| Author |
 Topic  |
|
| |
Current Topic Rating:  | Join the Forum to Rate this Topic at: www.VNCommodore.com Support Forums
|
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
 |
 Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 1:28:08 PM
|
hi, im new to this forum. i was just wondering if anyone can help me i own a vp calais and was Just interested in some ideas or mods that can be done to my car. Dont wanna spend a whole lot, just want it to run, look and sound respectable.
any ideas is much appreciated the only mod my car has at the moment is a stage 2 shift kit
|
|
Report to Moderator |
|
|
mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
|
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 1:54:12 PM
|
A cold air intake (about $50 from holden) with a hi-flow panel filter (K&N or FinerFilter) and making sure that your throttle body is actually opening to 100% (there's a thread on here somewhere about it), will make a bit of a difference, maybe not the 13-14 pass you're looking for but it's a start. Those are the low cost mods.
For a bit more cash, have a look at extractors. I am guessing that the 3" pipes are cat back, not full length. For a slightly better sound, get the rear muffler replaced with a hot dog straight through. If you're just going for off the line acceleration, maybe a change of diff ratio.
As with any increase in performance, you should always look at increasing the brakes as well. No point in going fast if you can't stop. A VPV8 brake upgrade would be a nice way to go (or did the calais have the bigger brakes already?). The same can be said for handling, have a look at a good suspension setup, not just lower springs, but better shocks, an adjustable panhard rod, a strut tower brace and nolathane bushes. We're looking at big dollars for the suspension though ($1200 just for parts).
Really there is almost an unlimited number of options for upgrading a car.
In terms of how the car looks, do you want to create a 'sleeper' or do you want to create something that looks like a balls out racer? |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
|
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 1:39:08 PM
|
HEY THANKS FOR THE INFO. THIS IS WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT DOING TO MY CAR
1. K&N POD AIR FILTER
2. 4/11 GEARS IN THE DIFF
3. PACEMAKER EXTRACTORS
4. V8 THROTTLEBODY
5. 2 1/2 SPORTS EXHAUST WITH 3" TWIN DUMP PIPES
6. SPORTS STRUTS AND SHOCKERS
7. SUPER LOW KING SPRINGS
8. 18" RIMS (UNSURE WHAT TYPE)
I WANT TO CREATE A SLEEPER, WHAT ELSE COULD I DO, WHAT DO U THINK ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
|
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 3:11:01 PM
|
Okay, you want a sleeper with 18" rims? Nuh. If you want a true sleeper, throw interceptors on there, with good yokohama rubber on it (the old A539 were a top tyre, but they stopped making it, turned it into the g-grid I think).
Why do you want a pod filter? If it's for 'high performance', you'll need to put it in a box (you'll have to make it yourself), and pipe cold air to it. A double skin sheet metal sealed box in the place of the old air box would be a good place, with a CAI fitted so that it's not sucking on hot engine bay air. If you don't box it with a CAI, you're actually going to be down on power! If you just want a hi-flow filter then get a K&N panel filter, and a CAI, if you're desperate for the noise a pod will give you, then make sure you put it in a box.
When you get the V8 throttle body, make sure that you mod it so that it can open to 100%, most of them only open to about 85%, some can be as low as 75%.
When you lower the suspension, make sure that you get an adjustable pan hard rod for the rear, otherwise you'll be driving with your diff pushed over to one side, and that just ain't good for it.
3" twin dump pipes? I thought you were going for 'sleeper' LOL. Done properly, it could work, but no massive chrome exhaust tips.
Just while I'm thinking about suspensions, try to get a package from somewhere reputable, Whiteline make good kits, this way you know that the shocks will mate to the springs perfectly. You can get good springs and good shockers from separate companies, and your car will still handle like a pig, because they don't always work well together. Another advantage in buying a kit from somewhere is you normally save $$$ compared to getting everything separately. Also, make sure that the springs at the rear are lowered by a bit more than the ones from the front, that way you'll have a nice flat car, instead of one that still has its arse in the air.
A light tint on the windows might be nice, not 'darkest legal' or anything like that, just a light tint.
Custom memcal chip might be a nice way to go once you're done with the performance mods, just to get a bit more bang for your buck. The stock memcal is fairly lazy. |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
|
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 4:06:47 PM
|
how would i make the box, what is the cold air intake.
what should i do with the exhaust then
which wouldbe better in the diff 3:9 or 4:11
anything else i could do |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
|
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 4:58:50 PM
|
If you're unsure how to make the box, just go with a panel filter, that will fit straight into your existing air box, will flow almost as well as the pod will, and is a crapload easier to fit (instead of making a box for it). If you really want to make a box because you have your heart set on a pod, get some sheet metal, some pop-rivets and start bending the sheet metal into the shape of a box, use the pop rivets to hold it together, once you've got one box made, make a second one that's a little larger than the first, this acts as a heat shield, practically eliminating engine heat inside the small box.
