01-01-04, 06:44 GMT+10#1
1987 Series II VL Calais Turbo LE (not HDT)
RB30ET Engine, Rebuilt with HPC Coated Pistons. Factory 5 Speed.
Arie's previous car was a na VL 6 and after buying that he learnt about VL Turbo. He didn't know much back then, but he was keen to learn and wanted to own one. Arie read Street Commodores mag constantly to see what these beasts were capable of, and was convinced. Arie went into super save mode (I think we've all been there at once stage) and managed to get enough plus a loan to get a VL Turbo. As he's always liked the look of the Calais, he wanted one but to find a 5 Speed would be a hard task. So Arie searched for just a 5 Speed VL Turbo untll one day he received a sms about this 5 Speed Calais Turbo. 1 trip to the bank and 1 week later the car was his but not without its probs. Turbo was stuffed so it was replaced. The lifters were old and Arie eventually replaced the whole head with a ported and polised one thanks to Petros (Cheers Bud!). Not only that the centre bearing was stuffed so he went and replaced that as well as both uni's whilst we were there. And so the story goes.......
Before anyone asks "yes this was alpines and sins car" before Arie bought it. He bought it with the rebuilt engine which Mark had done. When he had it hands on it, it needed some cleaning up and TLC. Firstly the engine bay. Arie went ahead and bought a new overflow bottle and brake fluid cover as they needed replacement. In doing so, these were painted, including the fan shroud, Power Steering Fluid Cover and Fuse box cover in Ford Mustang Blue engine enamel to get it looking better. Then the rocker cover was painted in black ripple paint.
After that the interior and boy was that filthy. Arie bought it looking up to scratch using Kleentex and warm water and now its looking like new. Also added to the interior was a Autometer Autogage Recall Monster Tacho with Recall. Also about to make way into the cabin are a set of Monza Race Seats and new carpet. Other than that is the decent stereo that was installed and the Boost guage.
Now to the exterior, as you may have known the car got resprayed in the hands of Alpine, but the paint needed some sprucing up so Arie cut it back and it looks as good as the day it rolled out from TC Auto Classics who sprayed the car. Also, to the exterior, a set of ROH Fury 18 Inch mags were added to the equation to give it more appeal. A Fuel pressure guage was previously mounted on the bonnet but has now been removed due to 'the cop factor'. It's going to make way inside with an isolator.
The mods so far include Full 3 Inch Mandrel Bent Exhaust system minus one muffler, 10Psi Boost, K&N Pod Filter, Oil Catch Can, Ported and Polished Head and the T04/T03 Hybrid Turbo (Both off Petros' Car) Which aided in its travels.
The cooler is going to be mounted soonish when funds permits and the suspension is getting a full treatment as it has its airbag (standard) suspension.
Other than that, future mods include Aftermarket Management, Custom Plenum, Stronger Clutch, More Boost and a bigger Fuel System. (And the list continues hehe)
Arie would like to thank Petros for giving him the chance to get better performance with his turbo and ported/polished head and advice along the way.
Contact DcEpTiVe #vlturbo dceptv performance forums
(c) 2003 www.calaisturbo.com (http://www.calaisturbo.com) Written and pics by Arie, Edited by sin
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
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