Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Ben's LH V6

Started by _Ben_ , Feb 12 2011 06:54 PM

Next

Please log in to reply

39 replies to this topic

#1 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 12 February 2011 - 06:54 PM

Picked this car up today after winning it off ebay. Car is fully engineered and registered with a V6. Paid $3300 for it and so far I am happy with it. Seller advertised it as a Ecotec but im pretty certain its just a buick 3800.

The car is a little rough on the outside, small dents, faded paint. I am planning to give it a bit of paint and panel work when i get a decent amount of time. Interior is decent, but a little untidy and is fitted with a B&M shifter, basic custom door trims and seat covers.

The reason I purchased this as i am in need of a car to do my daily driving duties, so i will not be pulling to much apart just yet. It could do with a good tune i think as it doesnt seem to run the best, but still has lots of punch.

So first thing is to give it a wash and a general tidy up. I need to source new wheels that fit. Currently has 16's on with 225 rear and 205 fronts. I think the rear wheels rub on the inner wheel well so i need to find some better fitting wheels. I also need to fix the handbrake as the cable came off the foot pedal and replace a headlight. I will be looking into fitting power steering and AC.

The seller provided me with a list of parts that have been used in fitting the V6. It is as follows.

Engine Parts:

Rubber engine mounts are from holden V8's.

The fan belt is custom length to suit the lack of power steering and A/C

The radiator is from a V8 Commodore.

Otherwise all engine parts are as per VS commodore.

Diff

The diff housing is made up of a VN-VS commodore diff centre cut down and has torana ends welded to it. There are strengthening tubes inside the axle tubes where it is joined. The diff centre has a VL commodore 3.45 diff ratio in it and otherwise is normal 28 spline VN-VS commodore hardware.

The axles are on the short side, VL turbo/V8 short axle with about 5mm cut off the end, the long side is VN short axle with about 5mm cut off the end. The VL axle is about 1-1.5 inches shorter than the VN axle from memory. While the VL axle is hard to find, it means you dont need to shorten/respline axles - the idea was to use all off the shelf parts id possible to make things easier if there is ever a need for replacement.

Tailshaft is a custom unit and is capable of about 500-600hp.

Brakes

Rear brakes are all standard vn-vs rear discs, the only change being the handbrake mechanism has been modified to work with the backing plates being swapped from side to side.

Handbrake cable is vn-vs wagon.

The brake lines are custom to suit torana/commodore threads on each end respectively.

Front brakes use a LH/LX brake stub axle, this has been machined to allow the firment of V6 conversion brake adaptors. The claipers are VL turbo/VN/VP V8. The only modification is they have a section grinded out to allow the brake line to come out on a suitable angle. The brake pads are HX holden, and they have a small section ground out of their locating tabs, this gives a bigger pad area than the standard commodore pads.

The Disc is a VL Turbo/VN/VP v8 unit

Attached Files

12022011062.jpg 1.26MB 5 downloads
12022011063.jpg 1.46MB 6 downloads

Back to top

#2 Stinga

.

Members
2,114 posts

Name:Stinga
Location:Wollongong, NSW
Car:HD Holden ute, and sedan, UC torana
Joined: 05-December 05

Posted 12 February 2011 - 10:13 PM

i reckon it looks cool the way it is. bring on the engine bay pics!

Back to top

#3 DanWA

Forum Fixture

Members
2,440 posts

Location:Southwest W.A
Car:LS1 LX 4 Door
Joined: 27-April 06

Posted 12 February 2011 - 10:29 PM

great buy mate!

Back to top

#4 Neils LX

Forum Fixture

Members
2,074 posts

Name:a
Location:North west NSW
Joined: 18-March 07

Posted 12 February 2011 - 10:33 PM

I had a look at the ebay photos your motors an ecotec not a buick V6.
Posted Image

Nice buy in parts alone

Back to top

#5 _Bomber Watson_

Guests

Posted 12 February 2011 - 11:02 PM

Shoulda left the engine bay picks alone????

Still the motor you have is the best out of the bunch.

Car looks very cool with the bonnet shut though. Personally i wouldent have fitted the scoop or those rims, but cool none the less.

Cheers.

Edited by Bomber Watson, 12 February 2011 - 11:03 PM.

Back to top

#6 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 13 February 2011 - 08:25 AM

Yeah i had a look under the bonnet and realised it is infact an ecotec, my bad.

The rims are growing on me, but they are rubbing so I'm going to change them. However I have no idea what offset or backspace i should be using. The engineers cert. states that 15x6's were fitted during the engineering process, so i might look for a set of 15 inch wheels (perhaps simmons?). A mate of mine has a spare set of 17inch VY SS rims laying around, but i think that they might not suit the car and might be too big.

