Name: James Model: VL Calais Colour: Blue Bodykit: None Engine Type: RB30 n/a Engine Mods: None Power: not nearly enough Exhaust: 2.5" Gearbox: Stock Auto Diff: vlt, 28 spline lsd. with 3.45 gears Brakes: Stock Suspension: Factory FE2, monroe shocks Wheels/Tyres: Original Calais (not scratched ) Interior: Very comfy....Grey calais trim Other Mods: None yet Stereo: mtx speakers (under factory grills), fusion 10" sub, nothing special Build Period: Since Wednesday the 2nd Cost: $7000 Future Mods: carby 333ci stroker, but leaving the rest of the car as original as possible! (http://imageshack.us) (http://imageshack.us) (http://imageshack.us) (http://imageshack.us) (http://imageshack.us) plans have been made and i will be buying a vl calais (original 5l carby) as a donor car during sept this year off a friend. the motor and gearbox will be pulled out of that, and rebuilt (as its pretty well f***ed) to a 333ci stroker, bigger cam, ported heads (possibly vn heads, we shall see), etc etc.... also, about a week ago i bought a vl turbo diff (28 spline, lsd, 3.45 gears, for a tidy sum of $600, so that will go in soon too) hope ya like it! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

just an update everyone. last weekend i got the vl turbo diff fitted, and managed to relocate the fuses from the engine bay into the glove box (what a biatch of a job that was!!!) it definately cleans the engine bay up a fair bit. i hope to have a real nice engine bay once the new motor goes in so in a few weeks the battery will be moved to the boot, and all the head light wiring, etc will be run behind the quarter panels. im not quite sure what to do with the coolant/ washer bottles so if anybody has an idea for that it would be appreciated? ive heard of people using the VR ones or something? heres some pics of the engine bay without the fuses. (http://imageshack.us) (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=510&i=misc002qw0.jpg) oh and i also used some 'knead it' to fill a few of the holes left behind which seems to do a good job. (http://imageshack.us) (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=510&i=misc003ms0.jpg) still gotta do something with all the wires in the glove box though (http://imageshack.us) (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=137&i=misc004jq9.jpg) Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

damn mate that thing is clean, look after it

hey mate yeh i did find the build sheet however it was really badly water damaged and had stuck to the underlay making it almost unreadable. still saving up to get the head done as well as the cooler kit from plazmaman then we can chuck in the new bottom end! cheers, james

hey man, sounds like good progress when do u get your license back?

yeh cheers patch, yours is looking soo good mate! I get my license back on july 3 but cant 'legally' drive it for another 3 months after that so yeh... Might see ya at c4c this year if i can rope in a mate to drive for me . . Just cant wait til i get this new bottom and and 'cooler on to wind up the boost a bit and get the highflow spinning!

could u legally drive it before hand though? any pics of the work on it so far?

um nah i could never legally drive it but with no cooler or massive exhaust it was hardly recognisable as a turbo . . I was just luky the cop who got my didnt see the boost guage hehe . . I havent taken many photos at all lately but ill try get some of the new carpet soon . . Im also tryin to decide on a nice set of rims (not chrome) if anyone has any suggestions?? Cheers, james

yeh i got picked up in mine liek 3 weeks after i got the car and it was as stock as a rock and the cops didnt ask me to pop my bonnet and i turned off my headlights when i was parked so the boost gauge wasnt lit up i'd say go for some sort of HSV rim... not sigs or ve gts' as they're done to death maybe vt internationals if ur willing to go 17's

Hey everyone bit of an update just got my cylinder head back from m.i.a in cromer where they gave it a good overhaul, including a chemical clean, new valve springs, a camtech stage two camshaft, ARP head studs, etc etc. Next on the list im considering getting my a8 bottom end re-ringed or possibly fully built depending on the bank account... either way i wanna freshen it up before the head goes back on. Then its off to plazmaman for the cooler set-up! heres a pic of the new cylinder head (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/13062009057.jpg/) tell us what u think! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

shiney

12 valve

hey man nice car ... n neet conversion to,looking good

Bit of an update evryone.. in 2 days I will finally get my license back after 6 months! So that means the calais will go down to plazmaman on saturday to pick up the forward facing plenum, throttle body and cooler pipes. From then it will go to Justin to have the new bottom end go in with the new cylinder head. Should be all done withing about 3 weeks if all goes well!! Sheers james

so should all be done in time for cruise for charity....?

yyep will probably be all done for c4c6... except ill be at splendour that weekend haha.. will have to wait til the next calais turbo cruise! yours is looking tops mate cant wait to see the bay when its done..

very nice car mate I have seen it in the flesh at Justins brothers house when Justin was putting my engine in, looks mint.

thanks heaps mate yeh she was covered in dust down there haha.. saw yours too looks tops, love the berlina look.. how far away is yours from completion?

I'm pretty sure it's finished at the fabricators so I should pick it up next week then I just gotta save a bit of coin and get it down to maatouks to be completed, hopefully have it done by september for QLD powercruise.

Update everyone, the motor is in and the plazmaman plenum & billet throttle body is on. The bay looks real messy at the moment, still a bit of work to do, but you get the idea. Also got a photo of the new t3 high flow, looks pretty tidy. Also, justin cracked my rocker cover so he was kind enough to spray a new one in wrinkle red, looks awesome i think! (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/picture001wjw.jpg/) (http://g.imageshack.us/img25/picture001wjw.jpg/1/) (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/picture002rmr.jpg/) (http://g.imageshack.us/img25/picture002rmr.jpg/1/) (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/picture003kfs.jpg/) (http://g.imageshack.us/img16/picture003kfs.jpg/1/) Tell me what you think! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.