Power for the Vauxhall Monaro is lifted from the Chevrolet Corvette in the shape of the dependable LS1 and LS2 V8 engines. For the earlier Monaro CV8 and VXR, the LS1 is a 5,667cc unit with 333hp for the standard car or 377hp for the VXR. To achieve more power, the VXR had changes to the cylinder heads, exhaust and throttle body, while a shorter 3.7 axle ratio in place of the standard model's 3.45 improved acceleration. For the VXR, 0-62mph dropped to 5.4 seconds from the standard car's 6.0-second time.
Chevrolet V8s are tough and tuneable
For the 2005 model, Vauxhall introduced the 5,967cc LS2 V8 for the VXR, which upped power to 403hp and delivered 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds alongside a 180mph top speed. For the CV8 model, its 5.7-litre LS1 V8 was breathed on to give 354hp, with 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds.
The V8 engine in both guises is very tough, reliable and also easily tuned for significantly more power. Among owners, the most popular improvements are a new air filter, cold air intake, ECU remap, freer flowing cylinder heads and a new exhaust from either Wortec or ASS. The exhaust is often the first item to be changed by owners to free up the noise of the V8 as the standard exhaust is reckoned by most to be too muted. There is also the prohibitive cost and scarcity of original Vauxhall parts for the Monaro, which means most owners look to specialist Monkfish Performance for parts or order them from the USA where the Monaro shares most of its mechanical parts with the contemporary Pontiac GTO that sold in far larger numbers.
The interchangeability of parts with the Pontiac also means this is well trodden route for modifying and tuning. Supercharging is a popular choice in the USA and will help produce 500hp or more depending on the state of tune you aim for. Expect to pay from around £4,000 plus shipping and fitting for a well regarded kit from the likes of Procharger.
While the engines are reliable, the belts on the front of the engine can be make some squeaks on start-up, but these should stop once the engine is warmed through. The Monaro needs servicing every 10,000 miles and a basic service will cost around £160. A major service at 50,000 miles will set you back around £300. While checking the belts in the engine bay, also look at the coolant hoses at the rear of the cylinder heads for wear. On LS1-engined cars, the plastic shroud can also rub on the fuel lines, so remove the cover and look for any signs of wear on the fuel hoses. Also, the throttle bodies on the 6.0-litre V8 can fail and are expensive to replace, so be sure the throttle response is pin sharp.
A cheap, early car is a great basis for modding
Routine servicing is cheap, the Monaro can set you back much more with items such as a new radiator costing £400. More of a concern should be the gearbox and clutch. The Tremec T56 'box is up to the job of dealing with the V8's power but its spigot bearing fails, resulting in a whirring noise with the engine running. If you can hear this on a car, it needs attention immediately and will likely also result in difficult gear selection. Many owners choose to uprate to the clutch from an LS7-engined Corvette as it's much stronger. A standard replacement clutch kit will be around £650 and an LS7 kit from £800, so the cost difference makes the LS7 clutch a worthwhile investment. A lot of Monaro owners will also have a remote clutch bleed nipple fitted as the slave cylinder is poorly positioned.
Some owners have fitted a Ripshift quick change gear linkage to overcome the Monaro's slow and sometimes baulky gear lever action. Others don't feel the need, so this is down to personal preference. A Ripshift kit from Monkfish Performance costs from £435.
Finally, check under the rear of the Monaro for any leaks from the differential. It's not a disaster if there are leaks as new seals are available. Regularly changing the diff oil with the correct 75W 140 GLS will also help keep the back axle quiet and in good condition.
PHer's view:
"I am generally impressed with the car and always look forward to driving it. In my opinion there's nothing available as an alternative, especially in that price bracket. The V8 provides a great surge of power, although needs to be worked a bit to get the most out of it. The gearbox is a tad clumsy and takes getting used to but works fine after some practice."
Peter Green