im trying to find a key to see what each thing on the number means i.e. code of colur, code of transmission etc can any one tell me what it is as im bout ot buy a calais wagon manual and i want to know if its original thanks

I belive calaisturbo has a bit about the vins on them, failing that look at a users manual that comes with a car, it brakes down the vin and tells you what to look for

I think the Gregories workshop (work SH*T) manuals tell you to as well... Which is a suprise for the Gergories manual... it doesn't tell ya how to do anything at all with the body of the car.

yeah well i looked threw the post at calaisturbo.com but i need transmission and it doesnt cover it. is there any place on the net that can tell me if its factory manual? the reason im asking is because im just about to by a calais and it just happens to be a Vl calais, turbo, manual, wagon and i just want to make sure its totally original

PSICHO, what is your VIN as I might be able to help you decode it as I have the hard to get factory Holden VL repair manuals and it tells you about motor options, transmissons, diff options interiour colour, exteriour colour and so on. Just post the VIN and I will attempt to decode it for you, I don't think many Calais turbo wagons were manual though but you just may have a rare one here. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

theese are the codes for the vl transmissions on the id plate. ME7 - 2.0L 5 speed manual MF5 - 3.0L 5 speed manual MX7 - 3.0L turbo 5 speed manual M39 - V8 5 speed manual ML4 - 4 speed auto 2.0L & 3.0L MS1 - 4 speed auto 3.0L turbo M40 - Trimatic (V8) the vin number should start with VL8VL35 (option A9Y) if its a genuine calais wagon. hope this helps.

Trans: ML4, if this is true, the calais turbo is only a calais with an after market turbo and manual transmission? as the ml4 is an auto for the 2.0l and 3.0l. the calais, wagon part is original......but turbo and transmission the numbers i took down were ML4 LFI GM3 VL8VL35-A9Y

they could have done it properly and fitted the whole turbo drive train - have a look at the engine no on the block, if it has 8 after the eng. no. then its a factory turbo engine, if it has 6 it is n/a. if the box is a turbo box it will have spacers between the tranny crossmember and the body of the car and the speedo drive has a 90 degree adapter coming out of the box instead of the cable going straight into the side of the box. Not too sure of any way to tell what diff it is without pulling it apart, anyone else???. Even if it isnt a factory calais turbo wagon it will still be a pretty rare car. Just check that the turbo conversion was done properly or it could end up casting you.

if it was converted it would have been done over 3 years ago......thats as much history i can get soo far, About a year ago, it was hi-flowed, and stage 2 cooler added, all work done by AVO, he's asking $9,000 for it, perfect condition.....paint looks like it just rolled out of the show room yesterday, full electrics, and the verner is perfect except for 2 ash burns on the passenger, took it for a drive....sounds like some air is comming threw the transmission, me and my dad are trying to figure out what the **** it is. but so far every thing checks out except the transmission

The vehical id no. (the small plate) is as follows, 8 X 19 8 F J6 00025 L '8' division 'X' degree of luxury X=calais L=berlina K=sl '19' body style 19=sedan 35=shaggon wagon '8' eng type 8=turbo 6=na 'F' year F=1986 G=87 H=88 (mine is 86 but says 'G' ??) 'J6' assem plant J1 - J9 = Melb L1 - L9 = Adelaide '00025' Serial no. (regardless of vehical type) 'L' series code L = VL This is from a genuine service manual vol 6 for the turbo eng. and assocated parts. as for the other plate, as 87calais said is all correct. Diff. GM3 is a 4 pinion, 28 spline axle diff on the diff rear cover lhs there should be a id tag with p/n and next to that on the tube is a broadcast code? as follows, Turbo wagon, 4 pinion ___p/n_____broadcastcode_____Desc. 92029315_______VR__________non LSD, standard suspention 92029317_______VT__________LSD, standard susp. 92030909_______MD__________non LSD, V5W susp. There is a heap of others listed so if none of these post it and i'll let u know. Cheers

There you go someone already answered it for you. 8)

thanks soo much for all your help Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

man u guys are confusing the crap out of me, if any of you could be so kind and decode the following for me: Body no : 996440M Model : VL8VK19A8Q Trim : 3042-15l Paint : 2B035-D Eng : LF1 Trans : ML4 Axle : GM3 i just want to find out what it all means cos ive only had the car for about a month and a half now and i dont have any paperwork or manuals or service history and anything to reference what the previous owner told me about the car, thanks fellas

BLEW VL o.k. model:VL8VK19A8Q VL - its a VL 8VK19 - commodore SL sedan A8Q - (option) executive trim and paint i'm not exactly sure on but trim would mean material and colour ??? and paint is the paint code for the colour of your car. eng: LF1 - N/A 6 trans: ML4 - auto for 2 & 3 litre N/A axle: GM3 - i thought it was 2 pinion 25 spline diff but 2invl said it was 4 pinion 28 spline?? can anyone confirm this? hope this clears things up a bit.

thanks man, that helps heaps!!!

I think that you will find that GM3 refers to any diff with a 3.45:1 ratio in it. You will need the tag number off the diff housing to narrow it down further as to what they are. Workshop manual has about 20 codes listed. Local Gearbox place has a book with over 30 listed. GU4 was the 3.08 ratio and G80 was the LSD code for the 3.08.