I know of at least three families in our small rural Waikato community who owned these (in 5 speed manual) back when new, basically it was a choice between these or a cheap Japanese van like L300 if you have three or more kids. Decent 6 cyl Ford or Holdens were a lot more expensive. Awesome to see a survivor!
It's a pity Holden never built their experimental VP that used the 4 cylinder SAAB 2.3L turbo engine. Tough engine, apparently worked well in the Commodore with light weight and 150kW + it used less fuel than the V6. Holden almost got the deal done because SAAB was keen due to their engine plant being under-utilised, but Detroit knocked it on the head when they got wind of it.
@@andrewbaans7400 you are correct. And it was a Red not a blue. Had they made it out of the blue 3.3 (which as it didn't rev it needed more capacity)', with the blues better Counter weighted crack and ability to breathe slightly better.... It would have been slightly better.....
The stripe in the bumper is correct for early VN Berlina (even in Aus) - it changed to a chrome strip late in 1990 when the “series 2” VN update came out. Power windows were an option, not as common as you’d think either…you’re more likely to find a V8 Berlina with power windows than the V6 versions
I was working at GMH Elizabeth, With Production Quality Assurance when these cars were built. Catalytic converters were not fitted to NZ export models. Instead a straight piece of Exhaust pipe was bolted into place instead of the Converters
NZ also had a 2.0 litre 6 cylinder version of the VL Commodore. Contemporary reports were actually quite complimentary with the small 6 being even smoother than the 3 litre in the Australian VL. It's performance was actually almost on par with the mid sized 2 litre sedans of the time which is quite impressive given the VL was the next size up and at least 150 - 200 kg heavier.
Small capacity straight six engines are excellent in power to weight and torque numbers, but were stymied by price-per-cylinder registration fees which made the biggest six in the smallest car the best value. For the record, as far as I know, that was the Chrysler Centura with the 265 Hemi option.
I remember these. I was working at Fisherman Bend's Engineering/Prototype Division at the time. The original plan was to fit the 2.0L 6cyl version of the RB30 motor for the NZ market as their rego was a lot cheaper for vehicles that were 2.0L or smaller. Hence 2.0L motors in Mitsubishi Sigmas and Magnas for the NZ market as well. I can't remember the exact reason for the change, but it was the same reason that the RB30 was dropped. My recollection is that it was a massive change in the exchange rate between the Japanese Yen and the Australian Dollar at the time. We were running several VN prototypes with the RB30 initially, that then all changed. The Buick 3.8 was then used/adapted with lots of changes, needed because it was in a front wheel drive vehicle in the USA and the Family 2 (JE Camira motor) was converted from a front wheel drive set up to a rear-wheel-drive setup to suit the VN for export market.
@@JulianSortland petrol. The SAAB powered VP commodore was to be exported to an Asian country (I cannot remember which one) but GM in Detroit killed that project.
Do remember where the 3 speed transmission was sourced from? The JE Camira ran a TH125 designed for front wheel drive, was it another GM transmission, or was a 3 speed variation of the Jatco transmission used in the VL Commodore adapted to bolt up to the Family II engine?
Great video , I Have the factory holden repair manual for the 4 cylinder vn if you want some infomation. also it dosent have a cat because it runs on 95 leaded petrol.
Awesome to see this beast. I knew they were a thing in Asia and NZ but didn't know what the driveline was so thank you for letting us know. I have a 1990 5.0 VN Calais and love it. It's been in the family since 93
My Grandparents owned one of these for many years. It was a 1990, in red, had ROH mags, 5 speed borg warner manual trans, absolutely immaculate, all complete with a rare windscreen louver. I sold it for them for $1,800 here in NZ in 2012. I did think about keeping it as it drove really smoothly, was mechanically mint and also due to it seeming to be an oddity with a 4cylinder as well as being manual too. Great to see, and my grandfather who loved cars and has just passed, would've been impressed to have owned such a rare vehicle
I loved this motor in my camira. When I had it was 23 years old and had 250clicks and I gave it absolute hell and it revved hard. It helped that the rusty camira weighed less than a wet paper bag
VN Berlina series one had red pin striping where you are indicating but body coloured lower, series two VN Berlina had chrome pin striping with body painted lower.
I was working in a Holden dealers ship when the police started using the 2 Litre Camira in limited numbers. I don't know what they did to increase the horse power but do we know the end result was the Front wheel alignments were always miles out of spec and no one could work out why for quite sometime . We eventually discovered that the bodies of these police Camiras were actually twisting do to all the hard accelerations from a standing start. It probably says more about the weak bodies than the powerful engine though and yes, it's a true story.
Thanks for an interesting video. I have a 1998 VT Commodore Executive 3.8Lt in showroom condition but for 90K on the clock. It still has the new car smell. New subscriber Cheers
1:35 - Just a tip, you can't see the badge you're referring to due to the blur. Whether it's from a shallow depth of field (wide aperture setting) or done in post, you should try to be mindful of this.
@@NicholasCox85 Sorry for the late reply - I really appreciate feedback like this! I’m still an amateur and sometimes I only have the cars for a short time so I can’t go back and fix things up. But I’ll make sure it’s better in the future!
n13 Pulsars and Astras had same engine. You can tune them with Kalmaker software, there is a rotational idle setup within, sounds actual made. Back in the days Pulsars sounded like a Rotor crossed with biggest cam you ever heard lol This also means that CA18det would bolt strate up, would make for a cool sleeper ;)
@@JestaBl1tz the Pulsar, like the later ULP Camiras, ran a delco ECU. This VN is running a Bosch (leaded) setup, as used on JD Camira, VK and even XE/XF leaded models. You can’t tune those analog Bosch computers - the parameters are hardware defined, and they are very limited in what they can do. They are really just 70s BMW EFI technology, running a simple open loop fuel program, with no capacity for lambda (closed loop) operation like the Delco does. You can see why GMH had to go Delco for ULP, just like Ford switched the 4.1L EFI to EECiv.
