IH8WRX
25-02-2005, 08:02 PM
Ok I gave everyone a glimpse of my engine a few weeks ago now which you can see here http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=33965&goto=newpost . After 7 months of blood, sweat, skinned knuckles, late nights, early mornings, spousal harassment, numerous parts and tools strength tested against concrete floors and brick walls and budget blow outs I can now say it’s all completed.
My idea was to show as much attention to detail to both the engine and engine bay as I could, using all genuine Holden LS1 parts where I could, and to make it look more pleasing to the eye as I’ve always wanted to build a concourse show car. The only non genuine Holden factory parts on it from a VX SS are the following;-
Water pump (Needed to use the U.S.A. first LS1 made water pump as it has a removable main pulley so it could be electroplated)
Radiator (Used a VT series I V8 one as it’s identical and is pressurised so alleviates the need for the surge tank)
All Pullies (Most are plastic and can not be electroplated so bought new ones with removable bearing etc)
Air box & Filter (Purchased from Power Torque Q.L.D.)
The block, heads, rocker covers, manifold, sump and all ancillaries are painted including oil filter, reservoirs, coils, injectors etc. Every single external nut, bolt, bracket, pulley are electroplated including K-Frame, sway bar, control arms, fuel rail, sump guard, injector clips, brake master and brake booster etc. ABS and throttle body are all highly polished as to the air conditioning metal components. Headers are ceramic coated.
The battery has been relocated to the boot, the PCM to the glove box. Since a VT series I V8 radiator was used the surge tank was able to be removed as the VT radiator is pressurised to 15psi and is identical to the VX one in all measurements and specifications. A VX ECOTEC V6 overflow bottle was fitted in the factory position right behind the left hand head light and is not visible. A power torque O.T.R.C.A.I. system is used and the factory baffle made to fit using a jigsaw to cut around the O.T.R.C.A.I. system and cover the radiator components. The only custom modifications needed were to do a throttle body bypass and purchase a new heater hose due to the new radiator.
Pacemaker 1 & ¾ inch 4-1 headers ceramic coated are fitted, as to a single 3.5” mild steel exhaust system made by Sureflo Exhausts in Sydney. Power Torque performed a MAFless tune. Engine made 226rwkw before MAFless, and 250rwkw after MAFless tune.
The engine bay is still not complete. I will be fitting braided lines to all pipes etc, the engine will be removed in April and all holes, and seems will be filled in/seem welded and repainted as the undercarriage will be torn down and car placed on a rotisserie as the same attention to detail will be performed on the undercarriage.
A job like this is never possible without the help from others and I would like to thanks the following
Michael Wilson, Mick, Dean, Murray and Michael Bonnici from Armstrong Holden. Michael Wilson, Mick and Dean have done all the work on the engine including the meticiouslus bolting together of all the painted/chromed parts.
Peninsula Electroplating at Clontarf for all electroplating and polishing
Shane my good friend for his spray painting
Competition Coatings Rocklea for the ceramic coating on the headers
Lindsay Oldham at Von Bibra Twin Towns Holden Tweed Heads for numerous new parts ordered.
Neil Burns for the water pump
Mark and staff at Power Torque for MAFless tune and O.T.R.C.A.I.
Stuart Armbruster at Tweed Heads Autobarn for battery relocation
Greg at Sureflo Exhausts for the excellent exhaust system
Now a job like this never gets done without good valued friends and outside helpers who I’d also like to thank
Brett (ROARZ) for keeping on my back
Markone2 for his excellent help with Power Torque
Ricko for the "are you finished yet" PM's :p
Brad Lane for giving me plenty of cheek to finish it
Jayde Aleman ^^ as above
Last but not least my loving lady Angela for understanding the best she could, only letting me suffer on the lounge chair for two nights :p, putting up with the spare room full of engine parts, my odd desire to destroy numerous items when things wouldn’t work and simply just being Ang.
That’s about it from me. Here are the pictures so I hope you all enjoy. The pictures are not the best quality I know but they should do for the time being.
