Quote: Originally Posted by xAsh- [View Post] If i get bored in the next few weeks i'll make up something to show you how my design could look, if you choose to go down that path. I dont think decals would look that great unless they were full color and clearcoated so you cant tell its a decal -ash Already thinking down that route Ash. A solid decal would look tacky. Still got a few months before I decide for sure so yeah, if you have some designs, that would be great. ---------- Post added 19-06-11 at 22:23 ---------- UPDATE: Panel-beating Progress I'm quite happy that besides the busted rear bumper by the towie, a lot of the scratches buffed out. Holes have been welded and primed. The battery base sanded back to get rid of the rust. The panel beater reckons he can get the ol' gal back to this so I'm quite stoked: Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

So shiny.... Original color shut door respray? how much it set you back?

just a thought to ad.. the new ve's and many other newer cars have automatic window wipers that come on as soon as the sensor senses rain.. fit one to yours?

Quote: Originally Posted by xAsh- [View Post] So shiny.... Original color shut door respray? how much it set you back? It was an in-between a full re-spray and a shut door as they pulled off the trims and did the insides of the doors where the locks are. $7K - To fix the damage right now to bring it back to what it was two years ago (public display standard) including the engine bay around $3K. ---------- Post added 24-06-11 at 06:10 ---------- Quote: Originally Posted by onetidyvl [View Post] just a thought to ad.. the new ve's and many other newer cars have automatic window wipers that come on as soon as the sensor senses rain.. fit one to yours? Available as an after market fit-on. Yeah I have looked at this and currently talking to the mob about this. But first some thought as to how to adapt the "plug-in" components on the VL first rather than butcher the loom and have non functioning buttons on the dash. I hate it when I see buttons that have been disabled on a car because of a modification. The scope of my project is that everything serves a purpose and any update modifications blend seamlessly into the design. This works on a sensor and is installed by disabling the current buttons on the VL - I want the option of both. I want buttons AND sensor so I can turn it off if I don't want it on and revert to the VL controls. So a bit of thinking involved in the near future. I didn't want to put it on my list just yet in-case I couldn't suss it all out. I really now want to just start getting my car back together and the in-cabin modifications that i've listed to date finished and things like these may make September or will be done between October and December. http://www.thecartists.com/rt50a.php Keep the ideas coming in though. BTW: Car back at Briffa 4th July and will spend a month there being put back together and things sorted like my voltage leakage and re-building the fuse box. Then onto my mate who's now bought Alberts Car Stereo in Rockingham and the car will spend another month there being finished off for my return. Then back again in October to do the other stuff.

very very nice mate hope it all work out for u looks like u have spent some long nights thinking long and hard / researching stuff to complete this car my hats off to u mate well done ... ps i would be keen on one of the electric switchs lol can i send u one to modify for me and just send me the bill .

Quote: Originally Posted by BT [View Post] very very nice mate hope it all work out for u looks like u have spent some long nights thinking long and hard / researching stuff to complete this car my hats off to u mate well done ... ps i would be keen on one of the electric switchs lol can i send u one to modify for me and just send me the bill . No problems. I can arrange that in the future. Get all your stuff together and PM me in a couple of weeks. Focus now is to get my car back together again and my mind is on that. When things start to cool down with my build I'll also start looking at the digital speedo kit as well and production, but as i've said earlier, I do not want to sell something that may dud on you guys after a few months. That wouldn't be fair. I want to test it in mine for awhile before producing it. I made 30 dash fascia pieces so given I've used one there is potential for 29 kits. I also have to figure out how I can get this into kit form and what bits the purchaser has to supply. As for thinking. Yeah, ALOT of time on this...some would, and have even said, I'm obsessed with details and i guess I am. In my eyes it can't turn out half-assed.