@@commodorenut Doh my bad. I assumed they was just the same. I had even forgotten they was Delco. Still the CA18DEt option will bolt up to the trans lol Cheers for reply
@@JestaBl1tz yep, Nissan were way ahead of GMH with tech in the 80s. I think you’re onto something with that trans - I remember they were used in the Gazelle and Pintara with the CA18 which would have made it a no-brainer for it to slot cheaply into this VN.
@@commodorenut Yup. I bolted my Ca18det up to my factory n13 pulsar Auto, went through a couple before going manual So yes the gazelle or Pintara's would be the same for you to do. The stock ca18de's with the +T do really well. Everything bolts on. I can see a cheap sleeper/ project ;)
@@JestaBl1tz Gibson racing’s Bluebirds showed the true potential for the CA with a turbo. Hand grenades on wheels when boosted high for Hardies Heroes, but reliable power in “race mode” with less boost.
We brought a Holden Station wagon 4 cylinder powered in new the 1980s and had a good run with it. As the 6 cylinder at the time we brought was $6000 dearer as the government brought out a ruling that the bigger engines would be taxed higher because of the fuel crisis.
There's a guy who has a Holden Commodore museum. He's got every optioned Holden Commodore that was exported to numerous other countries with some odd engines. The museum is on Holden Rd Bertram. I recommend it. 👍
Electric fan is also JE Camira. It will be an Aussie made 2.0L family 2 engine, as they made hundreds of thousands of them for export. The injection is Bosch, and it’s a VN specific airbox top to suit the VN bottom and A360 air filter (VK and Camira were a different size). This is why it doesn’t run a MAP, because the airflow meter measures the load. The reason it’s still leaded is because NZ didn’t go to mandatory ULP until 1996 - so 10 years after Australia. You are right with the head unit - they never went in Aussie VNs (2 generations of Eurovox were used).
The Philips head unit was actually used in the VN(designated VG in ute form) and earlier VP Utes for some reason, in 1992/93 they began using the Eurovox sourced head units in the utes for commonisation purposes, the rest of them were as you say Eurovox.
I'm pretty sure that they still ran on leaded petrol in NZ like the Nissan RB20E powered Holden VL Commodore did which wasn't available as an option in Australia,so they never ran a catalytic converter & an o2 sensor. The 4.11:1 diff gears were needed to make use of what torque was available from the 2 litre engine & it was the same deal as the Nissan RB20E powered VL Commodore, those engines needed to rev harder to produce more torque the lower diff gears increased rear wheel torque !
They first did this in Australia with the VC commodore. It had the 4 cylinder 1.8Lt Aluminium paneling made it light. They were available in limited quantities I also heard they were constructed in Germany (unconfirmed) The RB20 in NZ’s VL commodores were sensational engines. It’s just a shame Australia didn’t get them
Yip, NZ received a load of these VN cam tech cars although all in station wagon variety. Most became company cars which were loaded to the hilt and consequently gutless as! Did a few head gasket jobs on them also
I remember Holden had a stand in Westfield in Hornsby, claiming that the Apollo was the biggest 4 cylinder Holden ever. I had to correct her. I had a job interview at a radio station in Nowra, where they picked people up at the railway station across the river. The Commodore had a fairly basic looking radio - we worked out it must have been to monitor the AM signal in stereo.
I hate to be that bloke but i reckon this is awesome, the rodeo 2.4l petrol would bolt straight in, they only come manual also, the 5 speed would bolt straight up to the family II motor thats in it now, 20xe head would bolt straight too it aswell, been doing a little research on these engines 😂 would love to put one in each commodore type 🤣🤦🏾 just that typa bloke 😂😂 the Brazilians love them also! Turbo and all! 🤙🏾 Thank you for going into this classic historic aussie vn commodore
I just watched dessert collectors on channel 7mate and a guy has a white vn 4 cylinder in WA it says ROYAL on the number plate. He has a huge collection i even seen a vs commodore 2.6 rb he said holden called them saturday cars. Funny thing is though he said his vn 4cyl is the only one in Australia aswell.
Very awesome video. I noticed the rear window brake light ,is that different? And the interior light near the handles is that another difference? It's a very nice looking car. I remember working on Camiras back in the day. We we're always replacing head gaskets and heads they always over heated. And burnt oil .
I drive around a Kia Cerato (same as a Hyundai Elantra) that also has a 2L 4 cylinder and weighs around 1300kg. Not particularly powerful or economical but does the job. It has twin cams though.
❤our Australian cousins, here in the UK we mostly had only the four cylinder in the GM equivilant (Vauxhall Omega / Cavalier), a V8 Omega would have been insane here. Perhaps why the Vauxhall Monaro (Holden) when it was finally imported became such a cult car.
I am from the Netherland and i can can tell u this is a Opel engine 100% its used in many many Opel models like Corsa A -Astra F -Calibra -Manta B- Rekord E -Omega A -Vectra A u had them in small and big version lol 1,3-1.6L where the small version and 1,8 and 2.0 where the big version this 2.0 ohc engine was the basis for the 16v valve engine and the 16v turbo block used in Calibra and Vectra.. These engine are well build and last forever execpt they have what i personly see a few cons vs the previous generation engine,these all have timing belts and these all have the design that the waterpump need turned to put the timing belt under tension (its out of centre its a simple design)...........And these engine have the cam straight above the lifters so wenn u have a noisy lifter its not a as easy to fix vs on the old gen engines that had rocker arms (or how u call them). These are really good engines if maintained well and parts are cheap and plentyfull,they are not that powerfull in 4cyl 8valve version and these engines where the base engine in the Omega A if i remember well (maybe they had the 1.8 for a short time if my memory serves me well) Its 100% a German made and designed engine,just as the Bosch LE jetronic efi system
@@Berniessen yeah opel (ex gm europe) used it. It was designed and built in victoria, australia by GMH ( GM Australia) for use worldwide. It started life as the camtech 4.
We used to send em to europe and get them back in vectras etc lol. My brother in law worked in the engine assembly llants in victoria and south australia building these engines. Just coz they stuck an opel cam cover on it doesnt mean opel made it. Or do you believe the Vauxhall VXR 5.7 litre v8 was made in tne UK (COUGHHOLDEN MONAROCOUGH)?
