Sadly, I have for the time being, left team VL. They still are my favourite cars... but i just returned from Canada a few days ago in need of some new wheels, with about 4 grand give ortake a thousand each way looking to spend. So i was looking for a low k's VL, pref Calais...or possibly a V6 Commodore...simply because im gonna be startin a new life back here at school again and when my mrs gets back well be strapped for cash and on our own...and we all know VL's require maintenance and money put into them fairly regularly. My heart was set on a VL, but i came across a series 2 VR black/charcoal with 180xxx on it, dual fuel (so cheap to run, and really, it still drove bloody well off the petrol), abs, irs, airbags, cd player etc... all the normal goodies and aircon that actually worked! for 4 grand, so i bit the bullet and bought it Now to the point of the thread.... the motor is stock. This will just not do for I am an engine tinkerer at heart,...but i know **** all about the ecotec..so what are some easy and/or affordable mods that can be made I'm thinking a CAI for the first project, wheres the best place to put it/size of hose/are kits available/prices? 2 1/2 inch mandrel bent exhaust the best option or would you recommend something else Extractors? What sort of prices on those and how much of a difference do they make??? Throttle bodies? Intake manifolds? Are there ecotec parts that bolt onto the VR motor from other motors that increase power? Any and all input is much appreciated!!! Cheers Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Best bang for bucks, SS induction, Pace Maker Extractors, Sports system, Fluffy Dice

turbo it, 3.8Ltr turbo lol nah the stuff mentioned above, make sure you get a decent 2.5" exhaust "Extractors? What sort of prices on those and how much of a difference do they make???" pacies. don't need to say anymore theres a fair bit of things out there atm especially for the vr-vt range just shop around for best price/quality Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by oso turbo it, 3.8Ltr turbo lol nah the stuff mentioned above, make sure you get a decent 2.5" exhaust "Extractors? What sort of prices on those and how much of a difference do they make???" pacies. don't need to say anymore theres a fair bit of things out there atm especially for the vr-vt range just shop around for best price/quality What do you mean by dont need to say anymore? i recken they give it a bit of a kick!, and believe me a twin turbo ecotec aint da bomb! its just a bomb! haha! go supercharged... cheaper and most better.. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I mean if you're getting extractors. get pace makers.

ecotech in a vr? i thought ecotech came out with the vs? anyways ive got a vs2 ecotech i bought last year to replace my hail damaged vl, i just wanted sumthin newer with less hassles and a bit more comfort im not really interested in making huge power anymore heh i must be gettin old first thing i did was to replace all teh stock suspension man its so high and drives like a boat had a couple of hairy times with the back end floating under brakes so lovells superlows front an rear 220$ gabriel gas short throw rear 150$ monroe "i think" front short throw struts $260 adjustable panhard rod 160$ handles an drives much better now i then started thinking about power and noise hehe cai - holden sc/6 45$ i used the stock sc/6 intake an neck from holden made it fit my box, i then made the mouth much wider as its a bit narrow as she comes extractors - 300$ i got lucky and got custom extractors made and fitted on the cheap as i loaned the car for a few days as a mule for the design of a jig for the vs ecotech exhaust - 250$ 2 1/2 stainless all the way through with a large single muffler no resonator i chose the larger muffler as its much quieter with less drone still makes a nice roar when i put the boot in as she sits she runs nice and handles well im not after major power just sumthin reliable and reasonably quiet but with a bit of poke when i want it im cracking open the top end soon to do a set of lifters and a fresh set of gaskets so atm im tossing up on either a baby cam or a set of FIT rockers also thinking of a vt brake upgrade and cahnging the diff ratio at sum stage here is a post from FIT from another forum as advice on a 2000$ budget to mod a stock ecotech [/Quote] Going from totally Stock Ecotec we would recommend the following Power Plan to maximise your power outcome per dollar spent - 3Hp might cost around $250-$300 via CAI Improvements - 7Hp might only cost you $350-$450 by doing Exhaust - Gain another 5Hp might cost you $650 by doing Extractors - High Ratio Rockers give between 10-20Hp gain for $700-$800 This would work perfectly within your $2k Budget We would not recommend doing the Diff Ratio as a 1st mod as for the $850 to $1650 with LSD there are no power gains but gains in acceleration of between 0.2-0.3 secs. However the gains in acceleration from doing Exhaust, Extractors, CAI and Rockers of between 0.8-0.9 secs and will sound far better and bring much more driving excitement than the gains from the diff ratio swap on it's own. We would recommend doing the diff ratio at some future time interval if you are still chasing further acceleration improvements. Hope this makes sense ? Regards Tonsta [/End Quote] hope this info helps ya

