VK Calais...what to do?

[brades]

Hey guys im new here so go easy on me. I just bought a 1984 vk calais, 3sp auto with a carby 202 in it. was told that its running just not the best... so what to do? Engine replacement or recondition?????

I will be driving it every day so thinking i should keep it as a 6cyl. Its got the nice calais interior and also a sunroof, so on weekends with the boys it'll be a cruiser ;D So with that said I want the car to sound tough however still be decent on fuel. with a budget of $1,200 what can i do to achieve this?
Do i go with extractors and 2.5inch exhaust system with cams or what ? i dont know much about these old holdens so i would like some advice from people that have owned/worked them. Any advice is appreciated, thanks

[50LTRv8]

You have a couple of options, I would take it to a mech and get an inspection done, find out what is wrong to get it going nice. If the engine is stuffed you could swap it out for another running engine. I would take the list of stuff that needs to be fixed, prioritize it and get a good service, then go from there.

[ari666]

V8 or gtfo

[50LTRv8]

V8 or gtfo

with a budget of 1200?

[DerekP]

I thought all VK Calais 6's were EFI??

[ari666]

with a budget of 1200?

where theres a will...

[Darren_L]

I thought all VK Calais 6's were EFI??

that was my understanding too.
never seen a carbed 6 cyl VK Calais - unless it was some weird sort of one off customer request.
Either someone has reverted it back to a carbed engine, or it's a mock up Calais.

As to options.
As suggested, get the engine checked out and find out what is wrong with it. It may just need a carb rebuild & a good tune.
However if the problem is deeper eg low/inconsistant compression readings, engine knocks etc, then you'll need either a reco or engine swap.
202's are a simple engine. $1200 should get you a good stock rebuild, especially if you and your mates can remove & refit the engine. I'd steer clear of second hand engines unless you know their history. Could be just buying another dud

[brades]

Thanks for the feedback, yeah its been replaced with a carby 202 because apparently the original threw a bearing or something so yeahh... so if the engine problem isnt much to fix, where would i go from there? What modifactions?

However if the engine is F*#!ed, what suggestions do use have in regards to replacing it with a blue, or red, or the black efi 202? Would any of these run well in a vk calais? It'd be my understanding that getting another efi 202 would be the answer because thats what they came out with factory?? but i dont know, which is why im asking...Keep in mind still having the budget of $1200. thanks

[ari666]

i once got a 'good runner' 308 and turbo 400 for 700 bucks from the wreckers...

t'would leave you 500 smackeroonies

[brades]

something is wrong with the crank or flywheel i think, not too sure exactly. either way it involves getting the engine out, so im thinking of getting a replacement engine that will be reliable. might be getting my hands on a black 202 efi? should i go this way or maybe with a carby 202 still? im told the blacks have heaps of pollution gear in it and restricts it heaps. Any advice?

[VK SL 3800]

The Black block and head are the same between EFI 6 and Carby 6, different cams though. I would go EFI if you calais still has all the EFI stuff in it eg: return fuel line and pump etc.
If everything is the same a standard carby VK then it would be far cheaper to keep it carby because you dont have to find all the EFI parts.
Carby gets better fuel economy but not much else.