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I fitted the Holden OEM twin 6 litre covers to my old VE SS sedan but had to trim down the front and rear of the drivers side cover to clear the heater hoses.
I want to fit a pair to my MY09 SS Ute and have been told if you relocate the heater hoses you don’t have to trim the engine covers.
Has anyone done this and if so could they please give me a blow by blow description on what is involved in moving the hoses
Cheers
I see no reply as yet. Could someone tell me the size of the heater hoses required for VE ....rubber hoses specify ID. It looks to me that there are two hose sizes at the motor connection 5/8 and 3/4 ID, but the larger one is sleeved down after the first join so that both hoses end up at 5/8 ID (7/8 OD) at the firewall end. Can someone add some info please for what looks to be a great mod for looks to fit L76 covers and for a cooler inlet manifold.
Tone and Ron, I'm having Chev fit my extractors and new KPM system tomorrow so I'll see if Big Rob has time to relocate the heater hoses too as he has done on quite a few. Or just ring or go down and see them.
Love to see some pics of the relocated hoses as well if possibleQuote:
Originally Posted by Wonky
Yep, if BR does have time to do them I'll certainly get pics for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieTone
Heaps of guys in the USA have done this on the Pontiac G8-GT.
(Rebadged LHD VE SS).
Original hoses.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03816.jpg
New Relocated Hose Pair (front of pic)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03818.jpg
Relocated.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0816081813.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...816081813a.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03815.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03814.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03813.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03812.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03811.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03810.jpg
Original Position
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...psP7150047.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...C00175_640.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...C00177_640.jpg
Relocated with 2pce 6.0 engine covers.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/L76/g823.jpg
From memory (it's a while since I saw one that had been done) that looks about what Big Rob does.
For a cooler inlet manifold remove the nvh cover off of it, you barely even know its there till you look closer, take it off! And no im not talking about the bloody engine cover!
Is it really worth the effort with moving the hoses? It dont look bad at all if u have a dremel and take ya time to trim them up nicely.. only my opinion tho
It's only the newer LS3 intakes (that also fit L76/L98) with the bolt down MAP sensor at the front that have the removable Beauty/Noise Cover. You have to unbolt and lift the fuel rail to get it out.Quote:
Originally Posted by SV346
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...seperate-1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...nderside-1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...706081817a.jpg
[QUOTE=VX-300;1477746]Heaps of guys in the USA have done this on the Pontiac G8-GT.
(Rebadged LHD VE SS).
New Relocated Hose Pair (front of pic)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...s/DSC03818.jpg
Are the bottom hoses off a particular model or are they a custom set up?
Cheers
They're aftermarket made up hoses.
Unfortunately ran out of time to do heater hose reroute today so next week hopefully when I get OTR done.
Did the last of the VZ's with the 6 liter engine have the same hose setup as the VE.
Also, after having a closer look at the VE set up there appears to be quite a bit of slack and there is a 90 degree bend in both hoses near the firewall. Do you think it would work if you rotated the bend 180 degrees (so it changed direction to pointing towards the guard rather than the engine valley). As I mentioned there appears to be heaps of slack in the hoses so maybe this would work.
If the VZ hoses are different does anyone have a pic of them as from memory the VZ had the twin covers standard so probably had a different hse setup
tone, i had mine done down at "chevs" when they did my cam/head package.Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieTone
give 'big rob" a ring mate. hes done quite a few now and hes the type of guy that wouldnt mind posting you a photo or to id say. :)
cheers
ray.
is there just a cosmetic benifit for this mod?
Stu
RayQuote:
Originally Posted by Red-SSV
Do you have a contact number mate and thanks for the advice
Tony
StuQuote:
Originally Posted by amckiwi
Mainly cosmetic but the twin covers don't hold all the heat in like the turtle shell. It's like gaining the benefit from going 'naked' but still looks nice and tidy
Tony
Not sure about that Tone (Swingtan has a 6.0 VZ) but Chev was talking yesterday about somehow using VY hoses to hopefully achieve the same effect without the need for the extra hose clamps their current method requires (takes the edge off the neatness). Don't know any more details than that at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieTone
It sounds like trimming down the front and rear of the driver's side cover then putting a bit of pinch weld over the cut edge like I did on my old VE SS will be just as easy and still looks good.
Pinch weld was from Clarke rubber and they sell it in what ever length you want. Don't remember the price but I bet it was way cheaper than new hoses
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...n/IMG_4022.jpg
Tony, I know it a bit late but heres a pic of a VZ 6ltr engine bay, you can see the heater hoses run up the drivers side rail.
Dont know how well they would match up to the heater on a VE though ....
Mick
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...13Cars0005.jpg
Tony, finally had my OTR fitted and tune today at Chev's and Big Rob also did his heater hose re-route for me. Not sure how well you can see from the following pics but here they are anyway. :)
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...troncar2sm.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...troncar3sm.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...reroute2sm.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...reroute3sm.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...reroute4sm.jpg
That's a good looking CAI, what brand/model is it?
DUSspeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Damn you know how to put together a tidy machine Gary! :bravo:
Yep, as Dave said, it's a DUSspeed made by forum member Dus. I had mine painted to match the body colour.
Seems to work very well too!! Had the ute tuned yesterday by Chev. My sedan was (AFAIK) the highest powered bolt-on A6 L98 at Chev's with 264rwkw (261 on his new dyno), so given the ute hasn't even done 2,000km yet (the sedan definitely got much stronger after 10,000+km) and is a 260kw AFM L76 I was going to be happy with anything over 250rwkw.
260.3rwkw with Dus OTR and mafless tune. :woohoo:
thats a great figure wonky.. gotta be happy with that.
