HSV GTS VT2 #16 - rebuild thread
Discussion
So since picking up the GTS late last year, progress has been pretty slow sorting out all of its woes. My missus keeps pressing me to move it on, as it was only meant to be a bit of fun over the Winter.
I thought it's worth recording the experience to date. Maybe she'll let me keep it and I can continue with the work. Or maybe she'll spot that I've got five cars...
First up was the engine swap. A nice low miles CV8 engine took the place of an LS1 with a spun bearing. The engine mounts had disintegrated, so they were replace, as was the spigot bearing. The battery was dead, so a new one was fitted.
The centre rubber support on the prop had failed, so a decent used prop was substituted. While underneath, Roger spotted one of the mild steel cat pipes had a blow, so patched it. To top it off the radiator was leaking, so a new radiator was fitted.
On a cosmetic front, the wiper arms had corroded quite badly, so I had new ones fitted along with new blades. I ordered replacement buttons for the keys, as the originals had rotted away. The new ones look smart and cost very little.
The drive home from Monkfish after fitting the engine was not hugely enjoyable, as the view out was obscured by the failing glue on the window tints and the steering was 'sticky', failing to centre properly.
Well the window tints have been peeled off and most of the glue removed from the glass. I need to wait for my thumbnails to regrow before I can scrape the rest off.
The steering has been a pain to fix. It was leaking from several places and the UJ on the bottom of the column had seized. Monkfish sourced a new PAS pump, as it turned out it was leaking from the backplate on the pump body. The cooler was replaced with an after-market one, which sits quite nicely behind the bumper. The UJ finally freed up after after being soaked in WD40 on a number of occasions. So, no more oil leaks and steering that works as expected.
So what next? Well the APs need skimming or new disks and the tyres are dreadful ditch-finders. I've got my eye on a new condenser and drier, in case the ownership experience stretches to the warm weather. The rear shocks sound like they're knocking, so I might put some OEM spec ones back on it.
In the meantime, I'm trying to drive it, as it's spent far too long sitting on my driveway. It drives very well, given its age. And I'm almost guaranteed not to see another one as I cruise around Hertfordshire.
I thought it's worth recording the experience to date. Maybe she'll let me keep it and I can continue with the work. Or maybe she'll spot that I've got five cars...
First up was the engine swap. A nice low miles CV8 engine took the place of an LS1 with a spun bearing. The engine mounts had disintegrated, so they were replace, as was the spigot bearing. The battery was dead, so a new one was fitted.
The centre rubber support on the prop had failed, so a decent used prop was substituted. While underneath, Roger spotted one of the mild steel cat pipes had a blow, so patched it. To top it off the radiator was leaking, so a new radiator was fitted.
On a cosmetic front, the wiper arms had corroded quite badly, so I had new ones fitted along with new blades. I ordered replacement buttons for the keys, as the originals had rotted away. The new ones look smart and cost very little.
The drive home from Monkfish after fitting the engine was not hugely enjoyable, as the view out was obscured by the failing glue on the window tints and the steering was 'sticky', failing to centre properly.
Well the window tints have been peeled off and most of the glue removed from the glass. I need to wait for my thumbnails to regrow before I can scrape the rest off.
The steering has been a pain to fix. It was leaking from several places and the UJ on the bottom of the column had seized. Monkfish sourced a new PAS pump, as it turned out it was leaking from the backplate on the pump body. The cooler was replaced with an after-market one, which sits quite nicely behind the bumper. The UJ finally freed up after after being soaked in WD40 on a number of occasions. So, no more oil leaks and steering that works as expected.
So what next? Well the APs need skimming or new disks and the tyres are dreadful ditch-finders. I've got my eye on a new condenser and drier, in case the ownership experience stretches to the warm weather. The rear shocks sound like they're knocking, so I might put some OEM spec ones back on it.
In the meantime, I'm trying to drive it, as it's spent far too long sitting on my driveway. It drives very well, given its age. And I'm almost guaranteed not to see another one as I cruise around Hertfordshire.
stevieturbo said:
Watch the UJ.
Whilst WD40 can lubricate....generally it will wash out any lubricant so any free movement will probably be short lived.
Sticky steering can have downsides, so best to replace the UJ if at all possible.
Funnily enough, I have a spare, so will replace when I get the chanceWhilst WD40 can lubricate....generally it will wash out any lubricant so any free movement will probably be short lived.
Sticky steering can have downsides, so best to replace the UJ if at all possible.
The old girl is now back in for some work on the brakes. The APs judder like mad, so I was hoping that a skim would fix it. So new discs and pads all round later sees me broke again. The hoses are all being changed for braided ones and the hard pipes between the master cylinder and the ABS unit are being renewed. Roger's also going to change some dash bulbs and sort out a slight knock from the rear suspension.
When it comes back I've got to get the wheels refurbished and I have a decent set of p-zeros to go on it. Will swap out the crappy old wheel nuts and covers. Might even stretch to some new wheel cap badges too.
Oh and the new condenser and drier are on their way from Aus, so the aircon should be up and running for the summer.
So that will leave the bodywork to see to, along with a little tlc inside. Gearbox could do with the seals replacing too. And the rear brake pipes need doing. Hmmm, still a bit of a list. Maybe I'll leave all that to the next person.
So, for all those people who coveted VT2 #16 when it was on ebay, I'm in it for around £9,000 so far. The old LS1 is serviceable (just bought a con rod for it and will sort out some forged pistons next month). That must be worth £2K as it stands, so £7,000 for a (now) mechanically sound, well specified HSV. Was I mad?
When it comes back I've got to get the wheels refurbished and I have a decent set of p-zeros to go on it. Will swap out the crappy old wheel nuts and covers. Might even stretch to some new wheel cap badges too.
Oh and the new condenser and drier are on their way from Aus, so the aircon should be up and running for the summer.
So that will leave the bodywork to see to, along with a little tlc inside. Gearbox could do with the seals replacing too. And the rear brake pipes need doing. Hmmm, still a bit of a list. Maybe I'll leave all that to the next person.
So, for all those people who coveted VT2 #16 when it was on ebay, I'm in it for around £9,000 so far. The old LS1 is serviceable (just bought a con rod for it and will sort out some forged pistons next month). That must be worth £2K as it stands, so £7,000 for a (now) mechanically sound, well specified HSV. Was I mad?
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