Crank case full of coolant

[tom4bren]

WooHoo. Really glad your beastie is getting the upgrade.

[Leon R]

Nice find!

BTW, most of us in US would have a problem with this pick up

[Starglider]

Picked up the wrecked USDM VX from Felixstowe port this week;





Will get the engine pulled out, rebuilt and swapped into my silver JDM car. I also want those US side markers, don't know why I like them but I do, and of course the leather seats. The rest will be broken for spares.

Must say I didn't appreciate just how much a mild lift improves the look of the VX until I saw this parked next to my silver JDM (which was already lifted when I bought it). Makes the car a bit more distinct than all the modern fake-4x4 crossovers.

[Y33TREKker]

Good luck with the swap.

[David Wiltshire]

The wheels look nice too

[Starglider]

The engine swap and rebuild is finally complete, car is now running and passed MOT. Had to swap the transmission as well in the end, turns out the USDM engine has a slightly different bolt pattern than the bellhousing on the JDM engine. Kept my JDM transfer case as I wanted to keep the two wheel drive mode. I also replaced all the exterior lighting (other than the headlights) with LEDs - had to replace the blinker module as well to suppress the 'bulb fail' warning.

Next things to do;
1) Re-gas the aircon
2) Re-enable the LPG system
3) Replace somewhat rusted exhaust with larger bore stainless one / twin exhaust tips
4) Mount roof rack, replace lightbar with modern LED ones.
5) Get those 18" USDM chrome wheels restored + new tyres, replace the JDM 16" wheels.
6) Mount + wire up USDM side markers.
7) Break the remains of the USDM car for useful parts.

Supercharger is currently dismounted because I haven't found a way to make it compatible with the LPG fuel system yet; still working on this. Looking at a three tone vinyl wrap (stainless upper / carbon fibre on the cladding / 'titanium' on the hood insert). Will eventually get to the interior and entertainment system.

The car has developed a fault post-swap, though it's more annoying than serious. In TOD mode the car starts and drives fine; 4L also works with no problems. However after a few minutes in 2WD mode the rear wheel LEDs blink and the 'check transmission' warning light blinks on the TOD panel. It doesn't seem to affect the transmission at all; the car stays in 2WD mode, the front wheel LEDs don't come on and the TOD clutch doesn't activate. My guess would be a microswitch or wire/contact on the transmission mode selector has failed and the TOD computer is incorrectly activating, even though the transmission is mechanically locked in 2WD-only mode.

[Starglider]

Air-con now gassed and working properly. It turned out to be yet another difference between the JDM and USDM cars; the connectors (wiring loom to A/C pump) looked similar at first glance but actually weren't, the A/C guy had to cut and solder them. The VX is now down at the exhaust shop getting a custom stainless one welded up. I told them to be sure to reproduce the heatshield where the exhaust runs next the transfer case.

[Starglider]

The new stainless exhaust on, 2 1/4" tubing with smooth joints (not stamped like the original Y piece), hi-flow sports cat and muffler. Sounds good and the engine seems to rev quicker; the welding guy said it was definitely flowing better. Went with the PowerFlow ANIMAL tip;





Alas some new problems;

1) The front differential is toast. Was making a really loud whine in TOD mode and making clicking noises on reverse (even in 2WD mode). Then it started juddering in reverse, then it locked up and refused to reverse at all. Unfortuantely while I was on a trip; I managed to limp home but it was making grinding noises by the end, I'm sure the internals are scrap. Fortunately should be easy to fix, I'll just swap in the spare from the crashed USDM VX I have. Will top off the rear LSD oil while I'm at it.

2) The engine is overheating on longer drives. For the engine rebuild I replaced the water pump but foolishly not the thermostat, will do that now. Also thinking of ditching the viscous coupling fan and putting in a couple of electric fans, might as well replace the radiator with a brand new one while I'm at it. I saw a guy on Ebay making custom shrouds for the VehiCROSS, would be convenient (assuming it covers the trans oil cooler properly as well), but he refuses to ship to the UK. Would anyone be willing to forward a parcel to the UK, would be happy to pay a reasonable fee?

After that I have a new alloy towball, stainless electrical socket bracket and some better LED fog lights to go on to make the back end look better.

