I have been waiting years for a VT commodore review. Well done to the owner. Very nice! Would love to see a review on HSV VT CLUBSPORT 5L with 5 speed manual like mine!
Oh wow nice find! My very first car (I bought it the day I turned 16 to learn in) was a black VT S and I happened to find one with only 97,000km and Manual! (At the time I didn't know but later found out only 1% of the VT S V6 S models were manuals) I was tossing up between a VT 5.0L SS and a BA XR6T as my next and boy was that a hard choice. Went with the BA but have always LOVED the VT SS. Especially the 5.0L
_👏🏼👏🏼congrats on keeping it all this time and doing a great job on the swap, sounds sweet too 🎶_ .. _Ross, most of the other VT’s are now in Darwin or outback Australia doing circle work😉_
Tuff Mounts now do V8 engine mounts for fitting an LS into 3rd gen V6 K frames. I expect you'll see much more of these V6-V8 conversions, especially in VZs with that dreaded Alloytec rubbish engine. Great review mate. Brings back memories.
Nothing wrong with the Alloytec as long as it gets regular service. Holden's 10,000 km service interval was a bit optimistic for this engine and by the time the VE came out Holden/Chevrolet had fixed the issues.
@@tomnewham1269 you mean except for the excessive oil usage, crappy PCV implementation, the weak-as-piss timing chains and guides and the lack of ability to upgrade and tune them? Oh and it wasn't until the VF that the LFX was a fixed version. If that was the first or second release, it would have been fine, but the vast majority of Alloytec engines are either ventilated by a rod or retired to the scrapyard. They're just junk. There's more Ecotecs still on the road than Alloytecs ever produced. If that makes the Alloytec a good engine, then I suggest you need to see a therapist. Just saying.
@@spudsmckenzie4123 I agree with you, on the issues, however there is a decent upgrade path and tuners willing to tune them. I have a VZ Exec that i cammed and supercharged pushing 285 rwkw at 6600 rpm, can do more but wanted to feel out the power first.
@@spudsmckenzie4123 the reason more Ecotec's exist is because they were in production a lot longer than the Alloytecs have been. If Alloytecs are rubbish why are there still many of them still on the roads. There are heaps of VE's still on our roads and when I say VE's, the vast majority are SV6's. Also because an engine isn't very tune able doesn't mean the engine is inherently bad.
@@tomnewham1269 That depends on whether you're talking about the Buick V6 going back as far as the 60's or only from 1996 onwards as the Ecotec badged version. Regardless, whilst there are many VE and VF Commodores still on the road with the Alloytec, most would be MY12 onwards that had the LFX engine in them. Prior to that, they had a stack of problems. I've owned 2 earlier models, LY7 specifically, and they both had timing chain issues AFTER having the chains replaced. The PCV system sucks as well. Yeah, they fixed them in the LFX but that was a long time in the making. Poor respite for those who owned the many earlier models of VZ and VE with the LE0 and LY7, and had to deal with the drama of owning one of them. Plus, how many do you see in salvage auctions and in wrecking yards? Stacks of them. Also, how many burnout pigs do you see with Alloytecs in them? None. Tons of mang mang though... The Ecotec was a far, far better engine. It isn't even a fair comparison. Most of the VEs I see at auction are done by 250k. How many Ecotecs are still getting around with 400-500k on the clock? Change the oil occasionally and live with the rear valley gasket leak and they'll go forever.
Awesome review mate. well done. I love the shape of the VT. looks timeless. the front end in particular how the guards flare out slightly over the front rims creates a very tuff & aggressive look. All those model Holdens from VT-VZ are relatively easy to work on too making them a joy to play with. Might have to bring my stock VT SS 5.0L manual onto the show at some point
I nearly bought a factory ls1 vt calais with only 140,000km. Had perfect 2 tone paint and interior. He wanted 8k at the time, should have bit the bullet.
Still got my VT Olympic Edition, been in our family for 24 years now, had it since new from Peter Page Holden Ross, your video is really making me wanna get mine LS swapped right now hahahah Contemplating keeping my car (and putting an LS1 in it) or getting a VE SS
I've always been fond of the good old VT's & especially one as nice as this beauty,the owner has done well congrats buddy 👍 another top watch you're killing it Johnny cheers.
I have had my VT wagon V^ in very good condition and bought it for its service history. Barely driven it to be honest, now trying to sell it, no one has really really wanted it, the joys of selling it online. Im from Northern Suburbs of Melbourne if anyone wants one thanks, you never know!
