VP exec to calais conversion

PANDO · #1 07-02-2006, 01:46 PM

Hi all, new at all this so bare with me, for 7 years and up until recently i was the proud owner of a vp v6 calais. it was my pride an joy until some bottom feeders kocked it off and trashed it. I've got the car back (a little worse for wear mind you) and mechanically it ok but the body is really screwed. Dunno what they hit but they hit it hard and more than once. Anyway i bought vp exec stocker with feck all k's and in better than new condition as a driver until i got the calais sorted out. The quotes are in to fix the calais and my insurance was gonna wreck the old girl so i bought it off them as mechanically it would be good for spares and i have a bit of money in mods invested already. I've decided to turn the exec into a sortta calais sleeper. Most things are gonna swap straight over but what i'm wondering is when i change the insrument cluster over from standard to calais, what will the odo read and how do i fix it. Also as i already have a donor irs setup in the old car what is involved in swapping the diffs over. (I have read the other posts and dont bother with "dont bother" as i'm gonna do it anyway) thanks for any help you can give and i'll see ya on the street.

stocky · #2 07-02-2006, 03:03 PM

calais cluster will require the 4th plug, and the switchblock, which you already have. plenty of instructions floating around the forum for that. to change the odometer you will need to get someone to do that for you. i think an auto elec might do it.
i say do it. i have a vn berlina with no power options, and im slowly upgrading it to a calais interior. it will cost you nothing and its a great way to learn how the car is put together and what you can do with it.

HDT_aero · #3 07-02-2006, 04:28 PM

very doable just takes alot of time and effort

you basically have to chop out the wiring from the old car and then wire it into your car ive done it twice now and have found most connectors can be simly tapped into the three standard cluster plugs

there is one wire however that runs over near the computer but its the same colour and nothing will be going to it

stocky · #4 07-02-2006, 05:18 PM

yeah i had to run an extra wire over to the ECU as well. it is required for you to do this too.

PANDO · #5 08-02-2006, 03:31 PM

Thanks for the info guys, every little bit helps, im gonna start to dismantle the calais over the next coupla days so dont be suprised if there a few more threads on my swap over in the coming weeks.

No takers on the irs swap?????? I've been told it can be done but has anyone actually givin it a go.

Thanks

HDT_aero · #6 08-02-2006, 04:14 PM

irs in the early birds had tyre wear issues thats why i left it not to mention way more expensive if you brake somthing

but it can be done you just need the springs frame and bolts and it all goes up

live axles to way to go though i rekon put some 4.11's and a spool or lsd in instead of the irs conversion...

PANDO · #7 09-02-2006, 07:25 AM

aero, already have all the bits off my donor car so i should be good to go if there are no other major problems. I know about the tyre wear issues (owned one for seven years) and have countered that with an adjustable K-mac kit which works reasonably well. I've already got the LSD and good springs and shocks from the last setup and dont really want to be spending that money all over again. Just remember that not everyone here runs huge hp or goes to the strip every week, 4.11's and spool not really suited to me or my car (read:daily highway driver). Also after seven years of track days and the regular thrash to and from work it has never given me any trouble what so ever. (granted it is behind and auto six).After driving the exec for a coupla weeks I reckon that the difference in performance is worth the effort (to an extent) thanks for all your help buddy and it sounds like it should be a reasonably painless swap. See ya on the street.

greenfoam · #8 10-02-2006, 02:04 AM

I'm not sure what I think of the IRS in my car yet. I Haven't really had enough time in it and it's not sorted out yet. But I give it one thing, it's very sticky off the line

Tekka · #9 10-02-2006, 08:29 AM

IRS does wear your tyre more than usual, but doesnt the camber kit dixs that up??

PANDO · #10 10-02-2006, 02:24 PM

greenfoam---was your irs a conversion or a factory fitted jobbie? Like i said in earlier posts it seams worth while for me to do the swap from having driven both setups. Just living in tassie and the early morning runs to work in the pouring rain and the added traction benifets of irs make it worth while for me. (i'm telling the wife it's a safety issue thats why i'm going to all the trouble he he.)

Tekka-----fitted a K-mac kit around six months ago. Being adjustable it took a bit of fiddling about with but i reckon i had it right for me. It helped a bit with traction and the rears started to wear more evenly. I was going through sets of rears at around the 30k mark and this set have lasted so far to around 40k (nearly ready to be changed out but) although there is still some un-even wear (insides worn out first) but i'm happier to cop the extra wear as the car does feel more balanced when heavy cornering compared to a live axle setup