Thank you :)
Ok the before shots (well not of my car but a mates redhot VU SS)
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225192449pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225192722pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225192954pslfile1.jpg
NOW FOR THE AFTER SHOTS
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225193702pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225193424pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225193932pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225194228pslfile1.jpg
My idea was to show as much attention to detail to both the engine and engine bay as I could, using all genuine Holden LS1 parts where I could, and to make it look more pleasing to the eye as I’ve always wanted to build a concourse show car. The only non genuine Holden factory parts on it from a VX SS are the following;-
Water pump (Needed to use the U.S.A. first LS1 made water pump as it has a removable main pulley so it could be electroplated)
Radiator (Used a VT series I V8 one as it’s identical and is pressurised so alleviates the need for the surge tank)
All Pullies (Most are plastic and can not be electroplated so bought new ones with removable bearing etc)
Air box & Filter (Purchased from Power Torque Q.L.D.)
The block, heads, rocker covers, manifold, sump and all ancillaries are painted including oil filter, reservoirs, coils, injectors etc. Every single external nut, bolt, bracket, pulley are electroplated including K-Frame, sway bar, control arms, fuel rail, sump guard, injector clips, brake master and brake booster etc. ABS and throttle body are all highly polished as to the air conditioning metal components. Headers are ceramic coated.
The battery has been relocated to the boot, the PCM to the glove box. Since a VT series I V8 radiator was used the surge tank was able to be removed as the VT radiator is pressurised to 15psi and is identical to the VX one in all measurements and specifications. A VX ECOTEC V6 overflow bottle was fitted in the factory position right behind the left hand head light and is not visible. A power torque O.T.R.C.A.I. system is used and the factory baffle made to fit using a jigsaw to cut around the O.T.R.C.A.I. system and cover the radiator components. The only custom modifications needed were to do a throttle body bypass and purchase a new heater hose due to the new radiator.
Pacemaker 1 & ¾ inch 4-1 headers ceramic coated are fitted, as to a single 3.5” mild steel exhaust system made by Sureflo Exhausts in Sydney. Power Torque performed a MAFless tune. Engine made 226rwkw before MAFless, and 250rwkw after MAFless tune.
The engine bay is still not complete. I will be fitting braided lines to all pipes etc, the engine will be removed in April and all holes, and seems will be filled in/seem welded and repainted as the undercarriage will be torn down and car placed on a rotisserie as the same attention to detail will be performed on the undercarriage.
A job like this is never possible without the help from others and I would like to thanks the following
Michael Wilson, Mick, Dean, Murray and Michael Bonnici from Armstrong Holden. Michael Wilson, Mick and Dean have done all the work on the engine including the meticiouslus bolting together of all the painted/chromed parts.
Peninsula Electroplating at Clontarf for all electroplating and polishing
Shane my good friend for his spray painting
Competition Coatings Rocklea for the ceramic coating on the headers
Lindsay Oldham at Von Bibra Twin Towns Holden Tweed Heads for numerous new parts ordered.
Neil Burns for the water pump
Mark and staff at Power Torque for MAFless tune and O.T.R.C.A.I.
Stuart Armbruster at Tweed Heads Autobarn for battery relocation
Greg at Sureflo Exhausts for the excellent exhaust system
Now a job like this never gets done without good valued friends and outside helpers who I’d also like to thank
Brett (ROARZ) for keeping on my back
Markone2 for his excellent help with Power Torque
Ricko for the "are you finished yet" PM's :p
Brad Lane for giving me plenty of cheek to finish it
Jayde Aleman ^^ as above
Last but not least my loving lady Angela for understanding the best she could, only letting me suffer on the lounge chair for two nights :p, putting up with the spare room full of engine parts, my odd desire to destroy numerous items when things wouldn’t work and simply just being Ang.
That’s about it from me. Here are the pictures so I hope you all enjoy. The pictures are not the best quality I know but they should do for the time being.
Thank you :)
Ok the before shots (well not of my car but a mates redhot VU SS)
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225192449pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225192722pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225192954pslfile1.jpg
NOW FOR THE AFTER SHOTS
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225193702pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225193424pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225193932pslfile1.jpg
http://image-cache.boostcruising.com/database/members/files/kingoftheconcretejungle20050225194228pslfile1.jpg