What would you do?

[Pepps]

I've been waiting over 12 months now to get back into a v8 after selling my vy ss ute to go to uni..now I'm pretty much finished I'm ready to get back into one!

I originally thought I'd upgrade to a VE and models from VT through to VZ have entered my mind.

I'm now set on a VT or VX and either doing cam and headwork to the LS1 or pulling the engine out and doing an L98 or LS3 conversion.

My budget is around 20k all up incl price of car.

I can find cheap LS1s with 220+ kms on the clock for $5-7k but they're auto, I'd need to do a T56 conversion across to manual..now would it be worth it?

There cheapest LS1 manual I can find is around $10-12k with a couple odd ones popping up around $9k..

Is it too late to start modding a LS1 that has around 200+ kms?

Is it better worth chucking a new engine in there?

[SS Enforcer]

Just get a ls1 put a decent cam,valve springs and new timing chain and drive it till it goes bang which might be an eternity. It's surprising how tough these motors really are.

Ls3 conversions will cost 8-10k.

[feistl]

Hey mate,

Depends how much you plan to spend on it down the track. If your going to spend 20-25k in total, then the usual bolt ons to the LS1 will give best bang for buck. If your going to spend a lot over a few years, then go a L98/LS3 conversion.

Try to get a VX Series II due to the better rear end and slightly newer. If your going to do the V8/manual conversion, get your hands on a Calais. That way you've got the manual v8 "sportiness" in a luxury body. If you mod a auto SS to a manual SS, its only ever going to be as "rare" as a manual SS.

Try and find something with work already done. I picked up my VX last year for $22.5k with a stroker motor, new gearbox, harrop brakes, leather interior, sunroof etc. To do those mods myself would have been $30k+. (assuming a $12-15k purchase price). Plus it had only done 130,000km and was in really good condition

Just be careful not to buy something thats been thrashed.

Cheers, Errol.

[Pepps]

Yeah I plan on doing work to it over the years so that's why I was thinking of doing the L98 or LS3 conversion.

I have a VX V6 at the moment with a genuine CV8Z front conversion so if I got a VT I would transfer all the gear across to it to update the look. Aswell as changing the rear to the VX rear end.

I would just like opinions off people in here that have been in a similar situation or know what the best way to go is financially, longetivity (head/cam ls1 with over 200k) and in terms of performance.

That's a top buy mate for a nice stroker with low Ks!

LS1 - heads and cam ?
LS1 - 383 stroker
L98 or LS3 - cammed initially

??

[feistl]

Any reason your not keeping/upgrading your current VX?

Providing you build the H/C LS1 properly it should last. 200,000km is hardly anything on these engines, but remember the rest of the car has done the same number of kms. So gearbox/diff/suspension would have all seen better days.

A stroker motor is a nice engine but not really cost effective these days. Considering the cost of a create L98 ($6k) its not really worth working the LS1 (If its stock anyway). Remember though the loom/ecu fitting etc for the L98/LS3 will bump that conversion up to ~$10k. Hence its better to buy a car with the conversion already done, or save and get a 2006 VE SS for around $25k+ (http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=9595999&keywords=&SearchAction=N&__Nne=15&PriceTo=414&__No=15&YearFromShort=1649&EngineCCFrom=611&silo=1011&seot=1&__sid=129A95BC8B57&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294965745% 204294965857%201622%201649%20246%20414%20%20611%20 703&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|0||pCar_RankSort_Int32 |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&EngineCCTo=703&Cr=4&trecs=68&__Qpb=true).
I mean you'll have less issues with insurance/police and is a much more advanced car compared to a stock VT/VX. That said, betime you purchase it, transfer it into your name, rwc, insurance and first service your looking at $32+ so might be out of budget for now.

Again if buying a new VT/VX, i would be aiming for something with a fair amount of work already done. As an example (the colour might not be great) this VX (http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=9715345&YearFromShort=1644&__Qpb=true&Cr=10&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_RankSort_Int32 |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&YearToShort=1676&__N=1216%201282%204294965745%204294965857%201622%2 01644%201676%20246%204294965732&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&__No=15&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=36&__sid=129A95BC8B57) for $14k already has a tune/exhaust/otr/diff. From there you can chuck a cam, double row timing chain, double springs/roller rockers/pushrods and make around 280rwkw.

