Here's My Astral

Well here is the current incarnation of my VX (nicknamed "Sally" as some said it looks like a salamander?)

With the old IPF rack (which is for sale)and the new Grabber AT2's

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/IMG_0658.jpg

With the new Yak rack

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/IMG_0689.jpg

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/IMG_0692.jpg

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...t/IMG_0691.jpg

What do you think? My goal is for near stock for ultimate reliability and fuel economy (hahahaha) but still capable and nifty looking. Only mods I still want are head unit, sliders, brighter lights, skid's (lighter than Kilby) possibly locked rear. After those things my VX will be perfect!

I've only had to add a quart of oil in 15k miles and other than that no other problem has surfaced :)

Nice:)
Only thing I would do different is if you are going to do a locker Inquiring I'd go with the front...you've got an LSD in the rear.

Correction I meant front thanks Traithlete.

Dangit PCV and MAF need cleaning, got the rough idle and stall problem, it'll be good tomorrow though, when the air rushes in the problem solves itself until I slow down, nothing MAF cleaner and a new valve won't fix :)

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Originally Posted by Ala5ka

...After those things my VX will be perfect!

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Still in stage 1 I see lol... trust me, it will never be "done"! :)

Cleaned pcv (not replaced), cleaned throttle body, and MAF. Used to idle at 2500rpm now steady at 850, easy fixes rock!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ala5ka

Cleaned pcv (not replaced), cleaned throttle body, and MAF. Used to idle at 2500rpm now steady at 850, easy fixes rock!

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Is idle of 850 in the "normal range"? :?:
Mine's been idling low, like 400-450, makes it a little rough, but it doesn't stall or anything.

Sue, 400-450 seems kind of low to me. Mine idles in the mid 700's once it's warmed up (I THINK that is the normal range).

Mine sits right about 700 as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ala5ka

With the old IPF rack (which is for sale)

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I might be interested, do you have a price in mind?

Idle of most mild to mid performance V-engines usually falls at around 750 rpm, give or take a few revs...whatever sounds good and doesn't mess with your auto trans lock-up is a good reference point! :yeso:

...Sorry, that is to say, if you have to stand on the brake to keep the car from creeping or if you have to feather the throttle to keep it running, it's not right...

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Originally Posted by Scott Larson

...Sorry, that is to say, if you have to stand on the brake to keep the car from creeping or if you have to feather the throttle to keep it running, it's not right...

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Haha yeah. Had another little scare today when I finished the project up and drove for a second and the check engine light came on followed by the 0122 code. Then I remembered that I keep the key on the "on" position while working on it to listen to NPR thus the throttle body, MAF, and accompanying sensors were disconnected while the VX was "conscious." Cleared the code, and drove some stop and go w/some highway, no problems. Check the throttle position sensor, associated cables and connections and all systems are a go. While I was under the hood I might have also gone ahead and detailed the engine compartment :)

VXorado for a fellow VX I'd take 50 bucks plus whatever shipping and packaging would be. That covers the Yakima mighty mounts alone :) It's an IPF aluminum rack, a prototype before IPF migrated to mainly lights and stuff. They were used as ARB's aluminum products manufacturer for a while. Not as sturdy as the Yak rack cause it flexes but weighs nothing and looks like it was made for the VX. No broken pieces, some minor scratches

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ala5ka

VXorado for a fellow VX I'd take 50 bucks plus whatever shipping and packaging would be. That covers the Yakima mighty mounts alone :) It's an IPF aluminum rack, a prototype before IPF migrated to mainly lights and stuff. They were used as ARB's aluminum products manufacturer for a while. Not as sturdy as the Yak rack cause it flexes but weighs nothing and looks like it was made for the VX. No broken pieces, some minor scratches

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Thats a great deal and I'll take it. Just let me know the total price with S&H... no rush if you're busy. My zip is 80241, thanks ;)

http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/...x2/idle750.gif

Our idle spec is 750 rpm when warm. It's totally controlled by the PCM and there's no way to mechanically adjust it. I'm guessing if you're more than 100 rpm out of spec there's something that needs attention. The PCM is trying to keep idle at 750. I'm not saying it's a huge problem. Sometimes these things are hard to track down and you may make it worse.

http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/...x2/idle750.jpg

I just took this pic of mine a few minutes ago idling in park while warm. It's purring like a kitten at 750 rpm. If my engine with that many miles on it can idle correctly, then there's no reason why every other VX engine can't do the same.

Mark Griffin