New holden owner would like advice?

New holden owner would like advice?

Author
Discussion

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Tuesday 26th October 2004
quotequote all
I have just purchased a 03 vy ss ute in phantom black with red leather,it has 12000km and is as new.Ilove the car but it is too quiet ,do Holden do a replacement rear sports silencer,also are there any easy mods to increase power.I live in herts and wonder if there is anyone local for servicing.Does the new monaro have the same brake pads oil filter etc as the ute.Finally are there any meetings with other Holden owners?Answers to any of the above would be helpful
Thanks

uk hsv

1,692 posts

260 months

Tuesday 26th October 2004
quotequote all
Welcome "ssute" to the club and forum.............

It seems we are getting lots of new Ute owners

The Ute is the same as the Monaro from about the doors forward, so engine, transmition etc are all the same and some body parts.

A good guy to talk to is "Trevor" but he is not on line at the moment.....try an email to "EH*ROB" for Trevors contact details.

The Ute exhaust is the same as the Monaro except for the rear box............we have lots of web links on the club site so try them!

If you get a chance email me a few pictures so I can add them to the ever growing Ute section on www.hsvdriversclub.co.uk

>> Edited by uk hsv on Tuesday 26th October 10:21

roger440

160 posts

250 months

Tuesday 26th October 2004
quotequote all
Congratulations on a top purchase!!

Manual or auto?

Yes it is too quiet, but sadly i've done nothing about it yet. Dont be tempted to lose the rear silencer for straight pipe, likely to drone.

Apart from my ripshifter (see other post) i've done no mods to my ute, mainly lack of cash due to other projects!

Hope to see you at a meet sometime.

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
Thanks for your help guy's.I have checked out the links and will be trying to locate some parts etc.The ute is an auto,i felt that it would be easier to drive in traffic.My other car is a manuai 400bhp 911 turbo which is good fun but a bit of a pain in traffic.
Roger you mentioned a meet ,where do the Holden owners meet up as it would be helpful to talk to other owners.
How have you found the ute,which model do you have?

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
Sorry Roger forgot to ask what's a rip shifter?
I also saw on the threads a VZ covers for the engine to replace the turtle deck,these look great do they fit the ute,and how do you get them.

island boy hsv

726 posts

246 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
Hi SSUTE, good effort for buying a UTE. There a number of places in Aus that export parts to the uk. There are some links on the HSVdriversclub site. When you get parts shipped expect to wait 5-6days. I always email first and then phone with my credit card number and have a quick chat to make sure. By the way a ripshifter is a replacement shift linkage for the manual gearbox.

roger440

160 posts

250 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
I've only been to a couple of the ace cafe meets. Damn good though! Most meets are mentioned on here, so just keep looking in. Some of the others can probably give you dates etc.

My ute is a 03 VY ss ute in hot house green. Bought it new and shipped it in myself. So far its been superb, the only problems were the rattly gearstick (a factory recall)which i replaced with a ripshifter and loose power steering pipes to the oil cooler (another factory recall).

Done just over 15,000 miles so far.

Did do some additional rust proofing though, as unlike the cars they are not galvanised and not so well protected underneath.

motomk

2,166 posts

251 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
Just a little mention....A Monaro exhaust won't fit a Ute. The Ute is a bit longer even than a Commodore sedan! I think they need a much longer catback section.
ssute, is it a VY series I or series II ?
Should be a little badge on the back to tell you!
If you have an Auto, you don't need a RIP shifter, they are for the manual brigade!
Engine covers...mmm....have to ask "ukhsv" imports or "v-car" exports for those!!!!!!!!
One mod would be to open up the Airbox. ukhsv has a good turorial on it on here somewhere.
One small thing you might not be aware of is that the Utes are speed limited to 210kmh...reason I have forgotten. Might be to do with carrying a load in the back, I can't remember. It is however easily removed by the various tuning programs available nowadays.
Stuff to do in order would be...
1. Airbox and maybe MAF to throttle body pipe.
2. Exhaust
3. Diff gears if you are able to
4. Tune with LS1 Edit or HPTuners software

motomk

>> Edited by motomk on Wednesday 27th October 15:47

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
Thanks for the info,
The ute is currently being wax oiled as i noticed that isn't underbody protected.
The only badge on the back is SS in the bottom right corner of the tailgate,it was purchased in nov 02,so not sure if series 1 or 2.What is the difference?
It's nice to know that there are so many Holden owner's about.I now feel happier at being able to run and service the Ute.

motomk

2,166 posts

251 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
[quote]Thanks for the info,
The ute is currently being wax oiled as i noticed that isn't underbody protected.
The only badge on the back is SS in the bottom right corner of the tailgate,it was purchased in nov 02,so not sure if series 1 or 2.What is the difference?
It's nice to know that there are so many Holden owner's about.I now feel happier at being able to run and service the Ute.[/quote]

November 02 would be a series I....that helps as it will have a similar exhaust configuration to the HSV's over inb the UK as opposed to the Monaro which I think has the catalytic convertors up near the power steering.
Series I has 235kw from the factory and series II, 245kw...that and minor trim changes is about the only difference.
I do own a Holden, a VY series II SV8, however I am an export. ie I live in Melbourne, Victoria!!

motomk

EH*ROB

850 posts

251 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
G'Day Chris,

Welcome to the forum. Glad you have joined us with your Beaut Ute !