*Nice VT. Can't believe you didn't even mention the HSV Rapier wheels on this thing. Looks mint. You just said "Wheels" like they were just stockies lol. Anyways, this thing would definitely be in the 5s with 1 person in O-1OOKMH. VTs aren't that heavy either. Like 1575kg-1615kg. They kept the same powered Ecotec V6 from the VS to VT and they are not really slower than VS by much. This car is a nice cruiser. 382rwhp is still a decent number. He's got the LS1 conversion, built auto, just needs Brake upgrade, Diff gears and bigger stall converter.💯%*
It’s got a big brake kit upgrade on the front, showed at start… the owner said while driving he has done diff gears & a built auto. That is a tidy GM for sure 💯 Have always loved the vt, vx shape.
Its a shame so many vts were left out to rot or skidded i can remember when people used to buy one for the weekend cut the spings or take them out skid them to the max and leave them on the side of the road after they where done till they got burnt out or smashed
Thank you Ross... the love of Holden is deep in Australia and New Zealand. The owner modified the car and made it his own. I know Holden took the Opel Omega and modified it extensively to create the VT Commodore/ Calais/ Statesman/ Caprice and UTE.
Ill have to get you to review my VT mate on the channel when i fix my diff gears as there winding lol but fresh built 383 done bit different to others tho 👌 and yes its manual and its in Perth
You see them everywhere down here in nsw i own one myself a vt calais currently my project car ss body kit with calais chrome hsv coulson seats is something i want to do and an l67 swap with a manual 5 speed but im currently repairing body damage everywhere 🙄 but tuned ecotec hotdog exhaust lowered on kings cream colour and cream leather interior with wood grain dash and hoping to find a set of 20inch sig wheels pretty much a calais plus build like holden by design maybe whens shes done you can take her for a spin👌
I like the wheels, I want to put them on my VE. What model HSV are they from? Edit: I completely agree about the sound of the LS1 and how they sound better than later model LS engines.
Hi. Just to let you know both the Series 1 and 2 VT had the Ecotec V6 however for the V8 engines, Holden's iron lion V8 was in the Series 1 and the Gen 3 5.7 Chev V8 was released in the Series 2. As Holden was a main sponsor of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Holden released Olympic Edition vehicles as a promotion. The vehicles got some optional features standard with some cosmetic changes than the standard vehicles. I actually own a VS Olympic Edition Ute though unfortunately it only has the Ecotec V6.
Holden VT/VX is one of my guilty pleasure cars same with VY. I love the Supercharged V6 but a nice LS1 would be a good long distance motor. The VT is way better looking then the AU.
it amazes me people still build skid pigs out of these cars, knowing parts are becoming harder and more expensive as well as being a part of Australia's history people are still happy to blow the rear bumper off in the skid lane like its disposable.
This is a cool car, I like that it's his first car and he still has it. Question from an American. The VT is essentially a 4 door VZ? And the GTO we had here is a VZ?
GTO is a Monaro over here, VT and VZ is just the model / year it was produced, started with VB commodore then vc,vk,vl,vn,vp,VR,vs,VT,VZ,VF etc , GTO is just what gm called it in states
@gnwtiling so let's work with the Monaro/GTO or the Commodore/G8 GT. I have both. You guys over there will know the model but refer to the generation/year via the letters VT, VZ ect? So my GTO is a VZ and my G8 is?
@gnwtiling the GTO is a 2006, and the G8 is a 2009, even though it's not a true Holden, my 2013 Camaro is essentially some kind of Holden. It's basically an updated 2-door Commodore.
Come do a review of my vs berlina, it’s only a 6 but it’s very clean very low ks for a vs and has a few tasteful mods. Probably one of the cleanest vs berlinas in Victoria with original paint and everything.
Same thing happened with the vls the vn and the vr vs for some reason the VP was always worth a bit more back in the day and got away with not being a 50$ skidder
Great that's it's an auto, anyone who's lived with a cammed LS2 manual would be familiar with the term 'pig rooting' would never own a manual V8 again. The VE 6's have much better steering feel as well with the lighter engine up front, the VE steering slaughters the VF electric steering as well I regularly get to drive a VF and it's a novelty to jiggle the steering wheel left to right a couple of inches without anything happening.
"captains chairs" aren't hard to find. They're being reproduced, even better as you get new foams. Make sure you've got the right seat frames, that's where the rare comes in
Also, theres more Fords around in general because they were built to be taxi's that last forever. But you know, who would want to drive around in a hotted up cab? 😂😂
*6.1 O-1OOKMH with 2 people on board and a full fuel tank isn't "Sluggish" It would definitely be mid 5s with 1 person and 1/4 to 1/2 tank of fuel. Don't know why you would think it's sluggish.*
*Yeah that was kind of rude tbh. Why bring up AUs? Then say you still see more AUs on the road than VTs. That comment wasn't necessary. Where I live I still see more VTs on the road compared to AUs. It really depends where you live.*
I never see VTs and I travel all around the country was just pointing it out.. I think the VT looks way better then a AU but you just can’t find them now yet a lot of AUs everywhere
