[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

cava454 wrote:

nice work. Dont you have a gear drive on your box?

No, the box didn’t come with it. Looked into getting it setup for a cable drive but put it in the too hard basket a year or two ago and just went with a cheap GPS speedo. I’ve heard of some LS conversions running rough when coming to a stop and engines sometimes stalling with no speed sensor feeding into the ECU, but mine has run fine without any stalling issues.

Have noticed that it cuts out a bit going round a corner when the fuel is under a quarter tank so fuel sloshing around is staying away from the pump, there’s definitely the plastic bucket still in the tank, just need to keep plenty of fuel in it and its all good.

Dropped the pan yesterday to swap the trans filter to a brass mesh style one. Prick of a job to do in the garage on stands haha. The shop who did the dash and trans temp sensor didn’t put a connector on the sensor, it’s just hard wired all the way up to the dash so I couldn’t unplug it to take the pan off. Undoing the sensor from the pan just twists the wires and there isnt enough play to get it all the way out. Ended up dropping the pan with the sensor connected and balancing the pan on top of a small bucket. Put it all back together and it’s running properly as it was before.

There’s a knock coming from the front left suspension. Will probably get a shop to go over it and make sure nothing has worked its way loose, which is a possibility with my top notch automotive skills.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Dash is installed. Fits pretty good considering its just on the steering column. The GPS is a bit shitty, the speed jumps around a little, last drive it took a few minutes before it registered the speed. Might just be where the antenna is located. The workshop replaced the trans filter with the wrong type, they used a standard Ryco one which according to Paul Rogers who built the trans, restricts the fluid as its a paper style filter, so I have to get a wire mesh style filter and swap it out.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

<p>

Red1m8 wrote:

Yeah, not sure why the Mako VK dash insert is twice the price of most of their other dashes

</p><p>Yep, considering its really only the thin strip on the left hand side that makes it bigger than the VL dash. I’ll probably end up getting one down the track, I dont think there’s an alternative that looks as neat. For now I’ll mount the IC7 on the column in front of the standard dash.</p>

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Dash has arrived. Nice bit of kit. Car is booked in next week to get it installed.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

So instead of new wheels I’ve ordered a Haltech IC7 dash and GPS sensor. Gonna get a trans temp sensor and get it wired up next month. Wanted to get one of the Mako plastic printed dash setups but its like $600 for the VK version. Probably just stick with a basic mount in front of the stock cluster for now. Still gonna keep the monster taco cause it’s heaps wicked sick and gives me bulk street cred

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Not much happening of late with all the lockdown shenanigans. Went up to my local tyre shop a few weeks back and got some cheap second hand tyres on the 15×6 chasers  I had sitting in my garage. Got some 185 fronts and some little 205 50 15s on the rear. Steering is soooooo much easier with the skinny fronts. Rear has basically no grip at all, the tyres are tiny as, old and rock hard, anything over a quarter throttle and it spins in any gear. Feels like driving with 1000hp haha. I’m about 95% sure I’ll be getting new wheels, 17 fronts and 15 rear, looking at the Pro Drag copies from Purnell Tyres in QLD. Decent price and should be able to get some grippy rears. Lots of things on my wish list, but lockdown has my missus coming up with home reno ideas so thats where my cash is going. Should get me plenty of brownie points to get the wheels hopefully haha.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Nice work Cava, gonna be a handfull even with that power.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Many people have done LS conversions into secon gen Commodores. There’s a few threads on here, have a look through the members rides and you’ll find all the info you need.

You can also throw some questions up on this thread if you arent tech savy.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Cheers fellas.

Bought a new bonnet cable cause mine is buggered, need someone to push down on the front of the bonnet when I pull the handle to get it to open. Was thinking about a set of bonnet pins but dont was to go full racecar haha.

