Monaro Upgrades
Discussion
Lets say for arguments sake I could persuade the other half to let me spend up to around 5-6k on upgrading an 04 plate Monaro. Of course I'll tell her it cost a lot less 
I fancy getting a set of AP brakes so that's going to take around 2k. A decent exhaust obviously and a retune which should eat up another 1200-1500 still leaves up to another 2k. So where do you go after that - headers, cams, maf, suspension, wheels, stereo, rear lip spoiler - whats feasible for the money?
In other words what sort of combo should I be looking at to get the most for my money because there's a snowball in hell's chance of me getting to spend any more after that. Car is completely standard at the moment bar the K&N filter still waiting to be fitted and a big hole drilled in the airbox.
I fancy getting a set of AP brakes so that's going to take around 2k. A decent exhaust obviously and a retune which should eat up another 1200-1500 still leaves up to another 2k. So where do you go after that - headers, cams, maf, suspension, wheels, stereo, rear lip spoiler - whats feasible for the money?
In other words what sort of combo should I be looking at to get the most for my money because there's a snowball in hell's chance of me getting to spend any more after that. Car is completely standard at the moment bar the K&N filter still waiting to be fitted and a big hole drilled in the airbox.
Well_Fans said:
Lets say for arguments sake I could persuade the other half to let me spend up to around 5-6k on upgrading an 04 plate Monaro. Of course I'll tell her it cost a lot less
I fancy getting a set of AP brakes so that's going to take around 2k. A decent exhaust obviously and a retune which should eat up another 1200-1500 still leaves up to another 2k. So where do you go after that - headers, cams, maf, suspension, wheels, stereo, rear lip spoiler - whats feasible for the money?
In other words what sort of combo should I be looking at to get the most for my money because there's a snowball in hell's chance of me getting to spend any more after that. Car is completely standard at the moment bar the K&N filter still waiting to be fitted and a big hole drilled in the airbox.
You could sell the 04 monaro for £18k and buy a VXR for 23k. Leaving a grand for a loud exhaust.
Alternatively if you dont do track use then it would be quite funny to leave it absolutely bog standard but fit a supercharger to give it 450bhp. Leaving a grand for a Holiday.
Bennno
Well, Id vote to toss the maf, you will get more power without it.
Save the money you would have spent on an 85mm one and remove it altogether.
Otherwise,
I think in this rough order;
#1 is tune, but get that after you have done all your physical mods.
- Cat back
- Headers
- Gears (3.91's are good)
- Short throw shifter (rip, b&m etc)
Should get around 230rwkw to here
(Gears and shifter make it nicer to drive.)
Cam & valve springs (Under 220 duration for near stock drivability)
Comp Cams 216/220 gets a good rap.
Up to around 270rwkw maybe a little more with cam.
.. I think you will have run out of money by now
Save the money you would have spent on an 85mm one and remove it altogether.
Otherwise,
I think in this rough order;
#1 is tune, but get that after you have done all your physical mods.
- Cat back
- Headers
- Gears (3.91's are good)
- Short throw shifter (rip, b&m etc)
Should get around 230rwkw to here
(Gears and shifter make it nicer to drive.)
Cam & valve springs (Under 220 duration for near stock drivability)
Comp Cams 216/220 gets a good rap.
Up to around 270rwkw maybe a little more with cam.
.. I think you will have run out of money by now
Well_Fans said:
Lets say for arguments sake I could persuade the other half to let me spend up to around 5-6k on upgrading an 04 plate Monaro. Of course I'll tell her it cost a lot less
I fancy getting a set of AP brakes so that's going to take around 2k. A decent exhaust obviously and a retune which should eat up another 1200-1500 still leaves up to another 2k. So where do you go after that - headers, cams, maf, suspension, wheels, stereo, rear lip spoiler - whats feasible for the money?
In other words what sort of combo should I be looking at to get the most for my money because there's a snowball in hell's chance of me getting to spend any more after that. Car is completely standard at the moment bar the K&N filter still waiting to be fitted and a big hole drilled in the airbox.
