Why did you buy yours?
Discussion
Mezzell said:
Probably not a question for this thread and has probably been covered before but I’m going to ask it anyway! ......does the bottom end need any strengthening before adding a supercharger?
Assuming the engine has had plenty of oil changes and you are using quality lube, you would be hard pushed to destroy the bottom end. Don't forget these engines have six bolt mains and are pretty much truck like in construction.
If you warm your engine up before you hit the red line, and allow it to cool down before you switch off it will be fine.
As has been previously mentioned you can subject the crank to way beyound 500+ HP = no problem.
Mezzell said:
I’m very mechanically sympathetic. Obviously I don’t know how the car’s been treated in the past but it’s still sub 50k..........
Don’t worry about it, bottom end is good for close to 1000hp on yours. Pistons on the LS1 are weakest point but you’ll also struggle for airflow on the stock heads. Set of forged pistons and LS2 243 heads would work well but you’ll also need a blower cam to make the best of it. See if you can find a TVS2300 blower to go with it and you’ll be looking north of 700hp. I made almost 800hp with mine.dan mugglestone said:
For my pennys worth . I brought it for looks , noise and because I wanted to , Had no intention of 'making' money and its a 20+year keeper.
Yes for the money i could have brought something faster , handle better , cheaper to run? but dont care its what i wanted .
All my mates keep their noses in the air cuz i drive a vauxhall . But deep down they nod their heads in respect at noise poise and individuality and that they have to spend alot more to get close.
I really am a Vauxhall lifer with a Calibra waiting full resto and nova, astra ZLETs in the past but the monaro is what I ultimately wanted. However I have never owned a V8 and now "I get it". Personally I think that keeping a Vauxhall badge on them kinda sticks a middle finger up to those with cars as common as belly buttons M3 S4 Rgolfs etc.
Time and circumstances are the reason we all use for the purchase and exactly that for me , Wanted red, wanted VXR LS2 and wanted early cheaper tax.
Only want now ( bar a supecharger) is that bigger boot .! however ....... See you all at a gathering summer 2020
For my pennys worth . I brought it for looks , noise and because I wanted to , Had no intention of 'making' money and its a 20+year keeper.
Yes for the money i could have brought something faster , handle better , cheaper to run? but dont care its what i wanted .
All my mates keep their noses in the air cuz i drive a vauxhall . But deep down they nod their heads in respect at noise poise and individuality and that they have to spend alot more to get close.
I really am a Vauxhall lifer with a Calibra waiting full resto and nova, astra ZLETs in the past but the monaro is what I ultimately wanted. However I have never owned a V8 and now "I get it". Personally I think that keeping a Vauxhall badge on them kinda sticks a middle finger up to those with cars as common as belly buttons M3 S4 Rgolfs etc.
Time and circumstances are the reason we all use for the purchase and exactly that for me , Wanted red, wanted VXR LS2 and wanted early cheaper tax.
Only want now ( bar a supecharger) is that bigger boot .! however ....... See you all at a gathering summer 2020
selym said:
I wanted a V8 and couldn't justify a second car before. I'm glad I bought it.....very glad.
I was in the same boat, I really couldn't justify a second car at the time, oddly enough I really can't justify owning a second car now!!! let alone the fact it's a Monaro.Still I'm pretty much too old to care these days.
Bought mine (vxr8) after getting launched off my Speed Triple. Gave up on bikes but wanted something that was fun!
Always wanted a V8 and the vxr8 was a bargain at £25000 had a test drive parted with the cash and drove home in it ten years ago!
Always wanted a V8 and the vxr8 was a bargain at £25000 had a test drive parted with the cash and drove home in it ten years ago!
Edited by leigh1050 on Friday 25th October 20:06
[quote=99PBATR
<snip good story> Honda Accord Type R
[/quote]
I too went from an ATR to a Monaro. About as far apart as two cars can be albeit both are much fun in their own way. F/RWD high/low revving/ Japanese/Aussie light/heavy.
The want came from Wookie's 5th Gear test of a VXR500. The purchase came from an online auction site, wine and an "I'll not get it for that but let's bid anyway"... ...and I did. Unseen purchase success. Yellow big boot CV8 with a full set of Monkfish pacs making allegedly north of 400hp, APs, short shift & road response.
I did keep for several years but a Merc M156 itch became too insistent to ignore
LAxxxxPP where are you now?
<snip good story> Honda Accord Type R
[/quote]
I too went from an ATR to a Monaro. About as far apart as two cars can be albeit both are much fun in their own way. F/RWD high/low revving/ Japanese/Aussie light/heavy.