Also need to pull my finger out and paint the SL door moulds and front grill and whack them on.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Didnt end up going on that cruise, but here’s a couple of pics from a recent trip into Newcastle with the family:

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Not much to report lately. Planning on going to Powercruise Sydney in a few months time, first event for me where I’ve entered a car. The VK is running well at the moment. Going to driop it off at the tuners for a once over in the next few weeks. Also looking into getting a Haltech iC-7 dash. I need to get some gauges to keep an eye on trans temp, oil pressure etc. and I think it’s gonna cost me a fair bit to get Autometer ones all wired up (around $500 at least just for the gauges, then sensors, getting them wired up etc.), so may as well spend a little more and get the iC-7 as it’ll be able to display most stuff I need from the ECU via OBD, and you can wire in up to 4 analogue inputs directly to the dash itself, so I can tap into the existing oil pressure sensor, and just get a trans temp sensor installed.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Hi Dave, the VN tank fits straight in, just need to cut about 50mm off the bottom of the filler neck so the top fits in properly. To fit the Walbro in the factory hanger I just had to cut the bottom round bracket off the hanger cause the head of the Walbro pump is bigger than the factory VN one, then used a hose clamp to attach the new pump. The whole lot sits in the standard swirl pot inside the tank.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Swapped out the lower control arm and got a wheel alignment done. It had a little too much camber so rotated the strut tops and it’s as close as it can be without changing to adjustable strut tops. Also finally got the steering wheel straight, that’s been shitting me for ages haha

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

dave wrote:

Hi, what style of fuel pump are you planning on running. I have a VK with LS L98 engine and using an external bosch 044. Have the reg up on the fuel rail so running return from engine back to tank. It works fine but it is quite noisy especially after driving for a bit as the fuel starts to heat up. Was thinking of some other options. Keen to hear what other people with early commodores are doing.

Check out my thread Dave, I went with a Walbro 460 in the factory hanger inside a VN 5L tank. Reg is mounted above the diff, single -6 line to the rail, same as the factory LS dead head style system. Only hear it when I turn the key and let the system prime before I start it.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Went out for a quick drive the other weekend, just locally cause I hadnt driven it in a little bit and felt like a few laps. Was driving down the road a block from my house, heard and felt a clunk from the front left and the steering wheel went funky. Was only doing about 40 at the time, luckily. Pulled over and the front wheels were cross-eyed. Drove it back home and whacked it back in the garage, didnt get a look at it cause it was Sunday evening.

Anyhow, I got it up on stands yesterday and the passenger side ball joint has popped out of the lower control arm. From memory, it wasnt held in really tight when I put the front end together, so it the arm itself is probably a little flogged out, so I’ll be getting a new one. Will do the drivers side as well, cause it’d be my luck it will happen again. Luckily it happend locally and not on the freeway.

Also noticed some marks on the passenger brake disc. The wheel bearing has some play in it so I think it has rubbed on the disc, so I’ll get it skimmed at the local brake shop. Will also get the bearing looked at, I might not of tightened the nut enough, hopefully it isnt stuffed.

I’m thinking about changing wheels as well. Looking at some 17×4 chaser front runners and 15×8 rears, I like the tough pro-street look, but dont have a spare $5k for a set of Welds.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

SLE355 wrote:

Needs more cruise pics…

Got another one coming up in a few weeks, I’ll try to get more then, plus some driving videos.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Not much has happened lately. Went on a cruise from the central coast down to Harry’s at the cross a few weeks ago. About 15 other cars came along, was a great night out, first propper cruise in the VK. Ended up going from Harry’s out to Auburn Maccas and hanging in the car park like the old days haha.

It’s due for a service so will be changing the engine and diff oil soon. Going to start getting it ready for engineering, will be ordering one of the gear indicators from Build Ninja in a month or so, plus get a pair of cats, and connect the charcoal cannister before i get the first once over to see what else it needs.

Got a set of plates for it as well:

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

The best thing about painting your own car at home in white is that its so bright in the sun you cant see any imperfections haha

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Yep I reckon epoxy. Can get kits from Bunnings or SuperCheap. Do a combo if you like the tiles, have them where the man cave area is.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I like the epoxy coating that has a bit of a marble effect, can get it in different colours. Not sure what the grip level is though. Can go for something nice if it isnt going to be a workshop and more of a display/storage area.

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