need good opinion on vk calais

[joshooaahh]

ive been looking after a good vk for a while now(preferably a calais) and was wondering peoples opinions and experience if it is worth doing up and putting work into such as new cam shaved head etc
would it be a worth while project. it would be the 3.3 202 injected if i did get one

[NORTI]

I love my Calais, but maybe Im biased?


I think they make a great project base.

[steve9119]

the VK calais is a classic Holden, they are becoming rare and well worth restoring and enjoying.
I've owned and driven mine for 19 years and loved it for every Km, i only just bought a VY calais for every day driving, cause the old Vk is a bit tired now,

My advice to you is take the time to find a good calais and enjoy it,

[VLDavo]

vk calais look sexy.... even better if its a 5 litre

[202injected]

I love my injected VK

it was running a mild cam, 040 over pistons, extractors to 3" exhaust, a celica 5 speed and VH SS Brockie 3.08 10bolt salisbury diff, it went like the clappers.

I just rebuilt the motor with a fresh block crank and rods and 7.5:1 compression in it for a supercharger, i want to drive it again so badly.

[joshooaahh]

yeah im definatly going to get a vk calais.

but was more after answers to what sort of kw would i be getting if i did the engine work like a cam, head work, exhaust **** like that

cheers

[Tom_1569]

you gotta watch the cam on an injected motor, apparently they can be a prick to get right with the ECU.

[bolby]

the ecu on an injected 6 may as well be a brick with wires attatched
but the VK calais is a nice cruiser, cars seem to get a bit more plastic after the Vk

[NORTI]

PM Sir Calais. He has an EFI 202 with a mild cam in his Calais

[bezz]

VKs were the least sought after commodores, being put in between the classic VH SLEs and the VL which now has a cult following. I love my VK but honestly mechanically they were ancient when they were released. The engine (202) should have been replaced with something less dated, the efi system they put on it was inefficient and the transmission left a lot to be desired. That being said I love its asthetics and the classy retro 80s velour they got going on in the inside, ands the 'futuristic' digital dash and bits and pieces they had in the calais. If you like playing with electronics the VK Calais is the car to get because you'll be forever fixing things haha

So yea if you're looking at buying one I would just be looking for one with a straight body with little rust, and if you're lucky one with a clean interior. The motor's worth nothing anyway so I dont think itd be a priority. My plan is to ditch teh 202 in mine and put an injected V8 in it...

[NORTI]

I have ditched the EFI 202 from mine too. I agree ^^^ biggest POS ever. Not too mention thirsty!!!

[Cane_It]

yeah im definatly going to get a vk calais.

but was more after answers to what sort of kw would i be getting if i did the engine work like a cam, head work, exhaust **** like that

cheers

realistically you could expect about 120-130rwhp with decent compression, headwork, XU-1 type cam, carby and exhaust, 202s require $$ to make em go and are ultimately limited by how much air the cylinder heads can flow. my old red made around 120rwhp.

personally i'd concentrate on getting one with a good body and interior, motors are worth ****all today and you could buy something waaay better than a 202 with the money you'd otherwise spend on a 202.

[joshooaahh]

thanks

yeh ive been looking at what options i have to do for a injected 202 and from what people say its not really worth it. so i was thinking either taking my mates rb30 engine out of his beaten up vl or possible putting in the 3.8 from a vn or even a ecotec one but not sure about the stuffing around it would take

cheers

[Cane_It]

if ya gonna go to the trouble of a v6 conversion then you could probably pick up an efi 5.0L & box for about 2.5k. but you'd have to get in engineered