Hey guys been a long time user of these forums and thought it was about time to start a build thread on my wagon.. So i had owned a handful of vls few manual vl wagons a berlina sedan a calais sedan and finally i bit the bullet and decided to buy a vl turbo.. Being a wagon fan i didnt like my chances of finding a vl turbo wagon so i started searching for turbo sedan wanting either a berlina or calais.. So as it turns out i finally found the car that i had wanted it was a genuine A9Y calais turbo wagon in imperial blue (i had hassled the owner for a few years and finally it came time to sell as his family was growing) so a deal was done and money exchanged and i was a very happy young bloke with a nice neat vlct wagon as a cruiser.. havent got many photos of how it was when i first got it but will try and upload photos when i get a chance. so i drove the car for a while stock standard until the power but bit and i decided to fit a cooler to the car while getting the cooler plumbed up i got talked into puting a full 3 inch dump pipe back high flow exhaust.. So now i was once again very happy with the power until i fried the auto.. I had a standard mx7 conversion i brought for a previous project so i bit the bullet and brought a clutch and fitted it up few dramas over came and the car was once again driving and was very happy with the coversion.. and so this is how it stayed until about two years ago when i decided to pull the motor out for a freshen up and then it all sorta snowballed from there and well its been a long process but i was gonna do a quick blow over paint job until my painter decided it would be best to pull everything apart and do it properly.. so photos to come just have to upload them from my phone..

[Click image for larger version Name: image-1289433564.jpg Views: 144 Size: 66.2 KB ID: 53705] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53705&d=1336255503) This is how it started before I pulled it apart.

[Click image for larger version Name: image-3844534690.jpg Views: 100 Size: 37.5 KB ID: 53706] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53706&d=1336255674) Starting to pull things apart.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-3701365635.jpg Views: 94 Size: 46.4 KB ID: 53707] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53707&d=1336255757) More progress [Click image for larger version Name: image-2489354991.jpg Views: 92 Size: 67.8 KB ID: 53708] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53708&d=1336255831) How it say for a while [Click image for larger version Name: image-3522669064.jpg Views: 94 Size: 53.3 KB ID: 53709] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53709&d=1336255902) All new rear suspension still need a pan hard rod [Click image for larger version Name: image-3193271777.jpg Views: 83 Size: 52.7 KB ID: 53711] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53711&d=1336256098) How the roof looked when we took the roof racks off [Click image for larger version Name: image-3046891898.jpg Views: 99 Size: 66.4 KB ID: 53712] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53712&d=1336256171) On its way to the painters shop finally [Click image for larger version Name: image-3046891898.jpg Views: 99 Size: 66.4 KB ID: 53712] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53712&d=1336256171)

[Click image for larger version Name: image-4019013690.jpg Views: 102 Size: 50.9 KB ID: 53713] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53713&d=1336256285) How it's sat for a while. [Click image for larger version Name: image-857252899.jpg Views: 112 Size: 75.3 KB ID: 53714] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53714&d=1336256379) Radiator support was bent so we removed it and put in another one a lite straighter.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-1870911349.jpg Views: 116 Size: 72.1 KB ID: 53715] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53715&d=1336256447) New support in [Click image for larger version Name: image-107045103.jpg Views: 109 Size: 62.0 KB ID: 53716] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53716&d=1336256552) Found some rust under the battery tray so replaced with a new section. [Click image for larger version Name: image-2864006516.jpg Views: 107 Size: 69.4 KB ID: 53717] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53717&d=1336256649) Some neat ending of the bay [Click image for larger version Name: image-1733123729.jpg Views: 121 Size: 63.5 KB ID: 53718] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53718&d=1336256713) New tidier battery tray [Click image for larger version Name: image-1733123729.jpg Views: 121 Size: 63.5 KB ID: 53718] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53718&d=1336256713)

[Click image for larger version Name: image-204808794.jpg Views: 105 Size: 42.5 KB ID: 53719] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53719&d=1336256806) Ready for primer [Click image for larger version Name: image-3726749783.jpg Views: 98 Size: 44.9 KB ID: 53720] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53720&d=1336256834) Bay all primed [Click image for larger version Name: image-2388216208.jpg Views: 102 Size: 43.5 KB ID: 53721] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53721&d=1336256865) Almost done [Click image for larger version Name: image-2509087197.jpg Views: 116 Size: 40.0 KB ID: 53722] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53722&d=1336256934) So all primed and this is how it will sit for the next few weeks till we rub it back and take it for paint.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-204808794.jpg Views: 105 Size: 42.5 KB ID: 53719] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53719&d=1336256806)

Well I have heaps more photos but I'll put more up later as we make more progress.. Hope you guys like it and thanks for reading so until next time.. Cheers Chris

Looks great mate - reminds me of my build. The one thing I love that youre doing is keeping the engine bay nice simple and stock looking.. just fresh. Great work. Look forward to seeing progess updates on this.

Cheers mate yeah just wanted a freshen up but thought hey do it once do it right is the idea behind my build I'm just doing small things to clean it up and gonna be doing things to make it work better but remain as stock looking as possible..

Well I think I'm completely over wet rubbing but we are ready for paint [Click image for larger version Name: image-1403064112.jpg Views: 98 Size: 53.6 KB ID: 53949] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53949&d=1337079248) How it sits till Friday.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-9323433.jpg Views: 85 Size: 49.2 KB ID: 53950] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53950&d=1337079271) Happy with how smooth it has come up.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-1111491958.jpg Views: 123 Size: 51.0 KB ID: 53951] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53951&d=1337079297) Very happy with how clean the bay is looking.. That's how it sits until it goes in for paint.. Stoked cant wait to finally see it painted..

So the shell is painted.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-3696204284.jpg Views: 103 Size: 48.4 KB ID: 54021] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54021&d=1337381220) First coat.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-4085386844.jpg Views: 95 Size: 53.2 KB ID: 54022] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54022&d=1337381411) Black done around windows.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-82760074.jpg Views: 119 Size: 43.4 KB ID: 54023] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54023&d=1337381607) Third coat of clear shiny as.. [Click image for larger version Name: image-3525456875.jpg Views: 113 Size: 46.0 KB ID: 54024] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54024&d=1337381815) Straight off the gun..

[Click image for larger version Name: image-65217504.jpg Views: 125 Size: 67.1 KB ID: 54026] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54026&d=1337382192) The bay straight off the gun.. Be good to hear any comments guys..

Nice man! Really nice. Looks good... are YOU happy?? thats the main thing love it though. Looking forward to putting it all back together?? Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Dude I couldn't be happier this has been to long in the build I can't wait to put it back together just have to spray doors and stuff so I can put all that back together then just build the motor and stuff to go with it.. I can't give my painter a big enough rap he has done a better job the. I ever imagined.. I'll get pics in the sun when we wheel it out of the booth tomorrow.. Cheers

[Click image for larger version Name: image-3483891592.jpg Views: 112 Size: 71.7 KB ID: 54739] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54739&d=1340098561) A pic in the sunlight [Click image for larger version Name: image-4184472352.jpg Views: 104 Size: 64.6 KB ID: 54740] (http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=54740&d=1340098588) Seats turned up for it today

And doors are almost prepped ready for along with bonnet guards and front and tailgate hopefully they will be painted in the coming weeks..

Looking the goods bud!

good work mate nice Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Cheers guys more pics as I get the rest painted and start piecing together..

So small update have pretty much all moulds back and bars should be done this week.. And have been told that within 3 weeks the doors should be painted and hung back on the car..

looks awesome mate, im biting the bullet and buying another wagon