1987 Holden Commodore SL from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

I had the car for 6 months then the gearbox lost 5th and reverse. This was at 273000km. So I got it reconditioned. After the gearbox was out we saw that the clutch plate was worn through to the rivets and then the flywheel needed machining. So all up the the reco gearbox, clutch kit and flywheel machineing cost $1100. And it hurt.

Then the radiator was leaking and needed to be replaced.$440 later.

The tyre scrub only on the left side rear then I have a car load of people. I run 215/60/15 and they shouldn't scrub.

Fuel gauge on works occasionally.

Boot leaks bad.

Under the spare has a large square of rust almost falling through. But no rust anywhere else.

The car has started first time every time for the 6 months that I have had it for.

It is quick, but no quicker than a 4 cylinder off the line. But when I'm dragging someone I only have one gear change because 2nd gear goes to the redline at about 105km/h.

Mate, there's something seriously wrong with this car if it goes "like a 4 cylinder" off the line. The VL 3.0 auto is a little sluggish, but the extra cog on the 5-speed manual gives it a different lease on life. I have a stock VL 5 speed, and have pounded an NA Fairlane with a 5.0 V8, leave GMH 4.2 V8s for dead, and can keep up with a GMH 5.0 (pre- fuel injection) until the torque curve flattens out at the top end (about 140km/h). I covers 0-100km/h in about 8.2 seconds, and 0-400m in about 16.1 seconds at 143km/h.

Careful what you say about this car, the motor in it is more refined than even the current V6 in the VY.

Hey man, you mentioned that your tire scrubs out on the left side? I've got the same problem with my VL, I'm running the same size tires as you 215's, and mine scrubs out on the right side. It sits inside the guard on the passengers side, but on the drivers side its sits slightly out more, thus it scrubs on the side of the guard. The diff is obviously out so what did you do to fix the problem. People have suggested an adjustable sway bar or pan hard bar.

Your pan hard rod will be bent and causing the diff to sit unevenly.

Vl commodores came out of the factory with the diff located off to one side. You will have to fit an Adjustable Pan-hard Rod. I did, and have had no problems.