My new Thunder getting BLOWN!

[jaykay]

Those Edelbrock covers look awesome

[Stevieboy34]

Hey guys thanks a lot I will upload some more... Russo got me the covers but they took a lot of modifications as they are an LS1 cover but I reckon it came up trumps.

[Kingston_99]

nice work mate. bet u cant stay out of the drivers seat!

[Stevieboy34]

Hi Guys,

Been a while since I have posted much about my car but its coming up to 90k on the clock and I have looked long and hard at a replacement and decided apart from the VF GTS, there really isn't a car I LOVE. So instead of forking out the dough on a VF GTS I thought I would keep my Blown VE Series II Thunder ute but throw some bucks into it and freshen it right up. It did already have 22's but overall it just needed some love.

I just bought some VF GTS Maloo seats for it as I hated the povo pack seats. I haven't had time to put them in yet but I am really looking forward to the addition.
Ordered some new XYZ Coilovers. I have standard lowered springs in there at the moment after throwing my Pedders XA's in the bin. I have been furious with the service I received from Pedders after no less then 6 shock failures. I had always used Pedders products but the modern day stuff I have found is junk, that's another blog though...
I know XYZ's are not the flashest but they are made to go really low and survive and that's what I want.
Also ordered a brand new set of FR22 Simmons. Still get comments on my Foose 22's but its time for a change!!
I also have it booked in to get the clear coat cut back a bit and freshen up the paint. It should look magic so I am excited about that.

Lastly I took it back for a retune to Russo as its been years since the tune was looked at and as soon as they started to load it up the auto went bang. I am not unhappy at all as I knew it was going to happen soon. So its currently at Craigs auto to get the 6speed auto built properly. It makes close to 600hp at the wheels and the new box will be rated to 800hp. Also getting the convertor stretched to around 2500 which I am told I wont really notice too much normal driving but when putting your foot down it really works well with the blower setup.
I pick it up Thursday then straight back over to Russo.
Anyway, I haven't blogged on here for a while so I will keep you posted with the results and some photos over the next few weeks. Fire away if you have any questions...

Basically I feel like I am rebuilding the car again haha but I figure I own it now, I'll drop probably 8-10k on it and keep it for a long time to come. Will keep you guys posted.

[Stevieboy34]

I've also bought little things like gear shifter which was all worn and stuff like that to make it feel a bit newer again. Can't wait to put the seats in!
Also, want to get rid of the Varex exhaust tips and put something bigger on. Still want the dual look but bigger than the current 3" twins on each side maybe 3.5". Anyone have links to some decent priced rolled ones I can order?

[Blown 454 AWD]

A ute with a twin screw you're going to shit your self!!

Grip will be scary taking off turning but you'll get used to it if you don't loose your licence

or ding it or get pulled up because of your silly plates (tough love hurts)

shouldn't advertise when you're not legal, that thing in my avatar is still registered!

WOT into second gear will kill your tranny, as said line pressure need to be upped

and shift kit wouldn't hurt, if you skid clutches and bands on gear change, you'll burn

the same then game over for your tranny. (need sharp changes)

I got mine brand new with a 2.3 on it, went 6 years before I went mad with power and

started to break things.

Good luck and try to behave, this will be the most fun you've ever had, watch my list of baddies above,

from an old fuka that's already done the $$$ with the fun thing.

I will be posting my auto conversion soon (found the street commodore write up on it)

Cheers

Steve

[Stevieboy34]

A ute with a twin screw you're going to shit your self!!

Grip will be scary taking off turning but you'll get used to it if you don't loose your licence

or ding it or get pulled up because of your silly plates (tough love hurts)

shouldn't advertise when you're not legal, that thing in my avatar is still registered!

WOT into second gear will kill your tranny, as said line pressure need to be upped

and shift kit wouldn't hurt, if you skid clutches and bands on gear change, you'll burn

the same then game over for your tranny. (need sharp changes)

I got mine brand new with a 2.3 on it, went 6 years before I went mad with power and

started to break things.

