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MSN ravenvtsuper6@hotmail.com
or
email robvic@dodo.com.au

PAGE 1 Overall Build-up photo diary
PAGE 2 New Engine Build-up
PAGE 3 Pics of VY Crewman ute
PAGE 4 Various pics of VT

I bought this car new in 1998 and up until November 2003 it has remained completely standard and travelled only 43,000 km, so as you can see I dont drive 'My Baby' all that much. I considered trading in on a new VY SS 'Crewman' ute. But was offered such a pathetic trade in amount, considering the car was in immaculate condition with such low km's. Anyway I traded another vehicle on an S 'Crewman' instead and kept the VT. Now I plan to have some fun with it and have it as my 'Toy'. Come back soon and check my progress over the next few months.

November 2003. First thing changed was to put on new rims and tyres. Dunlop SP Sport 9000 235/45ZR tyres were added to Speedy 17"x8" chrome 'Sphere' rims. The orange side indicators will be the next thing changed along with the rear tail lights with 'Monaro' style Altezza chrome lights and a VX rear boot panel. Yeah I know!.....I hate the mudflaps too, but I drive on country roads. I might get brave and take them off eventually.

5 March 2004. Well the first cosmetic changes have begun. The side indicator lenses have been replaced from the Series 1 orange to the Series 2 clear. I think they compliment the chrome rims much better now. Below are a few before and after pics to show the difference. Next item to be changed will be the tail lights and boot garnish.

6 MARCH 2004. Picked up new headers and exhaust. Pacemaker headers with 1 5/8" primaries with 2 1/4" outlet. Twin 2 1/4" Cat's. 2 1/4" Redback system with single 3" rear outlet. Probably won't get a chance to fit this up for about 2 weeks....so stay tuned.

9 MARCH 2004. The new clear chrome tail lights fitted and VX boot garnish fitted. I don't think at this stage I will put any badges across the rear....prefer the minimal look. Might put the VX chrome 'S' badge later.

13 MARCH 2004. Installed Autometer Boost/Vacuum gauge.

16 MARCH 2004. Decided to install exhaust system myself. Couldn't wait any longer! Redback system fitted up no problems. Fabricated custom front pipes with twin 2 1/4 catalytic converters. Pacemaker headers are not easy to install on the drivers side but are very easy on the passenger side. Engine seems to respond better to throttle changes now and the boost seems to come on earlier also.

18 MARCH 2004. Put the car on dyno at MC PERFORMANCE at Moonta and recorded 191.6 rwHP or 142.9 rwKW after installing new headers and exhaust. Dont have an official reading from before but was probably around 168-170 rwHP. So not a bad gain so far. Next step will be Yella Terra Stealth 1.8:1 roller rockers and then the 11.5 psi pulley upgrade.

19 MARCH 2004. New 3.25" pulley arrived in post. Also the puller tool, larger idler pulley and set of cooler plugs. So after about 40 mins the old pulley was off and the new smaller pulley was on. NGK Iridium TR6IX plugs fitted also. Starting to get some serious HP now but it isnt quite as snappy as I hoped and seems to be a little sluggish down low now but probably needs serious remapping. That is booked in for next week so will have new dyno figures also. Redline performance panel air filter fitted today also. Roller rockers will also be installed next week before the remapping.

24 MARCH 2004. Replaced standard rockers for Yella Terra Stealth 1.8:1 Roller Rockers. Fairly easy to do and took about 3 hours from start to finish. Has definately woken up the engine now. Must dyno again soon and get some remapping organised.

26 MARCH 2004. Re-dynoed again after the addition of new pulley and roller rockers and recorded a much improved 164.3 rwKW or 220.1 rwHP. Mixtures are only slightly lean but that will be attended to in shortly when I instal a new 'piggy back' computer.

12 MAY 2004. Finally got to test things out at the Drag Strip after several cancelations due to bad weather. Best 1/4 mile run is 14.346 @ 95.12 MPH. Was aiming for 14.5 ET so to run under that is a bonus.

15 JUNE 2004. Modification to Cold Air Intake snorkel. Opened up the original front opening plus cutting out of the underside of the snorkel to expose that area to the positive air pressure in front of the radiator. This simple mod increases the opening by almost 50%.

