My A9Y VL Calais Wagon

[VL_3692]

If you feel like a read, here it is.

Hello everyone, havent posted here for over a year but a whole heaps has happened. This is all copy pasted from another forum for whoever is interested.

Slow going of late. Picked up a genuine Calais steering wheel and mx7 speedo cable. Ordered all new shocks, springs, trailing and control arms. Got the rear springs, trailing arms and shocks fitted today, would've loved to get the fronts as well but couldn't get tr bonnet open haha.

How she sits now

Hopefully get the fronts done this week, then assess what was causing the bonnet issue, once I get it open. Then look into upgraded sway bars and bushes then some upgraded brakes.



Little update, ordered a heap of stuff from rarespares.
- new rubber kit
- Calais badges for nosecone and guards, and turbo badge for tailgate
- manual surround with boot
- bonnet cable

Got the bonnet open after taken the grill out, turns out the cable was majorly stretched. I could now replace the front springs, shocks, strut tops and front control arms.
Was surprised with how short a time it took.

Once installed:

New arms:

Also got the power windows half sorted, needed a new main switch, the o/s/f needs a new motor and the rears have fallen out of there channels and keep sagging. Hopefully have everything rectified soon and all the windows working.

New switches

And how she sits now, poor photography skills.

That's about all mate, then go through the rego process. Everything I've font so far were the main items I wanted done before registering.

All my rare spares parts came! Badges, new rubber kit, bonnet cable and manual surround



Got a bit of work done this morning. Fitted new bonnet cable and original steering wheel.

Don't worry, it's on straight.

And also test fitted my new wheels. I think it looks killer

Needs to be a bit lower in the rear, might have to put sedan springs in. Not long til I'm on the road now!




Couple more photos with the wheels. Was disappointed that it wasn't don't for the meet but will be there at the next one

With my daily after A wash
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/Aussie3692/null_zps2cd19674.jpg[/IMG



Got some more done today, refitted the seats, kick panels, centre console and rear door trims. Left the front door trims off as I still need to replace both front check straps ( who has done this before?)

[IMG]http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm171/Aussie3692/null_zps2abc1113.jpg

I will end up painting the shifter surround eventually. Still a lot left to do but checking things off the list as well. Also have some plates in mind aswell




Been a couple of weeks since an update. Had some time yesterday to do a few things. Put a new set of front sway bar links in and fitted up the speedo cable, which still didn't work after I went for a drive. :s

And I also got some new wheels


Swapped them for the g8s that I had on my ute, and the gts are now on that.






Did a bit tonight. Sedan ultras in the rear, adjustable panhard rod and got the speedo working. There was this adapter on the side of the box?


It had a square hole so the circle cable wouldn't fit? So I undid it from the box And ran the cable straight into the box. Maybe it was an adapter so you could run and auto cable? Anyway it works now

And how it sits now, so much happier with it. Can't even fit 1 finger in the wheel gap, tighter then a nun.












For those eagerly awaiting an update here it is.

Since the last post I have been acquiring various parts but have also been quite lazy but I pulled my finger out tonight!

We all know standard brakes are pretty average so I went down the VT upgrade on the front. Slotted rotors and remsa front pads. Purchased some vt calipers and anchors from a wrecker and had them sandblasted and rebuilt.



And vt hub adapters from race brakes Sydney, highly recommend them.



All fitted up and brakes bled, all new braided lines front and rear






And also fitted a new ignition barrel as the old one could be started with a flatblade. Have also got some front check straps to go in as well and also having a few cold start issues. Will be ready for summer I hope!




Okay so on my day off this happened at work, wasn't told about it until I went in the next morning. I was filthy. Apparently the bar got caught on the bottom of the hoist and just ripped off.




Anyway, sourced a new front bar and sides, got them painted and fitted the new bar up this arvo.




Didn't really look in real life but looking at the photos it appears the colour between the bar and moulds is different , have to have another look



Okay so today is the first time I have driven this further than around the block. 16km from work to home and she went really well, still a few suspension issues but can all be sorted in the near future.




Also put in all 4 door seals, and refitted the front door trims.




This thread has been pretty dormant for a while but here is an update. Was never 100% happy with the internationals so I have moved on to one of my favorite wheels, VY SS.

Found these for sale, had $1500 spent on them, fully sandblasted and powdercoated, as close as possible to factory paint. They do you look a bit different but less so in the sunlight. Negotiated on a price as the tyres were shagged, put them in the ute and off I went.

Next day I organized 4 new tyres, Pirelli 235/40/18s and had all the wheels balanced. Less writing, more pics.



Took a whole bunch of photos, these are my favorites, don't mind my Instagram editing skills.