@@sugarnads You're spot on. One place where I worked used to machine the cast alloy sumps that went on the later 90s Family 2 motors build in Fisherman's Bend, and exported to Europe. Holden relied on those Family 2 exports from '82 right through to the end of the tariffs period, to offset import tariffs on their imported smaller cars, and commercial vehicles (like the Barina, Shuttle, Rodeo, Jackaroo, TS onwards Astra etc) and keep them price-competitive. Toyota also exported for the same reason.
@@jonathanparle8429it varies by model, and the type of sheet. The A4 production broadcast dates back to the 70s (and earlier) and ran until April 1990. Very rare to find in commodores VK and earlier. About a 75% chance in VL, and 90% chance in VN (I started collecting them in the 90s, and have hundreds, possibly over 1000 all up). You can also find them in Camiras and Geminis (rwd & fwd). From April 1990 the PBS was discontinued and the way they noted what parts to fit on each body changed to various sheets for different sub assemblies - crash pad, doors, front end etc. The common one to find under the front floors is the A5 size strut assembly sheet. It covers the variations in the front hub, brakes, spring & shock assembly, but in smaller print at the top it also lists all the car’s ordering codes (standard and optional parts) data. Almost every late VN thru to VS2 introduction will have one. Ute, sedan, wagon - 99% of the time in the front footwell (for the most part it’s LH for earlier ones, RH for VR/VS, but it can vary depending on the employee on the day). This sheet changed again in VS2 to an A4 size, with more info. By VY it was about 7-8 sheets to cover the car. You would be winning lotto if you found sheets in VT-VE as the system changed several more times (but only in small ways) as the models progressed. They still used sheets, but removed them on the line, and many more sub assemblies had stickers to identify which car they were for, rather than sheets. That being said, I’ve found PBSs stuck to the roof with the mirror screws punched through them, and I’ve found them behind the rear seat backrest. For the most part in earlier VNs they will be in the LH rear footwell.
Back in the day the old Victorian State Electricity Commission thought it a good idea to buy some of these. The young Engineers beat them to death. I shared a house with one such young Engineer, he held one throttle wide open from the suburbs of Melbourne to Yallourn.
I had VE(?) one... Until I tried to pull a boat up a hill on a major road in melbourne... Got 1/2 way up and it said NO YOUR NOT... had to back it down the hill at 5:30pm on a Friday night... NIGHTMARE!!!! sold it the following week.
Very rare find indeed, it’s not unusual in Aussie car history. Especially with Holdens. The HQ (and probably later model) Kingswoods came out with a 120 cubic inch (2.0L) red motor which only went to NZ. There was also a HJ Premier that went to Japan badged as a Mazda and powered by a rotary. Although not successfully, this was sold as a luxury car at the time.
We used to talk about it when I was in high school back in the 90s. It was like a myth. Probably someone's cousin knew a guy who had one; or so the legend goes.
It certainly has some weird features but as a basic car it's seems reasonable. The dash board is a bit strange and it seems to be an S-Pack version. I'm not sure about the Berlinas but the Executives - which is what this is closest to, never had a tacho.
@@commodorenut What you suggest is true but this isn't a Berlina as we knew them. This is supposed to be a very basic entry level model. All very strange.
Nah identical on the vieuw the 1.6 is a scaled down version of the 1.8 and 2.0 transmissions wont fit if i can remember correct as u have the small 1.3-16L version and the 1.8 and 2.0L version.
The VL RB20 was hugely popular in New Zealand, the base was cheaper than the Australian built Camira that had reappeared after a few years of locally assembled Isuzu Asko badged as a Camira. I think a similar high spec CKD VL was only $800 more than the Oz built top Camira model. Drove a 91 top spec Camira manual 5 speed a few years ago while waiting for new starter motor for my 96 Renault Laguna manual, what a piece of sh!t, as a kid the local magazines praised the newly reintroduced Camira for its 30% horsepower increase over the 1800cc carby Japan sourced version. I found it sluggish compared to Laguna despite having similar spec 2.0 sohc engines. As for design and build quality the Laguna feels 20 years or 2 generations ahead. So a family 2 powered VN must be abortion, never driven one but had one in the driveway occasionally as a teenager thanks to my mum's NZ government job, her usual car was a Tredia but also a Lada Samara sometimes appeared. A 2.0 VN might have worked with a Nissan RB perhaps a DE, or a fleet special based on the Chevy 2.8 V6. Ironically during the 2000's I've seen Opel straight 6 2.6 and V6 2.5 dohc powered mid 90's Commodores in local you pull (PickaPart) yards locally.
Wernt the vl gearbox 4 speed auto, 3 manual select gears, and the orange button for 4th or over drive? 4.11s interesting, I removed 4.11 gears from a pintara back in the day and bolted them in my VS S3 Maloo.
@@galactica1980There was no VB 4. The starfire didn’t go into a Commodore until August 1980, which was 5 months after the VC launched. 13 months later when the VH launched, it got the option of a 5 speed. The same Australian assembled 5 speed went into other locally assembled 4s like the Sigma & bluebird, as well as the 2.85 VH.
That lens you are using is great for talking head videos, but it was totally useless for this as it was or should have been about the car and not you. A very interesting piece by you with the background info spoiled by the wrong lens.
We in Europe had many many many many many of these VN-VS shells and they where called Opel Omega A or the luxery version the Senator B and the Omega had 4 and 6 cyl engines and the Senator B had only 6 cyl engines..........We never had the v8 option. Overhere these chassies always had a 4 speed auto boxes or a manual 5 speed box. What powersteering system u have? Does it have a Holden p/s rack and pinion system or the Opel recircling ball system?
They may look similar, but the Australian ones are not the same, and were developed much further. Right from the '78 VB we had a locally made rack & pinion steering system on Australian V-cars. Our engines were locally assembled, and were unique to Australia until the RB30 in VL, and Buick 3800 in VN. The local V8 continued until '99.
I had a white one of these 4-cylinder VN in New Zealand, 5-speed manual. Worst car I've ever owned. Didn't last long before the motor ran a bearing because it needed to be driven so hard all the time just to keep up with traffic. Sold it to a guy with a crashed v8 who needed the body to swap his running gear into.
