My '04 Monaro conversion...

[traumadog]

I had posted this elsewhere in pieces, so I figured I'd consolidate it here. My ride's a 2004 Pontiac GTO converted into a LHD Holden Monaro.

Some pics:
The exterior:




The interior:



Underhood - I tried my hand at airbrushing some Corvette fuel rail covers:



Underneath goes the sways and the brakes:




The new (left) vs. old front rotors:


And calipers to go with them:



And I do take this car out racing, though not the straight-line kind. Here's an autocross shot, before the conversion:

And even got some exposure in GM High-Tech Performance on their "Street Heat" page...

The net-net - last dyno 8/13/06, untuned:


List of mods:
Engine:
* K&N AirCharger short-ram intake & heat shield
* Hand ported/polished throttle-body w/ coolant bypass (courtesy New Era Performance)
* NGK TR55IX Iridium Spark Plugs (gap to 0.055 inch)
* SLP high-flow MAF
* Taylor "409" 10.4mm wires
* EFILive street tune in progress...

Transmission:
* B&M Ripper short-shifter kit
* Royal Purple Synchromax (transmission fluid)
* CAGS delete via EFILive

Exhaust:
* DynaTech long-tube headers w/ cats
* Magnaflow split-rear dual exhaust with SLP stainless x-pipe

Suspension/Brakes/Wheels:
* Hotchkis adjustable front/rear swaybars w/ Pedders end-links
* Pedders front "radius rod" bushings
* Hawk HPS front pads (Corvette C5 size)
* 2005 OEM calipers w/ Monaro decals (320mm vs 296 mm diameter rotors)
* DBA 4000 series 6x6 slotted rotors
* Russell braided stainless brake lines
* (summer) Stock 18x8 wheels / 235/40/18 Bridgestone RE040s
* (winter) Stock 17x8 wheels / 225/50/17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50

Body:
* 2005 Monaro VZ front bumper and working side marker repeaters
* Gravana Tuning Type W ("Woodward") hood
* Monaro/Commodore SS molded splash guards (painted Silver)
* Deleted spoiler, filled/painted stock holes
* Replaced Pontiac badging with Holden emblems front, rear, airbag and dash
* PYFC split-rear exhaust rear bumper inserts & exhaust tips

Interior/Electronics:
* Installed homemade dead pedal
* Hard-wired Valentine One radar detector w/ mount next to interior rear-view mirror
* Replaced gauge faces with UK-market Vauxhall Monaro black face
* Replaced the "GTO" lettering from the seatbacks with OEM plain leather

Pending install (the to-do list, they're sitting in my garage):
* ATE Super Blue Racing (brake fluid for the caliper swap)
* port/polish LS1 heads (OEM 241 casting)

Overall, the conversion is 99% complete - I even have a Holden key-fob/remote.

The only thing I'm missing is to get an owner's manual, and to get rid of the "Pontiac" from the start-up diagnostics on the gauges.

After that, I'll eventually get the heads and cam done, but now I'm taking my time.

Of course, if someone's got a cheap Procharger setup sitting around...

[tonyjnjz]

looks great man!!!! where in roch u from? this weather is killin me ....im in greece near dewey and britten.......new era do any of the work on yoru car? i graduated with mike....they did my clutch in the spring

[traumadog]

I'm over in Bushnell's Basin, and Mike put in my headers and ported my TB too.

Whenever I get "done", I'm going to have him tune it too.

[tonyjnjz]

just read through your mods...after doing all that work to it and plannning more your driving that thing through a roch winter? get a beater man...suv's are dirt cheap still after the high gas prices

[traumadog]

just read through your mods...after doing all that work to it and plannning more your driving that thing through a roch winter? get a beater man...suv's are dirt cheap still after the high gas prices

Oh, I've got other cars to play beaters - a '94 Saturn, and a '96 Camaro V6 'vert (the new project). I still have my Blizzaks mounted now "just in case", but I'm looking to keep it out of the snow.

[1MileCrash]

the only part i'm not diggin is the rear spoiler delete...but to each their own. otherwise looks awesome...no doubt turns a few heads too. overall very kool.

[tonyjnjz]

the only part i'm not diggin is the rear spoiler delete...but to each their own. otherwise looks awesome...no doubt turns a few heads too. overall very kool.

i like it w/o it ....ill keep my eye open for ya on the rd next summer.......i def wouldnt miss that car ....hood is a lil termi-like

[Camaro Kid Z/28]

Looks sweet,how long did it take you to complete it?

[traumadog]

Looks sweet,how long did it take you to complete it?

Thanks - it took about two years and one guardrail... lol


The only thing I'm pissed about is that I had the special-order inset Pontiac grilles on this one, and they were toast. I got them for $225, but they were selling used for over $400 earlier this year.

In any case, I made lemonade outta this lemon - and this is what I have now.

[TempleU_WS6]

Thats awesome, i really like what you did with it.

Where did you get all the Monaro pieces?

[traumadog]

Thats awesome, i really like what you did with it.

Where did you get all the Monaro pieces?

www.jhp.com.au, mostly. Otherwise some odds-and-ends off www.ebay.com.au too.

[9t8z28]

Awesome!

[cammed goat]

I have seen this car in person and TD has done a great job. I see ya changed the hood, exhaust and rims as well. Nice job!

[third_shift|studios]

Looks great!

[traumadog]

Thanks all! Can't wait for the white stuff to go away and bring it out again. Now the big question is - what's next... lol

[balls deep]

nice monaro, a friend of mine have an 04 conversion as well with ccw 5 of 5s and red interior this guy did everything right down to the key and iv yet to see one done as nice or complete but yours is up there keep it up they make for a real nice gto.