Good luck and try to behave, this will be the most fun you've ever had, watch my list of baddies above,

from an old fuka that's already done the $$$ with the fun thing.

I will be posting my auto conversion soon (found the street commodore write up on it)

Cheers

Steve

Steve you have just given the example of everything that's wrong with the internet today by going off half cocked and handing out unwanted life lessons.
If you had taken 30 seconds and opened your eyes you would see I put the blower on way back in 2011 when this thread was started but only yesterday decided to post up what was happening with it as I was excited to be giving it a full face lift and adding some new stuff to it (new box, suspension, wheels, motor and tune tidy up etc). Sorry for the "tough love" back.
As for my "silly plates" you feel the need to judge me on, I have had these on the car for 5 years now as well as the car being low on 22's and never had an issue living in the Eastern Suburbs and driving to far western Sydney everyday with Police but hey, maybe I just don't appear to be a dickhead and they leave me alone which is where people like you may struggle. I wish I could say the same for the unwanted attention I get when riding my Harley but that's another story.
Thanks for the advice re the auto but I have actually put 90k on it before upgrading which I think may give an indication of how I drive it on the roads...
Maybe the reason forums like this are so dead these days is because of the keyboard hero's are so eager to hand out advice without "listening" at all. Rather than give people encouragement you do your best to knock people even if it is in a back handed way.
You're right about you probably being an old fuka, but this ain't my first fast LS car, or bike, or ski race boat, but they thanks for your advice. Back to the bar stool to tell stories about how many chicks you used to pull in your day legend... And anyone else that wants to talk actual car shit, well fire away!

Ah... I feel better now.

[A PSYCHO]

Steve you have just given the example of everything that's wrong with the internet today by going off half cocked and handing out unwanted life lessons.
If you had taken 30 seconds and opened your eyes you would see I put the blower on way back in 2011 when this thread was started but only yesterday decided to post up what was happening with it as I was excited to be giving it a full face lift and adding some new stuff to it (new box, suspension, wheels, motor and tune tidy up etc). Sorry for the "tough love" back.
As for my "silly plates" you feel the need to judge me on, I have had these on the car for 5 years now as well as the car being low on 22's and never had an issue living in the Eastern Suburbs and driving to far western Sydney everyday with Police but hey, maybe I just don't appear to be a dickhead and they leave me alone which is where people like you may struggle. I wish I could say the same for the unwanted attention I get when riding my Harley but that's another story.
Thanks for the advice re the auto but I have actually put 90k on it before upgrading which I think may give an indication of how I drive it on the roads...
Maybe the reason forums like this are so dead these days is because of the keyboard hero's are so eager to hand out advice without "listening" at all. Rather than give people encouragement you do your best to knock people even if it is in a back handed way.
You're right about you probably being an old fuka, but this ain't my first fast LS car, or bike, or ski race boat, but they thanks for your advice. Back to the bar stool to tell stories about how many chicks you used to pull in your day legend... And anyone else that wants to talk actual car shit, well fire away!

Ah... I feel better now.

talk about blowing up over nothing...... Everything he said seemed reasonable and helpful to some degree, except calling your plates 'silly'.

[Stevieboy34]

You mean aside from telling me I'll fkn shit myself with the power and how careful I need to be or referring to when I "ding it". Mate the bloke was talking to me like a 17 year old L plate motorbike rider that has just bought an R1. I've had the car for 5 years!!!
Sorry but just get sick of the keyboard warriors feeling the need to focus on that shit without bothing to read the facts rather than share the enthusiasm with a like minded person.
This is supposed to be a LS enthusiast site.

[185iboy]

Haha I'm with you stevie, like he's the only one that's driven a s/c car before like it's 2003. Mate I know more mum's than blokes that drive HSV's around day to day with a 2300 on them these days.

Good job on keeping the auto going for this long mate, you'll love the new one with the converter. I'd probably look into changing your valve springs again, 90,000km on a cammed and charged car is probably enough for the current set. Also I'm not sure if you still think the MP2300 is quiet but there are gilmer drive kits available from Capa for it to reduce belt slip but increase the whine a fair bit. Good luck and post some pics up when the seats and wheels are in

[Stevieboy34]

Haha I'm with you stevie, like he's the only one that's driven a s/c car before like it's 2003. Mate I know more mum's than blokes that drive HSV's around day to day with a 2300 on them these days.