Yes. RB30 was planned to continue until VP, and development mules did run the RB30 (one was even a stretched VL wagon to hide the VN "chassis") but by late 87 the AU$ vs Yen was so crap, that Holden were losing money on SL, Exec & Berlina VL 6s. Only the V8s and Calais were profitable. The Buick was rushed into place for the VN. We never should have had the early one with the rear thermostat - what we were supposed to start with (in VP) was the VP-spec V6 that was introduced in the 1990 VN update.
Mate are you sure vn berlinas had power windows? From my memory, it was the vp that had power windows, but it was only fronts! The Vn Berlina was still quite basic, with better seats and colour coded bumpers. It wasn’t until the Vr that berlina had power windows standard. It also was the first to have a level 3 dash. There was a Berlina LX- I believe that was during Vp- an option that gave a lot of Calais features including climate control and 4 power windows.
That is correct - VN Berlina was optional power windows - A31 option code (and it was all 4 or nothing). VP introduced the 2 fronts only (A32 option code). The popularity of the VP Berlina LX is why VR Berlina got the power pack and extra goodies as standard.
The family II range of engines we're mass produced in Europe aswell, with different cylinder head types, the latest version of the sohc family II motor is the c24se out of the ra rodeo and isuzu sometimes, only came manual also
So why didn’t you show us an up close view of the engine badge? Just out of focus distant view. Tip - when shooting a video, remember what you talked about and go back and make close ups and cut to them in the edit.
Sounds like it was sold in very low numbers. Even though made mostly from parts bin components there must be some unique parts in it. Would have cost a fair bit to engineer it and the line for production, meaning quite a few sales needed just to break even on development costs. Or maybe they just lost money on that model.
Early VN had option of a 3 litre V6 they had no power steering AC a bare bones car I remember I seen one when I was working at burchfields in Deniliquin only reason I remember is they had to find a new serpentine belt as they are different to PS AC I think only about 50 were made from what I was told back in the day
It's a 4 speed auto... No car with a 3 speed and 4.11 gears with 15 inch wheels would sit at 2500 at 100. It would be closer to 4000. Also, they were made for leaded fuel which was still available in NZ at that time hence the lack of a catalytic converter.
I know of at least three families in our small rural Waikato community who owned these (in 5 speed manual) back when new, basically it was a choice between these or a cheap Japanese van like L300 if you have three or more kids. Decent 6 cyl Ford or Holdens were a lot more expensive. Awesome to see a survivor!
It's a pity Holden never built their experimental VP that used the 4 cylinder SAAB 2.3L turbo engine. Tough engine, apparently worked well in the Commodore with light weight and 150kW + it used less fuel than the V6. Holden almost got the deal done because SAAB was keen due to their engine plant being under-utilised, but Detroit knocked it on the head when they got wind of it.
Thank you brother for showing us this very rare commodore.👍🏼
Wow, I did not know the VN had a 4cyl variant too. I thought they learned their lessons with the Starfire-4.
The Starfire was just a really poor 4 cyl.... This while not being a rocket ship would have had more than a third more power...
I had a corona Star fire 4 , I called it the blue slug, it was a pretty good comfortable car but it wouldn’t wheel spin on a slimy boat ramp.🇦🇺
I think the starfire was a four cylinder version of the 2850.
@@andrewbaans7400 you are correct. And it was a Red not a blue. Had they made it out of the blue 3.3 (which as it didn't rev it needed more capacity)', with the blues better Counter weighted crack and ability to breathe slightly better.... It would have been slightly better.....
The stripe in the bumper is correct for early VN Berlina (even in Aus) - it changed to a chrome strip late in 1990 when the “series 2” VN update came out. Power windows were an option, not as common as you’d think either…you’re more likely to find a V8 Berlina with power windows than the V6 versions
The stripe was actually to determine whether it was a power pack or not.
Had a series 2 V8 Berlina with the red and black stripe from factory.
Agreed with the Power windows, definitely was not part of the standard kit on the locally delivered VN Berlina either.
I had a dark royal blue Berlina with power windows and cruise control.
Dad had a formula Berlina VN V6 growing up as a kid.
Mulberry was available on JE Camira. The power steer reservoir was also used on JD & JE Camira.
Could you get mulberry velour bucket seats?
@@bencordell1965 no. grey was interior most often deployed.
And 1989 Holden Jackaroo
I was working at GMH Elizabeth, With Production Quality Assurance when these cars were built. Catalytic converters were not fitted to NZ export models. Instead a straight piece of Exhaust pipe was bolted into place instead of the Converters
That's interesting, most of these were made in NZ at GM upper hutt I'm suprised you built them there as well
@@Flying_GCmade in nz until 1990
We probably know each other. PQAD Receiving for me at that time.
NZ also had a 2.0 litre 6 cylinder version of the VL Commodore. Contemporary reports were actually quite complimentary with the small 6 being even smoother than the 3 litre in the Australian VL. It's performance was actually almost on par with the mid sized 2 litre sedans of the time which is quite impressive given the VL was the next size up and at least 150 - 200 kg heavier.
Plenty of RB20DET swaps into VLs
Small capacity straight six engines are excellent in power to weight and torque numbers, but were stymied by price-per-cylinder registration fees which made the biggest six in the smallest car the best value. For the record, as far as I know, that was the Chrysler Centura with the 265 Hemi option.
@Frontman936 he was saying they came with a RB20E factory
@@TorquilBletchleySmythe Recall 2lt, 215 and 245 were the only factory options. Dropped a 265 in mine though. Scary car!
@@blowfly71 I've seen so many Centura 265s in my time, I just assumed they were a factory option. My bad 👍
Headunit is a Phillips brand. Is actually the same headunit that was standard in the EA falcon GL
I remember these. I was working at Fisherman Bend's Engineering/Prototype Division at the time. The original plan was to fit the 2.0L 6cyl version of the RB30 motor for the NZ market as their rego was a lot cheaper for vehicles that were 2.0L or smaller. Hence 2.0L motors in Mitsubishi Sigmas and Magnas for the NZ market as well. I can't remember the exact reason for the change, but it was the same reason that the RB30 was dropped. My recollection is that it was a massive change in the exchange rate between the Japanese Yen and the Australian Dollar at the time. We were running several VN prototypes with the RB30 initially, that then all changed. The Buick 3.8 was then used/adapted with lots of changes, needed because it was in a front wheel drive vehicle in the USA and the Family 2 (JE Camira motor) was converted from a front wheel drive set up to a rear-wheel-drive setup to suit the VN for export market.
