23 replies to this topic

[Statler]

I've been looking for a "cheap" Commonwhore ute for the past couple of years . I've missed out on 4 of them ( gotta love dealing on Marketplace ) & this thing popped up for wrecking.

 

Fortunately he hadn't sold anything off it & i managed to buy it complete. 

Seller had bought it from a mate  who needed cash just 3 days earlier & was looking to part it out to recoup his cash. 

Apparently the engine is rooted . 

 

Seems every car i buy needs a new battery. *sigh*

It was missing the sun visors , 1 inner wheel arch plastic , console top was broken & 1/2 missing , & after 30min of diagnosis , the starter fuse was missing & the starter motor is stuffed. 

 

Could i be so lucky that it only needs a new starter ? I doubt it ! 

I will have to wait until i get it running before i can check that . But if i have to throw in a timing chain set i will. 

Trip to the local wreckers yesterday & i bought all of the missing bits along with a used starter for $100. 

Just need to get off my ass & go fit it.

 

 ve.jpg   149.99K   8 downloads

 

 

[RallyRed]

Good stuff...while no workhorse, they are a good thing. In my biased opinion.

[yel327]

I've seen a few of the "crappy" engine version of these parked in recent times. Anything with an LS is gone immediately, but the V6 ones seemed to be unloved. That looks reasonably clean body wise. If you are lucky you might pick up a Commodore or Stateman that has hit a roo or similar if you need an engine. Most of the ones I see parked have either a dead engine or transmission.

[dattoman]

Now you've done it

 

Here come the "its not a Commodore" recyclers

[Ice]

Nice Holden ute Col 

[jd lj]

Atleast the parts are a lot cheaper and more readily available than Torana parts.

[Statler]

I've seen a few of the "crappy" engine version of these parked in recent times. Anything with an LS is gone immediately, but the V6 ones seemed to be unloved. That looks reasonably clean body wise. If you are lucky you might pick up a Commodore or Stateman that has hit a roo or similar if you need an engine. Most of the ones I see parked have either a dead engine or transmission.

There's a guy locally trying to sell a rear totalled ute , same year , also a manual for 1K . If the engine in this is dead i will probably buy it. 

[yel327]

Best possible way to buy one too. Lots of good spares in a rear ended one.

[Statler]

Best possible way to buy one too. Lots of good spares in a rear ended one.

Yeah , but i'm a tight arse ! I wouldn't want to pay any more than $500 for an engine . I could sell off the manual conversion & recover 1/2 of the cost though. 

But first i need to crank this one over & check on its condition. I'm hoping it just needs timing chains done.  It's got 223k's on it. 

 

I spent another $80 on it today. I bought a pair of fog lamps ( 1 was broken & the wreckers had none ) for $30 & another $50 for a tonneau cover. 

[yel327]

Do these punch holes in the pistons or bend valves if a timing chain lets go?

[Statler]

I honestly haven't seen one with a broken chain. 

I think the chain stretches to a limit & throws it into limp mode. 

[yel327]

Hopefully that is all that is wrong!

[S pack]

I honestly haven't seen one with a broken chain. 

I think the chain stretches to a limit & throws it into limp mode. 

From what I have read the timing chains stretch in the early VE Alloytecs (2006 - 2009?) by 2011, maybe earlier, the timing chains had been improved.

If the valve timing gets too far out of whack the ECU throws up the engine warning light and records the fault codes.

I believe they would have to be pretty badly stretched for the ECU to go into limp mode.

I haven't read anything about the timing chains actually breaking.

There were very few issues with timing chains stretching in the 2004 - 2005 VZ Alloytecs. In 2006 GM decided to downgrade the timing chains to save a few $$$ but probably ended up costing more in Warranty repairs.
 

Edited by S pack, 07 June 2023 - 07:27 PM.

[rodomo]

Early chains did break. Lack of oil changes using the correct oil can carbon up the fine gauzes on the actuators causing the actuators to gum up and that will throw codes. On my son in laws VZ we removed the actuator and gauzes, soaked them in thinners? (if my memory is correct? it was some kind of white spirit though) and rattled the actuators until we could hear the plungers moving.

Reassemble, drain the oil, refill with a flushing oil as directed, drain and refill with correct oil and new filter. Delete codes, problem solved.

[Statler]

I think i saw you do that in a thread Rob. 

[Statler]

Starter is in. 

Stupid jump pack is flat as usual. 

 

Had it running for 2 seconds , it doesn't sound good. I think it's terminal. 

[yel327]

Time for that $1000 rear ender? Hopefully the manual and auto engines are identical!

 

Seriously though, $1000 for a whole car to get a good engine, and gives you a whole suite of valuable bits like radiator, engine add ons, even exhaust bits. Plus interior trim bits. And sell off the manual bits. Bargain.

[jpxu1]

Cat converter has to be worth some coin too.

[bat 53]

yes they do bend valves 

worked a just commodores for few years ( cousins business )

if you keep driving when the chains are stuffed it stuffes up the tensioners 

then they jump teeth

[Heath]

That parts ute would allow you to sell off the auto bits, which would be good.

[Statler]

This one & the $1000 one are both manual. 

 

It has a rather severe bottom end knock. 

 

Now i have to decide to keep it or flip it , without listening to the Mrs. lol. 

Time for that $1000 rear ender? Hopefully the manual and auto engines are identical!

 

Seriously though, $1000 for a whole car to get a good engine, and gives you a whole suite of valuable bits like radiator, engine add ons, even exhaust bits. Plus interior trim bits. And sell off the manual bits. Bargain.

That's what i'm thinking too. 

[rexy]

Whats the update?

[Statler]

The wreck sold.

It's just going to sit here until i find another engine. ...... or get bored with it. 

[Statler]

I got bored with it. 

It's gone to a new owner.