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New VN Calais Project

dperry

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Hey guys, New to the forum.
I'm about to start a new project. Quick back story - The day I got my P's I drove to my job at the supermarket in my Dad's 5.0L VN Calais. When I finished the shift, all that was left in the parking spot was some broken glass. We never saw it again. Mum made Dad buy a Carolla after that.
Well I recently turned 30 and thought I would start the project of replacing that car.
I've never worked on a Holden before and just wanted some advice on where my limits will be. eg. Can I easily swap out a V6 for a V8? Where will i run into issues with newer engines? Best places to sources existing parts?
I'm going to start looking for the body soon, and while the finished product should be a V8, I wanted to know if I could buy a V6 model and do the conversion?

Thanks for any help you can offer!
 

hi_ryder

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vp calais ls1, vp berlina 3.8L
for a v8 conversion it might be a little easier if you can get a v8 rolling shell. they have different k-frames and some other bits and pieces. maybe even find one whacked up the bum and use it as a donor car for a v6 conversion. these days dude the v8 vn's are so cheap you may as well just skip all that conversion nonsense and hunt down a daily driver someone is selling. plenty out there still (in Melbourne at least) take a drive down here, carsales has heaps. most of the time they get parted out because no one wants them...
 

Demonica

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+1 for just buying a VN V8. They do come up pretty cheap if you have some patience. There was one near here that went for $1200 with rego and rwc not long ago.
 

elmf

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1990 VN Calais 3.8L
Never seen a RWC car for $1200 at all down in Melbourne!
 

dperry

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Thanks for the tips. Once I've got the car, I guess I'll need to start picking your brains for modification tips.
 
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