You are right about the reason the RB30 was not used in the VN commodore. Did you work on the SAAB powered VP commodore project?
@@tomnewham1269 No I had left by then
@@tomnewham1269 Petrol SAAB, or Diesel? The diesel might have meant more corporate sales of the Ute.
@@JulianSortland petrol. The SAAB powered VP commodore was to be exported to an Asian country (I cannot remember which one) but GM in Detroit killed that project.
Do remember where the 3 speed transmission was sourced from? The JE Camira ran a TH125 designed for front wheel drive, was it another GM transmission, or was a 3 speed variation of the Jatco transmission used in the VL Commodore adapted to bolt up to the Family II engine?
Great video , I Have the factory holden repair manual for the 4 cylinder vn if you want some infomation.
also it dosent have a cat because it runs on 95 leaded petrol.
Awesome to see this beast. I knew they were a thing in Asia and NZ but didn't know what the driveline was so thank you for letting us know. I have a 1990 5.0 VN Calais and love it. It's been in the family since 93
The stereo was common in 80’s and early 90’d Nissans.
My Grandparents owned one of these for many years. It was a 1990, in red, had ROH mags, 5 speed borg warner manual trans, absolutely immaculate, all complete with a rare windscreen louver. I sold it for them for $1,800 here in NZ in 2012. I did think about keeping it as it drove really smoothly, was mechanically mint and also due to it seeming to be an oddity with a 4cylinder as well as being manual too. Great to see, and my grandfather who loved cars and has just passed, would've been impressed to have owned such a rare vehicle
Very sad the Echuca Holden Museum closed and had to sell off everything. I'm lucky to have had the chance to visit it.
I loved this motor in my camira. When I had it was 23 years old
and had 250clicks and I gave it absolute hell and it revved hard. It helped that the rusty camira weighed less than a wet paper bag
The 3 speed VL shifter was only ever in the V8's in Australia, which used the carry over trimatic 3 speed auto.
VN Berlina series one had red pin striping where you are indicating but body coloured lower, series two VN Berlina had chrome pin striping with body painted lower.
Another awsome video 🎉
Only 2500rpm at 100? Thats way higher geared than I’d have expected, especially with only a three speed! I’d have expected around 3000rpm.
Awesome video I've got a 2003 vy commodore berlina V6 auto.
When these came out I do vaguely remember seeing two tone on the Sydney streets. I remember think it was so odd to see two tone painting in new cars.
I was working in a Holden dealers ship when the police started using the 2 Litre Camira in limited numbers. I don't know what they did to increase the horse power but do we know the end result was the Front wheel alignments were always miles out of spec and no one could work out why for quite sometime . We eventually discovered that the bodies of these police Camiras were actually twisting do to all the hard accelerations from a standing start. It probably says more about the weak bodies than the powerful engine though and yes, it's a true story.
The 5-speed 2L Camira, bog-stock standard accelerated faster than a VN V6 auto - and both cars were no slouch back in the day.
Thanks for an interesting video. I have a 1998 VT Commodore Executive 3.8Lt in showroom condition but for 90K on the clock. It still has the new car smell. New subscriber Cheers
Awesome!
1:35 - Just a tip, you can't see the badge you're referring to due to the blur. Whether it's from a shallow depth of field (wide aperture setting) or done in post, you should try to be mindful of this.
@@NicholasCox85 Sorry for the late reply - I really appreciate feedback like this! I’m still an amateur and sometimes I only have the cars for a short time so I can’t go back and fix things up.
But I’ll make sure it’s better in the future!
n13 Pulsars and Astras had same engine. You can tune them with Kalmaker software, there is a rotational idle setup within, sounds actual made.
Back in the days Pulsars sounded like a Rotor crossed with biggest cam you ever heard lol
This also means that CA18det would bolt strate up, would make for a cool sleeper ;)
@@JestaBl1tz the Pulsar, like the later ULP Camiras, ran a delco ECU. This VN is running a Bosch (leaded) setup, as used on JD Camira, VK and even XE/XF leaded models. You can’t tune those analog Bosch computers - the parameters are hardware defined, and they are very limited in what they can do. They are really just 70s BMW EFI technology, running a simple open loop fuel program, with no capacity for lambda (closed loop) operation like the Delco does. You can see why GMH had to go Delco for ULP, just like Ford switched the 4.1L EFI to EECiv.
@@commodorenut Doh my bad.
I assumed they was just the same. I had even forgotten they was Delco.
Still the CA18DEt option will bolt up to the trans lol
Cheers for reply
@@JestaBl1tz yep, Nissan were way ahead of GMH with tech in the 80s. I think you’re onto something with that trans - I remember they were used in the Gazelle and Pintara with the CA18 which would have made it a no-brainer for it to slot cheaply into this VN.
@@commodorenut Yup. I bolted my Ca18det up to my factory n13 pulsar Auto, went through a couple before going manual So yes the gazelle or Pintara's would be the same for you to do.
The stock ca18de's with the +T do really well. Everything bolts on.
I can see a cheap sleeper/ project ;)
@@JestaBl1tz Gibson racing’s Bluebirds showed the true potential for the CA with a turbo. Hand grenades on wheels when boosted high for Hardies Heroes, but reliable power in “race mode” with less boost.
Thanks for sharing, the users manual referred to a 2.0L export model / engine and I always wanted to know what it was when we had one in the 90s
Can't say I've seen a white head liner in a VN- and it has the Berlina/Calais map reading lights in the rear too.
Awesome. Really interesting. That donk was great in the JE camira
I remember those Philips head units. Some of them were AM MONO FM STEREO and some of them were AM STEREO FM STEREO.
We brought a Holden Station wagon 4 cylinder powered in new the 1980s and had a good run with it. As the 6 cylinder at the time we brought was $6000 dearer as the government brought out a ruling that the bigger engines would be taxed higher because of the fuel crisis.