The want came from Wookie's 5th Gear test of a VXR500. The purchase came from an online auction site, wine and an "I'll not get it for that but let's bid anyway"... ...and I did. Unseen purchase success. Yellow big boot CV8 with a full set of Monkfish pacs making allegedly north of 400hp, APs, short shift & road response.
I did keep for several years but a Merc M156 itch became too insistent to ignore
LAxxxxPP where are you now?
[quote=jet_noise]
I too went from an ATR to a Monaro. About as far apart as two cars can be albeit both are much fun in their own way. F/RWD high/low revving/ Japanese/Aussie light/heavy.
Cheers...ha glad to know that someone else did the same as me albeit a tad left of field...both make a nice noise however, in very different ways!
I too went from an ATR to a Monaro. About as far apart as two cars can be albeit both are much fun in their own way. F/RWD high/low revving/ Japanese/Aussie light/heavy.
Cheers...ha glad to know that someone else did the same as me albeit a tad left of field...both make a nice noise however, in very different ways!
Great stories here.
For me, reapeating what I said on another thread, I’m from Oz and my dad worked at Holden so they are in by blood. Always loved the older muscle cars, including the original Monaro’s and Toronas. Took me until my early 30s to buy a V8 (vy calais sedan family car) but that didn’t kill the car itch. Added a 1971 HG sedan inline 6... soothed the itch...but then we moved to the UK and both cars got parked up.
Saw the local prices here vs Oz, midlife 40 crisis was approaching and I justified to wifey this would be a good buy to bring home and enjoy (we own cars until they fall apart). After all, can not afford one back home and older muscle cars prices keep heading north too.
When I finally drove one it was better than expected, a ‘modern’ muscle car that gives a classic feel - simple, not intrusive and pure joy when opening the throttle!
For me, reapeating what I said on another thread, I’m from Oz and my dad worked at Holden so they are in by blood. Always loved the older muscle cars, including the original Monaro’s and Toronas. Took me until my early 30s to buy a V8 (vy calais sedan family car) but that didn’t kill the car itch. Added a 1971 HG sedan inline 6... soothed the itch...but then we moved to the UK and both cars got parked up.
Saw the local prices here vs Oz, midlife 40 crisis was approaching and I justified to wifey this would be a good buy to bring home and enjoy (we own cars until they fall apart). After all, can not afford one back home and older muscle cars prices keep heading north too.
When I finally drove one it was better than expected, a ‘modern’ muscle car that gives a classic feel - simple, not intrusive and pure joy when opening the throttle!
[quote=RipGMH]Great stories here.
For me, reapeating what I said on another thread, I’m from Oz and my dad worked at Holden so they are in by blood. Always loved the older muscle cars, including the original Monaro’s and Toronas. Took me until my early 30s to buy a V8 (vy calais sedan family car) but that didn’t kill the car itch. Added a 1971 HG sedan inline 6... soothed the itch...but then we moved to the UK and both cars got parked up.
Saw the local prices here vs Oz, midlife 40 crisis was approaching and I justified to wifey this would be a good buy to bring home and enjoy (we own cars until they fall apart). After all, can not afford one back home and older muscle cars prices keep heading north too.
When I finally drove one it was better than expected, a ‘modern’ muscle car that gives a classic feel - simple, not intrusive and pure joy when opening the throttle!
[/quote
What is the overall opinion of Australians regarding the last Monaros and VXR8's now that they are getting on a bit and the factory has closed down?
I'm aware they can get a new HSV Camaro, but that seems a right arse on having to convert it to right hand drive, not to mention the price.
A year or so ago GM were considering selling a new two door Buick in Australia and putting a Monaro badge on it....I often wonder where GM get these highly paid geniuses from.
For me, reapeating what I said on another thread, I’m from Oz and my dad worked at Holden so they are in by blood. Always loved the older muscle cars, including the original Monaro’s and Toronas. Took me until my early 30s to buy a V8 (vy calais sedan family car) but that didn’t kill the car itch. Added a 1971 HG sedan inline 6... soothed the itch...but then we moved to the UK and both cars got parked up.
Saw the local prices here vs Oz, midlife 40 crisis was approaching and I justified to wifey this would be a good buy to bring home and enjoy (we own cars until they fall apart). After all, can not afford one back home and older muscle cars prices keep heading north too.
When I finally drove one it was better than expected, a ‘modern’ muscle car that gives a classic feel - simple, not intrusive and pure joy when opening the throttle!
[/quote
What is the overall opinion of Australians regarding the last Monaros and VXR8's now that they are getting on a bit and the factory has closed down?
I'm aware they can get a new HSV Camaro, but that seems a right arse on having to convert it to right hand drive, not to mention the price.
A year or so ago GM were considering selling a new two door Buick in Australia and putting a Monaro badge on it....I often wonder where GM get these highly paid geniuses from.
