28 replies to this topic

[gtrboyy]

 

 

*Pics by previous owner

 

Got this a while back...swapped nice mildly modded vy ss m6 + cash.Basically got burnt few times trying to rebuild my lc gtr...lost faith so got this to tinker on.

While it is no torana did like these as a kid...main selling point it's actually engineered for the tubs + genuine indigo/mercury silver 381 pack(253 sle yada yada)

 

Still got lc gtr..needs another rebuild,damaged from poor storage & finding it hard to work on again after 20 years ownership & burnt promises.

[yel327]

Does it have central locking?

[dattoman]

Should keep you amused for awhile

[gtrboyy]

Yep central locking with funky reset button..removing remains of old alarm & radio wiring to try get it all to work again like factory.

 

Has some other crap added too that doesnt work vk power mirrors,aftermarket radio/kenwoods in kickboards & 1 power window on passenger door lol

 

Dash is all apart now...hopefully fixing this will inspire me to rebuild torana.

Edited by gtrboyy, 06 August 2016 - 12:25 PM.

[yel327]

The reason I asked was there is a 381 pack being discussed at Fastlane at the moment. It doesn't have AU3 central locking which is apparently rare - most got it. Power windows were the same, not standard until 1985 VK Calais but most SL/E's and Calais with optional engines get it.

[gtrboyy]

Yeah sounds weird not to have central locking unless it's earlier vh...381 pack practically became standard issue for 253 cars....power windows,leather,two tone paint & upgraded rims were the real options.The 5 litres got nearly all options as standard.Weird times when these 'options' were fitted standard to that model.

 

Some vh commo's had vb/c parts in them despite being well into vh production run

 

But who knows with old Holdens...came down to who you knew & dollars.

 

Atleast it still got steel bumper bars & still relatively affordable.

Edited by gtrboyy, 06 August 2016 - 05:16 PM.

[yel327]

I remember my parents looking at a silver/burgundy shadowtone VH SL/E as a new car. They drove the 3.3L, 4.2L versions and also the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Cressida. There was no quality comparison, the Cressida won hands down. I tried to convince them to get the SL/E but Cressida won.

[SA EH]

I do love SLE's. And when I see such a gorgeous example like this one I start to wish I never sold mine....
You say relatively affordable? I recently had a look what was for sale around here and found something rust free in good condition with an asking price of $19k! WTF? Since when did the crack pipe get passed to the early commodore owners? I'd pay that for what you bought, but seriously....

Most comfortable seats ever made I might add, especially that back seat, ooooh so comfy.

[Ice]

The early commos had a good body shape compared to VTs and later

Nice pick up looks the business

[gtrboyy]

Relatively affordable in comparison to our dear ol' toranas.

 

My first choice was always another torrie but they're just crazy prices now even for wrecks.

 

Came super close to buying Canberra 350 lj gtr but bodywork on that thing was way too much then a mate found a wicked ht monaro for a great price but that thing was over double what the sle cost me...he did buy the Monaro but also agrees lot of money to have tied up in a car.

 

Yeah now the early commodores starting to command money & the BS parts prices people want for junk.

 

Previous owner of this is good dude,only had it short time,..went out of his way to make deal happen & knows I'll improve it.

 

Helps a lot that his missus utterly hated the car haha

Edited by gtrboyy, 07 August 2016 - 12:08 AM.

[DanWA]

Very nice pickup mate!

[Heath]

Sweet looking car. Nice pickup!

People actually still use pens & paper? Bizarre.

Edited by Heath, 08 August 2016 - 08:04 AM.

[Redslur]

Gotta say I loved the VH SLE's.  Very tidy indeed.  Enjoy :-)

[gtrboyy]

Line ya up Red!!!

 

 

Was suppose to be putting it back together drive it a bit before rego then do more mods....had it out for an arvo of cruising,nearly emptied the tank driving it around.

Silly thing only got 55 amp alternator,helps explain why it was ok in day then play up at night.

 

 

It's got 1 last annoying oil leak left,dripping on to the damn extractor

Somehow this has led to pulling out powersteer..rewire cruddy interior & hiding engine bay wires *SLAPS HEAD*

 

Even these old bombadores are a pain to find parts for now.

Edited by gtrboyy, 09 October 2016 - 01:50 AM.

[gtrboyy]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSOZEOMD1lg

 

Found small clip of car but NFI how to make clip appear in post.

 

Still neatening it more & working on it,..heat has been arse-kicker

 

Sounds nicer now with tailpipe instead of diff dumpers.

Edited by gtrboyy, 18 February 2017 - 11:42 PM.

[Redslur]

Are you going to have it ready for the last Sunday in March?  I will be running mine then all going well :-)

[gtrboyy]

Hopefully have it ready for some reliable cruising & couple of those out west car meets when they start up again.

 

Yet to play with tune untill rear end gets sorted out...it's bit hairy under power lol

 

Aiming to go Day of the Drags 11/3 meetup with some of the AV8 blokes.

Edited by gtrboyy, 19 February 2017 - 08:48 PM.

[Redslur]

Funny as mine got a bit loose in the rear yesterday after booting it in second.  It stepped out on me and I was quite surprised. I love it...

[gtrboyy]

Yeah rear end on this does scary things...taken few mates for a spin in to show what it's like then later ask if they want a drive,they'll reply "NO"

 

Would be killer with 5k or 5.5k stally & 28x10 slicks....in top gear/60-70km/h...stomp on it wait 1-2 secs when the revs hit 5k holy faaa'aaark

[SA EH]

That is SO damn nice. I'd be keen on seeing some figures to back up that sound, not that I'd give a rats arse if it didn't run an 11 or something when it looks like that.
Jealous much....

[gtrboyy]

Bought it knowing most of the issues I could fix or had most parts it needed.

 

Got decent power just needs time/labour to get it all sorted...luckily looks nice 'cos I'm hopeless at panel/paint & previous owners spent good coin on it!!!!

 

Think old owner said it made 302rwhp or maybe 320 with stale fuel,old spark plugs/leads,rear brakes locking & super loose rockers also struggling holley red...before Nats 29 it ran out of rego sat in garage roughly 4 years.

 

Still got lazy tune timing is safe,carby tad rich but it behaves nicely,got new holley black(150?) sits too high in boot + factory hei with med coil...also brock scoop strangling it with 9x2 filter...then add 55amp alternator battery killer...got plenty room to improve.

 

Tonne of stuff to clean up & fit still sitting in shed to be done

 

Std height 6cyl springs & cheapie gas shocks(poorman 90/10's)

85amp vn-s alternator (later vt 120 amp)

Manual rack to go in

Speedo cable & plastic gears to correct speedo

Finish off rewire & shifter box

 

As usual current round of fixes/mods got out of hand...too many at once.

 

Got ingredients for low 11's right now I'd be happy for reliable cruiser with no oil leaks

Edited by gtrboyy, 20 February 2017 - 09:23 PM.

[gtrboyy]

Rear main seal let go and rego ran out few years ago as no time or way to properly fix it so it got buried in the garage untill other day.
Put air in tyres and rolled it out for pressure wash..

Attached Files

•  20230916_171251.jpg   172.96K   5 downloads

[gtrboyy]

Had fuel tank scalloped for tyre clearance to centre the diff plus few other things...few things to change/fix before it can be registered again.

Attached Files

•  20230916_171319.jpg   127.98K   6 downloads

[YellowGTR]

Really like these early steel bumper commodores. I had a VB SLE 308 Aussie 4speed car back in the 80s/90s which was a fantastic all round car as my daily. Never realised how rare it was till many years later. Wouldn’t mind another one.