I also wouldnt have fitted the scoop, but its also growing on me. Unsure if it will stay or go. Car does look a little mean and has a nice loud note. My old man told me not to be coming home late in it. I was actually surprised with his reaction to the car, i hadnt told him about it and thought he would have the shits as there is still half an LJ in the driveway and a heap of parts laying around.

I will get more pics when i get a chance to. Even with the V6 fitted there is a shitload of room in there. As you can see the wiring in the engine bay is a little messy, so i will be tidying that up.

Back to top

#7 _Bomber Watson_

Guests

Posted 13 February 2011 - 09:55 AM

It does look like a reasonably well thought out install.

Cheers.

Back to top

#8 DanWA

Forum Fixture

Members
2,440 posts

Location:Southwest W.A
Car:LS1 LX 4 Door
Joined: 27-April 06

Posted 13 February 2011 - 10:39 AM

tha wiring is a mess, my burnout car's wiring is much neater!

Posted Image

wonder why they didn't use the commodore loom

either way nice conversion, very eays to swap with a l67 (charged v6)

Back to top

#9 notna

Forum Fixture

Members
706 posts

Name:Reverse of username
Location:Sydney
Car:1976 LX L32 SL/R
Joined: 21-May 07

Posted 13 February 2011 - 08:34 PM

I was watching that one on eBay and even thought about having a stab at it.

Well bought! I reckon when you think about how much work went into it, and the engineering, you got a bargain!

What part of Sydney you in?

Back to top

#10 mitchg

The guy with the Torailer

Members
3,111 posts

Name:Mitch
Location:Ingleburn, NSW
Car:Was a '77 LX V6 Torana + Torailer now VX SS
Joined: 19-May 07

Posted 13 February 2011 - 08:38 PM

Bout the same as what I originally paid for mine, though mine was not engineered! Nice pick-up, and the ecotech should be great as a daily! Tidy it up as you go and enjoy it!

Back to top

#11 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 13 February 2011 - 09:51 PM

Notna - I am located in Ryde/Eastwood area.

DanWA - Yeah i have thought about supercharging, but that isnt a priority yet. Wiring definately has to be sorted!

Looks like the scoop needs to stay, seems like it was installed so the motor would clear the bonnet.

I have found water in the boot. Im hoping that the condensation on the inside of the rear windscreen is the cause and i just need to replace the rubber.

Tomorrow i need to sort out my insurance, any recommendations?

Also need to change the wheels this week. Current tires are worn so i thought i would kill tow birds with one stone. Still not sure on offset, i think it might be the standard LH torana.

I really want to start chipping away at it, i wish it would stop raining in sydney.

Back to top

#12 _Bomber Watson_

Guests

Posted 13 February 2011 - 10:12 PM

What stud pattern is it???

If its commy then a set of Commy steelies with 205's on them should clear everything.

Cheers.

Back to top

#13 notna

Forum Fixture

Members
706 posts

Name:Reverse of username
Location:Sydney
Car:1976 LX L32 SL/R
Joined: 21-May 07

Posted 13 February 2011 - 10:31 PM

I work in Epping Ben. I'll be keeping an eye out for you

I thought it looked like the scoop was necessary. The V6 is sitting pretty high.

Back to top

#14 gtrboyy

Lotsa Posts!

Members
3,204 posts

Location:SYDNEY,NSW
Joined: 07-November 05

Posted 14 February 2011 - 09:18 AM

This was forum member's car,not sure if he gets on the site anymore,should be a build up thread on the car on his site in the link below.

My link

Back to top

#15 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 14 February 2011 - 04:50 PM

gtrboyy - I did buy the car off a guy named Sam, so chances are that its the same guy. Thanks for the link too!

Notna - You probably will see me around Epping sooner or later as i travel through there a fair bit.

Bomber - Its Commodore stud pattern. Current wheels im pretty sure rub on the rear inner well. It looks tight from underneath, inside of tyres are worn and looks to be some marks on the inner well. My mechanic has some Walky wheels that he is trying to get rid of for $850 with rubber. Bit pricey and i probs wont buy them, however if he still has them on Thursday he said i can throw them on and see how they look and fit.

Was reading the engineer's report and found out that the car is 5-7% slower than indicated on the speedo (when tested at 60kmph and 100kmph). That explains why everyone is constantly overtaking me. Any way i could get a more accurate reading?

Getting back to wheels and tyres, a mate of mine reckons that you can legally go two inches larger than factory. If the engineers report states that 15's have replaced the original 13's can i then legally go to 17's? or are 15's the largest?

