[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

I wish I did my Calais ratchet shfter like that, definitely doing it that way next time

• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by  doz10.

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

he’s still the king of minis, that’s how I know of him

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

the wizard definitely knows his way around an engine and all aspects of it at that

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

seriously doesn’t get much better than that

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

I’m not usually the biggest fan of the old hr’s but this thing is mint mate, your grandad would be proud as punch of that old girl

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

that’s some mint looking fibreglass work 355 it’ll look neater than pipework too

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

yeah we have got a bit off topic jlss is right, how is the Ute coming along vs355 any updates?

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

I have to agree with vs 355 and I honestly don’t blame you for choosing an xr6 turbo over the ss and yeah it’s a leaf rear but the reality is if you own a Ute you generally need it to carry a load or tow with and honestly an irs rear is almost useless for either of those tasks, which is why I like the older commodore utes atleast they still have a live axle rear, and as far as engines and engine conversions go it’s horses for courses really there are positives and negatives to any engine, personally I’ll be keeping my commodores all Holden, I wouldn’t mind putting a 6litre in a patrol but that would be about the only time I’d go for an ls, mainly due to the easy power aswell as fuel economy

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

I will admit there is one major advantage to an ls conversion though and that would have to be the fuel efficiency of the things, not sure what they’re like when they’re bombed but no one can say they are a thirsty engine especially for the cubic capacities

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

Yeah but an ls1 is not much of an upgrade from an old Holden v8, in reality you’d still have to pour a bit of money into it to make it actually perform, which in all honesty a forced induction Holden engine would still be just as driveable and more powerful than a natro ls1, I can understand an LS 2 or 3 conversion coz you instantly have the extra cubes and other goodies but then they aren’t as cheap either so it’s a catch 22

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

Yeah the engine probably cost you $11k but how much did all the conversion parts and bits and pieces you had to buy to complete the conversion end up costing on top of that? For myself and alot of people who have looked into a decent LS conversion it’s not so much the price of the engine or even the aftermarket parts to modify a basic LS to get them actually go hard that adds up it’s all the conversion parts and wiring and bits and pieces that need to be done for the conversion that make it no cheaper than bombing a 5litre and keeping their car original, mind you I do understand there is a point where the old 5litre just isn’t smooth or strong enough to push beyond and that’s where the LS will always have the upper hand esp with all the technology and aftermarket parts availability for these engines, but yeah you can’t really say your engine only cost 11k when it probably cost another 10 or more to convert it

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

It could only be more fun with more cubes and the grpA manifold let alone the fact it’ll be in a ute, it will be one loose bit of gear, you’ll love it trust me, even with a carful of my mates the old Calais didn’t seem to have any trouble breaking loose so a ute would be pretty wild, I’m a bit jealous actually

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

Yea I would say it started making decent boost a bit before 3grand and from there the power just kept building, it was great fun to drive, at low revs it was well mannered but when you planted it and the revs started building it would fry the tyres in any gear, I’ll never forget cruising along in it at 100-110 and planting it hazing the back tyres in top gear shit it was fun, had a full manual t400 and 3.7 diff

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

Yeah the old Holden definitely isn’t cheap to modify, that’s for sure, I still love em though

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

From memory I’m pretty sure it was a T trim, I’ll never forget the dentist drill scream the old girl used to make, it was winding pretty hard though used to rev go 7 grand with ease, pretty simple setup though come twin throttle manifold mildly ported heads, forged dished pistons, fully balanced crank and rods, custom boost cam, ewp and 100mm intercooler

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

yeah I know exactly what you mean cava which is why I don’t want to go to crazy with the ss, gonna build another boosted car down the track for some proper fun.

 

vs 355 my setup had a 1.5″ turbosmart plumb back bov that was literally plumbed straight off the a2a intercooler inlet pipe through the bov and plumbed straight into the induction pipe after the pod behind the bumper on the passenger side short and sweet, like you said though the amount of air the blowers chug down it probably wouldn’t really affect it having a bit of pressure relieved into the intake

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

It’s definitely the easiest way to make power, the old 304 in the Calais was making 465rwhp and was surprisingly smooth doing it too, the ss doesn’t need to make anywhere near that power and will be staying natro, I just want a bit more than what it has and I’ll be happy

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

I don’t have a forced induction ride anymore just recalling the fun I had in the old Calais, staying NA with the ss too mind you it’s gonna get alot crankier as soon I can afford it, home renovating atm is taking up all my time and money but there’s light at the end of the tunnel coz I’ll be alot better off once the house is sold and I’ve got no debt and money to burn lol. Just want to build the ss with a bit more power but keep it driveable coz it’s basically the second family car, then I want to built a turbo Holden stroker and put it in a vg-vs Ute for a bit of fun, the Calais was awesome but I want something that’s an animal to drive, I’d love to go Whipple but I can’t justify the cost I mean it’s probably the best way to go but it’s crazy expensive

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

sold

[doz10Participant Qld93 VR SS View build HERE Member since: February 9, 2016 Posts: 125]

I had mine plumbed in just after the pod like grp a has and yeah I only did it for legal reasons but to tell the truth I really didn’t notice any problems with flutter, it did make a fair amount of noise but didn’t seem to affect the car drive wise, it was built 304 with a vortech v1 pumping 20psi so it was dumping a fair bit of air aswell, I miss that thing put a smile on my face every time I drove it

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