My first car - vn calais!

[down_with_the_system]

hey guys. Ive had it for a few months now. Tell me what you think. I wanna do stuff to it, but i dont really know what to do and in what order to do it. ALL suggestions welcome!

Model = 1989 VN Calais
Engine = 3.8 litre V6
What its got =
-18 inch AMG quake rims
-Professionally lowered with king spring super lows
- 2.5 inch redback exhaust system with middle and end mufflers fitted and large chrome tip
- Tinted windows
- All electrics etc etc

Looking ahead =
Pacemaker extractors
some sort of body work (dont really know what though)
VN SS grille (Anyone know where i can pick one up cheap?)
CAI and Panel filter
Bit more engine work (dunno what)

PICS=
















Once again, tell me what you think and i would love any suggestions for future mods etc.

[HoZy]

Nice an clean, Simple yet classy Keep us up to date with mods.

Cheers
MaT

[jack.mc]

welcome to the forums mate - lovely looking car! Get a CAI and K&N filter, some pacemakers, and you'll have a really nice ride. I reckon the 7750 looks hot in the VN (I've got one too)

[down_with_the_system]

yeh it does. Cant believe it retails for like 600-700 in the shops. I got it for 350 off ebay!

[VSSPak]

that car is sweet, what u pay for her?

[mattman]

That is neat man... very nice.

Next mod - new seat covers :P Fitted sheets aren't so good... lol

[down_with_the_system]

3grand. It was all stock when i got it.
And they are throw over seat covers and i like hem :P Fitted covers look cheap. Its either throw over covers or no covers for me. And id like to protect my nice calias interior.

[mattman]

lol fair enough.. your car i guess.

And yeah i know gotta look after that smick interior I'll need to go hunting for sheepskin covers soon (shut up.. i am getting them.. lol).

[houseing]

looks very nice

[jack.mc]

yeh it does. Cant believe it retails for like 600-700 in the shops. I got it for 350 off ebay!

same here

[Taylor727]

nice first car. hope all goes well mate. cheers.

[AirStrike]

Ok mods. Doesnt have to be in this order:
1 - Change the god awful steering wheel (pulled mine out the same day I got my calais)
2 - Loose the seat covers and dash mat
3 - Paint the brake calipers and rotors
4 - Colour code the mirrors and door handles
5 - Slap some pacemakers and a LS1 cat on
6 - Fit a L67 CAI and K&N
7 - Service using good parts (do oil, oil filter, fuel filter, plugs and leads)
8 - If its a series 2 remove the bellmouth and slap a V8 (65mm) throttle body on
9 - Speak to either Blue Chip Tuning or Dr Bob and get a custom memcal done

Then go crusing!
AirStrike

[HoZy]

Ok mods. Doesnt have to be in this order:
1 - Change the god awful steering wheel (pulled mine out the same day I got my calais)
2 - Loose the seat covers and dash mat
3 - Paint the brake calipers and rotors
4 - Colour code the mirrors and door handles
5 - Slap some pacemakers and a LS1 cat on
6 - Fit a L67 CAI and K&N
7 - Service using good parts (do oil, oil filter, fuel filter, plugs and leads)
8 - If its a series 2 remove the bellmouth and slap a V8 (65mm) throttle body on
9 - Speak to either Blue Chip Tuning or Dr Bob and get a custom memcal done

Then go crusing!
AirStrike

2 - He likes the seat covers to protect his calais seats.

4 - Color coded looks tacky in my opinion

5 - Go for a Hi-Flow cat, dont go messing with a Standard flow for ls1 cat.... Might be better for a vn v6, but just go a new hi-flow.......

8 - If you remove bellmouth an change throttle body careful, 50% of car's done to don't like to idle once the belmouth is out. It's a rough idle an in winter there whores.......

9 - Read around the forum theres some guys that can do a cheaper an just as good job....

No offence to do this Airstrike but theres not always just 1 way to skin a cat.

Cheers
MaT

[AirStrike]

2 - He likes the seat covers to protect his calais seats.
What good is protecting them if they never get seen? Just clean them frequently and dont eat, etc in ya car.
4 - Color coded looks tacky in my opinion
Personal preference, helps to blend it more, cant be that bad since GMH started doing it............
5 - Go for a Hi-Flow cat, dont go messing with a Standard flow for ls1 cat....
Hi flow on a bolt on V6 will not give enough back pressure resulting in a loss of low down torque, which is were you do most of your driving and what makes the Holden 6's fun.
8 - If you remove bellmouth an change throttle body careful, 50% of car's done to don't like to idle once the belmouth is out.
Thats why I said to get a custom tune done, can always turn the base idle screw a few turns as a temp measure.
9 - Read around the forum theres some guys that can do a cheaper an just as good job....
As good! No way. All they do is work out what look up table value is for fuel and spark and add a little and run it on 98RON fuel. You cant tell me that after all the time, effort and testing both BCT and Dr Bob have put in someone at home can whip something up as good??
No offence to do this Airstrike but theres not always just 1 way to skin a cat.
How else do you skin a cat? You use a knife, its the only way..........
Cheers
MaT

AirStrike

[HoZy]

Haha, Back pressure, You show me proven results of back pressure loss. Run it out the headers you'll have more power than with an exhaust........

Custom tune on a stock v6, worthless..... Just get a SV3800 chip burnt.....

Temporarily play with base idle screw, not worth the hassle,

How else do you skin a cat... Stand on its tail aint pull its insides out its eye sockets....

Cheers
MaT

P.S- I'm just playin mate, ease up

[AirStrike]

Haha, Back pressure, You show me proven results of back pressure loss. Run it out the headers you'll have more power than with an exhaust........

Custom tune on a stock v6, worthless..... Just get a SV3800 chip burnt.....

Temporarily play with base idle screw, not worth the hassle,

How else do you skin a cat... Stand on its tail aint pull its insides out its eye sockets....

Cheers
MaT

P.S- I'm just playin mate, ease up

With back pressure I said torque not power. It will make more power high up in the rev range, but minimal. Personally I would rather more low end torque then another 2kw at 5600rpm.
SV3800 chip ey, how do you account for the differences in cam?
What hassle? Screw it till you get somethin your happy with........
Good luck skining a cat that way.
AirStrike

[XTC16]

Neat, clean, straight and tidy, love the colour!!

[CALAIS 6]

nice clean car mate and with wot hozy and airstrike are talking bout my car has lost a lot of back pressure and i get shit take off from the lights as it's too big but that will not be the case when i get a new car lol

[Doctor Sodways]

Very tidy mate, nice job

[VLDavo]

great first car mate

[Keesh]

yer its the same as mine. ii luvv this colour wouldnt trade it for anything.. i have the leather seats in mine im doing the interior black.. i just started today.. hate the elephant grey haha! yer the only thing i would say to get rid ov is the black headlight stickers.. they look so bad! yer and tint your back lights they will make this car look mean as!