VL Berlina Wagon – Factory 5.0

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Thanks very much all, fitted a relay today as described, problem solved!!  Actually its hard to tell from the pic but the original solenoid wire was pretty light gauge from new.  Prob OK when the car was brand new but 30 years on, with the heat etc, nope.  Went quite a bit heavier gauge, went for a long drive and its 35 degrees here.  Started again no probs.   Will try and post up a video later on at some stage.  Thanks again everyone.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Not the greatest video ever…

 

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by  VRSenator065.

[sands vsParticipant vs commodore View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 619]

Runs  very well and its a quiet engine.  Done well.

 

Still going to have a crack at the carb?

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Yep, actually, have already picked up a carby kit.  At some stage in between racing go-karts, rebuilding Senators, working on VL’s and getting rentals ready for new tenants I will have a go

[ImmortalityParticipant 97 HSV Senator 185i 02 VX L67 Calais View build HERE Member since: August 31, 2015 Posts: 535]

VRSenator065 wrote:

Thanks very much all, fitted a relay today as described, problem solved!! Actually its hard to tell from the pic but the original solenoid wire was pretty light gauge from new. Prob OK when the car was brand new but 30 years on, with the heat etc, nope. Went quite a bit heavier gauge, went for a long drive and its 35 degrees here. Started again no probs. Will try and post up a video later on at some stage. Thanks again everyone.   

That wire has certainly seen better days…

 

Good to hear it’s sorted

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

For sure, and can vouch for the fact it gets very bloody hot down around the starter after a decent drive.

[VS 5.0Participant Perth WAVE SSV Z Series M6 View build HERE Member since: March 31, 2015 Posts: 118]

VRSenator065 wrote:

Not the greatest video ever…

<iframe src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/hIU61kpgf5s?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=””></iframe>

Gotta love a 5 litre.

That motor sounds very good. How many kms on it ?

[ImmortalityParticipant 97 HSV Senator 185i 02 VX L67 Calais View build HERE Member since: August 31, 2015 Posts: 535]

VRSenator065 wrote:

For sure, and can vouch for the fact it gets very bloody hot down around the starter after a decent drive.

A fibre glass sleeve works well to reduce heat.  I double insulated my starter motor cables on my last early girl Commodore.

[sands vsParticipant vs commodore View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 619]

Could also be running hotter if the mixtures and timing are off.   Not sure if you have looked into either.

 

With our vh v8 we ran a low temp thermostat as well.

 

But they do generate a fair bit of heat.

 

 

 

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Its done 300,000 according to the speedo, and it looks pretty honest, so I am thinking that is most likely accurate.  At first, I thought shit that’s high, but then when you realize its over 30 years old, its only 10,000 a year.  And it just purrs, it’s certainly not the fastest car I have driven, but it’s very nice to drive.

But you can see why they went injected.  I think it is just choked down my emissions.

I didn’t think about a fiberglass sleeve, it’s inside the steel tube, but that probably would have been a good idea.  Will keep an eye on it and see how it goes.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by  VRSenator065.

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

Maybe look at the LS1 Starter Shield, I have a spare here you can have, couldn’t fault the engine when I had it here it runs like a bought one!

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe look at the LS1 Starter Shield, I have a spare here you can have, couldn’t fault the engine when I had it here it runs like a bought one!

That’s very kind of you IJ, happy to pick up the cost of postage just let me know.

It runs even smoother now since I changed the plugs and leads.  Next is an oil/filter change.  I also bought a new timing light (ahh the memories) as I thought it would come in handy with the MG and Kombi.

I had a quick look, looks like it may be a little advanced, but I got caught years ago with a harmonic balancer that had rotated slightly and the tdc mark was off, so I thought I might check tdc first before I adjust it.  Not sure how easy/hard getting to the distributor bolt is on a 5L VL, time will tell I guess.

 

[ImmortalityParticipant 97 HSV Senator 185i 02 VX L67 Calais View build HERE Member since: August 31, 2015 Posts: 535]

A little extra advance is good, just use decent fuel. Retarded timing is much worse.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Immortality wrote:

A little extra advance is good, just use decent fuel. Retarded timing is much worse.

Yep thought the same, it’s running so nicely I am reluctant to mess with it too much. I don’t want to kill it with kindness.

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

Buy a distributor wrench, it makes life so much easier..

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Given this is a tow car thread…

In the kart trailer, I have just set up a 15L air tank and plumbed an air regulator outlet with a moisture trap for tyre duties.  And I use a 12V compressor to keep it topped up, also am fitting a small 12 V panel with USB port, cigarette lighter port, and a voltage read out, to keep phones, etc charged.

I fitted a battery box and 12V car battery.  Given the trailer sits in the open and is only used every week or two I had in mind mounting a solar panel trickle charger to the roof, that way the battery should always be nicely charged.  I was thinking of a system like this, any thoughts?

 

 

 

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by  VRSenator065.

[sands vsParticipant vs commodore View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 619]

Anonymous wrote:

Buy a distributor wrench, it makes life so much easier..

seems to be the go

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/toledo-toledo-offset-distributor-clamp-wrench/SPO81666.html

 

“5 out of 5 stars.”>★★★★★

 

I have battled for years without this tool, works perfectly on Holden 253/308 distributor hold down bolt

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by  sands vs.

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

I’ve found mine is useful on other things as well 

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Anonymous wrote:

Buy a distributor wrench, it makes life so much easier..

Thanks for the tip, when I did the distributor cap it’s certainly a large diameter, I imagine getting to the bolt would be difficult at best. Will get one, cheers.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Nice to be using the old girl for what I got it for.  My in-laws have sold their farm so I needed to bring the Nash home.

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