Fully Vito'd up! Upgrade help...

[darkside]

I've been after a Vito for a while and am now sorted! Proud owner of a 2001 plate 110CDi in Metallic Silver.

Firs impressions are that it's speedy and looks good. A bit of 'styling' is planned. Springs (40mm drop) and 17" alloys to start with.

Brakes

The main priority, though, is the brakes. They are pretty poor, quite vauge and spongy! This seems to be 'normal'! Any upgrades available?

I am looking at some Goodridge braided hoses, which ought to take a bit of sponge out (plus look trick through the alloys) when I rebleed the system.

Tune-ups

Any tips on quick engine tune-ups?
Aftermarket (K&N) filters for a Diesel - worth it or waste of money?

Tunes

Finally, has anyone got experience of fitting a decent sound system? The doors look like they could take a pair of 5 or even 6 inchers with some mods - but door pods would be ideal. Is it a case of carving up the door cards? Tweeters can go in the original dash locations and I may squeeze a small sub under the drivers seat.

Bulkhead

Finally, anyone got any experience of fitting an aftermaket bulkhead? I have seen them available but want to know if it's just a drop in solution and easy to fit.

Cheers!

[Punjabi]

You didn't own a Ford Granada by any chance before this van?

[gixxerpat]

Yeah ..real helpful there punjabi....not!!. There's been a lot of threads on the mods you're looking into here mate, especially the speakers , you can get tune up chips too, the goodridge and filter are a waste of money ..I think so anyway, some might dissagree.

[darkside]

Originally Posted by gixxerpat

There's been a lot of threads on the mods you're looking into here mate, especially the speakers

Hmmm - I did a search on "door speakers" before I posted and didn't find much. I was hoping to find out if there are alternate door cards available, say V-class instead of the stock Vito, with speaker mounts already in there to save me carving up the ones I have. I guess I 'll ask the dealer.

you can get tune up chips too, the goodridge and filter are a waste of money ..I think so anyway, some might dissagree.

Cheers - I think the filter may well be a waste. Chip for sure, once I can stop and corner better!

Anyway, since this is my commuting vehicle that will be a part time camper, I am going to put some thought into making it comfy and fun.

[gixxerpat]

Not sure about the different door cards, i've never seen any different ones, i bit the bullet and cut speakers into the doors but i find the sound is drowned out by the road noise (the255/19 tyres dont help either) so i can only hear the tweeters , so i'm currently making pods to mount just in front of the door handles and angled up slightly and i have a sub amp unit between the seats.

[darkside]

Sounds wicked! Love to see any pics (or can take) you have of the project.

I've just come from a VW Transporter. The Caravelle version had proper speaker mounts in the doors so could be swapped for the standard van ones. Hoped the Vito would be the same.

Sub-wise, I'll have a go at adding a 10" under the drivers seat box. Paired with tweeters in the dash and 5 or 6 comps in the doors.

I'm looking at 17's as I drive the odd forest track and the roads in Sheffield are crap - don't want to go too thin on the rubber!

[darkside]

Rims sorted!

OZ Michaelangelo 10's in 'Crysal Titanium'. 17x7 with 50mm offset.
Tyres - 225/55/17 with 101 load rating.

Ought to be ordering Monday unless anyone knows something my tyre fitters don't!

[gixxerpat]

The tyres you're getting seem a bit tall , i think 45's would keep things the same i.e. speedo. Is yours a v class or van?

[darkside]

It's a van - a 2001 110CDi.

I was thinking 45's too but the tyre place had a chart that showed the Vito tyre as follows:

195/70 R15 and gave an equivalent 225/55 R17.

However, you made me doubt them and I just found this:
http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

Shows the %age difference - the 50's would be bang on, 55's are 3% over and 45's 3% under.

I was offered a 55 in the correct load rating (97) as there were no tyres in the 45 with a load rating over 94. I never carry more than about 250kg max in the van so don't know how much this matters.

I want a bit of height to keep as much comfort as possible (Sheffield roads are s--te!) so will call back and see if they can get me a 50 in a 97 just to keep as stock as possible.

[gixxerpat]

I had 45' car tyres on 18's but they wore the shoulders quite quickly which left the centers with about 6mm when i binned them, so you need x load which makes for a stiffer ride , even more when lowered/stiffened.Be prepared for the extra road noise too.