Quote: Originally Posted by EvilPet [View Post] It was an in-between a full re-spray and a shut door as they pulled off the trims and did the insides of the doors where the locks are. $7K - To fix the damage right now to bring it back to what it was two years ago (public display standard) including the engine bay around $3K. ---------- Post added 24-06-11 at 06:10 ---------- Available as an after market fit-on. Yeah I have looked at this and currently talking to the mob about this. But first some thought as to how to adapt the "plug-in" components on the VL first rather than butcher the loom and have non functioning buttons on the dash. I hate it when I see buttons that have been disabled on a car because of a modification. The scope of my project is that everything serves a purpose and any update modifications blend seamlessly into the design. This works on a sensor and is installed by disabling the current buttons on the VL - I want the option of both. I want buttons AND sensor so I can turn it off if I don't want it on and revert to the VL controls. So a bit of thinking involved in the near future. I didn't want to put it on my list just yet in-case I couldn't suss it all out. I really now want to just start getting my car back together and the in-cabin modifications that i've listed to date finished and things like these may make September or will be done between October and December. http://www.thecartists.com/rt50a.php Keep the ideas coming in though. BTW: Car back at Briffa 4th July and will spend a month there being put back together and things sorted like my voltage leakage and re-building the fuse box. Then onto my mate who's now bought Alberts Car Stereo in Rockingham and the car will spend another month there being finished off for my return. Then back again in October to do the other stuff. If you wanted the option to change back and forth between the two could you use a DPDT switch and wire it so it either supplies power to auto unit or manual unit (also could wire lights to indicate mode of operation)

Does anyone have a picture of where the sensor is on the late model Commodores?

Pretty sure it's integrated into the rear vision mirror. The sensor itself will be fixed to the glass. Usually they are right at the top of the window, inside the black 'banner' at the top of the screen.

Quote: Originally Posted by NZ_GTS [View Post] Pretty sure it's integrated into the rear vision mirror. The sensor itself will be fixed to the glass. Usually they are right at the top of the window, inside the black 'banner' at the top of the screen. Ok I've figured it. I'll have to mock up some pics as to how this looks on the VL. If it looks cumbersome and detracts the onlookers eye, then I might give it a miss. I have to look at this closely. Does anyone know whether the tinting on the top of the front windscreen can be cut out or interfered with so I can place the sensor with a clear view through? ---------- Post added 30-06-11 at 09:48 ---------- UPDATE: Parking Sensors I wrote a big spiel on this topic but a photobucket ad froze my Safari browser when I was transferring pics and had to force quit and restart losing all my info so I'll try and remember as much as I can. Back in 2007 when my car went into get sprayed I located and modified a rear parking sensor that wouldn't require any drilling into my original 87/88 vintage AERO bumper. If you look at late model vehicles they all have the round sensors on the bumper. My parking alert required a strip on the backside of the bumper which would be glued on then hooked up the the "brains" module then to a small speaker for an audible alert. All set and ready to go, the panelbeater unfortunately forgot to put the strip on when assembling the car. And he lost the unit and all the bits made for it. Roll forward four years. I'm sitting in a mate's BMW recently and notice he has proximity parking alerts for front and back. So my head starts spinning again and the research starts on this addition feature to my project. I started looking at units used by all types of cars, units with graphics and units that just have audible proximity alerts. Being in the UK for the next few months I started looking at European cars. I DID like the following unit from a Volvo CX90; It has a nice flip top BUT I already have a fliptop device on the dash, the SatNav. Having another one would be a bit overkill and would compromise the aesthetics of the cabin. After all, the SatNav is going to be the centre-piece of the dash. Your eye would naturally find the point in the middle and the wander left or right. Thinking about this further it wouldn't look right. I started looking at kit products and happened to come a cross the following front and rear parking sensor with colour LED visual alert display. Cool thing is again, no drilling required. My front and rear bumpers are safe. Just need someone to help me get the bumpers off when I'm back in Perth I guess to fit the strips on the inside. OR might just book it back for a day with the panelbeater. I was looking at maybe pairing the above with this screen but I'm at a loss where I'd put it in the cabin without the cabin starting to look too cluttered visually. Furthermore, I really don't think Holden would have gone the way of a screen in the 80s. So I might just "dumb down" the coloured LEDs in the kit I found and make it a monochrome green bar visual sensor. THAT would have been the way of the 80s. Now if I keep the LEDs, placement of this would also be a concern. I was thinking of installing it in the sunglass holder and mould around it like I did with the iPod holder so it would still be a sunglass holder, albeit with a slightly smaller recess. I'll draw it out and see how it looks and see whether its together visually. If it doesn't, I'm dicing it and just going with the speaker alert. So all up I think this modification can be done by September and I'm formally adding it to my "update list". Stay tuned. UPDATE: Panelbeating Some shots I was sent on progress. Here's where the towie damaged the bumper. The whole thing cracked through as a result. Here's the spoiler being fixed. It was crushed in that region. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

