Popular Post chasinthemirage Posted August 8, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 8, 2017 Please don't ban me for RB, figured I'd start a build thread for my latest daily driver/project vehicle. She's a 1988 VL Royale. Like the VL GTS' the Royale's were a New Zealand only model, essentially a run out of the remaining Calais parts. Unfortuantely they didn't get the pop up headlamps but they got the Calais tail lights and steering wheels plus luxury extras such as cruise control, power windows and electric mirrors. Royale's were either RB20E or RB30E with ML4 automatic transimssions and GM3 or GN9 open diffs with drum brakes. I picked this up off Trademe after missing out on it a few months ago due to lack of funds. It was listed on Monday morning, I called the seller in the afternoon and then took Tuesday off work and drove down to Timaru for a look on Tuesday morning. An hour and a half and one terrifyingly fast test drive later I'd put a deposit on it. I'd been on the hunt for a tidy VL for the past few months and while a tidy example of a model with limited build numbers, with a manual transmission and the extra bonus of two tone paint ticked all my boxes, the real kicker for me was this: an A8 RB30ET factory turbocharged engine. The engine was put in a couple of owners before me and the car has been converted to manual with a 30E gearbox and driveshaft. It's still running the original diff and drum brakes but has had factory turbo front discs, calipers and master cylinder/booster fitted. I'm still working through the car and making a list of what needs to be done and then I'll book it in for a cert inspection. Bit of a daunting process as I've never done it before but mega excited to get this thing street legal! 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Sexy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooters Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Did any disc brake rear Vls come into NZ? Iv looked for one but can not find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 Been making a list of things that need to be done, hopefully this will take care of a few reliability and potential cert/WOF issues Oil and filter Fuel filter Air filter Recore radiator Thermostat & gasket Radiator cap Release bearing BOV Inlet manifold clean & gaskets Check injector & coolant hoses Drive shaft loops Diff & gearbox oils Reverse lights Fit speedo cable Check cam belt Drive shaft U/J's Front brake pads Rear brake shoes and cylinders L/H floor damage Surface rust on rear brake line Rust in spare wheel well and seal channel Alarm Secure intake pipe brackets Check ignition timing Rust kill and paint radiator support Replace steering rack boots 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 6 minutes ago, scooters said: Did any disc brake rear Vls come into NZ? Iv looked for one but can not find Calais had disc rear ends but the diffs don't come up for sale very often. I'd like a disc rear end, even though I've just forked out for new shoes and wheel cylinders I'm still in two minds about converting this to VN discs/ swapping the entire diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooters Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 1 minute ago, chasinthemirage said: Calais had disc rear ends but the diffs don't come up for sale very often. I'd like a disc rear end, even though I've just forked out for new shoes and wheel cylinders I'm still in two minds about converting this to VN discs/ swapping the entire diff You would think with names like Royal and gts disk break rears would be all over the show but no drums for life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 Yeah you'd think so! I guess the drums were probably cheaper and easier to justify to the bean counters on a non performance orientated model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 ChasintheRoyale Everytime I read your user name I assume that your name is Chas and that you are in a Mitsubishi Mirage. This is the website for you: http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 1/4pounder with cheese/royale Does it dose pretty hard? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 20 minutes ago, Threeonthetree said: ChasintheRoyale Everytime I read your user name I assume that your name is Chas and that you are in a Mitsubishi Mirage. This is the website for you: http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/ Haha Kyteler has told me the same thing! Calaisturbo has been so much help so far, the guy I bought the car from has put me in contact with a few people too which have been really helpful. 3 minutes ago, tortron said: 1/4pounder with cheese/royale Does it dose pretty hard? It does actually, hasn't got a BOV at the moment. Just a bung in the manifold. I was really lucky though and managed to score an OE BOV for cheap so I've got that to fit at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakotom Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 No doubt you know all the ins and outs of these things diff wise. you can swap in a VN diff to get discbrakes and LSD but they're 20mm wider. Will be 28 spine also which is rad as current diff will be 25spline. you should also be able to convert your current diff to disc brakes by using VN backing plates and calliper/disc:handbrake assemblies but you'll need to change the axle seals to disc brake ones other wise you'll leak diff fluid out the seals (been there done that) but you'll still be open diff pretty sure you can also get 28 spline LSD Center's which will fit into your housing changed to take 25 spline axles. Try steelies gears. 28 spline Center's will fit straight into your Diff, but finding 28 spline axles for VL length won't be something that will come cheap. also wagon diffs have different shock mounting locations/style but the rest is the same. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickrock Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Is there a website with all these diff specs I was at pick a part today looking at a vn ? diff for possible modification to go n to my wb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakotom Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 32 minutes ago, nickrock said: Is there a website with all these diff specs I was at pick a part today looking at a vn ? diff for possible modification to go n to my wb https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/diff-all-you-need-to-know.71234/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 @Shakotom the last VL I had had VN discs on the rear, it braked pretty well but the open diff was a bit hopeless as far as traction went. Really not sure what to do for the rear end, part of me wants to do LSD and discs now so I only have to get cert once but I don't own a car that goes so I really need to get it legal. Tempted to raid a VN this weekend... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUNAMUCK Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 25 spline 4 pinion nuggets can be found on Ebay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manamari Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 This sits so nice superlows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Thanks man, pretty pleased with how it looks. It's on King Springs, the dude I bought it off thinks their standard height springs. It's got huge tyres on it that were left over from my Chevy so maybe it looks lower than it actually is? Will be interesting to see how it looks on the cop steelies I've got coming for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kws Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Unfortunately VLs are growing on me, and this one isnt helping Looks cool, do you have the other mesh wheel to complete the set? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasinthemirage Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 I've always liked the look of them, took me awhile to buy one though due to the bogan/rb thing. I have the complete set of the wheels on the rear but due to the offset of them I'd have to roll and possibly pump the guards which I don't want to do. I'm hoping to find a set of the mesh E34 wheels that are on the front though, same size as the cop steelies so shouldn't have any issues with swapping between them after cert. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooters Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 10 hours ago, chasinthemirage said: I've always liked the look of them, took me awhile to buy one though due to the bogan/rb thing. I have the complete set of the wheels on the rear but due to the offset of them I'd have to roll and possibly pump the guards which I don't want to do. I'm hoping to find a set of the mesh E34 wheels that are on the front though, same size as the cop steelies so shouldn't have any issues with swapping between them after cert. I had a full set of x chaser rims center caps and lug nuts. I'm still pissed I got rid of them. Are they rear to find these days ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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