Go for the AP's and exhaust Bob, but add the headers at the same time. I've heard the other Monaros exhaust system in Orkney and it don't sound like mine
so you know who to speak to about getting the job done! They may even come up and collect if you ask nicely 
I see they are doing a good deal on the AP's now as well. PS. Winter's back again and you were right about only one day of sunny weather
Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but does that mean Orkney has two monaros. I've only seen one other on the road and that was when I was leaving Greens. As for mods still very much a novice, but just had the Wortec sports pack on my CV8 and it was well worth the money, noise and performance, I thought I had performance before but I was deluded. I am interested on peoples view on the ripshifter especially anybody that has had one and does not think it was worth it, still trying to persuade myself it is unnecessary and the money should be put towards new brakes.
barking said:
Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but does that mean Orkney has two monaros. I've only seen one other on the road and that was when I was leaving Greens. As for mods still very much a novice, but just had the Wortec sports pack on my CV8 and it was well worth the money, noise and performance, I thought I had performance before but I was deluded. I am interested on peoples view on the ripshifter especially anybody that has had one and does not think it was worth it, still trying to persuade myself it is unnecessary and the money should be put towards new brakes.
Yes that's right there are 2 in Orkney. Mine's an Impulse Blue and the other is Silver. I would suggest the brakes personally as my gearbox seems fine. Maybe different on a track when you're trying to behave like a V8 supercar driver
and getting superquick shifts is important, but for everyday use I'll live with it an continue saving for the AP's. 
barking said:
I am interested on peoples view on the ripshifter especially anybody that has had one and does not think it was worth it, still trying to persuade myself it is unnecessary and the money should be put towards new brakes.
Ripshifter: It vastly improves the gear selection accuracy, less chance of getting the wrong gear during fast gearchanges, which seemed to happen to often with the standard, rather vague gearchange. There is less movement in the gearstick itself. The change itself is still rather heavy, and you have to do it in two stages - out of the gear you're in, and then into the next, you still can't do it in one go, if you see what I mean. Ripshifter is a bit noisy (transmission noise) and you can feel engine vibrations through the lever. Still think its worth having though.
>> Edited by GSE on Tuesday 16th May 13:45
GSE said:
I am interested on peoples view on the ripshifter especially anybody that has had one and does not think it was worth it, still trying to persuade myself it is unnecessary and the money should be put towards new brakes.
Ripshifter: It vastly improves the gear selection accuracy, less chance of getting the wrong gear during fast gearchanges, which seemed to happen to often with the standard, rather vague gearchange. There is less movement in the gearstick itself. The change itself is still rather heavy, and you have to do it in two stages - out of the gear you're in, and then into the next, you still can't do it in one go, if you see what I mean. Ripshifter is a bit noisy (transmission noise) and you can feel engine vibrations through the lever. Still think its worth having though.
>> Edited by GSE on Tuesday 16th May 13:45
Noise and vibration issues have been adressed through a redesign a little while back.
I was going to fit a ripshifter to my HSV but having driven a GTS with one I honestly dont think its much better than the standard shift on my car. The only thing I have done to my box is use Redline MTL. Car has done 44K, gear change improved after 30K and no problem at all, road or track when warm.
Just put a Ripshifter in my CV8 a month ago. The Mrs says that the gears are far to close now and that its made the car undriveable. So money well spent then 
Although on a slightly more serious note, I'm beginning to hear / notice a vibration under heavy load so I'm not convinced that they're totally consumer friendly yet.
Although on a slightly more serious note, I'm beginning to hear / notice a vibration under heavy load so I'm not convinced that they're totally consumer friendly yet.
Those nice chaps at Monkfish did it for me. I didn't realise there were 2 versions, but I guess Roger will have fitted the street version. I'll check with him. Nothing feels loose about it, but I suppose that it's not entirely unlikely that things may have bedded in and worked a little loose.
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