Now I'd love to get this to the meet at sublime point and all that I really need to do is get it registered and decide on plates. I'd love to incorporate A9Y into a plate but can't justify the rta fee per year. So I've been toying with GMH-49Y, (thoughts?) hopefully most people will get it but not everyone has a wagon and is aware of that option code.

But I digress, really keen to start driving this often and getting out to meets and meeting new people and checking out everyone's VL. Thanks for viewing




Update time, she is now registered


I drove all the way home with a smile (not in the VL), just have to sort out my insurance then I will go for a drive and I will be at the meet this Sunday.

 

[VL_3692]

Went to the Sydney meet/cruise today and felt like a trip to Dubai. Filthy heat. Didn't end up going through to Wollongong but had a good drive to heathcote and back, all up did over 120km in the heat and she didn't miss a bit, even stuck in traffic through ryde. Very happy.

After detailing her yesterday found a few imperfections to put on the to do list, but came up really well. (Note screwdriver holding up the window so it didn't sag down while washing)








Dot think anyone got photos of my wagon but if you did let me know!




Okay, productive weekend. Ripped all the a/c out, lines and condensor in anticipation of fitting the cooler kit I bought. Turns out it doesn't fit well and I'm not happy with it. Got it cheap so can't carry on.





Not happy with the fitment and doesn't line up.


So plan is to get one of these kits from JD customs, all no holes, powdercoated black and cooler will be 600x300. Disregard this picture


Plan is to go to cruise for charity on the 6th in this so a couple of nights work ahead I think. If not ill still go in my ute.




Time for an update.

Upon trying to fit the cooler kit I got for cheap I realize that the piping wasn't quite right. Sourced a couple more pipes but wasn't happy with the fit. So after removing all the a/c lines, condensor and compressor, I sourced a new JD customs no holes cooler kit and had a go at fitting it up this weekend just gone.

Powdercoated pipes but the cooler is still alloy as it was shipped straight from justjap before getting to me. Went together rather easily but I was stuffed around a lot by my "series 2" p/s line. Some casual persuasion and jacking the car up then allowed me to fit the turbo outlet pipe.



Now this it as it sits now, I had to get a smaller 90 degree bend coming off the turbo was to large and I was adamant about keeping the airbox. Also had to source a new length of vacuum hose to connect to the intake as the original was to short to reach the outlet on the pipe.


This is currently how she sits, please note the cooler is not mounted yet as I have to modify some brackets to bolt on as the threads on top of te cooler are not spaced far enough apart to simply bolt up behind the headlights. Also it's not quite centred, needs to go about and inch to the passengers side but this was the only spot it would sit with everything together and with No clearance issues. Wether I made a mistake somewhere or something isn't 100% I'm sure ill find out one day.

Bunnings special







So far so good, very happy with the delivery time as well. Also have the overboost bung to put in as well, should all be priced back together maybe one night this week and back on the road to enjoy again.

Cheers for viewing, any feedback/comments welcomed!




Cooler is now all bolted up, headlights are back in and the nose cone is on, just need a second set of hands to put the bar back on. But have ran into a bit of trouble, excuse the copy/paste. Also spotted a small coolant leak which will need attention. Photos tomorrow

Anyone with 3inch cooler piping, how have you gone about running your accelerator cable?

I've just fitted a jd customs cooler kit and the cable bracket sits so close to the pipe that I can't fitthe accelerator cable into the bracket.

I feel I have 2 options:
1. Bolt a small bracket to the existing bracket and run it that way but I don't think it will be exactly straight.
2. Cut the original bracket and weld a new piece so it sits higher and over the intake pipe

Cheers in advance

 

[VL_3692]

Okay, little update. After making up my own brackets, the cooler is all mounted up and my bar is back on. Is a little bit lopsided but it was the best I could do in turn with the pipes running nicely.


Few little other gremlins before I can go for a cruise, have to re run the charcoal canister lines off the air box tube over the rocker cover. Also my bonnet cable has given up so will have to make a trip to rare spares this weekend.

I've half sorted my dramas with the accelerator cable bracket, but I think it will run very close to the bonnet. I still feel I will need to come up with some sort of custom bracket.

 

[various_one]

Love ur work mate, wagons looking good!

 

[VL_3692]

Okay pulled my finger out today and fitted the new bonnet cable and removed the charcoal canister line bracket and ran my own .




Then took her for the first drive in 2 months, can't believe I hadn't for so long. Plan now is to keep her as is and fix all the little issues

 

[rirz]

cool wagon build mate, iam digging the style a lot. good stuff!

 

[various_one]

Just read through the entire thread and you have done an awesome job! Props on the build!