A Cold Air Intake, does exactly that, it pipes cold air into your airbox, cold air is more dense (ie. there's more oxygen in the same volume of cold air compared to hot air), this provides you with cooler intake temperatures, meaning that you get a bigger bang in the cylinders. The ones that are available from holden are almost perfect for the VN, normally about $50, you then bolt it on top of the radiator, so that it takes air from just under the front of the bonnet, and pipes that into the air box, instead of sucking hot engine bay air. Even if you decide to go with a panel filter you'll need to chop a little bit of your airbox to make the CAI duct fit properly, but it's well worth it.
My suggestion on the exhaust: pacemakers, into twin stock cats (or into a single hi-flow cat), then 2.5" catback with hotdog mufflers. Single tip. If of course you really wanted 3" you could do it, but don't forget that you need some back pressure, otherwise you end up with a bit or a torque hole. But then again, everyone wants different things in an exhaust, that just how I'd have mine if I had the money for it.
For outright acceleration the 4.11 in the diff would be good, BUT remember the 4.11 will mean that you're sucking much more fuel when you're cruising at 100kph, because the engine will be spinning faster. 3.9 will give slightly slower acceleration than the 4.11 but if you'll use less fuel when cruising. Don't forget that if you change your diff ratio you'll need to recalibrate your speedo, because it's going to be screwed.
Anything else? High ratio roller rockers could really help things along, similar benefits as having a lumpier cam thrown in, but without the hassle of ripping the engine completely to pieces. |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
|
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 11:55:55 AM
|
OK thanks for the help,
so this is what i should do yeah.
1. interceptors on back, rims on front with low profile tyres
2. 4/11 gears in the diff
3. pacemaker extractors into twin stock cat or single high-flow cat
4. v8 throttlebody (open 100%)
5. C.A.I with K&N panel filter
6. 2 1/2" exhaust catback with hotdog mufflers and chrome oval tip
7. high ratio roller rockets
8. custom memcal chip
9. king springs (KHFL-47SL at front and at back KHRL-46SL)
what order should i do things in and anything else i could do |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
|
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 11:57:06 AM
|
| also with the 4/11 in the diff can i just change the gears or do i have to put Lsd aswell |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
|
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 9:59:44 PM
|
1. I'm not a huge fan of having two types of rims on the one car. If you run interceptors on the rear and fancy rims on the front it'll look kinda dodgy and the cops will pull you over heaps. Mainly people put 'ceptors on the rear of a car with fancy rims on the front to do burnouts, so the cops are all over them. Either have 4 'ceptors or 4 alloys, don't mix them.
2. Diff ratios are up to you.
3. Sounds good to me, but ask around for other opinions
4. HELL YES
5. HELL YES
6. Again, it's what I would do, but ask around, other people may have other ideas
7. Higher ratio roller rockers will certainly add a bit of zip to the car when combined with number 8
8. Don't buy one, get onto the justcommodores forum http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/ there is a guy on there called 'greenfoam' who makes custom chips, as long as you can use a soldering iron, you can fit it yourself. Of course nothing could beat a full dyno tune with a completely custom memcal (got a spare $1400?).
9. A lot of people like King springs, I'm not a huge fan. www.whiteline.com.au have a look for their kits for the VN commodore (struts/shocks, springs, panhard rod...) it might sound like a lot of money, but in my opinion it's well worth it. Because, getting shortened springs isn't enough, with shorter springs you'll need shorter shocks too (or else the first good bump you hit you'll puncture your shocks and end up with oil everywhere and no shocks), or you'll end up with your springs falling out, if you're going to lower it you'll need the panhard rod to re-centre the diff, otherwise you'll find that it's off centre and your tyres will rub on the guards because they no longer sit where they should. Also, the Whiteline kit has a strut tower bar as an option, if you like going around corners fast, get one. There's a scary amount of flex in the front of VN/VP commodores, a strut tower bar (while being a little rice), will make a big difference. |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
|
Posted - 31 Mar 2006 : 09:26:23 AM
|
| i am just on the whiteline site, with do they change the struts, cause my front left one is bent |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
|
Posted - 31 Mar 2006 : 09:48:43 AM
|
| When you say your strut is bent, do you mean the insert inside the strut assembly, or the strut assembly itself is bent? |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
wogngiu
P Plater
13 Posts
|
Posted - 31 Mar 2006 : 11:34:33 AM
|
| i dont know, i hit a gutter and it pushed my tyre back a bit and it scrapes the guard |
| Report to Moderator |
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
