Build Specifications:
Engine: LS1
Gearbox: Tremec T56
Brakes: VT brake upgrade
Diff: 3.45:1 ratio with LSD
Exhaust: Advance Headers extractors
ECU: Std VU ECU
Power: 222 kW and 356 Nm of torque at the wheels
Standing 1/4 mile 12.8 @ 110 Mph

The car was originally a 1987 Holden Commodore VL Berlina factory 5.0l V8 car, that i fitted a LS1 and a T56 from a VU ute. This was the build I learnt a lot on; from A/C design, cooling to wiring, a lot of nights going through wiring diagrams, catalogues and textbooks. This was my daily driver for two years, a great car to drive and cheap to run, i got about 10l per 100km in town and 7-8 on the highway. The build was eventually meant to be a supercharged build but that ever happened due to the car being stolen. I do miss that car, I had a lot of fond memories with that car and sadly, I didn’t take many photos of the car.

Powertrain

The engine was rebuilt with new bearings and rings and just a few standard upgrades like ARP head studs and MLS head gasket other than that it was a standard rebuild. All machining was done by Chris Milton Engineering Developments and the engine was assembled by my bother and I. This vehicle was the dummy car for advance to develop there LS engine into a VL commodore headers. The engine ran on the standard LS1 ecu from the VU and I modified the original harness VU engine harness. I was half through designing my own engine and gearbox mounts and then the guys at Castlemaine Rod Shop released their LS swap kit and I just stopped and bought the kit sadly. Other than that kit and the rest was built by me. I turned fittings to add the original oil pressure sensor to the LS oil pressure sensor, an adaptor for the original coolant temperature sensors into the right side head and the AC bracket.

The biggest mistakes I made was with the cooling system and heat management. I original installed an expensive Australian made radiator, but after a few cooling, reliability and quality issues, I bought a cheap aluminium Chinese knock off of an original radiator and that out preformed it with the same fans in the same conditions. Until the air conditioning was turned on in summer then engine temperature would climb when stationary. That was was solved by installing fans that moved about 50% more air, 2700 CFM main fan up from 2100CFM and then installing a 12 inch fan from the 10inch that moved about 1100CFM on the A/C condenser. That sucker stayed cool in 44 degree heat and the A/C would be so cold you would turn it off.

Accessories

Back in my late teens and early I was called a princess, as I had to have power steering and A/C in the car as a minimum. While every one was ripping them out for an easier build and a cleaner look. Now that I am old and wiser I am a lot worst with power windows, power mirrors and android auto. The A/C system was standard in side the cabin, but outside was all custom. The compressor was a Chinese Sanden knock off that was $180 from eBay at the time on a bracket set that I draw up and got a local machine shop to laser cut. The condenser was a universal Modine condenser. See the tips page

Luckily the power steering was as simple as connecting the standard power steering line to LS power steering pump. So if anyone want to do a LS swap in a 1st or 2nd generation commodore use the VL power steering hard and rubber lines, proper bolt on.