Best value V8?

[oldel]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

E39 LS3. There was one here advertised not long ago, was VERY tempted. Manual too. Around $20k if I recall correctly.

Did some research, whilst its a popular swap, there are a lot of pitfalls that the youtubers don't tell you about. In the end, wasn't brave enough to take the punt.

Always keep an eye out for old mercs and BMWs, especially if can tow from a regional area as they were popular nationwide for those in the regions that were cashed up during the good times.
Lots of bargains, lot of owners that can't afford to pay their mech as they bought them for status symbols and can't DIY and it's a simple fix (with old ones).
E39 is a bit too new, a bit too many "modern problems" for me, but there's a lot of older ones that would suit saving and engine swapping if you want a crate v8.
Even if you don't want to risk it you could probably flip it to someone who will and make some money. Need a tow rig, trailer and willing to drive to rural areas, plus be checking fb enthusiast groups.

I can't do it myself, but I jumped on one bmw because the design and looks sure are unique and worth saving. Not the e39 though, looks like a cross between mits front and toyota rear.

E: If anyone is a fan of the e30, I think the e46 is going to be the next craze. Personally I'd get a 320i wagon and put a m54b30 in it, but any of them with a v8 would be sweet too.

[1970XW351]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Yes or BA G220 if we're talking sports models. You get one more valve per cylinder

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-7425567/?Cr=0

At that price, I wonder if they'd straight swap my BA Fairmont 3V with 251,000km...?🤔

[jakkes]

ba-bf base model XT falcon with 3v 5.4 hover under 8k
fairmont BF mk2 with ZF6 speed can get up to 10k.... pre covid tax

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Speaking of cheap ****boxes with 8 cylinders

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-7372420/?Cr=2

Everyone needs to do the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge thing once in their lives I reckon (and only once).

Its even got a winch so your local independent auto repairer can drag it into the workshop without needing to grab the guys next door to help push it in after it comes in from the tow truck.

"No major issues to speak of"

And no I am not talking of any fellow forum members....

[xkxlxm]

It looks like there are some V8s that haven't really been hit by the covid tax.

I like the resurrection of this Commodore: https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/s...re-on-the-road

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by xkxlxm

It looks like there are some V8s that haven't really been hit by the covid tax.

I like the resurrection of this Commodore: https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/s...re-on-the-road

That makes me want to get on my brothers **** about getting his 82 vh back on the road. Its been in his car hold for 20 years. Its a factory 253 slx, no rust bar around the boot seal (they all do that) 107,000 genuine kays. I know this as it was my highschool girlfriends mums car that she bought new. Its got a snapped rocker arm but my brother has the parts in a box for that, the trimatic is bad, again he has a replacement traumatic. The main reason its still sitting is lack of motorvation and my brothers had a few legnthy driving bans in the past 20 years....
It cost a measly 1 grand when he bought it which at the time was probably too much.

[Citroënbender]

That’s probably worth more as-is, then you might think.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

That’s probably worth more as-is, then you might think.

Its actually the 3rd steel bumper commodore my brother has owned. The 1st probably would be worth a fair chunk these days. It was semi bastardised since day one. My uncle bought it new in 83, but modified it back in the 80s. So not too dissimilar to say buying an hsv new and modifying it. So it was a vh brock. My uncle didnt like the interior so swapped it out for the sl/e blue velour. Didnt like the spoiler, so swapped it out for a vc ss spoiler. Later didnt like the steering wheel so swapped it for the momo out of a vk ss. Put vl calais 15s on it and bilsteins to lower it. But that was the 80s, no ****s given about originality.
But my brother wrote that off.
The next was an odd vc. Odd by the way it was some special edition. It had a vynal roof and on the c pillars badges that looked similar to that of a caprice, but instead of the sheild within the reath it was a C. That car was a 202, really good condition exept moisture under the vynal top rusted out the roof. The interior was then gutted and put in the 253 vh as it was mint. The vh, even with only 107 on it, the interior was worn and faded. So warn light blue piped seats were out, red ones in. New carpet too. So its bastardised but still semi genuine.
I dont reckon my brother will ever sell that vh. He has the bits to get the original motor going to eventually get it blue slipped, but also has a black 304 for it. The 304 has had all the efi business removed, edlebrock intake manifold, rejetted rochester 660cfm 4 barrel carb, roller rockers and a mild cam. Its a proven motor, ive driven it. It was in an lh torana that my brother went halves with a mate because his mate wanted the car, my brother wanted the motor. It went goodly. So a vh isnt a heavy vehicle, i doubt it will run 12.4 as it did in the lh as that thing had some money thrown at suspension etc, but should still be reasonable for street duties.

