Hold(en) my beer - Monaro, Ute and Commodore content
Discussion
SturdyHSV said:
I'm still set on importing a manual one as opposed to 'investing' in upgrading this one, so it'll just be routine maintenance and the occasional funny story in this thread for a while I imagine, my apologies in advance!
You will be pleased to know, im collecting my old green VY this weekend. I wanted an auto and have now got a manual!monkfish1 said:
SturdyHSV said:
I'm still set on importing a manual one as opposed to 'investing' in upgrading this one, so it'll just be routine maintenance and the occasional funny story in this thread for a while I imagine, my apologies in advance!
You will be pleased to know, im collecting my old green VY this weekend. I wanted an auto and have now got a manual!
SturdyHSV said:
monkfish1 said:
SturdyHSV said:
I'm still set on importing a manual one as opposed to 'investing' in upgrading this one, so it'll just be routine maintenance and the occasional funny story in this thread for a while I imagine, my apologies in advance!
You will be pleased to know, im collecting my old green VY this weekend. I wanted an auto and have now got a manual!SturdyHSV said:
The headlights aren't great, but may just need a clean, I've never washed it and only given the headlights a couple of cursory wipe downs...
They should be excellent: the ones on my 2002 VY are. Australian engineered Holdens have some of the best halogen headlights I've ever used. They actually did a test that involved driving round the test track at night and being able to spot fake kangaroos.
Well in all the lockdown excitement i somehow forgot to update the thread...
The other rear wheel bearing needed doing so that's done, needed an ARB drop link for the MOT so I replaced both as they're such an easy job, and Sheila has had her first (and second) wash in my ownership in the last couple of weeks.
Alternating the trickle charger between the various cars, the temptation to fit the lowering springs that are in the garage continues to grow, especially now that she's clean and on the 17s all round, the arch gap is a little agricultural for a JPS liveried vehicle
The other rear wheel bearing needed doing so that's done, needed an ARB drop link for the MOT so I replaced both as they're such an easy job, and Sheila has had her first (and second) wash in my ownership in the last couple of weeks.
Alternating the trickle charger between the various cars, the temptation to fit the lowering springs that are in the garage continues to grow, especially now that she's clean and on the 17s all round, the arch gap is a little agricultural for a JPS liveried vehicle
So, those of you attached to the livery, look away now, and probably forever more...
With Sheila now being washed, the stickers were looking a bit worse for wear, some splitting, some of the stripes peeling up at the edges, so I made the decision that they'd run their course, and it was time to just have the Ute looking nice as opposed to novel.
So, off came the stickers...
Naturally one had to mess about as they came off, much like when you shave you have to leave a stupid moustache or novelty sideburns first... Right?
Anyway, moving swiftly on, the aforementioned lowering springs... These are Pedders units I'd picked up many months ago from a former Monaro owner who'd found them still in his garage. It's a 25mm drop, so speed bumps will no longer be care free, and although a progressive rate spring, no doubt the ride quality may well dip a bit, but as I can't drive anywhere then seems the best time to do it...
Bit of a drop, rears are nice and easy, undo damper, compress springs a bit, pull them out, new ones are small enough to just fit in with the arm pushed down a bit.
Rears done, they'll settle, right?
Putting them on has made the original ride height look hilarious, so there's no way I could go back now anyway.
Without further ado, and who are we kidding, you'd already scrolled to the before / after pictures surely?
Before:
After:
Subjective of course, but I think Sheila looks cooler than a penguin's cock, so I'm very happy
Although the paintwork isn't in amazing condition, I believe the ebay ad would say "wear appropriate for the age", she's getting a machine polish shortly to tidy it up and clear off any sticker residue etc. I will upload more pictures as and when.
Hope all are safe and well, as seems to be the way to end all communication now, curious what we all think to the lack of an inappropriate livery... Any thoughts, other than this?
With Sheila now being washed, the stickers were looking a bit worse for wear, some splitting, some of the stripes peeling up at the edges, so I made the decision that they'd run their course, and it was time to just have the Ute looking nice as opposed to novel.
So, off came the stickers...
Naturally one had to mess about as they came off, much like when you shave you have to leave a stupid moustache or novelty sideburns first... Right?
Anyway, moving swiftly on, the aforementioned lowering springs... These are Pedders units I'd picked up many months ago from a former Monaro owner who'd found them still in his garage. It's a 25mm drop, so speed bumps will no longer be care free, and although a progressive rate spring, no doubt the ride quality may well dip a bit, but as I can't drive anywhere then seems the best time to do it...
Bit of a drop, rears are nice and easy, undo damper, compress springs a bit, pull them out, new ones are small enough to just fit in with the arm pushed down a bit.
Rears done, they'll settle, right?
Putting them on has made the original ride height look hilarious, so there's no way I could go back now anyway.
Without further ado, and who are we kidding, you'd already scrolled to the before / after pictures surely?
Before:
After:
Subjective of course, but I think Sheila looks cooler than a penguin's cock, so I'm very happy
Although the paintwork isn't in amazing condition, I believe the ebay ad would say "wear appropriate for the age", she's getting a machine polish shortly to tidy it up and clear off any sticker residue etc. I will upload more pictures as and when.
