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VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 11:09 pm
by vlad01
From electronic point of view, whats involved? I hear they are different to the VN-VP

looking at possibly buying a mint VR with 100k on the clock to replace my work car, but can't have auto. Thats just not allowed with me :lol:

So anyone had experience? its V6 btw.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 8:01 am
by antus
you'll need to swap to a vr manual pcm or an 808 with one of vl400's SXR boards (in the for sale section) and might as well run 12p with vats type set to vr.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 9:02 am
by vlad01
I have the NVRAM for 808 already.

is the wiring the same from auto pcm to the 808? or is any auto stuff just unused?

there is a BCM as well right? VP don't have them so I don't have the first clue what is the go with BCMs

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 9:38 am
by VL400
You can use the VR auto PCM with a manual box after masking some error codes, but if its a T5 with a hall sensor you lose the speed sensor which is not ideal. The auto box has a reluctor type sensor.

To swap to the 808 or VR manual ECU you need to repin the loom - https://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewtopi ... t=20#p1158
And some info on how to remove the wiring - https://pcmhacking.net/forums/view ... f=11&t=891
There is also more info searching the forums for 'repinning'

The BCM and ECU talk when you first turn the key on to exchange some info for VATS. You can convert an 808 using an SXR board like antus mentioned to allow VATS to still work and then log/tune over the connector under the steering column.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 9:41 am
by vlad01
so with the NVRAM vats won't work? what happens when vats in disabled?

I can use a VP loom? I can buy those for 30 bucks in VGC so thats not a problem.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 9:48 am
by antus
its about comms, to get real single wire ALDL for the vehicle bus (which first appeared in the VR), you need the SXR chip emulator. Thats the better and technically correct way to do it, you dont _need_ to go there. Its not expensive though, and I would if it was my conversion. You dont need to swap the loom, just swap the pins around as per the thread vl400 linked above. If vats is disabled then the car starts, with key or screwdriver.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 9:56 am
by vlad01
ok, thanks for the clarification.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 10:28 am
by Holden202T
to answer your other question, nvram or memcal makes no difference to all of the above other than allowing you to realtime tune it with the nvram.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 8:06 pm
by vlad01
ok cool, so its all pretty straight forward.

so anyways, this VR I am going to go ahead and buy it, i think my VP has had a good run, time to chop it up so give birth to the other VP.

Re: VR auto to manual conversion.

Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:53 am
by vlad01
another question, regarding something else.

I maybe over thinking here so please feel free to give your opinions.

Is it worth removing the balancer shaft as a precaution to eliminate the likelihood of balancer bearing wear/failure the pre ecotecs all seem to suffer.

Also I figured this would also extent the life of the timing set which are also prone to stretch, seen this in all my V6s. without the additional inertia of the balancer and given the 1:1 crank speed of the balancer, the whipping the engine rpm with balancer would in theory put a lot of strain on the timing chain vs just having the cam driven 2:1.

obviously vibration would be introduced but I heard its minimal, anyone done this before and can confirm the vibration level?

overall this would make it a more mechanically reliable engine? I can't see how it wouldn't