CommodoresPlus

Frazer – dont you need an electronic speed sensor on the gearbox so the ECU has a vehicle speed input? That’s what I’ve been told, and also why I need either a digital speedo or one of the x box.

Does anyone know if the ECU needs the vehicle speed? would be a lot easier if I could just run with the normal cable setup.

According to Google and a few of the links found, VK’s weigh between 1220 and 1366kgs. the SL has bugger all electronics and stuff in it so it’s pretty light. An LS3 weighs around 50kgs lighter than a 308 as well.

I have a similar issue, my conversion kit came with a dakota digital speed sensor to the ECU has the vehicle speed but that means I cant connect the speedo cable. Spoke to CAE about it and they said I’d need to buy the x box for about 600 bucks. Been thinking about getting one of the Racepak IQ3 street dash setups instead to replace the factory…[Read more]

There’s arguments about the weight of the cars as well, some will say it’s based on your exact vehicle model (in my case a VK SL), others say to use the heaviest vehicle variation in your model (in my case probably a Calais) to determine engine sizes. The last set of rego papers for my VK show the weight as 1250kgs so i just scrape in with the LS3.

It says “recommended”, some engineers take it as gospel and some will go beyond those numbers as long as the whole car is built properly. It’ll depend who you talk to

Yeah i like those Racepak dash setups. Throw up a thread on your car, gotta get the first gen commodore numbers up haha

I thought the same thing about the wiring Cava, all thats really left seeing as I have a new engine loom is the dash, headlights, tail lights, blinkers, wiper/washer, heater, but there’s just so much wiring, and it’s really the first thing so far I’ve been hesitant about doing myself. I have a bit of time to figure out what I’m going to do (that…[Read more]

Yeah it includes connecting the engine harness, hiding all wiring up under the dash and through the engine bay, so there’s a fair bit involved. Called a couple of other shops, one said anywhere from 1 to 6k without having a look, and i’m waiting on a call back from another.

His workshop is a 5 minute drive from my house so that’s a bonus.

the car is an SL. Got the engine harness from CAE so that side is good, it;s just the rest of the body harness thats shithouse

Still weighing up my options. If the harness was complete and in good condition it wouldnt be a drama, but the fuse rail was cactus when i got it, and some parts of the harness look like it’s been modified and I can’t figure out why as all the mechanical stuff was stripped out before i got it

Sparky came round, quoted 4.5k to rewire the whole car front to back using all new wiring, fuses, relays, connectors etc. as well as hiding most of the wiring. Said it’s about 1k in parts and the rest is labour, and takes around 40 hours to do.

anyone had any similar work done so i can compare the price?

stupid cars lol

I’ve been playing around with the wiring over the last couple of weeks. Got the new harness into position with most of the sensors connected. CAE have run the starter cabling down the drives side of the harness instead of the passenger side which i’m not impressed with, especially after i called them about it and they just said to pull the wiring…[Read more]

So far, the big items have cost around the $18K mark (motor 8k, gearbox and converter 5k, conversion stuff 5k). I splurged on those when i had the cash as they’re the most expensive things to outlay cash on. the stuff i need now is relatively cheap (only hundreds, not thousands haha) and i can slowly chip away at it as time progresses without…[Read more]

I’m in the middle of a similar build, LS3/TH400 into a VK. I picked up an LS3 out of a 2016 Redline with 39,000kms on it for $8k earlier this year. Came with the harness, ECU and pedal as I’m sticking with the FBW throttle. Brand new crate motors were around the same price but didnt include the accessories, harness or ECU. Prices for LS3’s will…[Read more]

I’m in the middle of a similar build, LS3/TH400 into a VK. I picked up an LS3 out of a 2016 Redline with 36,000kms on it for $8k earlier this year. Came with the harness, ECU and pedal as I’m sticking with the FBW throttle. Brand new crate motors were around the same price but didnt include the accessories, harness or ECU. Prices for LS3’s will…[Read more]

That VT was on eBay earlier this year for just over 20k

I got my loom from CAE. They supply a brand new loom that integrates into the factory wiring harness so the dash works as normal. It arrived this week, all the wiring is labelled and it has detailed instructions. Also has a fuse rail with fuses and relays for the ignition, fuel pump etc. Wasnt cheap, but nothing is on cars these days.

I’ve put an…[Read more]

No, they’re from CAE/Castle Headers. It’s hit and miss with headers on LS conversions in older Commodores. There’s people who have had them fit with no dramas, and others who need to do extensive modifications to get them to fit. Mine only needed a couple of taps with a hammer to give enough clearance.

I’m using 1 3/4 inch tri y’s and its pretty…[Read more]

Haha I had a love/hate relationship with it over the last couple of weeks.

Got the box from Paul Rogers Performance Transmissions in VIC. It’s a TH400, full manual and rated to 1000-1100 hp. Got the converter through  him as well, Dominator with 4k stall