We deal with this company a lot through work: http://www.rve.co.nz/parkingsensors.html#2 While the actual parking sensors are exactly what you don't want, the display is probably more your thing. It can be mounted on the dash or rear vision mirror. Regarding the rain sensing wipers: most of the guts of the device is hidden by a 'blackout' on the windscreen (see link) Unsure as to whether the factory tint would affect the operation though. http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgur...w=1680&bih=935 (http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/Accessories/2010/GL-Class/10-GL-0092.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/explore/safety/feature/class-GL/model-GL550/groupId-0818e3e4dbc67210VgnVCM1000007c184335____/id-574f8fd2cfe92210VgnVCM1000007c184335____&usg=__cyBr-GbXYOUdUbsGTrI-NV03mNg=&h=405&w=720&sz=85&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=lN4_A307DqHZRM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=188&ei=4RcMTv_0Ec-ImQXP3vzUDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drain%2Bsensing%2Bwipers%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D935%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=366&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=73&ty=72&biw=1680&bih=935)) While you're at it, you should check out these; http://pantera.co.nz/

Quote: Originally Posted by NZ_GTS [View Post] We deal with this company a lot through work: http://www.rve.co.nz/parkingsensors.html#2 While the actual parking sensors are exactly what you don't want, the display is probably more your thing. It can be mounted on the dash or rear vision mirror. Regarding the rain sensing wipers: most of the guts of the device is hidden by a 'blackout' on the windscreen (see link) Unsure as to whether the factory tint would affect the operation though. http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgur...w=1680&bih=935 (http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/Accessories/2010/GL-Class/10-GL-0092.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/explore/safety/feature/class-GL/model-GL550/groupId-0818e3e4dbc67210VgnVCM1000007c184335____/id-574f8fd2cfe92210VgnVCM1000007c184335____&usg=__cyBr-GbXYOUdUbsGTrI-NV03mNg=&h=405&w=720&sz=85&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=lN4_A307DqHZRM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=188&ei=4RcMTv_0Ec-ImQXP3vzUDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drain%2Bsensing%2Bwipers%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D935%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=366&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=73&ty=72&biw=1680&bih=935)) While you're at it, you should check out these; http://pantera.co.nz/ Nice link - would be a great device for a 4WD. The sensors I understand work from diffusion of light and thats why sometimes dust can activate it and I don't know how tinting would affect it. Given its light I think it would affect the sensing unit.

EVILPET is back at Briffa for a week or so. Decided NOT to put the bumpers and bonnet on for the transit since the towie busted my front bumper the first time around. I suppose this is good anyway given the my parking sensors can be installed rather than the bumpers come off again in a month time. Car can be towed back to Cowleys for a finish of then off to finish the interior. Back at Briffa I made the call to get the underside re-stone-chipped. As Mick the proprietor said to me this morning "It's like 'Grease Lightning' down there...." - I tend to agree. It came up quite good. Now the BAD news. My custom rocker cover and near new original oil cap has gone missing.... No one knows where it is. My mate said it was in the boot when it went to get the engine out as I went through a checklist of stuff the day before that was in the car. It's just gone missing from there. Gearbox ready to go back in. It's back in now minus $1,000 original HDT gear knob and $1,200 steering wheel which I took off before the car went in. Engine shot. I found out yesterday the alternator I bought was the wrong one as my old one had an internal fan or something like that. Didn't plug in as it was supposed to. I told Mick to modify what he needed to do in order to make it fit as I'm not ditching it given I've invested a bunch of cash into it. As the old rocker cover is fitted for the time being, I've instructed Briffa to send that one to send to get powder coated Luminous Orange. I also decided to get the heater core done as well so the entire dash is out right now. More pics to come. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Love your work and your brain mate its on the ball none stop