A decent set of springs/shocks/swaybars, bigger brakes and a few interior bits and peices and it'll be a nice ride. Problem with just doing the engine is it'll go fast, but it wont stop/corner or cruise properly.

Cheers

EDIT - Heres another VX (http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=9394680&YearFromShort=1644&__Qpb=true&Cr=12&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_RankSort_Int32 |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&YearToShort=1676&__N=1216%201282%204294965745%204294965857%201622%2 01644%201676%20246&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=99&__sid=129A95BC8B57), although its only a Series I. Still, a fair amount of work done for the price.

[Pepps]

I've been told it's not worth the money to upgrade it to a v8?

Its also auto and I'm after a manual.

Id love to keep it and work on it but I'm sure my budget would blow out?

I've seen that white one before, it seems a good price for the work done, only problem is it's in WA, I'd wanna check it before purchasing it's a little bit of a shit fight.

The VE would be nice, although I've budgeted for around the 20k mark and not much over for now and buying a cheap stock VE wouldn't allow me to do anything to it for ages and that would kill me!

[stockergts]

for that type of money you can pick up a hsv with better brakes etc and just do a few small mods when i got my gts their was a vy clubby for less than the gts manual too just keep an eye out an wait for the right car with money in hand

[HRT 8]

As for the L98 conversion, speak to the guys who have actually paid for it to be done properly. You might get a rude shock at the real price.

[GenReaper]

As for the L98 conversion, speak to the guys who have actually paid for it to be done properly. You might get a rude shock at the real price.

Quoted for truth but once you go big you dont look back :D

[Duck73]

Mate have a look in the clasified section , i have a wagon their for sale with the l98 conversion already done.

All the work is done for you .

HRT-8 you are right , i didnt see much change out of $25000 once all was done.

Cheers Duck..

[Scruffy]

It depends how far you want to go with it. The LS1 is a great engine, but the later engines will make better power with the same mods, or the same power with less mods and keep good driveability.

Are you after a race car or just a solid cruiser?

It cost me about $6k from memory to install and tune the new engine, thats not counting the bigger headers and cats or the new trans to replace the one I cooked at powercruise. But it idles like a stocker and makes good power so I rekon it was money well spent.

[Pepps]

Just after a solid street cruiser and I might occasionally take it to the drags.

Thanks mate I seen that in the classifieds, would be perfect for me if it was a sedan.

$6k to install what? An ls1? Into what model..?

[Scruffy]

A crate LS3 into a VX. Already had an LS1, I rekon you'd be up for a lot more than that to stick an 8 into a 6...

[Dreamer]

Why not keep looking for a well looked after vt/vx with all the mods already done, generally will find someone who spends more money on the car will have looked after it better aswell than the run of the mill gen3 vt/vx that has missed every 3rd service ect ect.

A good condtion vx with a cam can be easily had for under 20g with decent k's and good condition

In the long run you havent built your own car but if you pick one with what you planned to do there isnt a huge difference and you will save alot of money at the same time

[Pepps]

Yeah I'm definately keeping a look out for one already modded but they're pretty rare, found one in WA I'm interested in but that's the thing, it's in WA!

So roughly $13k all up incl price of the engine?

How's the difference from the LS1 mate?

[Scruffy]

Both 1 and 3 are unopened, big jump in power, huge jump in torque. I rekon they did something to my tyres :D

Used be able to let it short shift into 2nd and then open it up with the LS1, it would hook up and thats all she wrote at the lights. Try that with the 3 and she'll smoke the tyres for 50m down the road. Not that I'd ever do that though...

LS1 12.5 @ 107 street tyres

LS3 11.6 @ 116 drag radials
12.0 @ 116 street tyres

The difference is huge, especially at part throttle. First time I took it for a spin I cracked the throttle in second about 30% and it felt like the old motor at 70 or 80%.

The best thing is it still drives like a stocker if you're (very) gentle with the throttle.

[Pepps]

Sounds nuts mate. It's definately an avenue I'm looking at exploring, it depends what I find in the next few weeks..one with stuff already done or a cheap priced VT/VX where I could drop one of those bad girls in it! :)

[ls1pds]

mate there is a twin turbo vu ss ute on ebay at the moment
white manual 200k on the clock.
$16 ish thats good bang for buck i thought.