The best guy to talk to about ute's is (as HSVUK said),Trev. He lives near Rainham in Kent & has had his VU Ute for about Two years. He will shortly be coming online and this forum will be one of his first stops. But if you want his phone number, send me an e-mail then I will give you it ok.
If you click on my name you can send me an e-mail from there.

There are no meetings planned at the moment, but I'm in the process of organizing something for Australia Day Wed 26th Jan. As it's a Wednesday next year we will be meeting on one of the weekends before or after at the Ace Cafe, like previously. I have also a few more meetings to finalize and I will post them on this forum asap.

All the best mate,

Rob Apsey
Events Officer
Holden UK Register.

Web Site under Links on this forum.

raggyman

2,317 posts

250 months

Wednesday 27th October 2004
quotequote all
Congratulations on the SS Ute. I think that it is good that there are more Holden's coming to the UK.

If anyone wants any parts brought over, let me know, as will be shipping my VX over hopefully in the next few months. Costing around $AU1500, so if anyone else wants to ship one over let me know, and can put you in touch. Spent about 3 hours last night finding the best price. This is roll on roll off, which makes a big difference in price.


>> Edited by raggyman on Wednesday 27th October 22:58

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Thursday 28th October 2004
quotequote all
Thanks guy's look forward to meeting some of you at next Holden meeting.
In reply to motomk the Ute has twin tailpipes the only other Ute i have seen had only a single is this just a variation for the Vy model?

jagsy

1,462 posts

258 months

Thursday 28th October 2004
quotequote all
ssute - welcome and enjoy

motomk

2,166 posts

251 months

Friday 29th October 2004
quotequote all
[quote]Thanks guy's look forward to meeting some of you at next Holden meeting.
In reply to motomk the Ute has twin tailpipes the only other Ute i have seen had only a single is this just a variation for the Vy model?[/quote]

The VY got a slightly better exhaust system than the VU and VU series II. It is a twin system all the way.......Although much better than the early single exhaust...a lot of people down here change it to a twin 2.5inch exhaust. Probably because a catback exhaust down here for one of them only cost $600 or so about 250 pounds in mild steel.
You should also have the Monaro Caol air intake which only appeared on later VU II/VX II cars.

motomk





>> Edited by motomk on Saturday 30th October 03:41

SS UTE

133 posts

243 months

Sunday 7th November 2004
quotequote all
Hey ssute, this could get complicated! My ute is also black but has black leather. I have a cat-back Remus system. Brilliant tone etc.Mine came from Midshires 4x4 in Wolverhampton. I think Mark still has a couple of systems on the shelf. Drive on !

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
Hi you have great taste.How have you found the system,sound ,any performance improvement?
Are there many Ute's in the country?
Do you have a contact no for Midshires?
Thanks fo the info

SS UTE

133 posts

243 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
The sound is much deeper than standard. It's loud enough to turn heads but doesn't do your head in on long trips! I've done 25,000 miles in 18 months and not had a problem. It's supposed to give an extra 15 bhp, but I had mine fitted from new so have nothing to compare to. 01902 790 217 for Midshires. Ask for Mark or Paul and tell them Matt sent you.I think they have a brand new SS ute in black in the show room.Not many utes about at all!

Sidwell A

4 posts

240 months

Thursday 11th November 2004
quotequote all
Hi I`ve just Collected a SS Ute last Saturday ,
when i have completed a 1,000 miles , I`m also looking for sensible mods to improve (power output
& increase to 19inch wheels (Manaro UK spec) & mod exhaust , would also like to reduce ride hieght on the rear end , all sugestions welcomed .
I`m aware of the company LSV & have spoken to Mark today , I was give some advise & will speak to mark in the new year . I also know Rick Wood as we raced together @ Spa this year.
I would also like to become a member of the Holden uk
register , please forward details ,if possible .

ssute

Original Poster:

96 posts

241 months

Friday 12th November 2004
quotequote all
Congratulation's on a good choice,these Ute's are getting very popular.I am very happy with the basic car,but it really doe's need a good sounding exhaust and to free up some more horse's.Which model Ute do you have VU,VY,auto or manual.Hopefully see you at Ace cafe in Jan.