VE heater hose relocation

[Wonky]

Tony, as Ron says, just use a bucket under the drain tap and pour it all back in again when done.

[VXSS]

Hi Ron

Got any pics???

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!!

[Ron SS]

Here are some photos, std setup


std VE hoses with the hoses off a V8 ..VC-VK


Finished with fluting for heat protection


Std cover back on, L76 covers next ...hard to find though.

[tacka007]

do you want 2 get rid of the ve hoses

[VXSS]

Hi Ron thanks for the pics looks good.

[AussieTone]

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

[Wonky]

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,

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 ).

Gary



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 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.

[AussieTone]

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 ). 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

[Wonky]

Thanks Tony. 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??? 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.

[jai]

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

[AussieTone]

To answer your questions in order: rims are DTM Shine, 20x9 front, 20x10 rear.

If you don't mind sharing the information, what sort of price did the wheel package cost you and what tyres did you fit. If you don’t want to post this here I understand but would appreciate a PM on the price if you don’t mind. Also did you have to get the guards rolled to ftop any scrubbing / bottoming out iwht these large width rims

I have decided to try again with the suspension and will be getting my Lovells coils and Lovells Eliminator struts and shocks fitted. I assume this will firm the ride up again so given my dodgy back I was thinking about removing the Walkinshaw Performance 20" x 8" wheels and either fitting a set of 19" (more sidewall in the tyres so maybe it will cancel the extra firmness out) or even just going back to a set of 18" rims. Lovells HQ have advised me that the difference in fitting their product (which had 2 years worth of testing and fine tuning on the struts and shocks) is like going from an SS with FE2 to a E series HSV

Does anyone have any comments regarding the logic of this proposed compromise and trade off?

[Ron SS]

jai ... the hoses you need are 16mm and 19mm ID. I found that the 16mm hoses ID also fit both without any problems. Buy two of the long one from the Holden V8 models VC-VK. Reuse the VE clips, they are really good. 16 is 5/8" and 19 is 3/4", available Repco, Supercheap, Autobarn, GMH etc.

[jai]

jai ... the hoses you need are 16mm and 19mm ID. I found that the 16mm hoses ID also fit both without any problems. Buy two of the long one from the Holden V8 models VC-VK. Reuse the VE clips, they are really good. 16 is 5/8" and 19 is 3/4", available Repco, Supercheap, Autobarn, GMH etc.

Cheers for that. So the IN and OUT lines of the heater core are different sizes normally, or are you saying the heater core ends are different sizes to the water pump area?

I was probably going to try using some spare Black Braid AN16 hose I have laying around

JK

[VX-300]

jai ... Buy two of the long one from the Holden V8 models VC-VK.

Part Number 92026765.

[VXSS]

I decided in the end to remove them completely.

5/8 block off's on all positions.

Cheers

John