[Low Toy]

Wanted to start a build thread to document my progress on this thing. It's a 2008 model 2wd V6 manual. Picked it up cheap, needed new tyres, battery, timing chain, clutch, rear main seal and just major service which is all done. Did a 2000km (1250mile) trip recently and apart from using a bit of oil it was fine. Forgot to mention it has 200,000kms (125,000 miles) so the engine is a bit tired...

Immediate plans are a simple air suspension system and smooth out the body
Future plans are LS swap and completely redo the interior

 

[Low Toy]

Straight swapped my 4wd wheels/tyres for these 22" x 9.5" wheels with low profile tyres. They're a bit too wide so not sure if they'll stay on long term but I like the look better.

 

[Low Toy]

Forgot to take some photos of the bed but I've shaved the tailgate and relocated the handle to the inside and also put on a Grant Kustoms rollpan.
Notched the chassis over the weekend, now getting the triangulated 4 link and bag brackets all set up.
Haven't started the front, just took the torsion bars out so it'd sit lower.
Found a different fuel tank that will mount width ways behind the diff, just have to extend fuel lines and wiring and make some brackets, not sure where the filler neck will go yet.

 

[dirtwarrior]

nice. An 08 with v6?

 

[Low Toy]

nice. An 08 with v6?

Yep. Took a pic of the bed too.

 

[Talonxracer]

Nice ride!

There certainly are some distinctive differences between the Chevy and Holden Colorados

 

[Low Toy]

Nice ride!

There certainly are some distinctive differences between the Chevy and Holden Colorados

Thanks! What differences have you noticed? I know the front end is different and we don't have the rear suicide door on the extra cab. Other than that I thought they were pretty similar.
One of my headlights are cracked and my grill is damaged so I'm actually looking at swapping to the chev front end.

 

[Talonxracer]

The grill/front end lighting is different of course, and the windows behind the doors(where our suicide doors are) are larger/taller and the tailgate has a lip/spoiler built in. It is enough of a difference to be rather noticable, I like the differences!

 

[KM Richards]

It's a 2008 model 2wd V6

So, what kind of V6 does Holden put in their Colorados?
Is it like the GM 4.3L V6?

Did they also have a 5.3L V8 option?

I hear the Aussies are pretty wild down there, so what there a 6.2L V8 option?

 

[KM Richards]

Forgot to mention it has 200,000kms (125,000 miles) so the engine is a bit tired...

125k miles is nothing.

I normally get at least 250k out of my engines, but then again I like to tinker with my vehicles and keep them in good shape.

 

[Low Toy]

So, what kind of V6 does Holden put in their Colorados?
Is it like the GM 4.3L V6?
Did they also have a 5.3L V8 option?
I hear the Aussies are pretty wild down there, so what there a 6.2L V8 option?

It's a V6 out of our Holden Commodore. It's only a 3.6L. This is about the most high performance version we get, other options are 2.4 litre 4 cylinder or a 3 litre turbo diesel. We get those engines in our SS Commodores but none of our trucks have V8's, even newer models. No idea why.

125k miles is nothing.
I normally get at least 250k out of my engines, but then again I like to tinker with my vehicles and keep them in good shape.

I agree it isn't that much, my S10 Blazer has the 4.3 and 160,000 miles and is way healthier than my Colorado. These engines are known for timing chain issues and sludging up. I've only owned the car for 6 months and I've pulled the rocker covers and flushed the engine twice. There will be an LS swap in this trucks future.

 

[KM Richards]

I also have an S-10 that's fixing to go to a new home, and it has a little over 201,000 miles on it and it still runs great.

I put new AC Delco Iridium sparkin irons in recently and the ones that came out were perfectly dry after having been in for about 80k

Wish you lots of good times in your new ride!

The 3.6L V6 should be a good engine. I don't recall hearing that they are problematic.

Maybe it would help to run Amsoil in it 😎

 

[dirtwarrior]

The 3.6 he is talking about is a dohc and a real torque monster

 

[dirtwarrior]

3.6-litre V6 (157kW/313Nm)

210 hp 231 torque

 

[Low Toy]

Started making gas tank mounts. This tank is out of a sedan, going to be raising my bed floor by 4 1/2" inches so this will sit close to that height. Not sure where I'll put the filler, either in the bed floor or maybe I'll get fancy and hide it behind the taillight.

 

[KM Richards]

So, do you guys have like kangaroos that jump out in front of cars sometimes as they are driving down the highway?

Here in the southern part of the US, we have cows that do that sometimes and it can total a vehicle depending of course on how big the cow or bull is.

I always heard in Austrailia they had a lot of jumpy kangaroos

Great idea on the gas tank. You should be able to get a pretty big tank, or at least larger than stock!

 

[Low Toy]

So, do you guys have like kangaroos that jump out in front of cars sometimes as they are driving down the highway?

Here in the southern part of the US, we have cows that do that sometimes and it can total a vehicle depending of course on how big the cow or bull is.

I always heard in Australia they had a lot of jumpy kangaroos

Great idea on the gas tank. You should be able to get a pretty big tank, or at least larger than stock!

Yeh we do, I've had some close calls but never hit one. They are especially bad at night, there's always dead kangaroos on the side of highways from trucks hitting them.

I think this gas tank is about 1.5 gallons smaller, way shorter though, I'd never fit the stock tank in this location.

 

[KM Richards]

Man, my dream would be to put in like a 40 gallon tank!
That way I wouldn't have to stop fo petro as often on road trips.

kangaroos make me jumpy

I guess you can't shoot them to thin out the herd?
Are they protected by the gubment?

 

[Low Toy]

Man, my dream would be to put in like a 40 gallon tank!
That way I wouldn't have to stop fo petro as often on road trips.

kangaroos make me jumpy

I guess you can't shoot them to thin out the herd?
Are they protected by the gubment?

Yes, you can. There are so many they are classified as a pest, you just need to apply for a permit and there's a limit to how many each person can shoot.

I don't do many big trips in this truck so losing a bit of range doesn't bother me.

 

[KM Richards]

Yep, keeping it cool looking is always better than not having to stop for gas so often.

Looks like it's going to be pretty low to the ground.
Hope all things flow easily for you on the build.

May all your parts shopping be good deals! 👣