Wonky you know you want a cam now:) Why dont you sneek in and grab some of andy's goodies whilst hes not looking:outlaw:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wonky
Bay looks the goods wonky, good power too!
Thanks for that. It has helped me heaps. Nice numbers you got as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wonky
Cheers
Tony
After a bit of research, I have found that the heater hoses to use to relocate the VE hoses are actually made by Holden .... you simply use the long heater hose from the Commodore V8 models VC-VK as this gives you more options when routing the new hoses. The VC-VK models have two heater hoses ... use the long one and buy two of them. All up cost is $20. These hoses have the 90 degree bend to use at the water pump end. Although Holdens VB-VE all have two sizes of outlet at the pump end, Holden simply use the same size hose as there is plenty of stretch in the hose to fit over the larger nipple. Different suppliers may have a flared end but it really is not needed. I used some 25mm corrugated split tubing around the hoses to protect against the heat from the hoses and a couple of plastic ties.. another $6. All up $26 and you reuse the existing spring clips.
Note also that 6 cylinder blue/black motors VC-VK also have hoses that fit VE, but they are shorter than the V8 ones, hence go for the V8 ones to give better routing options.
It is best to get as much access to the front area as possible by unclipping two wire looms. The radiator is drained by undoing a screw under the radiator, kick the motor over for a few seconds to avoid a mess before the existing hoses are pulled off. A clean 10 litre bucket under the drain hole is easily big enough and reuse the coolant later. The end result is factory looking with no messy extra clips or joiners needed. It took 1 hour to do it ... next one would be half that!!
Sorry for what may sound like a dumb question but if I remove these hoses to have a 'fiddle' how much radiator fluid do I loose and do I need to plug up the connections on the water pump (to avoid the fluis draing out) whilst I am having a 'fiddle' :confused:
Tony, as Ron says, just use a bucket under the drain tap and pour it all back in again when done.
Hi Ron
Got any pics???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron SS
Here are some photos, std setup
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...F0169Small.jpg
std VE hoses with the hoses off a V8 ..VC-VK
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...F0175Small.jpg
Finished with fluting for heat protection
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...F0176Small.jpg
Std cover back on, L76 covers next ...hard to find though.
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...F0182Small.jpg
do you want 2 get rid of the ve hoses
Hi Ron thanks for the pics looks good.
Ron
Make sure you check which model VE you have before trying to fit the 6 liter L76 covers as I have found out they don't fit the later models. (E.G. I fitted them on my 06 VE SS but they didn't fit on my MY09 6/08 VE SS Ute).
From memory MY8.5 and after have a different set of fuel rails which are closer to the motor and the covers won't clip on. The later models also have a different intake cover
A mate at Holden has told me that you need to check with your dealer and give him your VIN. The option you are looking for is 'erl' or 'bvg' but I don't remember which one you need although your dealer should know
Last time I checked new stock of covers were due by the end of May but that was back in early March. There was something like 22 of the LH side available and no RH sides. If you do buy a set check them before you leave the dealership as I have twice had LH side covers in an unopened RH side box
Cheers
Tony
Tony,Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieTone
I had a set of VZ L76 covers I bought 2 years ago for my Mar 07 build SSV sedan but never got around to putting on, so they were the ones I had painted and put on my MY9.5 SSV ute recently (as below). They still went on sort of OK but apparently the later models have an extra black cover over the intake (the black part in between the covers).
Big Rob at Chev's kindly removed that for me a week ago and now the covers fit much better. I haven't taken a picture since, so the picture below is with the extra black cover on still, but even then they did clip on OK and weren't going to fall right off. Note that even without the centre black cover the centre area still looks the same as under that there is still the black intake of the same shape (if that doesn't sound confusing and :weirdo:).
Gary
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...ecovers1sm.jpg
PS The L76 covers are almost impossible to get at the moment as apparently the supplier is having some sort of problems. Due to a :doh: on my behalf I have a spare LH (passenger) side one (part 92068147) perfect and professionally painted white (identical to the one on my car). If anyone wants it I can sell it to them for $100 which is less than list price plus the $50 ea I paid to have them sprayed. You can have the one that's on my car or the spare - doesn't matter to me.
Gary
Was there much involved in removing the second intake valley cover that Chev's did for you. Congratulations on the look on this car by the way. Then again, you do have a track record of getting a VE to look the goods. One of your other posts had (the new wheels :goodjob:). What type/make/model and size of rim are they. Also, when they painted your covers did they fill them to make them smooth or just paint the existing texture. I take it the black insert is the original black plastic or has that been painted as well.
Cheers mate
Tony
Thanks Tony. :thumbsup: Unfortunately I was doing something else when Big Rob removed the extra intake valley cover but it didn't seem to take long and from memory he said about 15 min to do??? :confused: I'm sure he said the injector rails had to come off but apparently that's easy. My daughter went out and took another few pics for me earlier so I've included one below.
At first it doesn't look much different but then look at where the silver pipe across the intake now sits in the slot, plus how much better the oil filler cap sits now. If you look closely you can also see how much better the points of the cover sit in the grooves along the intake now that the extra cover has been removed.
To answer your questions in order: rims are DTM Shine, 20x9 front, 20x10 rear. When they painted the covers I assume they didn't fill but just sprayed straight over the textured part. However, unless you look really closely the textured section looks quite smooth. No painting on the black intake section in the middle - that's factory.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...verremoved.jpg
Does anyone happen to know the OD size of the heater core ports on the firewall,and the OD size of the pipes on the engine?
I was thinking AN16 size hosing should be ok?
Cheers
JK