you'd be surprised! we are doing this at work, and on a 30 second boot up we are seeing 12secs with SSD .... for ~$140 its about the best bang for buck upgrade you can do for a laptop, that and 8gb ram, $300 and we are getting almost current spec pc performance from old machines!vlad01 wrote:kinda pointless for a laptop from 2004. Its a very basic system, only tuning software, firefox and nothing else.ralcool wrote:I really recommend also fitting an SSD.. Solid State Hard Disc for those that are uninitiated.
They're cheap now, get an (also cheap) external USB enclosure... install the SSD into it.
Run free clone software.. like Macrium Reflect, to transfer 1:1 everything off your old hdd.
Swap the drive into the machine. Everything should boot normally.
Re-install your old hdd into the enclosure, use it for future backups using Macrium to do periodic imaging of the ssd.
Less chance of a physical crash, heaps faster, longer battery life. Win-Win.
The only real trick is to check for sure your old hdd is a SATA type... but that it easy to find out.
Download a little utility called HDtune, it can tell you how fast the old drive is to compare with- and also tells you the interface type.
Do it!
Starts up in 30 sec now where it took a good 5-10 to finishing loading everything up before.
I like this one as its still industrial quality unlike what they sell these days.
Vlad's rides thread
- Holden202T
- Posts: 10394
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:05 pm
- Location: Tenambit, NSW
- Contact:
Re: Vlad's rides thread
No matter what the question is, the answer is always more horsepower! 
Just starting out? Have a read of the getting started guide
Basic tuning of a delco ECM with $12P thread
Advanced tuning of a delco ECM with $12P thread

Just starting out? Have a read of the getting started guide
Basic tuning of a delco ECM with $12P thread
Advanced tuning of a delco ECM with $12P thread
- antus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9018
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:34 pm
- cars: TX Gemini 2L Twincam
TX Gemini SR20 18psi
Datsun 1200 Ute
Subaru Blitzen '06 EZ30 4th gen, 3.0R Spec B - Contact:
Re: Vlad's rides thread
From 2004 it'll probably be ide not sata and that really limits (or reduces to nill) the SSD options for that laptop.
Have you read the FAQ? For lots of information and links to significant threads see here: http://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1396
- vlad01
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:41 pm
- cars: VP I S
VP I executive
VP II executive
VP II executive #2
VR II executive - Location: Kyneton, Vic
Re: Vlad's rides thread
Probably not, but who cares. works more than good enough for me now.
Anyway some more progress.
epoxy'd the shifter bush in.
The box is just about ready for the blaster.
Just need to get 2 cap head screws M16 X 1.5 to block the reverse switch and reverse pivot bolt holes.
Quickly made up some masks from 12mm MDF for protection from blasting and so I don't get a ton of dust in there, especially the shifter area as there is lots of trap areas in the detent plate which is virtually impossible to clean out.
Anyway some more progress.
epoxy'd the shifter bush in.
The box is just about ready for the blaster.
Just need to get 2 cap head screws M16 X 1.5 to block the reverse switch and reverse pivot bolt holes.
Quickly made up some masks from 12mm MDF for protection from blasting and so I don't get a ton of dust in there, especially the shifter area as there is lots of trap areas in the detent plate which is virtually impossible to clean out.
I'm the director of VSH (Vlad's Spec Holden), because HSV were doing it ass about.
Re: Vlad's rides thread
Do you reckon mdf will stand up to blasting ?
-
- Posts: 3678
- Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:31 pm
- cars: VH, VN, VS, VX
Re: Vlad's rides thread
Just ordered a new SSD drive and caseimmortality wrote:Just the info I was looking forralcool wrote:I really recommend also fitting an SSD.. Solid State Hard Disc for those that are uninitiated.
They're cheap now, get an (also cheap) external USB enclosure... install the SSD into it.
Run free clone software.. like Macrium Reflect, to transfer 1:1 everything off your old hdd.
Swap the drive into the machine. Everything should boot normally.
Re-install your old hdd into the enclosure, use it for future backups using Macrium to do periodic imaging of the ssd.
Less chance of a physical crash, heaps faster, longer battery life. Win-Win.
The only real trick is to check for sure your old hdd is a SATA type... but that it easy to find out.
Download a little utility called HDtune, it can tell you how fast the old drive is to compare with- and also tells you the interface type.
Do it!![]()
Been considering upgrading to a SSD so the laptop doesn't crap out in the dyno room.

- vlad01
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:41 pm
- cars: VP I S
VP I executive
VP II executive
VP II executive #2
VR II executive - Location: Kyneton, Vic
Re: Vlad's rides thread
Yep. I normally use duct tape but it's fiddly and time consuming and often peels off before I even take it to the blaster.HQ355 wrote:Do you reckon mdf will stand up to blasting ?
I'm the director of VSH (Vlad's Spec Holden), because HSV were doing it ass about.
Re: Vlad's rides thread
Id consider hydrablasting.... Not very expensive and a less agressive than sand blasting
Plus you wouldn't need to worry about protecting bits
Plus you wouldn't need to worry about protecting bits
According to chemistry, alcohol is a solution...
- vlad01
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:41 pm
- cars: VP I S
VP I executive
VP II executive
VP II executive #2
VR II executive - Location: Kyneton, Vic
Re: Vlad's rides thread
true, but no one I know near by does it.
I'm the director of VSH (Vlad's Spec Holden), because HSV were doing it ass about.
- vlad01
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:41 pm
- cars: VP I S
VP I executive
VP II executive
VP II executive #2
VR II executive - Location: Kyneton, Vic
Re: Vlad's rides thread
check what good stuff you can get from gforce for the old t5
http://www.gforcetransmissions.com/pdfs ... 5.indd.pdf
Don't mind me, just thinking out loud with crazy ideas again.
I like that fact you can get dog gear set.
Also looking at the ford set and main shaft and syncro 5th set they will drop in a v6 box and the only thing that you would have to worry about is getting a custom input shaft made. Having spoken to gforce I get the vibe they wont be interested in in custom shafts but you never know. PPG would do it for sure, thats half what they do. Sure would beat paying for their full set if you have seen the prices.
I don't think welding them is a good idea like most suggest for the intended torque these sets are made for. 500-600 ft-lb or 670-800 ish Nm
http://www.gforcetransmissions.com/pdfs ... 5.indd.pdf
Don't mind me, just thinking out loud with crazy ideas again.
I like that fact you can get dog gear set.
Also looking at the ford set and main shaft and syncro 5th set they will drop in a v6 box and the only thing that you would have to worry about is getting a custom input shaft made. Having spoken to gforce I get the vibe they wont be interested in in custom shafts but you never know. PPG would do it for sure, thats half what they do. Sure would beat paying for their full set if you have seen the prices.
I don't think welding them is a good idea like most suggest for the intended torque these sets are made for. 500-600 ft-lb or 670-800 ish Nm
Last edited by vlad01 on Sun Jul 03, 2016 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
I'm the director of VSH (Vlad's Spec Holden), because HSV were doing it ass about.
Re: Vlad's rides thread
you can get a bell housing that fits a ford type t5 up to a holden v6. might be the only strong option with the aftermarket gear set only downside is gearbox is moved forward and yucky f##d parts in ya car may make it catch rust.