Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey all, just wonderin what peoples thought are of commodore v6 in a buggy. i know some of the moon buggys are running them, just wondering what they are like torque wise. and if they are worth the hassle with the weight of them.

any help would be appreciated. cheers joel

pros...

cheap engine
good low down torque
aftermarket parts availability
easy maintennance
busted mechanical part - available anywhere


cons...

dont like running more than 90 degrees on its side
came out of a holden commodore


all i can think of for now.. but im sure theres more...

oh.. .forgot to mention...

stick with the series 2 engines.. they seem to handle being in a buggy more than a series 1

cutzook wrote:Hey all, just wonderin what peoples thought are of commodore v6 in a buggy. i know some of the moon buggys are running them, just wondering what they are like torque wise. and if they are worth the hassle with the weight of them.

any help would be appreciated. cheers joel

They are pretty good. Just dont use a series one engine they eat cam shafts and big ends quite regularly in the conditions they will see in a buggy. We have had quite a few series ones fail. Only had one series 2 fail and this was ran on its side for a long time with no oil pressure so was expected.

They are really responsive down low but run out of power up top a little. Depends on your driving style as to how well it will suit what your building.

yeah that is what i was thinkin with the torque. and they run a half decent auto aswell. i am pretty sure that is the way i go. thanks for the info guys.

If you want tourqe out of the V6, get the supercharged version which they started to use in the VS commodore all the way through to the VX, you will have more luck trying to find one out of a statesmen then any other commodore. You wont pick a motor and box up for $1000 like a injected V6, but you will get one for around $2000.

Edit

Power figures out of the VT are

180kw@5000rpm
380Nm@3200rpm

Or get the ex cop motor like i did and is good for around the 170kw mark or was till my spotter used it and blew it up.

my series one v6 in my buggy is still loving life after 6 months of flogging it nearly very weekend. only problem i have had is a busted crank angle sensor due to a stick. the series two motors have a guard to stop this.
it'll be interesting to see how long it holds up for, my sump only holds about two litres of oil and the main bearings were worn down to the copper when i first got it. i regularly get it into positions where it knocks violently for a few minutes, and it keeps coming back purring like a kitten and wanting more

from my experience with this car i reckon they are great motors. it would be nice if they were 30 or 40 kg lighter though.

Wendle wrote:it would be nice if they were 30 or 40 kg lighter though.

nothing a grinder cant correct >_<

RUFF wrote:

cutzook wrote:Hey all, just wonderin what peoples thought are of commodore v6 in a buggy. i know some of the moon buggys are running them, just wondering what they are like torque wise. and if they are worth the hassle with the weight of them.

any help would be appreciated. cheers joel

They are pretty good. Just dont use a series one engine they eat cam shafts and big ends quite regularly in the conditions they will see in a buggy. We have had quite a few series ones fail. Only had one series 2 fail and this was ran on its side for a long time with no oil pressure so was expected..

is that the one Celia had in the Zook that died on day 1 of last OBC?

I reckon a V6 series 2 with a bolt on centrifugal supercharger would be sweet in a buggie!
Keep the motor stock, if it dies unbolt the charger and chuck it on another cheap secondhand motor .
Costs a few dollars but would make for some wicked power in a buggy.
http://www.capa.com.au/powerdyne.htm