I am also on a lookout for a rear passenger side door, i think the current one is coming toward the end of its life

Back to top

#16 notna

Forum Fixture

Members
706 posts

Name:Reverse of username
Location:Sydney
Car:1976 LX L32 SL/R
Joined: 21-May 07

Posted 14 February 2011 - 04:56 PM

This was forum member's car,not sure if he gets on the site anymore,should be a build up thread on the car on his site in the link below.

My link

Shame those original plates aren't still on it!

Posted Image

Back to top

#17 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 14 February 2011 - 05:48 PM

Shame that it isn't still in that condition!

Back to top

#18 _V6 UC_

Guests

Posted 16 February 2011 - 07:14 PM

l67 conversion FTW

nice pickup mate

Edited by V6 UC, 16 February 2011 - 07:16 PM.

Back to top

#19 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 17 February 2011 - 07:57 PM

Here are a few pics of parts of the body that need to be fixed up. Think i might have to get a new front left guard as the dent in it is quite large, the wheel arch is also dented, and there is rust in the lower section of it too. The rear left door has completely rusted through so will need a new one of them.

The rear windscreen rubber is letting in some water, as you can see the condensation in the inside of the screen. Water pools in the boot and has formed a bit of surface rust. Will replace both front and rear screen rubbers when i give it a lick of paint, hopefully soon.

Not sure on colour as yet, but im thinking going for a blue. Azure Blue and Windsor blue look appealing.

Attached Files

17022011064.jpg 1.48MB 4 downloads
17022011065.jpg 1.12MB 4 downloads
17022011066.jpg 872.62K 3 downloads
17022011067.jpg 1.4MB 3 downloads
17022011068.jpg 1.41MB 3 downloads
17022011069.jpg 1.62MB 4 downloads
17022011071.jpg 1.03MB 4 downloads
17022011072.jpg 1.33MB 5 downloads

Back to top

#20 _LH V6_

Guests

Posted 05 March 2011 - 09:52 PM

hi there bens v6, im all new to this but will say as above great buy, as i was watching on ebay too. if your lookin
at blue colours to paint ya car casino blue looks great as i just done mine. will put up photos soon.

Back to top

#21 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 12 March 2011 - 07:37 PM

LH V6 - Yeah i have already decided it will be Casino Blue. Was tempted to paint it lina mint as i have heaps left over from the LJ. However i think blue suits the car more.

Car was running hot the other day. Was sitting on 120c (temp. guage only goes up to that). Usually the thermos kick in at 100c, im no expert but that seems a little high for my liking. I gave her 1 litre of water and took the plastic engine cover off and now it comfortably sits at 80-90 degrees.

Being back at uni has got me thinking about the car during boring lectures. Still unsure on the direction the car will take. I think L67 would be an easier route to take, as i dont think i would have to change anything to put one in legally. However the thought of an EFI V8 is kinda tempting, however would require more work.

Im now on the lookout for a passenger side front guard and passenger side rear door. I think im going to do a "dodgey" paint job. Just something that will make the car look a little better. Im thinking that after i source and fit a door and guard i will sand down car, primer, bog MAJOR dents and then paint.

Im going to fit A/C and power steering. The demister/fan/heater doesnt currently work so im going to need to sort that out.

Back to top

#22 _Bomber Watson_

Guests

Posted 12 March 2011 - 07:58 PM

L76 will make as much if not more power and torque than a plastic and cost you less to rego.

Cheers.

Back to top

#23 _Gunmetal LH_

Guests

Posted 13 April 2011 - 09:39 PM

I knew I recognised this car from somewhere...

Just thought it might be interesting to see?

Posted Image

http://delcohacking....=16&t=144<br />

Edited by Gunmetal LH, 13 April 2011 - 09:44 PM.

Back to top

#24 _AGGRO_

Guests

Posted 14 April 2011 - 02:11 PM

L76 will make as much if not more power and torque than a plastic and cost you less to rego.

Cheers.

Not stock they wont. L67 was 171kw and 375nm and efi v8 was 179kw and 400nm (vt). I have been in both and 304 feels much more torquey on the street.

Back to top

#25 _Ben_

Guests

Posted 06 July 2011 - 12:26 AM

Rego for this beast is due in September so i am planning to give it a few imporvements around then. Still havent decided between a V8 and a L67, but im kinda leaning toward the L67 as it will most likely be cheaper as it shouldnt require any upgrades (like brakes) for engineering. Having said that my brakes will need to be replaced around that time so that gives me the perfect time to upgrade if needed.

Car will be resprayed, not sure on what colour or 2k/acrylic. Im thinking flareless with a drop tank, although i might consider going for LPG. However me thinks that will be unlikely.

Im going to run aircon and power steering no matter what. What mods would i have to do to fit power steering?