BEFORE

AFTER

INSTALLED

30 JUNE 2004. Back to MC Performance and installed new TSI 'piggy back' ECU and Custom dyno tune edit. New power figure is now 245 rwHP or 182.9 rwkW.

9 JULY 2004. Added two extra cold air ducts to help with restriction found with factory CAI when last dynoed.

12 JULY 2004. Removed the factory VT 'Supercharged V6' badges and replaced with VY 'Supercharged' badges under the side indicator lenses. Also added one to the lower rear garnish on the boot.

26 JULY 2004. Ordered new Kaaz LSD diff centre and 3.73 gears. Install next week.

6 AUGUST 2004. Fitted Kaaz LSD Diff centre and changed gear ratio to 3.73. Still going through the initial break-in period for the new LSD clutches which means it can't be 'stressed' too much just yet. Feels good so far. Fitted by MC PERFORMANCE.

POLL.I am seriously considering changing to these style of rims next year and also to 18" or even 19". Whats your opinion, Keep the 'Sphere' fitted now or change to the five spoke 'BSA 291'?

9 AUGUST 2004. Superpro Camber/Toe kit fitted to IRS. Should help allow more tyre contact the road therefore giving more grip and also stop the inner edge of the rear tyres wearing out so quickly.

9 AUGUST 2004. Speedo recalibrated at local GMH dealer.

DIFF UPDATE :The launch is so much better now with the 3.73 diff gears. It really launches hard and revs more consistently right through the rev range without 'bogging down' like it used to with the old 3.07 diff. Plus the grip potential has increased heaps due to mainly the LSD and also the camber kit. However the engine now hits the revlimiter during 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gear changes because of the diff ratio change.

18 AUGUST 2004. Back to MC Performance for some tweaking to the TSI. Now have 2 different fuel/ignition maps that can be used for street or drags with timing and fuel to suit. Fuel octane is an ongoing problem with intake temps too high from the extra boost the blower is making causing some detonation problems. Octane boost helps out considerably. Also was able to raise the revlimiter through the TSI to avoid the trans shift points hitting the revlimiter due to the 3.73 diff gears. Fitted a set of Top Gun 8.8mm spark leads. Auto trans Stage 2 shift kit to be fitted next week.

28 AUGUST 2004. Removed rear resonator in exhaust system and fabricated a complete new straight through pipe to the tip. Exhaust is substantially louder both inside and out, but definately sounds alot meaner. Doesn't seem to drone too badly if the engine revs are kept above 2000 rpm and under 3000rpm on the highway.

30 AUGUST 2004. Fitted a CAPA water injection kit. Not too hard to fit but does need to have the front bar removed to gain access to the washer bottle that is used for the reservoir for the water/methanol supply. A seperate pump is strapped underneath the washer bottle and this is turned on by an adjustable pressure switch through a relay. The pump delivers 120ml/minute of water/methanol via a line to a nozzle mounted in the inlet duct between the MAF and throttle body. I also wired up a 3mm LED into the dash near the boost gauge, both to assist in setting the required pressure to turn on and also to know when water is being injected whilst driving.

3 SEPTEMBER 2004. Transgo stage 2 shift kit fitted by MC Performance. This is a BIG improvement with the 1st to 2nd gear change shifting very firm now and will chirp the tyres now at WOT. 2nd to 3rd is also much crisper. Fitting this shift kit has allowed the fueller map to be taken out of the TSI (which was causing some detonation problems) and revert back to the normal fuel and ignition maps in the TSI. Because the trans is so tight and firm now it isn't hitting the revlimiter now and the whole car feels incredible strong.

5 SEPTEMBER 2004. Back to the drags for a new time and scored a much improved ET of 13.67 @ 99.08mph. Still set the TSI a little conservative with regard to ignition timing so may have potential to even get a 13.5. Water injection has helped the detonation problem considerably.

