switch in the boot.
Few random pics for posterity….

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Just received the photographs from the Street machine photo shoot.  Really happy with them.  these are my pick of the bests

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Well, I think I can finally describe my brakes as epic.  Truthfully feel as good in feel and stopping power as my 911.  Had it set up with the Comp Cams electric pump, worked a treat, just was very noisy.  Took a punt and thought since GM put them on one of the VE models, its has to be better.  So lashed out and bought one.  Its much smaller and more compact that the CC one, and much much quieter.  Also seems to pump it all up so much quicker so its hardly on.  Comes with a nice cast alumium bracket so mounting it was easy as.  This is the two compared

And this is it fitted.

Took it for a long drive, just smooth as now.

Down side of the day is looks like the Varex experiment may not be a winner.  Just parked it my back area, and used a noise meter my mate has loaned me.  Does definitely attenuate it, dropped from 102dB to 93.  Which is a lot but not enough.  So not sure what to do from here, bit of head scratching maybe.  It definitely sounds like shit when its closed, but open to me sounds exactly as it did before.  Gumby pic of the meter set up for posterity

And lastly couple of people have commented on how crappy my pedals were, so fitted the HSV set I bought, also some new mats, came up OK I think.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Well, project quiet down is progressing, starting to annoy me a little bit to be truthful…

So for those playing at home the legal limit is 90 dB.  The issue is dB is not a simple linear measurement.  So a drop in 3dB is half the sound level, so a 6 dB drop is 1/2 x 1/2 = 1/4 the sound level, 9 dB is 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2  = 1/8, you get the picture.

The level the engineer measured on the test day with the DiPhillio mufflers was 113 dB.  So I need to shed 23 dB, in plain English “A Farken Lot”

So first change was to swap out the rear muffler for a Varex.  That of course meant cutting away the spare wheel well, which I have done.

So this morning I took a reading with the Varex open, it was 108dB

I then shut the Varex and took another measurement, it was 97.5, that’s a pretty impressive reduction, of over 10 dB at the flick of a switch, yes it sounds pretty crappy, and definitely cuts power but heading the right direction, but not enough.

So today I got into fabrication mode and took the Dynatech exhaust comes I bought through Summit.  I then bored a 3″ hole in the 2mm flange plates I got of AAA exhausts and tigged the cones and cleaned them up.  pretty happy with how they turned out.

So I dropped the exhaust off the collector, and fitted these in between the cats and the headers, the cone points upstream.  Started the car up, massively quieter to the human ear, quite incredible really.

Took a reading, so that’s cones fitted, Varex closed 94 dB – not enough Bugger it!!!!

So definitely headed the right way but simply not enough.

So maybe one issue is I am doing the measurement in my back yard so there’s probably sound reflections happening all over the place, so it may drop a little if I did in an open space.

Also maybe its worth getting the car re-tuned as it definitely has effected power, so it may settle it down a bit if it were re-tuned and take some rasp out.

Maybe i have to get a full custom rear big kick ass muffler, at least I have the space for one now.

Or…  I have no bloody idea, more thought required, stuff it.

Took it for a drive, its still plenty powerful, will light it up in a heart beat, but for sure has lost some edge.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Have some people staying with us for a couple of weeks so hard to get to the car.  But I did manage to drop the exhaust off completely on Saturday, and cleaned up the flanges etc so its all ready for the new exhaust.  Also replaced the exhaust manifold flanges, and changed the bolts over to some nice ARP ones so its easier in future.

Since the exhaust was off seemed a shame to not at least fire it up, sounded farking loud but pretty awesome.  Apologies for the pretty crappy video but I managed to talk my misses into taking it with her iPad.  Might be nice to make up some angled pipes to dump it out the side of the car for drag duty some time

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Have some people from France staying with us at the moment.  Last night I took the guy for a quick drive, first time I have had a chance to drive it with the single 2.5″ system.  I can confirm its lost virtually none of the low down torque, lays 11s at a squeeze of the pedal, actually still sounds a bit mental when it spins up.  Also scared the shit out of the Frenchie

Also really pleased to finally get the top radiator hose sorted.  I have been chasing one, finally saw a post on a US site with someone who had done a similar conversion.

It fits a Cadillac Escalade, as well as a 2500 pick up.  The Gates part number is 22358, you just trim the bit you don’t need and are left with the perfect Z section.  Here’s a couple of pics.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Spoke to the mechanic, should have the box in soon.  I am entered in the C4C on the 23rd.  I just can’t/won’t risk driving it unless its passed.  So its going to be a bit touch and go time wise.  Not much time in case of a hiccup.

I have it booked in with a local guy before C4C for a full detail, which will take him a day or so. He’s just up the road from Gawler, comes recommended by Frank so will let you all know how he goes.

So fingers and toes crossed….

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Just been around and witnessed the test.

