Final Commodore LS3 304kw 570nm

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Why do you care so much where a car comes from. Just about every country makes great cars...enjoy them all for their differences.

I think VE's have dated really badly, but the VF looks great in high spec. Colour range craps on Fords as well.

Its principle of the thing.... principality.
Gm and ford make practically the same cars similar history.
Yet one brand gets hated... weird.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Its principle of the thing.... principality.
Gm and ford make practically the same cars similar history.
Yet one brand gets hated... weird.

But it is a Ford site, and the fact that a standard GMH product now has 15 pages of data here is enough to prove the hate isn't that great.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Express

Well I finally picked it up a couple of days ago and I’m a bit on the fence about the colour but it does pop nicely when it’s in the sun.

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Getting ready for the first mod.

The headers have copped a titanium coating.

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Saw a vf maloo in the same colour today, stunning ute and in the sun, a stunning colour.

[Sioso]

Some people make me laugh, as the ad says "It is priced to sell quickly"

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-3850708/?Cr=9

[mtbkym01]

Originally Posted by Sioso

Some people make me laugh, as the ad says "It is priced to sell quickly"

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-3850708/?Cr=9

Wah?

[Rodp]

What's the deal with that Commo? What's stopping me from buying two and a half redlines with 900km less on the clock for the price he's asking?!

[SensationFG8]

He's probably selling the plates for 149,999....

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by duaned

330RWKW? What has he done to it short of a blower?

Originally Posted by mick74GT

That figure is easy enough to achieve with a decent cam in a manual. I had an E1 Clubby (with the ls2) and made 315 rwks but the ls2 heads don't flow anywhere near as well as the heads on the L98/L76 (the 6L used in the SS)

Yes it's a cammed manual. As far as I'm aware just basic mods and the cam. Not sure if they tickled anything else in the engine. Definitely not blown though.

Originally Posted by Sioso

Some people make me laugh, as the ad says "It is priced to sell quickly"

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-3850708/?Cr=9

I don't know whether that is a typo or they think it is worth that much with the plates. I like the colour though

[Express]

Well the rims arrived for the Ute a few weeks back and I finally got around to fitting them over Easter.

It’s not quite as low as the black VF I used as inspiration (post 398) as the OEM rims and tyres were fitted when the initial dial in for the coilovers was done, so I’ll drive it around for a week or two and then I’ll consider dropping it another 15mm in the front and another 30mm in the rear to get the guards down on the tyres. That’ll give it the same ride height spec as the black VF sedan.

This is what I started with.




And this is where I’m up to so far.

It still needs to be buffed and detailed and I’ll do that after the exhaust and tune is in place.

Four x 4 inch exhaust tips sticking out of the bum will also give it a much better look.

[Big_Daz]

Looks bloody good with the new rims... Looks like you specced the Forged 20 inch rim upgrade when you bought it... Seems like a waste if you where going to upgrade them anyway...

That's the spec I would have gone but in sedan.. Some like it red hot, SSV Redline with the 20's.... Im now holding out for next year to see what/if any limited editions they bring out...

[mick74GT]

That looks great! Even the ride height looks ok. Have you thought about just lowering the back to level it out?

[Express]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

Looks bloody good with the new rims... Looks like you specced the Forged 20 inch rim upgrade when you bought it... Seems like a waste if you where going to upgrade them anyway...

That's the spec I would have gone but in sedan.. Some like it red hot, SSV Redline with the 20's.... Im now holding out for next year to see what/if any limited editions they bring out...

I optioned the 20 inch upgrade for a reason.

If the Ute is a keeper and my family eventually sell it, having mint condition OEM 20’s should help with its value.

I always polish, seal and cling wrap all my OEM rims then carefully stack them in the shed. I’ve got a little collection going.

[Express]

Originally Posted by mick74GT

That looks great! Even the ride height looks ok. Have you thought about just lowering the back to level it out?

The centre of the hubs to the guard lips front and rear are exactly the same dimension at the moment.

It’s the side skirts that give it the raked look which by the way I happen to like, it’s the old school in me.

If I lower the front by 15mm and the rear by 25mm the bottom of the side skirts will be flat.

And yes I'll think about whether I lower it any more as I don't mind the current look.

[Fab]

Originally Posted by Express

Well the rims arrived for the Ute a few weeks back and I finally got around to fitting them over Easter.

It’s not quite as low as the black VF I used as inspiration (post 398) as the OEM rims and tyres were fitted when the initial dial in for the coilovers was done, so I’ll drive it around for a week or two and then I’ll consider dropping it another 15mm in the front and another 30mm in the rear to get the guards down on the tyres. That’ll give it the same ride height spec as the black VF sedan.

This is what I started with.

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And this is where I’m up to so far.

It still needs to be buffed and detailed and I’ll do that after the exhaust and tune is in place.

Four x 4 inch exhaust tips sticking out of the bum will also give it a much better look.

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Great choice of rims.
Suits the car perfectly.

[FPV8U]

Agreed, I quite like the VF SSV and that's an exceptional wheel choice.

[nstg8a]

Car porn right there.

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by Express

Well the rims arrived for the Ute a few weeks back and I finally got around to fitting them over Easter.

It’s not quite as low as the black VF I used as inspiration (post 398) as the OEM rims and tyres were fitted when the initial dial in for the coilovers was done, so I’ll drive it around for a week or two and then I’ll consider dropping it another 15mm in the front and another 30mm in the rear to get the guards down on the tyres. That’ll give it the same ride height spec as the black VF sedan.

This is what I started with.

image


And this is where I’m up to so far.

It still needs to be buffed and detailed and I’ll do that after the exhaust and tune is in place.

Four x 4 inch exhaust tips sticking out of the bum will also give it a much better look.