Quote: Originally Posted by shred ecotech in a vr? i thought ecotech came out with the vs? rofl thats exactly right... I hope you mispelt the model and have a VS, otherwise unfortunately for you, your motor is a buick V6 and not an ecotec.

which means there ant much u can do for reliability except put a droney exhaust on chip the computer lower it put a wing on it the usuall crap if u have a small weekley budget dont supercharge it as its on gas and ull already have enough troubles when it decides it dosnt like gas anymore and bend a push rod (as in back fire) dont know how this vr bent a push rod but the gas did it. cheepest and easy mod is zorst and pod, than if u want power ull be wishing u bought a vl turbo.

yeah buick V6 sorry, its a VR not a VS, but you know what i mean. Its the same damn block, theyre both Buick V6's when it really comes down to it they just gace it a wanky name after the VS. Yeah so CAI, exhaust, extractors...the usual stuff is the best path to go down. As for wishing i bought a VL Turbo...well considering i spent 4 grand, no,i dont wish i bought a VL turbo cus for 4 grand i would've bought a rat**** thrashed P-plater money pit VL turbo, which is the complete opposite of what i was looking for. I understand this a VL turbo based site, and I love VL turbos, but im not talking about VL's...hence being in 'THE OTHER CAR" forum. As for the gas system bending a rod... never heard of that. I understand gas isn't as good for your engine as petrol, but the entire system got down over 9 months ago and is in perfect nick so i dont see it causing a calamity while im owning it

Quote: Originally Posted by Series2VL yeah buick V6 sorry, its a VR not a VS, but you know what i mean. Its the same damn block, theyre both Buick V6's when it really comes down to it they just gace it a wanky name after the VS. Yeah so CAI, exhaust, extractors...the usual stuff is the best path to go down. As for wishing i bought a VL Turbo...well considering i spent 4 grand, no,i dont wish i bought a VL turbo cus for 4 grand i would've bought a rat**** thrashed P-plater money pit VL turbo, which is the complete opposite of what i was looking for. I understand this a VL turbo based site, and I love VL turbos, but im not talking about VL's...hence being in 'THE OTHER CAR" forum. As for the gas system bending a rod... never heard of that. I understand gas isn't as good for your engine as petrol, but the entire system got down over 9 months ago and is in perfect nick so i dont see it causing a calamity while im owning it gas is way superior than petrol for your engine, gas is a very clean burning fuel, they say if you had two identical motors and tore them down at the same time the petrol one would be worse for wear, also pure gas cars their oil stays clean all the time. Anyway best noticable mod id say would be exhaust and diff gears for now.. if u wanna get crazy with it, slap on a turbo kit Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sinister rofl thats exactly right... I hope you mispelt the model and have a VS, otherwise unfortunately for you, your motor is a buick V6 and not an ecotec. No, Series 2 VR was a ecotec Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

nah mate series 2 vr's were not ecotec.that came out in the vs

Thanks for all the feedback guys, I'm thinking the first two things ill do is get maybe an SS or s/c v6 CAI and slap on a 2.5" exhaust. Extractors in the future, and maybe lower it an inch or two till i have some money saved up to start seriously opening it up.

arn't V8 VR Throttle bodys bigger than V6's?

Quote: Originally Posted by OZVL3L nah mate series 2 vr's were not ecotec.that came out in the vs My mate Has a VR Calais and it has a ecotec Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

well just cos it has it now doesnt mean it had it from the factory.

chip exhaust extractors cai diff gears my mate has a vp and it hauls pretty good with these mods.would beat a stock vlt.

Quote: Originally Posted by ATMO_BT1 well just cos it has it now doesnt mean it had it from the factory. It is stock.

I had a Aug 95 vr with the crappy v6 not the ecotech, doesn't mean all vr's had the crap there might be still pilot cars out there, but they should of been destroyed bye now........

Quote: Originally Posted by VL_RB25DE I had a Aug 95 vr with the crappy v6 not the ecotech, doesn't mean all vr's had the crap there might be still pilot cars out there, but they should of been destroyed bye now........ destroyed?