[Pepps]

Yeah I seen that on there, it's been on there for a while, looks like it's has a bit of a hard life...but I'm actually after a sedan, my last V8 was a ute, thanks for keeping an eye out though.

[feistl]

Just another tip, have a look at some of the HSVs offerings. A few VTII with mods for around the $15k mark.

Example 1 - Harrop Diff + AP Brakes (http://www.uniquecarsales.com.au/pls/unique/!unique_content.enquiry?current_rec=31&page_number=4&vehicle_id=8484512&total_rec=33&sort_type=1&make_id=81&year_min=1999&price_min=10000&price_max=20000&trans_id=2&cylinder_num=8)
Example 2 - Cam/OTR/Exhaust/Tune (http://www.uniquecarsales.com.au/pls/unique/!unique_content.enquiry?current_rec=26&page_number=3&vehicle_id=9227256&total_rec=33&sort_type=1&make_id=81&year_min=1999&price_min=10000&price_max=20000&trans_id=2&cylinder_num=8)

You can be surprised how little HSVs are going for these days. Just a matter of finding one in good condition for a good price....

EDIT - In fact here's my OFFICIAL recommendation...

http://forum.streetcommodores.com.au/showthread.php?t=8563023 (You'll need to sign up)...

In short...

2000 VX SS
New L98 6L V8 with 6 Spd manual
OTR Exhaust Clutch Lowered Wheels
Asking $18000ono.

If you could get that in your hands for $16,500 it would be a seriously good base. A LOT cheaper than buying a stock VX and upgrading...

EDIT - Remember the slab of jimmy/jack or turkey finders fee :)

[Pepps]

Yeah I seen that 6.0L VX on there before but it says in the heading for mods to remove it so I'm not sure what's going on but I've contacted him.

EDIT - it actually says 'mods please move' so maybe it was in the wrong section

It seems like a good buy and is only an hour north of me (most ones I find are bloody interstate)

Yeah I'm not really into the hsvs in that model, I only really like them from around the VZs and VEs...

Thanks for helping out mate, keep them coming. I may have overlooked a good buy somewhere,

I'll definately send you a slab of sour mash if you find me the right car buddy ;)

[feistl]

Yeah I seen that 6.0L VX on there before but it says in the heading for mods to remove it so I'm not sure what's going on but I've contacted him.


:rofl::lmao::):lmao::lmao::lmao::goodjob:

He means "Moderators can you please move this thread from the "parts for sale" section to the "rides for sale" section. Most members cant post directly into the rides for sale section, so the post in the parts and get it moved.

Honestly that made me laugh :)




Thanks for helping out mate, keep them coming. I may have overlooked a good buy somewhere,

I'll definately send you a slab of sour mash if you find me the right car buddy ;)

:) Yeah im keeping an eye out. It just takes time... For what its worth i spent nearly 4 months ACTIVELY trying to find a car. test drove at least 20 different cars trying to find the "perfect" model. In the end i had my heart set on a VX Series II, V8/Manual, Black with Leather interior, sunroof, 4 airbags and reasonably low kms. I was prepared to go ANYWHERE in australia. Obviously with such a strict set of requirements there wernt many around (Mostly because with those optional features it was actually cheaper to buy a HSV R8 which had them as standard. So virtually nobody spec'd an SS to that config)

Ended up finding one (my current car) which was all of the above with upgraded harrop brakes, stroker engine, new gearbox... It was built by Todd Kelly's Head engineer (it was his personal project car). Amazingly it was for sale in the next suburb. Literally a 15 minute drive from my place :). Obviously i was very happy about that.... He had originally listed it for $30k previously but had taken it off the market due to lack of interest. I eventually bargained him down to $22.5k without wheels which was just in my price range.

Edit - Still laughing :lmao:

[feistl]

Heres another one... (http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/vehicles-sale/148120-vic-2001-holden-commodore-vx-ss-m6-manual-stock-almost-perfect.html)

Completely stock VX SS. (V8/Manual) $11,500.

Although no modifications its looks in pretty good condition, full owner history, and service books & log. 177,000km.

[Pepps]

Hey mate I edited that bit that your laughing at if you look at my original post! :p

Yeah I enquired about that one a month or so ago, it's in the back of my mind.

Im talking to the guy now about the VX L98.. So will prob go test drive it.