I have a calais turbo that's been in the family since new. all that's been done was a rebuild with new pistons & rings, bored out block and a reconditioned head that has been shaved (like ham). i'm just wondering where the temp gauge needle should be reading. sometimes it rises to 3/5 when i don't push the car hard and then when i do go for a bit of a work out the temp guage stays at just below half way. sometimes it's unpredictable and changes then goes back and vice versa! when the guage is reading high, the engine feels harsh and gutless. where sould the tempo gauge read? also, how do i know if the engine is "pinging" thanks heaps

My car sits one bar below half way, so the second notch, and sometimes goes up a bit. But never over half way. Every other vl ive been in operates in the same range. So if your over half be careful. Mick

Yeah mines the same! I'd be checking your thermostat/radiator/fan clutch. Vl radiators, being cross flow and back, have a baffle in the driver side tank. the baffle can fall/rust out and water flows through the tank, not through the core! U don't want to cook a head! been there.