There's a guy who has a Holden Commodore museum. He's got every optioned Holden Commodore that was exported to numerous other countries with some odd engines. The museum is on Holden Rd Bertram. I recommend it. 👍
Electric fan is also JE Camira. It will be an Aussie made 2.0L family 2 engine, as they made hundreds of thousands of them for export. The injection is Bosch, and it’s a VN specific airbox top to suit the VN bottom and A360 air filter (VK and Camira were a different size). This is why it doesn’t run a MAP, because the airflow meter measures the load.
The reason it’s still leaded is because NZ didn’t go to mandatory ULP until 1996 - so 10 years after Australia.
You are right with the head unit - they never went in Aussie VNs (2 generations of Eurovox were used).
The Philips head unit was actually used in the VN(designated VG in ute form) and earlier VP Utes for some reason, in 1992/93 they began using the Eurovox sourced head units in the utes for commonisation purposes, the rest of them were as you say Eurovox.
The je camera which had the 20l had map sensor not a mass air flow meter the 1985 jd 18l had port injection with mass air flow meter
I'm pretty sure that they still ran on leaded petrol in NZ like the Nissan RB20E powered Holden VL Commodore did which wasn't available as an option in Australia,so they never ran a catalytic converter & an o2 sensor.
The 4.11:1 diff gears were needed to make use of what torque was available from the 2 litre engine & it was the same deal as the Nissan RB20E powered VL Commodore, those engines needed to rev harder to produce more torque the lower diff gears increased rear wheel torque !
They first did this in Australia with the VC commodore.
It had the 4 cylinder 1.8Lt
Aluminium paneling made it light.
They were available in limited quantities
I also heard they were constructed in Germany (unconfirmed)
The RB20 in NZ’s VL commodores were sensational engines. It’s just a shame Australia didn’t get them
Yip, NZ received a load of these VN cam tech cars although all in station wagon variety. Most became company cars which were loaded to the hilt and consequently gutless as! Did a few head gasket jobs on them also
I remember Holden had a stand in Westfield in Hornsby, claiming that the Apollo was the biggest 4 cylinder Holden ever. I had to correct her.
I had a job interview at a radio station in Nowra, where they picked people up at the railway station across the river. The Commodore had a fairly basic looking radio - we worked out it must have been to monitor the AM signal in stereo.
Rear map lights in a supposedly pov pack model interesting
I hate to be that bloke but i reckon this is awesome, the rodeo 2.4l petrol would bolt straight in, they only come manual also, the 5 speed would bolt straight up to the family II motor thats in it now, 20xe head would bolt straight too it aswell, been doing a little research on these engines 😂 would love to put one in each commodore type 🤣🤦🏾 just that typa bloke 😂😂 the Brazilians love them also! Turbo and all! 🤙🏾
Thank you for going into this classic historic aussie vn commodore
I remember in our tune/lube books this car was in there but it wasn’t a model in Australia.
I just watched dessert collectors on channel 7mate and a guy has a white vn 4 cylinder in WA it says ROYAL on the number plate. He has a huge collection i even seen a vs commodore 2.6 rb he said holden called them saturday cars. Funny thing is though he said his vn 4cyl is the only one in Australia aswell.
My 89 VN APV has electric windows, mirrors, antenna, cruise, and has a grey and black pinstripe.
4:11 gears is what Nissan put into the 2 litre R31 Pintara due to lack of torque compared to the 3.88 gears in 3 litre Skyline.
Manual R31 6 Cyls had 3.7s
@@svd032 Never seen one, but I'll take your word going by your pic.
Very awesome video. I noticed the rear window brake light ,is that different? And the interior light near the handles is that another difference? It's a very nice looking car. I remember working on Camiras back in the day. We we're always replacing head gaskets and heads they always over heated. And burnt oil .
I drive around a Kia Cerato (same as a Hyundai Elantra) that also has a 2L 4 cylinder and weighs around 1300kg. Not particularly powerful or economical but does the job. It has twin cams though.
That's the one Ted Bullpit traded his Kingswood for !!!! Totally ICONIC !!!🙂😏
Hey I've got one nz the same motor great car I love it 1989 year.
❤our Australian cousins, here in the UK we mostly had only the four cylinder in the GM equivilant (Vauxhall Omega / Cavalier), a V8 Omega would have been insane here. Perhaps why the Vauxhall Monaro (Holden) when it was finally imported became such a cult car.
The engine really isn't from Opel (but sorta is) as these motors were build by Holden and exported for many years, supplying Opel, Vauxhall etc.
Camtech 4 if i remember
I am from the Netherland and i can can tell u this is a Opel engine 100% its used in many many Opel models like Corsa A -Astra F -Calibra -Manta B- Rekord E -Omega A -Vectra A u had them in small and big version lol 1,3-1.6L where the small version and 1,8 and 2.0 where the big version this 2.0 ohc engine was the basis for the 16v valve engine and the 16v turbo block used in Calibra and Vectra..
These engine are well build and last forever execpt they have what i personly see a few cons vs the previous generation engine,these all have timing belts and these all have the design that the waterpump need turned to put the timing belt under tension (its out of centre its a simple design)...........And these engine have the cam straight above the lifters so wenn u have a noisy lifter its not a as easy to fix vs on the old gen engines that had rocker arms (or how u call them).
These are really good engines if maintained well and parts are cheap and plentyfull,they are not that powerfull in 4cyl 8valve version and these engines where the base engine in the Omega A if i remember well (maybe they had the 1.8 for a short time if my memory serves me well)
Its 100% a German made and designed engine,just as the Bosch LE jetronic efi system
@@Berniessen yeah opel (ex gm europe) used it.
It was designed and built in victoria, australia by GMH ( GM Australia) for use worldwide.
It started life as the camtech 4.
We used to send em to europe and get them back in vectras etc lol.
My brother in law worked in the engine assembly llants in victoria and south australia building these engines.
Just coz they stuck an opel cam cover on it doesnt mean opel made it.
Or do you believe the Vauxhall VXR 5.7 litre v8 was made in tne UK (COUGHHOLDEN MONAROCOUGH)?
