[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Where’d you get the kit from? Hoppers Stoppers? I got a similar kit years ago on my old 5ltr and found the braking performance pretty good.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

No. VE run a different gearbox and so a different shifter setup. Think any vt-vz shifter should work for you though.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Might seem to be a silly question but why? If people want to lurk and not contribute wouldn’t it be better not to have accounts being created  if they arent adding value to the forum? Just wondering.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Curious to see this intake setup with m90 on a dual plane manifold. Got any engine bay pics? Looks a nice car.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

You can only loosen one side. One side has a taper and that locks the nut in and so you can’t turn it. Been a while since I did it but pay attention and you should be able to pick it. Think you have to crack the tailshaft side.

I should add this is with live axle. Have no experience with irs but think diff flange would be similar to same deal?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by  Phire aka Gmfan.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

That’s an example of what I mean though. With dollar conversion you’re looling at $680 for two rotor rings (assuming that price is each) for 330mm rotors. I think freight was going to be around $100 because of weight. Rotor hats need to be changed periodically too. If you track it then you’ll burn through rotors quicker than a weekend cruiser and it will start to add up. At least if you buy parts available domestically you aren’t subject to fluctuating dollar. Not saying do or dont but just providing my experience.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Best to try and keep to locally available parts unless you don’t mind spending big on replacement rotors. I bought a $2k front kit on clearance but replacement rotors are $700+ a pair just for rings (2 piece rotor). They are no longer on my daily.

I’d go something where rotors are available from rda/dba. For the track car I had the 4 piston calipers from the above mentioned kit adapted to 330x32mm HSV upgrade rotors because the rotors were $200-$250 a pair where I sourced them. Yet to upgrade the rears because cars not even rolling yet 

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

I’ve heard of possibility of using s14/s15 coilover too but commodore runs a thicker threaded section at the top of the coilover than any other which is why I’m having bit of trouble with mine. If you went to a s14/s15 coilover they’d be thinner so although they might bolt to the knuckle you’d have to sort out how you bolt them to strut tower and also sway link will be all wrong so either go to a lower control arm pickup for sway bar or find some sort of link that will work with your setup. Food for thought.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Hi mate. I have bc br type coilovers but they still aren’t in. They are the ones designed for 04-06 Pontiac GTO. I ordered from the US and had them shipped to an address in New England then forwarded to me. Aus post offer a service from America now for businesses that wouldn’t normally ship outside of the 48 states.

Been waiting on various parts. Currently having an issue trying to fit up commodore cup solid camber tops to them. Once I get that sorted I’ll fit them. If you only intend on using them with stock style rubber/urethane top mounts then they are a bolt in proposition with the right sway link.

If you have any questions I’m happy to answer them. I’m Gmfan from SC forum btw.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

I remember this car being at the show. Weren’t the wheels listed as a $6k-$8k option? Fair bit of cash for a modded SS though.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

The brembo’s from ctsv would definitely look great in your wheels. Wilwood do some well priced kits though too. Maybe not so much now that the dollar has dropped against the US? Mates have had very good results on the race track with K Sport brakes. Only complaint they’ve had was changing bolt hole thickness for their 2 piece rotors meaning mate couldn’t reuse his hats. Not an issue of quality though. Food for thought.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

I remember when the guy doing these kits was a sponsor on ls1 forum. Look a good kit for the money.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Unfortunately vlt diff’s are starting to fetch higher dollars. There are vlt diff’s on ebay no axles for over $1000. How much does it cost to narrow a diff? I picked up a complete diff with discs and calipers $100 from a vs. Seen some around on ebay for $80-$100.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Sent you a pm

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Hi mate. I’ll be running similar coilovers to yours with solid adjustable strut tops. I’ve never assembled struts before and my coilovers came with absolutely no fitting instructions. Have you got any photos of how your coilovers went together?

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

No worries. Bit disappointed i couldn’t work out which particular pump he used because it was completely hidden and he wasn’t sure either. I know of 3 different electric pumps in various models of astra but not sure if all have same wiring setup. I know they use a couple of different coloured connectors but no idea if basic wiring similar.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Don’t know if you want this or not but someone on fb put an electric powersteering pump from an astra in a Rambler or something. He told me how he wired it up so i took a screenshot in case i went that way.

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

So i bought some cheap arms, knuckles and radius rods to test. Arms seem to be basically same length and distance from lower arm mount to radius rod seems same. However there is a bit of a problem. The VR/VS have a doglog in them. Where the VT-VZ arms are straighter.

With VT+ arms in place the stock radius rods are too short, but the VT and later radius rods are too long. The later radius rods literally won’t fit into the k frame.

Potentially adjustable radius rods may work but don’t know if they can be extended longer than stock or if they only get shorter.

 

 

[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Yeh i had a quick look at the whiteline site too. Obviously different arms but the question is how different? Bushing used for the inner mount is the same which suggests it’ll mount up (first hurdle). I haven’t been able to find any dimensions for the arms to know distance between inner bush and radius rod bush for example. If that were too far out then it wouldn’t work. I also don’t know overall arm length differences. Ball joints don’t seem a big deal as i could potentially use the later model knuckle too?

Basically i’ve found some aftermarket arms designed the for 04-06 GTO. Wondering if they’ll work in a vr/vs track car. Doesn’t seem that anyone has looked at the differences in detail though so i’ll have to see if anyone is willing to donate free/cheap so i can take some measurements.

 

 

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[Phire aka GmfanParticipant VictoriaVT LS1 Wagon View build HERE Member since: March 3, 2015 Posts: 105]

Look like vz r8 to me?

Nice ute. A guy at work has a 355 stroker that he built. Said with stock manifold on and only limited power it was great fun on the street. Put a come manifold on it and power picked up but he said it ruined the way it drove. Sounds like you had a similar experience?

I quite like your engine bay. It’s not stripped out show type bay but tidy and functional. Looks like a good street car.

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