[ford71V8]

Agreed, would be worth a bit right now
But is it a six or a 253?

[smoo]

Originally Posted by oldel

E: If anyone is a fan of the e30, I think the e46 is going to be the next craze. Personally I'd get a 320i wagon and put a m54b30 in it, but any of them with a v8 would be sweet too.

Have missed the boat on E36s too. Unsure what the market is like in Oz, but here manual E36 328i are now going over $15k. 5 years ago guys were picking these up for under $5k and skidding them to death.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Agreed, would be worth a bit right now
But is it a six or a 253?

The current vh is a factory matching numbers 253, the ex vc was a 202.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

.
The next was an odd vc. Odd by the way it was some special edition. It had a vynal roof

I've read where if Holden had cars Hail damaged in a holding Yard somewhere. a new; Boot lid, Bonnet a vinyl Roof & the Words Limited Edition was their "rectification Process"....

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by hayseed

I've read where if Holden had cars Hail damaged in a holding Yard somewhere. a new; Boot lid, Bonnet a vinyl Roof & the Words Limited Edition was their "rectification Process"....

Maybe. There was nothing really special about it bar the vynal roof and the badges on the c pillar. Other then that it was a vc commodore.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by hayseed

I've read where if Holden had cars Hail damaged in a holding Yard somewhere. a new; Boot lid, Bonnet a vinyl Roof & the Words Limited Edition was their "rectification Process"....

This was commonplace in Sydney during the various hailstorms we had in the late 1970s. Not GM-H but at dealerships.

The largest I remember was Capitol Motors (a huge Nissan dealer) nearly got wiped out. I heard that he was self-insured & 100s of cars were damaged.

There were heaps of lo-km 200Bs & other models with vinyl roofs on the Sydney used car market for years after.

The vinyl roof & 'Limited Edition' badging was another cheesy aftermarket thing in the 70s & 80s also. Not necessarily due to any hail damage though.

Dr Terry.

[Franco Cozzo]

Vinyl roof has to be the worst trend I've seen in automotive history - must have been one of those things where you had to be there

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Vinyl roof has to be the worst trend I've seen in automotive history - must have been one of those things where you had to be there

Fun days.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by hayseed

I've read where if Holden had cars Hail damaged in a holding Yard somewhere. a new; Boot lid, Bonnet a vinyl Roof & the Words Limited Edition was their "rectification Process"....

What a joke honesty is!... when there's an easy dollar to be made, about 10 years ago they were selling Qld and Vic flood damaged write-offs in Sydney and elsewhere, even Pickles got caught up in it!

My nephew was in Sydney looking for a newish Toyota Pajero I think it was, he phoned me about this near new one $43 grand, bloody cheap he said, but, he said Uncle Billy why would it look like its been masked around the door handles and badges?.. of course I knew why?...so I said its a private buyer selling for his Aunty or a female friend?.... he said his female cousin, I said when are you going back, he sad In morning, I said phone me on speaker phone, he did, I asked if I was talking to the seller, this dude said yes, I said I got a mate in the RTA to check the VIN, he said oh, I said my nephew is a good hard working lad, and, I don't like c..t's like you, when we're you going to tell him?....my nephew cuts in, tell me what Uncle Billy, and I said tell you it's a write-off through hail damage?...

My nephew is 6'2" and damn big, and he said are you kidding me, I said no mate, I knew yesterday, I knew it had been repainted when you said it looked masked up!
When we finished talking I heard the Pajero take off at great speed, the lad said he dident hang around long, I said he may of thought you were going to "crack" him, lol, he said no, but I was going to ask him for $50 bucks for fuel for running around!

Bloody cheats and scammers, but I passed details to RTA mate, and he was a used car dealer and he said they paid him visits to his yard on Parramatta Rd every week for 3 months to keep him honest!



Cheers Billy

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

What a joke honesty is!... when there's an easy dollar to be made, about 10 years ago they were selling Qld and Vic flood damaged write-offs in Sydney and elsewhere, even Pickles got caught up in it!