@@sugarnads You're spot on. One place where I worked used to machine the cast alloy sumps that went on the later 90s Family 2 motors build in Fisherman's Bend, and exported to Europe.
Holden relied on those Family 2 exports from '82 right through to the end of the tariffs period, to offset import tariffs on their imported smaller cars, and commercial vehicles (like the Barina, Shuttle, Rodeo, Jackaroo, TS onwards Astra etc) and keep them price-competitive.
Toyota also exported for the same reason.
Pull out the build sheet from in-front of passenger seat underneath the carpet, that will prove more stats and unknowns on this vn
Did they do that with all the Commodores? Interesting. I never knew that.
@@jonathanparle8429it varies by model, and the type of sheet.
The A4 production broadcast dates back to the 70s (and earlier) and ran until April 1990. Very rare to find in commodores VK and earlier. About a 75% chance in VL, and 90% chance in VN (I started collecting them in the 90s, and have hundreds, possibly over 1000 all up). You can also find them in Camiras and Geminis (rwd & fwd).
From April 1990 the PBS was discontinued and the way they noted what parts to fit on each body changed to various sheets for different sub assemblies - crash pad, doors, front end etc.
The common one to find under the front floors is the A5 size strut assembly sheet. It covers the variations in the front hub, brakes, spring & shock assembly, but in smaller print at the top it also lists all the car’s ordering codes (standard and optional parts) data. Almost every late VN thru to VS2 introduction will have one. Ute, sedan, wagon - 99% of the time in the front footwell (for the most part it’s LH for earlier ones, RH for VR/VS, but it can vary depending on the employee on the day).
This sheet changed again in VS2 to an A4 size, with more info. By VY it was about 7-8 sheets to cover the car.
You would be winning lotto if you found sheets in VT-VE as the system changed several more times (but only in small ways) as the models progressed. They still used sheets, but removed them on the line, and many more sub assemblies had stickers to identify which car they were for, rather than sheets.
That being said, I’ve found PBSs stuck to the roof with the mirror screws punched through them, and I’ve found them behind the rear seat backrest. For the most part in earlier VNs they will be in the LH rear footwell.
Pretty adorable
Back in the day the old Victorian State Electricity Commission thought it a good idea to buy some of these. The young Engineers beat them to death. I shared a house with one such young Engineer, he held one throttle wide open from the suburbs of Melbourne to Yallourn.
I have seen a couple of these come up for sale here in NZ in the last two or so years
I had VE(?) one... Until I tried to pull a boat up a hill on a major road in melbourne... Got 1/2 way up and it said NO YOUR NOT... had to back it down the hill at 5:30pm on a Friday night... NIGHTMARE!!!! sold it the following week.
I had a VN Calais V8 in NZ many years ago, I also used to have an XW Fairmont V8, I really wish now that I never sold either of them 🤦🏻
Holden did offer 4 cylinder commodores in Australia as an option
Very rare find indeed, it’s not unusual in Aussie car history. Especially with Holdens. The HQ (and probably later model) Kingswoods came out with a 120 cubic inch (2.0L) red motor which only went to NZ. There was also a HJ Premier that went to Japan badged as a Mazda and powered by a rotary. Although not successfully, this was sold as a luxury car at the time.
From description it's an executive with berlina trim vl paint and auto maybe early built for NZ only...
These were povo pack in nz. They were ckd assembled at GMH Trentham, Alexander Road, Upper Hutt. Gutless, and less efficient than the 3.8 V6.
My VN Berlina V6 had the red pin striping and wind up windows too
Used to see these in recall campaign listings in dealership days but never laid eyrs on any in Oz
We used to talk about it when I was in high school back in the 90s. It was like a myth. Probably someone's cousin knew a guy who had one; or so the legend goes.
Cool car.
I'd take that motor over the starfire any day of the week! I owned a Corona with a starfire in it and it was absolutely terrible
Wow never knew about these. Given the engine is from the camira when does it spit the spark plugs out?
It certainly has some weird features but as a basic car it's seems reasonable. The dash board is a bit strange and it seems to be an S-Pack version. I'm not sure about the Berlinas but the Executives - which is what this is closest to, never had a tacho.
It is a normal Berlina dash (Level 2). Berlina was standard with a tacho.
@@commodorenut What you suggest is true but this isn't a Berlina as we knew them. This is supposed to be a very basic entry level model. All very strange.
My Pop had a VN Berlina, with wind up windows…. Pretty sure he got it as a fleet car special
same engine out the N13 pulsar and Astra, ive got the 1.6 Single point injected carb verision in an 1990 Pulsar Vector (sedan)
Nah identical on the vieuw the 1.6 is a scaled down version of the 1.8 and 2.0 transmissions wont fit if i can remember correct as u have the small 1.3-16L version and the 1.8 and 2.0L version.
The VL RB20 was hugely popular in New Zealand, the base was cheaper than the Australian built Camira that had reappeared after a few years of locally assembled Isuzu Asko badged as a Camira.
I think a similar high spec CKD VL was only $800 more than the Oz built top Camira model.
Drove a 91 top spec Camira manual 5 speed a few years ago while waiting for new starter motor for my 96 Renault Laguna manual, what a piece of sh!t, as a kid the local magazines praised the newly reintroduced Camira for its 30% horsepower increase over the 1800cc carby Japan sourced version.
I found it sluggish compared to Laguna despite having similar spec 2.0 sohc engines.
As for design and build quality the Laguna feels 20 years or 2 generations ahead.
So a family 2 powered VN must be abortion, never driven one but had one in the driveway occasionally as a teenager thanks to my mum's NZ government job, her usual car was a Tredia but also a Lada Samara sometimes appeared.
A 2.0 VN might have worked with a Nissan RB perhaps a DE, or a fleet special based on the Chevy 2.8 V6.
Ironically during the 2000's I've seen Opel straight 6 2.6 and V6 2.5 dohc powered mid 90's Commodores in local you pull (PickaPart) yards locally.
the NZ vl's didnt have cat converters or O2 sensors either due to nz still usuing leaded fuel
Wernt the vl gearbox 4 speed auto, 3 manual select gears, and the orange button for 4th or over drive?