Edited by mfp4073 on Friday 25th October 14:00
mfp4073 said:
selym said:
I wanted a V8 and couldn't justify a second car before. I'm glad I bought it.....very glad.
I was in the same boat, I really couldn't justify a second car at the time, oddly enough I really can't justify owning a second car now!!! let alone the fact it's a Monaro.Still I'm pretty much too old to care these days.
The car isn't going anywhere.
I have a much shorter story as to why ?
It was simply too good an opportunity to pass.
Let me explain.
Monaros had always been on my radar, ever since one appeared outside the local Vauxhall dealer, Top Gear just increased the want.
Some years passed and then 25 miles away a sub 7k Cv8 in silver appeared.
This close to home, this cheap, this has to be looked at.
My Cv8 had clearly been neglected by it's previous owner to an extent that if it had been an 'ordinary' car I'd have walked away, but once I'd turned the key in the ignition there was no going back.
Iffy clutch, missing paint, scruffy wheels, all that can be sorted.
That was 7 years and many mods ago and I'm never selling it !
It was simply too good an opportunity to pass.
Let me explain.
Monaros had always been on my radar, ever since one appeared outside the local Vauxhall dealer, Top Gear just increased the want.
Some years passed and then 25 miles away a sub 7k Cv8 in silver appeared.
This close to home, this cheap, this has to be looked at.
My Cv8 had clearly been neglected by it's previous owner to an extent that if it had been an 'ordinary' car I'd have walked away, but once I'd turned the key in the ignition there was no going back.
Iffy clutch, missing paint, scruffy wheels, all that can be sorted.
That was 7 years and many mods ago and I'm never selling it !
Hey dudes. First post, lurking since I bought this beast earlier this year.
I grew up in Canaduh, (eh?) and throughout my entire childhood, my dad drove a 71 Pontiac Lemans, made in Ontario with a Chevy 350 pushrod that actually put out decent power. This was the base car for the GTO Judge. My first car as a teen was a 1980 Chevy Malibu with a pathetic lump of a 267 V8, which could barely chirp one tire when you did a neutral drop, but at least never let me down.
Went through a Subaru phase, Colin McRae being an absolute legend. Had a few Bimmers which were nice, and a bunch of other crap commuting cars that I would buy with a year’s MOT and treat them like they were disposable. Back then, I was doing up to 30,000 miles a year or so.
Moved to the UK 14 years ago, climbed the career ladder, slid down the snakes, bought a house, got married, 2 kids (still little) and decided the perfect family car would be a Monaro!
But really though, my old man kicked the bucket and one day I found a Lemans for sale in Birmingham very similar to what he drove. I thought about it for too long and then it was gone. Started looking at other muscle cars, but most of them were either out of reach or needed too much work. Saw a Chrysler Charger for sale, had never heard of it, Australian beast like a Dukes of Adelaide alternate universe. Started thinking a rhd car would be the way to go and remembered some of the cool cars I saw when I went to Oz, oh yeah Monaro. They sold them in the states as a Pontiac GTO with a 350 Chev... found out they sold a few as Vauxhalls, saw one on an eBay auction and just bid it to the top. Picked it up, popped in ACDC Back in Black and drove it home, śhitting myself because it was February and a bit difficult to keep the back end from sliding out.
Anyway long story, but I have not enjoyed driving any car as much as this, in fact I haven’t really enjoyed driving since my 20’s.
I’ve never seen another one on the road here, seems like most of you are midlands and further north. I’m down in Dorset, but definitely someday I’ll be up for a meet. Probably not going to drive it much this winter though.
Sorry about the Photobucket watermark, they suck obviously.
I'd seen them on Top Gear but in 2006 I went to the car show at London Excell centre called Mph06
sat in a brand new Monaro (in red obviously) and saw the Monaro bullfight in the arena outside (google Monaro bullfight) and that was it I said to my wife "I'm getting one of them" she said "yeah in your dreams"
So it took 5 years but in 2011 after much searching for the right car bought my first Monaro unfortunately after only 6months in a tyre blow out and subsequent lamppost altercation ended our relationship, but undeterred I began another search and sourced a replacement and now 7 years on still love the car as much as when I dreamt of owning one in 2006.
They are a very special car.
sat in a brand new Monaro (in red obviously) and saw the Monaro bullfight in the arena outside (google Monaro bullfight) and that was it I said to my wife "I'm getting one of them" she said "yeah in your dreams"
So it took 5 years but in 2011 after much searching for the right car bought my first Monaro unfortunately after only 6months in a tyre blow out and subsequent lamppost altercation ended our relationship, but undeterred I began another search and sourced a replacement and now 7 years on still love the car as much as when I dreamt of owning one in 2006.
They are a very special car.
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