Hope all are safe and well, as seems to be the way to end all communication now, curious what we all think to the lack of an inappropriate livery... Any thoughts, other than this?
therealsamdailly said:
looking fantastic man
is the SantaPod-esque number written on the back window a permanent feature?
No, it's from a trip to Santa Pod about 10 months ago just out of interest, and as it had never been cleaned it has remained. There were stickers on there at the time so just left it, it'll be gone once it's properly polished etc.is the SantaPod-esque number written on the back window a permanent feature?
The only run I got on the day (before rain stopped play, as per usual) it was about a 14.4, I can't remember if I mentioned it in this thread earlier. I thought I'd put the box in 'PWR' to give it a heads up, left it in D and the 1/4 mile turned out to then be the only time it has ever held on to a gear, it just banged into the limiter a few times in 1st before I realised, lifted off, and then got back on it, so hardly ideal
It was about what I expected though given it's apparently ~390bhp, so largely the same as my Monaro was initially, and they're around a low 14 at around 100mph standard.
It was just for fun though, no interest in how fast she is as I have the Monaro for that.
VE Shape...
VZ Shape...
Grabbed the picture from here. Tells the story of what became of the car,
https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/saturd...
VZ Shape...
Grabbed the picture from here. Tells the story of what became of the car,
https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/saturd...
When I lowered the Monaro I spent a while getting the rear height as I wanted it, currently has a couple of 10mm spacers each side, and every so often I do think it's too high and have been intending to take one out.
The Ute is also slightly too low at the back for my taste, ideally I'd like an even space between tyre / arch all around, whereas currently it's a little 'squashed' at the top.
So I expect I'll be moving a pair of spacers from. The Monaro to the Ute to see how that looks.
There may be an additional reason for this as well, which you may or may not be able to guess from the pictures below
Whilst I'm sure that would eventually self clearance, and I could (and may still) take an angle grinder to the bottom of that flange, I think the 10mm spacer option is a good start
Showed the previous owner who correctly replied "only you could make a 5.7l Ute more impractical"
Gratuitous extra pics as they're both clean and shiny
The Ute is also slightly too low at the back for my taste, ideally I'd like an even space between tyre / arch all around, whereas currently it's a little 'squashed' at the top.
So I expect I'll be moving a pair of spacers from. The Monaro to the Ute to see how that looks.
There may be an additional reason for this as well, which you may or may not be able to guess from the pictures below
Whilst I'm sure that would eventually self clearance, and I could (and may still) take an angle grinder to the bottom of that flange, I think the 10mm spacer option is a good start
Showed the previous owner who correctly replied "only you could make a 5.7l Ute more impractical"
Gratuitous extra pics as they're both clean and shiny
I think the Ute uses a different spring to the Monaro on the back . So it might be too soft/hard for the ute. Admittedly there should be one of the Monaro/commodore springs which would be ideal, but the Pedders website (oz one) is a bit lacking in cross referencing. Just ask for the next tallest Monaro/commodore Spring. 2589 is one of their rear springs , had that on the back of my Sedan which was low.
They all should fit each other but the height would be dependant on which combo was on there.
Maybe the shocks would need doing to. Ute shocks are longer?softer? at the back compared to a sedan.
The King Springs website has a catalogue download which has the King Springs numbers in there.
They have 7 1/2 combinations for the Ute, Ok we'll call it 5 as there is standard height (higher than an SS ute) and raised height which you don't need.
Then find pictures of cars in Oz and see which height corresponds to the height you want.
They all should fit each other but the height would be dependant on which combo was on there.
Maybe the shocks would need doing to. Ute shocks are longer?softer? at the back compared to a sedan.
The King Springs website has a catalogue download which has the King Springs numbers in there.
They have 7 1/2 combinations for the Ute, Ok we'll call it 5 as there is standard height (higher than an SS ute) and raised height which you don't need.
Then find pictures of cars in Oz and see which height corresponds to the height you want.
Not a lot to report, the Ute continues to look brilliant, scrapes a bit of exhaust bracket on the drive occasionally and makes commuting fun.
Treated ol' Sheila to an oil change, some of the high mileage Royal Purple and a nice new filter.
Also changed the plugs, which I knew was going to be fun going in as bits of the engine bay are a bit cramped, but it really did get to the point of some quite ridiculous contortions Or maybe I just REALLY love maintenance
As it's a new month and I STILL haven't pulled the Monaro engine out (cylinder heads on way from the states to go with the stroker kit...) I taxed it and have been using that.
It has reminded me why I prefer a manual, right when I was starting to plot an upgrade for Sheila... It would be good to keep the two of them a little different though, so I am still considering upgrades...
Treated ol' Sheila to an oil change, some of the high mileage Royal Purple and a nice new filter.
Also changed the plugs, which I knew was going to be fun going in as bits of the engine bay are a bit cramped, but it really did get to the point of some quite ridiculous contortions
Or maybe I just REALLY love maintenance As it's a new month and I STILL haven't pulled the Monaro engine out (cylinder heads on way from the states to go with the stroker kit...) I taxed it and have been using that.
It has reminded me why I prefer a manual, right when I was starting to plot an upgrade for Sheila... It would be good to keep the two of them a little different though, so I am still considering upgrades...
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff