Hey all,

Noob so be kind :)

If you had recently purchased a 2005 VRX AWD what mod's would you do?

What is the best air filter - I live in the tropics so heat is an issue.

I tell you what have done or am thinking:

- got Pioneer AVH 7650DVD head unit
- got 2 x headrest lcd's with dvd players linked up to head unit

- thinking of either leather or the faux leather seats (pending whether seat airbags are issue?)

Now - i'm not one for some of the more....cough cough....extreme mod's have seen on here :bowrofl: BUT am keen to make this baby mine :) if ya get what I mean.

Currently have a 99 SSS Pulsar in immac condition which I put Genie extractors, sports muffler, hi-flow air filter, led window washers and some cool spotties on.

Thoughts / suggestions pliz. Treat me gently lol.

Cant go wrong with some nice mags (18" minimum) and lowering.

Congrats on the purchase! Got any pics?

As far as suggestions go, I was in the same predicament as you when I bought mine. New rims are definately a must, as well as lowering (you'd be suprised at the difference) and a strut brace/sway bars. Stereo upgrade is a good idea, and some extractors will you give you a nice note. Personally I wouldn't bother with the K&N if you have just the stock snorkel setup, makes bugger all difference.

All in all it depends if you want to go faster (which you really cant without big $), or if you want to hit those turns nicer :)

Hi guys, thanks for the comments.

No pics yet am awaiting her arrival :-)

Great idea re: strut brace & sway bars. I didn't think of those as the Pussar came with them already.

I note you put the Navara Artic blue's in. Any good? How's the dash lighting etc? I put all blue LED's in the PUSSAR and loved the look.

Fairly decent, I was after a white light not blue and these seemed to do the trick. 100 times better than stock lights thats for sure. If your interested in handling mods for awd's do a search, there is lots of useful information on here.

I agree with Black Beard - lowering is a must. Even the sports models sit waaayyy too high from the factory. King Lows (~40mm drop on a VR-X) is a good start. They make a big difference to handling too.


Great idea re: strut brace & sway bars. I didn't think of those as the Pussar came with them already.

I think your VR-X would come with sway bars - I'm pretty sure the FWD versions do, so I imagine the AWDs would too. If you want better handling, it's worthwhile upgrading them to aftermarket products. I'd go for lowering first though - not only does it improve handling, but it makes the car look 10x better :cool:

Cheers Red. :D :cool:

Bump. :D

Any suggestions as to what brand etc for extractors? I saw some on Ebay for $650n stainless the other day.

What about a K&N pod filter. My main prob is I live in Darwin so never cool etc. My best mate says pod will do nothing cause no cool air inflow unless I have that modded - he says stick with the flat high-flow.

Also - any thoughts on oil? I have read the review, which was excellent, but unfortunately it's very much southern aus focused as in terms of temp. Eg darwin's temp range in dry season (your winter) is 20-odd to 30 and wet season (your spring & summer & autumn) is 24-odd to 35~.

I was thinking maybe a 20W-40 or 50? Or is that too thick?

Extractors. As far as i know, dont most people go for Pacemakers?

With the Air Filter, guessing by the weather and humidity, to see a real difference, you would have to mod it a bit. Best bet is to find out off members in the NT.

Cheers L :)

you are very limited in choice with extractors as awd's are different

i personally wouldnt bother, the gain on a stock motor isnt woth the outlay!

if you did go for them i'd reccommend them, there are others but the long primary designs of the others will reduce ground clearance.... the are also mandrel bent and not pressbent like others and have a decent warranty, as well as stainless steel coping better and lasting longer then mild steel in high temp applications... but dont get them, they dont give you a miracle 10kw

be careful with the exhaust as it will be very loud and droany... if you like that then go for your life, i would keep it stock in the intake exh department... if you wanted to do anything at all there all i'd do is swap the cat to a larger size metal cat and thats all

the best bang for buck mod would be to get a uni chip/haltech interceptor and get it tuned, you could pick up as much as 10kw (thats 10real kw not fake ones like the 20kw ppl reckon they get from exh mods)

the benefit to that too would be better economy

forget the strutbrace, before you do that do the shocks springs and if you frrl its necessary upgrade the swaybars.... all you need it the adjustable rear bar from whiteline.. but i think you will find it handles nicley stock, and slightly better on lowered springs..


stick with te factory filter, a k&N wont filter as well as the stock filter which flows quite well
the was no difference on the 1/4 mile when i ran either

Cheers Andrew - appreciate your post. Something to chew on :)

BTW suggestions re: oil?

Where can I get the uni chip from?

just a note engine oil i was using fully synthetic 10w 40

but forget that, be more worried about the trans. engine dies, its an easy fix and your on the road cheaply!

trans dies... you are then poor! cos awd 5spd autos cost......!!!!! fit a trans cooler and get it flushed and get it serviced once a year.

unichip/haltech interceptor, check their websites for dealers

Never even heard of a trans cooler before. Sorry to be a pest, but can you elaborate? Any brand in part? Best oil?

Cheers. This has been most enlightening ;)

Out of curiousity, are there any drawbacks to tranny coolers? Why wouldn't they fit them standard?

And by the way, lets fill this thread up with useful info for AWD owners, I'm loving it so far.

they stabilist temprature of the trans, the killer of auto's is heat! not power... they do have one std, there is lines into the bottom of the radiator, after market coolers dont cost much, but its the cost for the reason why the arent fitted std i believe, only a few hundred dollars..

they should be fitted to all autos!! esp awd's as the box works harder and especially if you tow!!

a push out tug for a 747 has a trans cooler about the size of a massive front mount intercooler but twice as thich with two thermo fans on it! cos they cant afford for them to fail lol

my cooler is a K&J im told its a decent size looks small to me though :confused: cos $150 when i had my trans serviced...

btw only use the correct grade trans fluid, prefferably buy it from mitsu spare parts as its usually cheaper there than at the auto stores..

Top stuff Andrew. Agree V - lets keep the interesting AWD stuff flowing.

So - any part brand that is reliable?

So at this stage the best mods I can do are:
- 17 or 18' wheels
- adjustable strut bar for rear
- lowered
- haltech interceptor
- tranny cooler (lol isn't that where you just stick them in a freezer? :bowrofl: )

Hmm may look into a tranny cooler then...

Paul, I think you mean rear sway bar. Also, if your going to get new rims for the love of god get some good tyres. They make a huge difference to the car. Don't even hesitate about lowering, you will crap your pants with how good the car feels afterwards.

hey V - yeah soz about that meant the sway bar lol :redface:

Any brand of tyres u recommend. BTW your "ride" looks pretty sweet :)

Thanks mate. Any of the major brands produce some decent tyres; most of which were recently compared in a Wheels magazine. Good read if you can find it. But just remember, you can't run tyres wider than 225 on the awd.

I wanted a silver or a white AWD but only found a white one - which I am stoked at cause 2005 model with only 30K on clock.

Found these guys - http://www.daviescraig.com.au/main/display.asp?pid=12

Anyone had any dealings with them? I like that they are an Aussie company and they are sold through major retailers such as Independent and Autobarn.

20's? air baggs!?:shock:

well only if you say so!:badgrin:

20's? air baggs!?:shock:

well only if you say so!:badgrin:

Say whaaaa??

sounds kooky, but try to find 100kg of things that you don't need to lug around, its the cheapest way of getting better performance. Start with the spare.

Hey Tbb, thanks. Will look into that.

Has anyone here got HID lights? Are they standard on the vrx?

Hey V - have you changed any of the internal and/or external lights (i.e. covers and/or globes?)

seriously, do the trans cooler as well. These transmissions are under a lot of stress.

Hey Tbb, thanks. Will look into that.

Has anyone here got HID lights? Are they standard on the vrx?

Hey V - have you changed any of the internal and/or external lights (i.e. covers and/or globes?)

Not aussie mitsu has HID lights. Some may have aftermarket ones retrofitted.

Has anyone on here got the Haltech interceptor? Thoughts?

there was some one one here who had a late model awd with haltech and a few other mods and had a reasonable power increase something like 116awkw up from around 100-105awkw

myself i slotted in a sprintex s/c and got a best of 188awkw but setttled on 175awkw

i'd do a search for some of barrys kits the earthing kit and the fuel rail kit, only heard good things about them! they arent going to give you a million hp, but the extra smoothness would be really noticed in the awd

there was some one one here who had a late model awd with haltech and a few other mods and had a reasonable power increase something like 116awkw up from around 100-105awkw

myself i slotted in a sprintex s/c and got a best of 188awkw but setttled on 175awkw

i'd do a search for some of barrys kits the earthing kit and the fuel rail kit, only heard good things about them! they arent going to give you a million hp, but the extra smoothness would be really noticed in the awd

I have got 117Kws ATW with my AWD. Don't know whether I am the one you were thinking of?
Ralliart Motor, NZ CAI, full 2.5" exhaust + high flow cat, programmble ECU (C/O MMAL) running slightly advanced VRX profile. Have not had it dyno'ed since the new ECU.
Thinking of advancing the timing even further but need to be careful of knocking...no knock sensor.

I am hopeful of getting around 125Kws ATW....will update after dyno

You never know I might join you and get the S/C....one day...when I have enough mulla

cheers

Derry

there was some one one here who had a late model awd with haltech and a few other mods and had a reasonable power increase something like 116awkw up from around 100-105awkw

myself i slotted in a sprintex s/c and got a best of 188awkw but setttled on 175awkw

i'd do a search for some of barrys kits the earthing kit and the fuel rail kit, only heard good things about them! they arent going to give you a million hp, but the extra smoothness would be really noticed in the awd

Cheers Andrew.

Can I ask what "barry's kits"; "earthing kit" and "fuel rail" kits are? have done a search but it returns anything with "barry" & "kits" in it which is a few posts lol.

Have asked around at work as well with a few of the car guys an no one has heard of them.

Barry is a forum member who has made engine enhancements for Magna engines. He's just an enthusiast and he only does it for Magnas (I'm guessing), so that's why none of your mates have heard of him :P

The only thread I can find is the Throttle Body and Manifold Gasket (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38061) thread. Barry posted this link (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showpost.php?p=559969&postcount=41) to his other products, and it doesn't work. So either there's another thread I'm missing, or it was culled in the database cleanup the other month.