[Starglider]

Finally got that electric fan kit, plus a new thermostat, radiator, hoses, temp sensor. Hopefully that will solve the overheating. Next problem, the chrome plating on the 18" US car's wheels is peeling off, only slightly on the exterior but really badly on the inside of the wheel. Literally no one in the UK re-chromes alloy wheels; I tried about 10 different wheel refinishing and electroplating places, a couple did steel wheels for classic cars but that's it. Apparently chrome plated wheels only make sense in California, not the rainy UK. Finally found somewhere near Southampton that will chemically strip the wheels down to the alloy then chrome-effect powder coat them. I have this stuff on my DeLorean (engine block) and it seems to last much longer and look nearly as good as actual chrome anyway.

[tom4bren]

impressive progress.

You'll have one heck of beastie when you're done!!!

[eternal21]

Finally got that electric fan kit, plus a new thermostat, radiator, hoses, temp sensor. Hopefully that will solve the overheating.

I've been through 2-3 electric fan setups/configurations, thermostat, temp sensor, hoses and my truck still repeatedly overheated. Got a Ron Davis radiator, still overheated. The only thing that stopped the overheating was replacing the stock fan clutch w/another one. Works like a champ now.

[Starglider]

Radiator didn't fit. I'm planning to get one of those custom aluminium racing radiators from the US for Christmas, will stick with stock for now. New thermostat and electric fan kit are in. Changing the diff is proving to be a big job, the front suspension of both cars is completely in pieces at the moment.

David Wiltshire turned up on Sunday and took the front windows, motors and heater control module. Nice bloke, told me he was thinking of getting a Cayenne but would still keep the VX because he likes it so much. I'm going to store as much of the parts from the car as I can in my garage, including all the remaining glass, so if anyone else in the UK needs a VX-specific part hopefully I can help out.

[Starglider]

Front differential, thermostat, temp sensor and pipes replaced. Electric cooling fan kit is in, the fan itself seems to be working fine, but the sensor is a worthless 'glue onto radiator surface' job that never triggers. I've wired the fan to always-on for now, will get a proper in-tube cooling switch later.

New problems :
1) ABS warning light is on; presumably a front sensor wiring issue, will check when I put the stripped/recoated US wheels on.
2) surging / stalling idle plus temporary RPM drop on throttle up. I pulled a 'MAF system error' trouble code from the OBD2. Might just be dirty but I think it's safer to just replace it, I'll replace the pod filter and the fuel line filter while I'm at.

Old problems;
3) Using the (JDM-only) 2 wheel drive mode is still causing a 'TOD module error' warning despite it mechanically working fine.
4) 'D' bulb is burned out on the transmission mode display. I'll replace all the dash bulbs with LEDs at some point.

At David and Kat's suggestion, I've ordered a set of Rancho shocks, should improve the ride. I'm reluctant to remove the rear spring assisters though, as I do tow a 2 tonne trailer with the VX fairly regularly.

[David Wiltshire]

It was nice to meet you Michael I am sure the Rancho's will improve the ride immeasurably.

[Starglider]

That electric fan kit is definitely doing the job, temperature is pegged at 40% of the scale and doesn't budge after hours of high speed driving. Of course this is winter in the UK, summer in Texas is a different matter. New fuel filter is in, new MAF sensor hasn't arrived yet but the underfueling issue seems to have gone away for now.

Rancho shocks are also in; I got the local garage to do that as I don't have a spring compressor. The VX is riding a lot more like a car now, albeit a car with sports suspension. My wife definitely likes it more now. Had to install the rear shocks upside down due to clearance issues though! The USDM tires have been stripped (of peeling chrome) and powercoated; I'll put them on this weekend and take some photos.

Good news; the Autogas (LPG) place say they can drill the Alpine supercharger manifold for propane injectors no problem, there's enough clearance to get them right next to the ports so no safety issues (single central injector based LPG systems tend to make superchargers explode). So I will be installing the supercharger kit as soon as I have time, then taking the VX back to the Autogas place to get the dual-fuel capability back. I've got two hood scoops with stainless inserts to go on as well, haven't had time to modify the spare hood inset to take them yet.