27 SEPTEMBER 2004. Installed a modular pulley system made by Thrasher from the US. Purchased a modular hub and 3 interchangeable pullies of sizes 3.25", 3.0" & 2.76". I did fit the 3.0" (14psi) pulley but was unable to sucessfully use it due to too much detonation, which I really expected anyway. The 3.0" pulley will be used after the engine rebuild with larger cam and the 2.76" pulley will be used once the intercooler is installed early in 2005.

2 OCTOBER 2004. Another small modification to the airbox. Cut a larger hole into the front of the box directly behind the LH headlight. Has helped with restriction and seems to be helping with higher mph down the 1/4 mile.

3 OCTOBER 2004. Running again at AIR. Wasn't able to improve on my previous PB, but did run another 13.6. Was a warmer day so perhaps contributed to slightly slower times? All other times were 13.8's & 13.7's. I was able to run higher mph than previous meetings and even ran over 100 mph (100.78) on one 13.8 ET.

13 OCTOBER 2004. Ran at AIR on the Wed night meeting. New PB of 13.404 @ 101.47mph. Consistently ran 13.5's and 13.6's all night.

5 NOVEMBER 2004.This brings me to the end of my 'Bolt On' stage of modifications. Apart from maybe a larger throttle body there is really not a lot more that I can squeeze out of this level of mods. Next stage is internal engine work and as of today that has begun with an extensive list of internal parts being ordered. Originally I planned to rebuild my current L67 engine but rather than have the car off the road for an extended period I have now decided to build up a complete different new engine to bolt in place and therefore keep the current engine as a spare. Only the M90 blower with inlet manifold and other general running accesories will be transfered onto the new engine from the old. Rebuild will be done by Martin at MC Performance.

12 NOVEMBER 2004.Recognise the picture below? Well I made a very small appearance in Street Commodores magazine, Issue 92, on page 10.

Here is a photo manipulation with chrome BSA 291's added. Let me know what you think....I reckon it has got potential. See poll above.

9 DECEMBER 2004.Finally its lowered! I installed King springs Superlows with the rears being the heavy duty version. This has taken the car down approx another inch from the factory FE2. It sits just nice now without being too low. Shorter stroke KYB gas struts and shocks also fitted. Check out the comparison picture to show the stages of lowering if you are planning the same...it might help!!

8 February 2005.Custom plates SUPERV6 fitted.

25 February 2005.New Mickey Thompson ET Street radials fitted to 15x7 chaser rims. Hopefully these help with traction, not so much now but later when the new engine is fitted they should help out.

5 March 2005.Headed back to A.I.R. to try out the new MT drag radials. Was able to run a new PB time of 13.299 @ 101.44 mph with a 60' of 1.834. Ran a lot of 13.4's all night and most 60' were 1.8's. So the MT drag radials have picked me up approx 2 tenths over my previous best runs.

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR VIDEOS

Exhaust note with rolling start
NEW PB 13.404@101.47 A.I.R 13-10-2004
2 SMALL BURNOUTS 1
0-100km/h with 3.73 gears. Now 6.2 sec
NIGHT AT THE DRAGS
DYNO POWER RUN
A.I.R 13.675 @ 99.08

COMPLETED AND INSTALLED

Side indicators and Tail light replacement
Boost gauge
Pacemaker headers 1 5/8" primaries into 2 1/4" outlet
2 1/4" Hi-flow Cat's
Redback 2 1/4" Twin performance exhaust into single 3" outlet
3.25"/11.5psi Pulley boost upgrade (replaced now)
Redline performance Air filter
NGK Iridium TR6IX Plugs
Yella Terra Stealth Hi-Lift roller rockers
Factory CAI modified
Install TSI ECU & Custom dyno tune
Added VY Supercharged badges
Installed Kaaz LSD Diff centre and changed ratio to 3.73
SuperPro IRS Camber/Toe kit fitted
Speedo recalibration to suit 3.73 gears
Top Gun 8.8mm spark leads
Water/Methanol injection
Transgo stage 2 shift kit
Thrasher modular pulley system (3.25", 3.0" & 2.76")
King Springs Superlows
KYB Gas struts and shocks

SHORT TERM (NEXT FEW MONTHS)

Complete EXTENSIVE engine build-up

LONG TERM (6 MONTHS +)

Install larger throttle body
Air to Air Intercooler (FIT)
Change rim style