4.11s interesting, I removed 4.11 gears from a pintara back in the day and bolted them in my VS S3 Maloo.
It isn't a Jatco, it's an Aisin Warner box
The radio is from a 1989 n13 nissan vecta pulsar.
So there was a 4 banger Commodore before the ZB Insignia Commodore came out, haha
3 of them actually, this VN, the VC, VH, and make it 4 if you count the NZ VK 4……(carried over from VH)
Yes, when the VB was first launched here in the late 70's, there was a starfire 4cyl (backfire) version.
@@galactica1980There was no VB 4. The starfire didn’t go into a Commodore until August 1980, which was 5 months after the VC launched. 13 months later when the VH launched, it got the option of a 5 speed. The same Australian assembled 5 speed went into other locally assembled 4s like the Sigma & bluebird, as well as the 2.85 VH.
@commodorenut thanks. Close enough though, right?
That car would be worth so much now
Fun fact: Holden at the time could have given us a turbo intercooled version of this engine from their existing parts bin.
But they didn't
That lens you are using is great for talking head videos, but it was totally useless for this as it was or should have been about the car and not you.
A very interesting piece by you with the background info spoiled by the wrong lens.
There’s one here in Darwin, still road registered
We in Europe had many many many many many of these VN-VS shells and they where called Opel Omega A or the luxery version the Senator B and the Omega had 4 and 6 cyl engines and the Senator B had only 6 cyl engines..........We never had the v8 option.
Overhere these chassies always had a 4 speed auto boxes or a manual 5 speed box.
What powersteering system u have?
Does it have a Holden p/s rack and pinion system or the Opel recircling ball system?
They may look similar, but the Australian ones are not the same, and were developed much further. Right from the '78 VB we had a locally made rack & pinion steering system on Australian V-cars. Our engines were locally assembled, and were unique to Australia until the RB30 in VL, and Buick 3800 in VN. The local V8 continued until '99.
An LS would be a nice swap
The 4 cylinder was NZ market only.
Thats why its rare in Aus.
I had a white one of these 4-cylinder VN in New Zealand, 5-speed manual. Worst car I've ever owned. Didn't last long before the motor ran a bearing because it needed to be driven so hard all the time just to keep up with traffic. Sold it to a guy with a crashed v8 who needed the body to swap his running gear into.
They all most come out with the RB 30 there was a couple with it but the 3800 was over all a better option
Yes. RB30 was planned to continue until VP, and development mules did run the RB30 (one was even a stretched VL wagon to hide the VN "chassis") but by late 87 the AU$ vs Yen was so crap, that Holden were losing money on SL, Exec & Berlina VL 6s. Only the V8s and Calais were profitable.
The Buick was rushed into place for the VN. We never should have had the early one with the rear thermostat - what we were supposed to start with (in VP) was the VP-spec V6 that was introduced in the 1990 VN update.
Ah neat, I thought it would have had a 4 cylinder ecotec.
Mate are you sure vn berlinas had power windows? From my memory, it was the vp that had power windows, but it was only fronts! The Vn Berlina was still quite basic, with better seats and colour coded bumpers. It wasn’t until the Vr that berlina had power windows standard. It also was the first to have a level 3 dash. There was a Berlina LX- I believe that was during Vp- an option that gave a lot of Calais features including climate control and 4 power windows.
Power pack option on series 1 VN Berlina available.
Power windows were definitely NOT standard on VN Berlinas. Option yes, but not standard....and most Berlinas were manual windows.
That is correct - VN Berlina was optional power windows - A31 option code (and it was all 4 or nothing). VP introduced the 2 fronts only (A32 option code). The popularity of the VP Berlina LX is why VR Berlina got the power pack and extra goodies as standard.
How's it sound? It's so strange hearing that engine note from a VN!
Ummm the family 2 was made in Melbourne
The family II range of engines we're mass produced in Europe aswell, with different cylinder head types, the latest version of the sohc family II motor is the c24se out of the ra rodeo and isuzu sometimes, only came manual also
So why didn’t you show us an up close view of the engine badge? Just out of focus distant view. Tip - when shooting a video, remember what you talked about and go back and make close ups and cut to them in the edit.
Not only does it have the same Philips head unit as found on the EA Falcon, the VN/VP/VR/VS also had the same interior lights as the EA Falcon 🤣
Sounds like it was sold in very low numbers. Even though made mostly from parts bin components there must be some unique parts in it. Would have cost a fair bit to engineer it and the line for production, meaning quite a few sales needed just to break even on development costs. Or maybe they just lost money on that model.
The most modern engine in Dummydore ever
Fuel mileage?
Nz au will love it rear. My teen years that area )
I bought a Camira thinking they were the same engines as the Vauxhalls in the UK. How wrong I was . . . . . . .
The only cat this car would need is the one you swing around by the tail in all that extra room under the bonnet!
Singapore had a 2600 cc straight 6
Cly motor fitted to there commodoers. This was due to tax on engine size
A mate of mine his father bought the 4 CYL and regretted it.
Mate of mine in Adelaide had commodore vn 4cylinder couldn’t afford the six, was one of many mistakes. 😆
How? we never got them here.
@@svd032 well he had one, bought it second hand in 1992. We gave him so much sh*t for getting 4 cylinder.
china also had a vn based 4 cyl
They also made a 3litre V6 in VN with no AC no power steering very basic we sold a few at burchfield brothers and co I had also seen a 4 cyl VN there
3 litre huh? which one?
Early VN had option of a 3 litre V6 they had no power steering AC a bare bones car I remember I seen one when I was working at burchfields in Deniliquin only reason I remember is they had to find a new serpentine belt as they are different to PS AC I think only about 50 were made from what I was told back in the day
Jam the horrendous Camira ballast box into a full sized VN? What could possibly go wrong?
Camiras was about 1240 kg
It's a 4 speed auto... No car with a 3 speed and 4.11 gears with 15 inch wheels would sit at 2500 at 100. It would be closer to 4000. Also, they were made for leaded fuel which was still available in NZ at that time hence the lack of a catalytic converter.
1st Gen Camira 1.6L had the jankiest engine tones. Mellowed much better at 2L