Good job on keeping the auto going for this long mate, you'll love the new one with the converter. I'd probably look into changing your valve springs again, 90,000km on a cammed and charged car is probably enough for the current set. Also I'm not sure if you still think the MP2300 is quiet but there are gilmer drive kits available from Capa for it to reduce belt slip but increase the whine a fair bit. Good luck and post some pics up when the seats and wheels are in

Haha hey man yep Gilmore going on and yeah I genuinely can't wait to get the box done. I'm told the convertor really livens it up when u jump on it. I'm getting it tuned so it's as drivable as possible but tuned so in sport mode it'll be full manual shift but shifting really hard!!

The is a delay on my Simmons so they may be a couple weeks but seats will go in when I get the car back which is next week.

I'll upload pics when it starts happening and video of the ,gilmer etc

[Stevieboy34]

So the box is done. I drove it over to Russo on Friday and whilst I didn't want to give it a hammering as its only brand new it feels awesome. In Drive the shifts are obviously firmer but nothing like I was worried about, its really smooth considering they get rid of the cush drives etc. In manual mode the pressures are much firmer but again nothing scary. I'll see what Russo think they may adjust it a bit firmer.
Will pick it up this afternoon and see how the motor / box feel together.
My Simmons are going to be 4 weeks so this weekend I may give the thing a good clean out and put the new seats in. Of course I'll need to sort an auto elec to wire them up too.

[Hos]

Haha I'm with you stevie, like he's the only one that's driven a s/c car before like it's 2003. Mate I know more mum's than blokes that drive HSV's around day to day with a 2300 on them these days.

Good job on keeping the auto going for this long mate, you'll love the new one with the converter. I'd probably look into changing your valve springs again, 90,000km on a cammed and charged car is probably enough for the current set. Also I'm not sure if you still think the MP2300 is quiet but there are gilmer drive kits available from Capa for it to reduce belt slip but increase the whine a fair bit. Good luck and post some pics up when the seats and wheels are in

A good constructive post. ��

[Stevieboy34]

Hey fellas I picked up the ute yesterday. So I need to get a bit more information as I was in a bit of a rush and didn't understand totally when explained to me but the car was only holding just 10psi of boost, it was dropping off so the power was down a bit. I thought the Gilmer Drive helped this but I think its something else I'll call and have a chat to them later in the week.
It still made 571HP at the rear wheels pretty comfortably though so I can't really be worried too much with that. The box as stated above feels strong but I really made a point when dropping the car to them that I don't want it to be really bad mannered and as a result I think the tune of it can be adjusted to up the shift pressures as it feels a little lazy. I'll take it back to Craig's to get them to look at it.
TBH with the engine, there is a bunch of things I can do but realistically for the money and the potential loss of drivability I think I have a damned good package. I don't really want to go E85 and have to get a new fuel system, injectors or do the interchiller setup thing so I think I have a good package.
Found a spot to give it a really good hit and shift and it held an absolutely beautiful powerskid changing from first into second into third before getting out of the throttle. I know I have harped on about Russo in the past but they are damn good blokes and I respect their work a lot. Craig's Auto's did the box and whilst I will talk to him about tuning it a bit more I do need to put another 100km's or so on it for the computer to relearn. Johny from Craig's is the expert for most of our model boxes and his customer service was excellent.
Driving the car home last night I realised just how rubbish its looking at the moment. Next step is obviously getting to this guy I know to bring the car back to looking like new with the paint as well as getting my new coilovers and FR22's and have it sitting on the deck!
Might try and put the seats in this weekend.
BTW The Gilmer Drive is stupidly, stupidly loud. I cant work out if people can hear it but perhaps some people just think the car has a whine as its rough or something haha.

[Hos]

https://www.facebook.com/ozzytyres/p...12453455454965

What do you think of these for your ute?