My VS Commodore
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Have to start out by thanking NUKZ for the layout
Picked up the car from NSW around October ’08 was an ex detectives car used in the NSW police squad. Optioned Dual airbags, Cruise Control, ABS, etc. Engine had been replaced at some time (sold on the intake plemum kinda gave that way) and came to me as the V6 Ecotec with a auto behind her. After a couple of crashes as detailed later, and my rego expiring the V6 was soon pulled out and replaced with the RB30 from my previous VL.
ENGINE:
- RB30 conversion
- VLT injectors
- N/A ecu
- FMIC (in progress of making piping)
- Standard t3 turbo
- Custom clutch master (genuine is $420 so **** that)
- Fresh rebuilt MF5 5 speed
- HD Clutch
- Tailshaft vl front peice vs tail peice
INTERIOR:
- Standard, bar a few gauges
EXTERIOR:
- Originally dark green in colour when i first picked her up from NSW, a few short weeks later with a mate driving the car was involved in a crash where the victim was a barb wire fence.
- Paint work was destroyed to the entire front end of the car, heads were slapped and we moved on.
- Damage was repaired using replacement pannels sourced from a local wreaker, unfortunantly it can be difficault to judge colour sometimes and i ended up with a car half bluely green and the rest dark green.
- Exactly one week after the first crash we were traveling home from dunkeld when i pulled over to swap drivers. Driver B takes off, slides accross to the other side of the road sideways, complete 180 degree change of direction and we pull up less than a meter from the trunk of the tree we were only 10m away when we took off.... ****HEAD!
- Luckily for me it was enough to lightly scrach up the new bumper and bonnet, but not much else.
UPCOMING MODS:
- Boost Controller
- VX SS Seats
- VS Statesman Door Cards
- VS Statesman Dash
Planning to write up the conversion process shortly. Was a peice of piss really as far as engine conversions go.
Looking forward to seeing what people think, and ofcourse anything i can do to improve on where i am!
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Keeping PM's ive sent reguarding the conversion here:.
Its a relativly easy conversion to do, i'd recommend buying a doner car and using it for parts. There really isn't any custom work to be done its a matter or mixing and matching parts.
I'd be trying to keep it out of the workshops if you can, it would cost you a fortune, parts arn't expensive but there is a **** load of labour involved.
The k frame and front suspension needs to be removed from both cars, the k frame then needs to be seperated from the suspension componets. (basicly you want to end up with your suspension setup on the k frame from the vl)
You then use the steering rack from the vs, and the power steering lines from the vl. they all bolt up fine.
The vl computer needs to be wired in, its a custom job but easy enough to do, you'll need 3 additional relays, and to splice into one of the wires from the igntion barrel.
Hit me up if you end up doing the conversion and ill help you out with the wiring diagram.
As far as your transmission goes i chose a manual because i like driving style. Use the gearbox x member from the vl, it bolts up fine. Master cylinders for the clutch are different between models, you need to use the one from the vs if going manual. becarefull they're hard to find and expensive new.
As for the peddle box, they've changed too. I couldn't find one to suit a vs with a getrag 5 speed, so i adapted one from a vn v8 (cable clutch) and used the clutch peddel from the vl.
Not sure how you'd go about the wiring for a auto if you chose that path, im sure it could be done or alternativly you could opt for a manual valve body and a b&m rachet shifter.
Tailshaft, basicly you need to unbolt both in the middle. you use the front peice from the vl (feeds into tranny) and the rear peice from the vs.
Exhaust, im using a off the shelf 3" exhaust for a v8, requires the vlt dump to be cut and twisted in two places.
My standard fuel pump worked well for less than 500km once i changed engines. coincerdence or not i'd recommend upgrading. The standard units are tiny even compaired to the standard vlt high pressure pump.
ABS and AIRBAG systems will not be effected by the engine conversion.
Speedo sensor however is an issue yet to be resolved. If using an R33 5 speed i believe the electric sender from this box should be sufficent. This sender will also fit the MX7 gearbox but not the MF5 (non turbo 5 speed) however i believe the series 3 skyline used an electric speedo so you could obtain one from there.
Tacho, coolent temp and something else can be sliced into at the grey plug next to the brake booster. Speedo needs to be sliced into under the dash.
Thermo fans need to have the shroud trimmed to fit, easiest to do with an angle grinder with a metal cutting disk (works a **** load better than you would think) You will then require an independant trigger because the ecu will no longer control them.
Diff gears really should be changed, 3.08's are way too tall, foot flat into the roundabout 2nd gear, you would be out the other side before you hit boost.
Performance wise, 7psi, non intercooled (all piping no cooler) high comp, 5 speed, 3.08's once it was on boost it was a rocket, kept up with a mates vy ss.