My nephew was in Sydney looking for a newish Toyota Pajero I think it was, he phoned me about this near new one $43 grand, bloody cheap he said, but, he said Uncle Billy why would it look like its been masked around the door handles and badges?.. of course I knew why?...so I said its a private buyer selling for his Aunty or a female friend?.... he said his female cousin, I said when are you going back, he sad In morning, I said phone me on speaker phone, he did, I asked if I was talking to the seller, this dude said yes, I said I got a mate in the RTA to check the VIN, he said oh, I said my nephew is a good hard working lad, and, I don't like c..t's like you, when we're you going to tell him?....my nephew cuts in, tell me what Uncle Billy, and I said tell you it's a write-off through hail damage?...

My nephew is 6'2" and damn big, and he said are you kidding me, I said no mate, I knew yesterday, I knew it had been repainted when you said it looked masked up!
When we finished talking I heard the Pajero take off at great speed, the lad said he dident hang around long, I said he may of thought you were going to "crack" him, lol, he said no, but I was going to ask him for $50 bucks for fuel for running around!

Bloody cheats and scammers, but I passed details to RTA mate, and he was a used car dealer and he said they paid him visits to his yard on Parramatta Rd every week for 3 months to keep him honest!



Cheers Billy

You mentioned to magic words.....Parramatta Rd

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Maybe. There was nothing really special about it bar the vynal roof and the badges on the c pillar. Other then that it was a vc commodore.

Commodore Royale, most likely.

And that unrestored beige XY GT with the gator skin vinyl roof is frankly 11/10 on the cool scale.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Commodore Royale, most likely.

And that unrestored beige XY GT with the gator skin vinyl roof is frankly 11/10 on the cool scale.

I thought that was a Vauxall Royale or NZ

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

You mentioned to magic words.....Parramatta Rd

And you mentioned the un-magic word "to"........



Cheers Billio

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

And you mentioned the un-magic word "to"........



Cheers Billio

Billy, does that mean the un magic word is "to" or does that mean the un magic word as well.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Commodore Royale, most likely.

And that unrestored beige XY GT with the gator skin vinyl roof is frankly 11/10 on the cool scale.

I don't think Commodore Royales had a vinyl roof. Royales were introduced to get rid of the 4cyl Commodores.


Side note;

A neighbour of my Dad's place (where I grew up) died last week. Guess what he had hidden away in his garage.

Commodore Royale.

I used to see him driving it regularly when I was growing up. He parked it up in his garage about 20 years ago. Apparently it is still in very good condition.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by PG2

I don't think Commodore Royales had a vinyl roof. Royales were introduced to get rid of the 4cyl Commodores.


Side note;

A neighbour of my Dad's place (where I grew up) died last week. Guess what he had hidden away in his garage.

Commodore Royale.

I used to see him driving it regularly when I was growing up. He parked it up in his garage about 20 years ago. Apparently it is still in very good condition.

Turbo conversion on one of those old shartfire Commodores could be fun?

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

And you mentioned the un-magic word "to"........



Cheers Billio

PG2, Billy's making fun of my spelling. Just thought I would mention it to the grammar n***. sorry CB.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by PG2

I don't think Commodore Royales had a vinyl roof. Royales were introduced to get rid of the 4cyl Commodores.


Side note;

A neighbour of my Dad's place (where I grew up) died last week. Guess what he had hidden away in his garage.

Commodore Royale.

I used to see him driving it regularly when I was growing up. He parked it up in his garage about 20 years ago. Apparently it is still in very good condition.

There's an interesting Korean export one, vinyl roof

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Billy, does that mean the un magic word is "to" or does that mean the un magic word as well.

Not sure, just remember one of the MODS getting burred up with the next poster who used "to" instead of "too" or instead of "two".......

If he sees it you in deep sh.t, ......


Cheers Billio

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by PG2

A neighbour of my Dad's place (where I grew up) died last week. Guess what he had hidden away in his garage.

Commodore Royale.

I used to see him driving it regularly when I was growing up. He parked it up in his garage about 20 years ago. Apparently it is still in very good condition.

It'd be worth a Quid or two, Too.

[CyberWasp]

This is only $3000.00.
I am not sure if he is paying someone $3k to come and take it, or if you have to pay 3k to take it.
Either way it is a cheap V8

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-6830925/?Cr=1

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Billy, does that mean the un magic word is "to" or does that mean the un magic word as well.

i just wanted to post to add the word also

so is it as well , to or also