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Just WOW

[XtRmn8]

Epic!

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by Express

I optioned the 20 inch upgrade for a reason.

If the Ute is a keeper and my family eventually sell it, having mint condition OEM 20’s should help with its value.

I always polish, seal and cling wrap all my OEM rims then carefully stack them in the shed. I’ve got a little collection going.

Yeah cool, wasn't meant as a dig, just wondered it all.. Makes perfect sense.

I realty don't like the standard design 19's they come with... I dunno, just something about them that turns me off...

[Express]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

Yeah cool, wasn't meant as a dig, just wondered it all.. Makes perfect sense.

I realty don't like the standard design 19's they come with... I dunno, just something about them that turns me off...

I didn’t take it as a dig, you’re not the first person to ask me why I spent extra money on an option with the intention of removing it once the car was delivered.

The stripes on the car were also only ordered so they’d be on the option list and I thought if I didn’t like the look I’d remove them. As it is I’m happy with them except for the ones that were on the left and right corners of the front bar which I removed as I thought they interfered with the smooth lines of the bar.

I've also removed the Holden badge from the tailgate.

And I’ve purchased additional sets of genuine Holden stripes, badges and floor mats to be stored for the future if need be.

The car may never be worth anything but if it is I’ll have brand new bits and pieces in the original Holden boxes that can be used to tidy it up in 30 years’ time.

I have a habit of collecting a few parts for my cars while they are new and in particular genuine accessories and storing them a way, I’m sure others do the same.

[Brian_H]

Express wrote:
"I always polish, seal and cling wrap all my OEM rims then carefully stack them in the shed. I’ve got a little collection going".

Express, what do you mean about "sealing" the rims. Polishing and cling wrap (clever!) I can understand but what's exactly involved in the sealing process for you? I will be storing my black Sprint rims so would be great to know. I was planning on just sticking them in some boxes but your process sounds a lot better.

[Express]

Originally Posted by Brian_H

Express wrote:
"I always polish, seal and cling wrap all my OEM rims then carefully stack them in the shed. I’ve got a little collection going".

Express, what do you mean about "sealing" the rims. Polishing and cling wrap (clever!) I can understand but what's exactly involved in the sealing process for you? I will be storing my black Sprint rims so would be great to know. I was planning on just sticking them in some boxes but your process sounds a lot better.

The OEM rims and tyres had travelled about 500km before I removed them so I started by washing them down, drying them then applying 303 Aerospace Protectant to the tyres.

The rims were clayed to remove any tar or blemishes followed by a light polish to shine them up.

I then applied 2 coats of Nanolex Paint Sealant.

Once they had been prepped I then use bubble wrap and the cardboard surrounds that came with the new rims to protect the face and back of the rims then wrapped them a million times with cling wrap.

I used to use shrink wrap from the warehouses where I worked before I retired but these days the cling wrap does the job and I buy it at the supermarket in 300 metre rolls.

I then stack them in the shed on their side so as to not to flat spot the tyres as they can sit there for many many years.

I also have a procedure for fitting new rims.

The new rims and nuts I put on this car were cleaned down with quick detailer then had 4 coats of Opti-Seal applied before they were fitted as did the brake callipers and hubs.

The front inner guards had 4 coats of Scotch Gard as they are covered with a cheap felt like material and the rear inner guards are black plastic so they received 4 coats of Nanolex Paint Sealant and then 2 coats of Aerospace Protectant.

I also used the Nanolex Paint Sealant to coat the outer edges of the guards and under the sills.

This was all done in preparation for when I give the car a total detail.

As you could understand this process took about 4 days.

The reason I used both Opti-Seal and Nanolex Paint Sealer is because I had almost run out of the Opti-Seal after doing the new rims and I had a full bottle of Nanolex on the shelf so I used that to finish the other sealing jobs.

[Brian_H]

Express -
Thanks for the detailed reply! Amazing, just amazing. Thank God you've written it down here as I'd never remember all that!! Great info (and experience) to have. BTW, your red VF2 ute looks incredible with those star mags - you chose them really well. GREAT colour too. She'll be a keeper alright! Nice to see Holdens and Fords co-existing happily in the same house - many haters could learn lots from that . . . Cheers, Brian.

[PHawk]

Very nice!

[Wretched]

Truth be told when you first showed the rims, I thought they looked fantastic but wasn't sure the size would suit the car. happy to have been wrong on that, the car looks fantastic as does the wheels, nice work.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Express

I've also removed the Holden badge from the tailgate.

Go on, put a Chebby badge on there, you know you want to

[graphicgoose]

Originally Posted by Express

Well the rims arrived for the Ute a few weeks back and I finally got around to fitting them over Easter.

It’s not quite as low as the black VF I used as inspiration (post 398) as the OEM rims and tyres were fitted when the initial dial in for the coilovers was done, so I’ll drive it around for a week or two and then I’ll consider dropping it another 15mm in the front and another 30mm in the rear to get the guards down on the tyres. That’ll give it the same ride height spec as the black VF sedan.

This is what I started with.

image


And this is where I’m up to so far.

It still needs to be buffed and detailed and I’ll do that after the exhaust and tune is in place.

Four x 4 inch exhaust tips sticking out of the bum will also give it a much better look.

image

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Bang on man! They look fantastic!

[Express]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Go on, put a Chebby badge on there, you know you want to

Haha

I have to admit I’ve been down that path before.

Unlike the neat little blue oval badge Ford produce, Holden make such a big unsightly one it’s easy to want to get rid of it.

I’ve removed it from the tailgate as I believe it gives the rear a smoother look.

I’m currently sourcing the other badges from Holden spare parts to have genuine replacements with the thought of removing the ones already fitted as well.

All just a part of my own personal taste.