Well, this car has certainly had me scratching my head many times on how to solve a problem. Looks like the emissions is just another one. Sadly looks it’s going to be a bit of a long journey. For those playing at home that reading near the top on the left of 247.313 for CO needs to be under 1, yep, that’s right under 1.0 Humm.

The guy certainly knows his stuff, he has a little 50kW dyno he uses for the tests. I think he is the only guy in the state who is approved to do the testing. He is saying he needs to put it on his main dyno and go through the entire tune. Swap injectors, etc etc.

He is also going to speak to Mike Jenvey in the UK, looks like a fairly long road ahead. The bummer is his main dyno is out of action for the next two weeks. So realistically we are looking around Xmas before its done, if it can at all in its current state.

What a bloody shit.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

So I thought I would change the look up a little, I had to send the carbon air horns back to Jenvey to have a small manufacturing issue sorted.  They sent them back so just put them on, I really like it, just gives the bay another look.  Also dropped the ride height back down form Grandpa spec.  Of course will have to refit the air cleaners and put the height back up when I go through engineering but nice to have it looking a little meaner again.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Just back from Cruise for Charity, had a top day talking to heaps of people, was a little nerve wracking do some interviews, but really really happy to pick up the top award for “Best Overall Car”

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Couple of shots that have popped up on fb

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Big day of doing little things really.  Wanted to get stuck into making sure all the road worthy stuff is 100% correct.  Raised the ride height back up, it needs to be a minimum of 100mm, so decided to make up a quick check block, put a handle roughly on it just so I could lay down and try everywhere under the car.  Lowest spot is the end of the collectors, managed to get it just clear, so really happy that’s crossed off..

One of the things that’s a pita is removing the black wheel nut covers.  I have the Holden plastic clip but its still a pain.  I don’t want to risk damaging the rims so I played around on the grinder and made up a pair of pliers into a removal tool, works great.

Then went around and checked all the lights etc.  Had a moment when seemed the drivers side headlights were stuffed, then realized I had disconnected the plug to them when i was stuffing around in that corner with the brake vacuum pump.  Did have one blown bulb.  All the indicators are working but luckily spotted I had fitted clear globes when they need to be orange, so swapped them over.  Horn works, and also pulled the lines off for the wiper washers and purged the lines of air so they work properly.

So pretty much all set for a trip to the emissions guy, then off to Regency, fingers crossed we can sort the emissions without too much hassle, I am sure there are still some curve balls to be thrown, but edging closer…

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Also just coz i feel like I haven’t posted any decent pics for a while, this is I reckon one of the best ones taken at C4C.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Don’t have many yet with the carbon horns which i have sort of fallen in love with, but pretty sure most of these have been posted in previous pages but for shits and giggles…

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Scored a nice feature in my local newspaper, they are doing a series on the local car culture.  They did a nice write up I reckon.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Interesting to compare the first tune to the current (wip) tune.  Check out the spitback.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

That’s not rude as it’s a good question I have been waiting for someone to ask it and it’s something I have asked myself more than a couple of times.

Firstly, the goal is not to immediately make it illegal, far from it.  The ideal is to have the car how I want it and still remain fully legal.  But its much much easier to do that starting from something that is, then make incremental changes to it so we can see the effect.  Part of that change will be to at least attempt to keep it legal.

So the injectors are a good example.  I will have a set of 8 injectors in a box I know fitted will pass the emissions test.  I can then buy a set of the ID1000’s or whatever and tune to not only make good HP but also try and pass emissions.  Best case scenario they do, worst case I have a set in a box I can literally refit, load that tune and pass.  Sort of like having a set of stockies in the shed, that if your cool rims get defected you can fit to get it cleared.

To me anyway there is a big difference between driving a car around with an LSx454 that is supposed to have a 308, and driving a car around with a fully approved engine and drive-train that may be 1dB over in sound, or slightly miss an emissions test.  When the cop wanders by at the car show the engine that’s in it is a bit of a give away, but this way in my glove-box I have the paperwork to show its approved.  And as I say, i am actually reasonably confident still fully legal.

But the main and single biggest reason is this.  In every state and territory in Australia apart from SA (and Tas I think) you simply can not fit an LSx454 to a VR legally as all the other states have adopted the “uniform road laws” or whatever bs they call them.  Part of them is the weight to capacity limit which kills the 454/VR thing.  Sooner or later SA will adopt it, its just a matter of time…

But once my car is passed and registered they can never take that away.  So once my car is done its not just “legal” it is approved and passed with that engine in that car forever.  If they change the laws (and they will) they can not retrospectively take it off me, to me at least that will make it pretty unique and pretty cool.  Its something I have focused on from the start.  Believe me it would have been way way easier to not consider rego.  Just about every aspect of the car has been effected by it.  Its been a massive challenge, a year ago almost to the day i was driving it around for the first time…

So again not rude, hopefully you follow my logic.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Just testing a short post

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by  VRSenator065.

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