Although there are various threads on the subject I'll post my experience here. My VL was originally fitted with the Hitachi Alternator. It was a kind of throwback deal Holden had after the production of the VK V8s. For those who don't know how to tell the difference, the Hitachi Alternator has a green band on it externally. These units were considered by Holden as "superior" at the time and have have twin internal cooling fans, one for the starter and another for the regulator, whereas and the Bosch units only have a single exterior one (as you can see on the photo above of my engine bay). However the Hitachi unit generally almost always failed during the warranty period (so mine having lasted 24 years has done "over extended duty"). There were no replacement repair parts for the Hitachi back when they were new except for the front bearing, which were generic, however nowadays you can buy the rear bearing and the regulator, but they are a hell of a lot more expensive than Bosch ones. So heres what to look for if you want an original: - No visible cooling fan - Green painted band in the middle of the alternator (Bosch ones are usually red or black) - Blue and silver decal GMH logo on it. In 1987 Holden started replacing the Hitachi units with Bosch ones. The Bosch unit usually came with an adaptor harness (as the plugs were different as pictured here) I spoke to my auto electrician and he said that he carries the harness in his van (he's coming out to Briffa to do the work as my car can't be driven anywhere without a bonnet or bumpers) So all is well. My Bosch unit has been pumped from the factory 70 Amps to 110 Amps which should be plenty to supply to the power needs of the car. Now...for the bad news. They guy who is building some of the parts for my Tom Tom and custom wiring had a suspected heart attack and is off work indefinitely. So i'll have to wait until he's better but his role doesn't come into play for another three weeks. AND the guy thats doing some of my plastic mouldings for the console and dash (eg. moulding and re-painting the dash / console) fell off the roof of his house and broke his back. And off work indefinitely but I think I might have another guy in Perth that can assist. I wish both guys speedy recoveries as they're great blokes and good mates but I shake my head at my run of luck that this thing happens within a week of each other. It's like I can see the finish line now but there's giant pits suddenly in the way.... I was going to post some updated pics from Briffa but that will have to wait until tomorrow I guess when they send me the correct photos. Heater core is done (as you know the entire dash has to come out) and they are putting on as many bits as possible and seeing whats missing as there's a few NOS parts they're waiting for and parts that are still at the powder coaters. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

My "Lost" rocker cover was found. I wish the pictures were a bit more decent but as bright red s it looks it actually has a "deep look" to it with light silver fleck sorta like candy apple (but bright red). As I've imagined it from the beginning, I wanted the engine bay to look like a pulmonary system with the rocker cover / engine representing the "heart" and the red hoses representing the arteries. I've had to contact the manufacturer in China to make me more 2 inch and 3 inch coupling hoses in red which which should arrive next week. Should look pretty good once it's done. I'll have to speak to the panel beater about the radiator cowling and a few other plastic bits that were supposed to be sprayed - I think he's waiting for the car to go back to him before he does that. It's on my shopping list of stuff to do so he can't forget it I guess. Underside is coming along fine. Sway bars front and back painted red to match the hoses and new bushes in everything. EVERYTHING has been replaced with brand new parts where possible or cleaned up. Intercooler Woes Intercooler leaks apparently so out it went to be completely refurbished. All done now and just awaiting some red coupling hoses from China and its back in again. Still a way to go though. We're hoping to start her next week and then the auto-electrician can start re-building the fuse box and sorting out my voltage leak and connecting up the alternator and a few other bits and pieces. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Just keeps getting better

this is awesome

Keep the great work up The only thing im not sure about are the red hoses, i wouldve gone black just to keep it more "stock" looking Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I like the idea behind the pulmonary system, curious to see how you'll pull that off.