Leigh's '81 VH SL/X Project

[vc commodore]

when it I personally ran my positive battery wire through the firewall where the aircon line fittings exit the firewall, left hand side of the car...

From there, I have ran the cable beside the trans hump (using metal pipe holders with pop rivets to hold it in situ) Where it comes out at the rear firewall (if that's what it is classed as), I have heater hose wrapped around it, held by 100 mile an hour tape, and it held to that firewall section by the same tape.....From there, it is held by the same holders, underneath the parcel shelf, running across to the right hand side, where I have my battery mounted.

Been like that for 7 years in the current car and had no issues

 

[VS 5.0]

Kids are the best. Change your life for the better. I’m stoked for you.

Agree.....but 16 yr old boys can certainly test you lol.

 

[Vin999]

congrats and celebration on your new arrival .... nothing like the smell of nappy/V8 fumes to bring in the new year

 

[gtrboyy]

Congrats on the baby!!!!

Since your last update all I've really done is fix broken sv8,started large cleanup/organization of garage setup but most importantly 2nd set of rear tyres on ute waiting for you to catch up .

Personally I like powerstuds through top passenger side of trans tunnel above bellhousing then cable can be short & hug bellhousing to starter...with pacies no decent room above or beside them,too close for comfort heatwise imho......calais/stato/hsv headers plenty of room & very forgiving.

Firewall through panel or bulkhead,got several names & different types but something like below

The ecu plugs/harness most people put through hole above passenger rail like vk efi or vl models which I used to do also for customers...my own cars preferred through trans tunnel to keep it all hidden BUT I've never had air con/heater box or any crap behind dash to get in the way.

You going to have to plan route you want it all to go & be sure you're happy with it....10 times harder the way I did my own cars hiding everything but looks porn & annoying nobody notices all extra work lol

 

[Fu Manchu]

Agree.....but 16 yr old boys can certainly test you lol.

I hope my son makes it to 16. All that aside, I still wouldn’t change a thing. He has changed us. Made me a better person. Kids still are great to have by your side no matter what happens.

 

[gtrboyy]

If I were too ever go back to p/steer setup it would be electric Astra p/teer pump...lines straight out chassis rail to pump hidden underneath driver's headlight/apron area.

 

[Leigh_G]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I'm pretty stoked, albeit tired and very sleep deprived lol.. We have a 3yo daughter too and she's totally smitten with her little brother!

Still gotta upload all the progress pics from the past 6 weeks, but today was productive, and managed to get engine and trans installed:

.

All went pretty smoothly, although I am a little concerned the VH shifter-to-trans linkage won't reach the selector bolt on the 4l60?
I need to take a closer look tomorrow tho.

Gtrboyy, that's the exact bulkhead terminal I've got for the battery, so now that the engine and trans are in I'll start poking around planning where to drill.. gonna be real fun installing it above the bellhousing now everything is all bolted in.. lol

 

[Leigh_G]

but most importantly 2nd set of rear tyres on ute waiting for you to catch up .

Hahaha mate I'm itching to get this thing fired up just to see how well it can melt some rubber! I've even got a spare set of axles in case these don't agree with the sentiment!

 

[gtrboyy]

Bit hazy vaguely remember taking trimatic shifter out drilling hole larger to accept 4l60e selector rod/bolt combination & put it all back in.

Then with shifter in park position & auto in park position tighten up adjuster bolt so it clamps 4l60e selector rod to trimatic shifter arm.

Iirc to get trans in park position pull selector rod all way to rear of car...once tightened check it clicks into all gears nicely...obviously 3spd trimatic shifter won't get 1st gear on 4l60e but highly doubt you'll ever put it in 1st lol.

Front of trans pan/auto on drivers side probably touches tunnel so check auto is straight or you'll need to clearance it...found that out way too late on last vk I did.

Can't remember what accelerator cable I used if v8 or v6 or might even be similar lengths *shrugs* or if had to file firewall hole square(?) for accelerator cable to fit...you'll understand when you get to that job.

Did you change vh radiator tiebar over to vr/s stato donor item so you can fit later model radiators?

 

[Deuce]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I'm pretty stoked, albeit tired and very sleep deprived lol.. We have a 3yo daughter too and she's totally smitten with her little brother!

Congratulations mate.
Yeah I always say my 1y/o daughter is lucky she has 3 parents looking after her. Me, the wife, and her 2.5y/o brother
Kids are a great time waster and slow down build progress. But oh so worth it!!

Car build is coming along great. Keep up the good work and updates for us all.