Comments on: 415kW twin-turbo VE SS Commodore

By: Pitdog

Pitdog — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:01:06 +0000

Just bought a 2006 VE SS (LS 2) with 47,000kms – one private owner with full service history for $29K – silver over black. I love the LS 2 motor. Can someone tell me how to get 400rwkw? And also how many newton meters would I get? Thanks in advance.

By: todd

todd — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:21:05 +0000

I own a VR Clubbie 185i 304 ci which pulled 211rwhp on 300000km old engine and over 400nm of torque (enough to frighten most imports) with a T04Z turbo pumping 10 psi, should make anywhere from 400-430rwhp or upwards of 300rwkw on stock bottom end,standard heads and manifold have spend under $5000 have built it myself, should pull 10’s with this make upwards of 600nm of torque and smoke most imports. The guy that spent $17k on his skyline, I would be disspaointed with that figure, a mate of mine pulled more power for less money. Also there is no way your skyline would make 160rwkw when even the mighty godzilla doesn’t even make that sort of power stock. XR6T and F6 have weak rods and valve springs, can’t make much more power than 300rwkw on big boost. The guy that said about inline 6’s making 550kw name one that uses stock bottom end and 10psi and how reliable are they. If they make this spastic amount of power why aren’t they winning dyno comps at summernats etc. There is no replacement for cubic inch displacement. With the 5 and 6 litres, we have power to begin with, take the turbo of an import or XR6T and they are very boring. I have smoked numerous imports and they are not happy when the commodore pulls away from them.

By: HSVLS3

HSVLS3 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:04:31 +0000

That car belongs to Autotech Engineering’s owner, Spiro Papadimitos. It’s a LS2 with the APS kit and 3″ exhaust. Retail price was $62,890, APS kit $16,000 fitted, plus cost of exhaust makes the investment around $80K – half the price of the W427 and with 540kW at the fly compared to the W427’s 375kW. Sounds like a great deal to me. The LS2 kit has been engineered and is street legal. I don’t know of another street legal and driveable car of similar quality that comes anywhere near it. And economy? It got under 10 litres per 100kms on its trip up to Sydney from Melbourne.

By: joober

joober — Fri, 16 May 2008 01:55:39 +0000

GhisGT, my parts and build was not on the cheap, they were sought after parts not some noname ebay branded items. I saved alot labour though… I agree its a new car so it would be more expensive. looking at the 100k price tag is a suprise to me given my experiences and friends experiences with tuning imports (with that money you could make a weapon!). To make less than drivable 100% more power/torque, it can be seen that because its most likely sourcing custom parts and the lack of prior knowledge (treading on a new car model), the diminishing value is more apparent, and each upgrade has a high cost to it…

By: Tony M

Tony M — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:41:47 +0000

This might sound crazy but I wonder with this new luxury tax on cars over $57000, will HSV abd FPV be offering deals where you buy and pickup your XR6 turbo from Ford then drive it over to FPV and have them convert it to an F6. By my thinking you should not be slugged the luxury tax because it’s after market; same argument for Holden V8’s to HSV.

I do believe there are many ways of skinning a cat.

Of course this luxury tax might force some of the car companies, especially those from overseas to lower their prices of some of their models.

By: Bavarian Missile

Bavarian Missile — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:17:27 +0000

TP………..what is your problem? Wheelnut and the rest of us are not one eyed car extremists like you and one other on this site,and quiet frankly all of us Ford Fairies are done and dusted arguing with you and your mate, CAs ratings may improve if we continue the FORD HOLDEN TOYOTA battle but we feel the site 12 months ago was better without it and can no longer be bothered biting back at any of your fishing trips.

Back on topic ,too right Watto,sounds like a cheaper option if your after the grunt depending on the cost of the kit.

By: GhisGT

GhisGT — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:40:56 +0000

Joober, no offence but we are talking a brand new car here. If you really wanted 280rwkW on the cheap, stuff a SR20 with GT35/40 turbo in a Gemini. Would probably run 10’s and make around the same power for even cheaper, but would be a nugget of a car.

By: GhisGT

GhisGT — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:38:48 +0000

PoisonEagle, google ‘TUFSS-3′. The first result is “TUFSS3 runs 8.91@152mph…”, Naturally aspirated.

Oh and Name required, they do have Comp cams 918 valve spring upgrades, but the heads and pistons remain stock. The are tons of examples of TT LS series engines with many kms on them and have remained trouble free, search forums like Street Commodores or LS1.com

The auto is a little of a concern but when backed up to the T56 6-speed, there is no dramas. Mega tough box the Tremec.

By: Joober

Joober — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:23 +0000

geez over 100,000K
I spent only around 17k and was pushing 280rwkw from my R34GTT, thats from the 150-160rwkw stock, almost a 100% increase and no problems…
Amazing… the problem of diminishing returns….

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:52:36 +0000

Duck I expect that the cost of the modifications done to this Clubbie would easily put the price over $100;000 particularly when you consider the reconfiguration and recalibration work needed to the ECU and all the other upgrades such as suspension diff and brakes etc.
Therefore you’d probably be better off looking at the HSV W427 as all the work done to it would be covered by factory warranty
However if you were thinking about the HSV W427 you might as well fork out a bit more for a real performance car with style and substance like an M3 or an AM Vantage as they look and sound better

By: name (required)

name (required) — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:36:17 +0000

i bet u all that engine was not a stock engine with the amount of force the turbos would push thru that engine id like to see the gearbox survive 800nm of torque n the engine would need valve spring upgrades, head work, pistons ect

By: name (required)

name (required) — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:31:28 +0000

oi GhisGT havent u seen the 400rwkw typhoons that nizpro sent over to the uk
n another thing i find amazing is that the ford v8 is only a 5.4ltr n now is pulln 315kw n ur 6ltr buket is pulling wat 317 now shame isnt it cant w8 to see the fords 6ltr that comes out in 2010

By: Tp

Tp — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:21:16 +0000

Hahah Wheelnut appreciates other vehicles. What a laugh.

By: PoisonEagle

PoisonEagle — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:47:32 +0000

Can anybody please show me these 8 second LS1 Commmodores? Particularly the N/A ones im very keen to see them.

By: XR_2 Capri

XR_2 Capri — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:54:45 +0000

well done wheelnut the more “car enthusiast’s” we have on this sight the better it would be.

By: Duck

Duck — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:45:12 +0000

So Wheelnut, will the Torana TT-36 will be made?

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:25:49 +0000

No duck I am a car enthusiast; which means that [unlike a certain native wild dog on this site] even though I prefer a particular make – Holden; I am still able to appreciate the engineering brilliance – design performance technology etc offered by various other rival manufacturers

And as Holden or any other company don’t have a car to match the Ford in terms of price and performance etc .. The F6 is the one to go for

By: Duck

Duck — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:12:07 +0000

I wonder what the cost (of car) would be!

By: Duck

Duck — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:11:35 +0000

Wheelnut, i thought you are complete holden man and wouldnt buy a new FPV or Ford?

By: PoisonEagle

PoisonEagle — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:42:40 +0000

The stock XR6T internals would need upgrading but I’d say the F6 internals could handle it; Even so, a rod upgrade is fairly cheap. Bear in mind that this package would require alot of parts to be fabricated for this twin turbo setup- The XR6T has been proven to surpass the 400kW mark cheaply.