My VK LS Turbo build

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Hi all, thought I would start a build thread to keep me motivated.

Originally a VK Royal (similar to Calais) 4 cyl, only 135,000 km
Bought it as a roller (last owner was going to do a Brock rep) I have other plans !
Body/interior is mint, virtually no rust.

Have installed an LS1 and powerglide trans for mock up.
using Belair starter conversion and mounts, VN V6 crossmember and rack with VL intermediate steering shaft. V6 billet mounts, made my own trans crossmember using a nolathane type mount.

Have fitted a 9″ diff (20mm narrower) disc brake rear, boxed lower trailing arms, adjustable upper arms, peddars shocks and springs.

Engine will be a cast 403cu LS , forged internals (built for boost)

Turbo is a nice piece, IHI RX8 ex Cart car turbo,inverted magnesium compressor housing, titanium exhaust housing, inconol wheels, only weighs 7kgs, these things were $20k USD plus to buy back in the day.

Fitted the largest alloy radiator I could along with an FG Falcon single cooling fan.
Had to remove the lower radiator support and fab up a new one

Oh and also fitted a Holley Hi Ram inlet manifold

Have already had a 6 point cage installed and fitted race seats

Car has just gone to a Mates workshop to do the turbo fab work.
Ajay is doing the fabrication, does awesome work.<!– / message –>

 

• This topic was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by  Red1m8.
• This topic was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by  Red1m8.

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Progress – Ajay has done the manifolds for each bank.

 

Had the manifold faces surfaced before the crossover pipes are built.

Started on the intercooler, Ajay has built a custom intercooler out of two cores to get the size we were after, core is 450x450x100 with 4″ inlet and outlet.

A work of art , and should flow plenty

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by  Red1m8.

[Narva*2010Participant Narva*2010VC Commodore View build HERE Member since: March 5, 2015 Posts: 87]

Very nice mate. Keep the updates coming

[KroozerParticipant Forbes, NSW91 VN SS View build HERE Member since: February 19, 2015 Posts: 336]

Woah! That came out of no where, nice bit of kit mate 

[cava454Moderator 93 VR BT1 View build HERE Member since: February 20, 2015 Posts: 2 390]

That turbo is an Absoutle work of art. As is the rest of the build

How in the hell did you find that turbo.

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Bought it off a mate who had it in a VY ute. A friend of his who specialises in turbo rebuilds bought a bunch of them off e-bay along with a heap of spares.

Its a pretty special piece of kit, should get me to my goal of 1000hp plus

[HdtiinParticipant Vk group a replica-tubbed ls1 simmons View build HERE Member since: May 1, 2015 Posts: 8]

Tough ill be watching this mate im doing the same thing to mine ,ive got same manifold but ill be selling it off and going under bonnet

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Yea the Hi Ram is pretty fricken tall, but looks so tuff and works well on boosted combos.

gonna take a big reverse cowl to cover though.

[cava454Moderator 93 VR BT1 View build HERE Member since: February 20, 2015 Posts: 2 390]

Not the biggest fan of those manifold either. Much rather a FAST or a VIC JnR.

 

However u can buy a boss Water to air cooler for them.

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Seen a few Fast manifolds split under boost, great for N/A though.

the victor juniors with an elbow don’t flow as well as the Hi Ram but are easier to package.

[cava454Moderator 93 VR BT1 View build HERE Member since: February 20, 2015 Posts: 2 390]

Red1m8 wrote:

Seen a few Fastmanifolds split under boost, great for N/A though. the victor juniors with an elbow don’t flow as well as the Hi Ram but are easier to package.

 

Will still flow 1000+ HP and have better cyclinder air distribution then the hi ram

[MichaelParticipant VY Calais 383ci GT42 turbo. View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 208]

Hopefully ram around 18psi into my fast manifold today. Will let you know if it splits lol.

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Michael wrote:

Hopefully ram around 18psi into my fast manifold today. Will let you know if it splits lol.

A mates lasted quite a while at 14psi , but ended up splitting a runner.

had it plastic welded and appears to be holding up okay.

18 psi is gonna wake that sucker up

 

• This reply was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by  Red1m8.

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Intercooler mounted

Cross over pipe done, V banded and flexi on drivers side.

Cobra head elbow for air filter in inner guard.

60mm Turbosmat pro gate plumbed into 4″ downpipe.

This section has been made to easily be removed for plug access etc

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by  Red1m8.

[daveParticipant daveVK, L98, tremec tko600 View build HERE Member since: March 6, 2015 Posts: 46]

That looks bloody nice. You said you used a V6 K frame. What engine mounts did you use? Is that a better option than a V8 K frame?

[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]

Man I go away for a while and look at what pops up. Great work mate, look Fwd to following this 

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

dave wrote:

That looks bloody nice. You said you used a V6 K frame. What engine mounts did you use? Is that a better option than a V8 K frame?

I used the “Bel Air” engine mount and starter relocation kit which was designed around the V6 K frame and power steering, it uses V6 mounts which would be fine for an NA build, but I upgraded to V6 billet mounts for added strength.

I believe the V6  power steering rack is not as bulky as the VK/VL rack giving more clearance for headers (not that I’ve got any pipes going down that side)

Also the starter bolts on, no sandwich plate required.

 

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by  Red1m8.

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Coated the manifolds and crossover with VHT Flameproof paint, baking it on in the BBQ then will apply titanium heat wrap.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by  Red1m8.

[MichaelParticipant VY Calais 383ci GT42 turbo. View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 208]

Needs wastegate dumping to atmosphere!

[Red1m8Participant NZTurbo VX LSx Turbo VK in the build View build HERE Member since: April 10, 2015 Posts: 101]

Michael wrote:

Needs wastegate dumping to atmosphere!

Haha yes,

but this car will be street legal here in NZ, and will need to have wastegate plumbed back to get certed.

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