This one has been sourced to build a tough street / show car. My brother Kerrod purchased the VY Calais fairly standard in Jan 2022 and got stuck straight into work on it. Car is a Jan 2004 VY Series II Calais with HBD Wing and Sunroof from factory in Quicksilver. Originally owned by the Catholic Diocese in Emerald Qld, it was purchased with a cam, exhaust and lowered suspension from the second owner. Overall pretty tidy, it was a great base to start with.
Obligatory "Yeahbuds" first up, followed up all new suspension, brakes, bushes, arms - complete overhaul.
WIth new feet, brakes and handling, the car felt great to drive and started to go down the street cruiser route, with a stereo installed and continual tidy ups where possible.
The car was sent off to Autoworx to have some paint tidy ups ready for Rockynats 02.
The car was great fun at Rockynats, and we had a ball, but it was obvious we wanted more, and were ready to take it to the next level. We had been talking with our friend Jeffro Charles from WA, who owns the Whiny Wagon (Click Here for a Mad Vid of his Fridge on the dunes)ŧ. He was looking to upgrade his LSA1900 Blower set up for a Harrop and we did a deal to buy his ported, custom snout, LSA blower removed from his car, refurbished with new rotors and a brand new Harrop Lid and sent over to Queensland. Whilst the set up on Jeffro's Patrol made 825hp at the wheels (and eventually 1000hp on E85) we set our sights on 550hp at the wheels, in a safe reliable set up on 98.
Work begun on stripping the motor and preparing the bottom end, keeping the original LS1 block. A call to Troy at Warspeed and a box full to the brim of goodies was on it's way, including Warspeed Heads, trunions, head studs, complete LSA front pulley assembly with smaller pulley to push boost up to 14psi (now changed to a slightly less spicy model at 12 psi) and all the little bits and pieces to get the blower working.
The car was delivered to Waltech Performance, who completed the bottom end, blower build, fab work for the exhaust, ice box, surge tank, intercooler, all the piping and wiring and got rid of the useless 4l65 and replaced with a brand new built T400.
After meeting the deadline and heading down the Bruce to Turning Point in Hervey Bay to be tuned by Brad, we found after one pull on the dyno the gearbox had failed, having an issue from factory. Dissapointing, but better to get out of the way early. One of the cushion bearings in the box was upside down, causing it to heat up and warp the case. EMA was very helpful and we had a new rebuilt box sorted and back to get tuned.
We left the tune on a 575hp at the wheels run in tune and head back to Rockhampton to get the car ready to have a full respray.
Next stop is the interior and detailing, Trad and Kerry Duffy from AOK Upholstering did a brilliant job of bringing the interior back to life. We also set about tidying up underneath with a full detail, replacement of suspension parts and polishing or painting anything we could.
Built LS1 5.7L Bottom End, Sleeve Gapped, Bored, Pistons, VCM16 Cam, Trunions, APR Headstuds, APR Cam bolts, Titanium Valve Springs, Higgins / Warspeed 241 Heads, Forced Induction Interchiller thermal reduction blower spacer, LSA1900 Supercharger with customer proting and snout, Harrop Top Hat and Brick, custom blower cooling system made by Wal at Waltech Performance with Proform pump, Dash 16 piping and custom Glycol container with Dry Ice compartment. Custom exhaust made by Wal at Waltech Performance.
Custom Surge Tank with 3 Bosh Fuel pumps (1 internal, 2 external) 1 of the pumps hooked up to boost reference. New lines (front and return), Regulator under bonnet.
TCI Turbo 400 with TCI 4200 Converter and flexplate. Rebuilt with billet internal parts and TCI Deep Sump Pan. Built for up to 1000hp
Kings SSSL springs, Monroe shortened shocks, all new bushes and arms, Pedders camber adjustment kit.
VY standard brakes with upgraded slotted disks, bendix pads, new lines
20 x 9.5" + 43 Simmons FR1 rears - 255/30/20 tyres
20 x 8.5" + 43 Simmons FR1 fronts - 235/30/20 tyres
Standard VY Calais leather seats retrimmed in Leather / Alcantera by Trad and Kerry at AOK Upholstery, matching centre consol and door cards, custom gear boot (steering wheel now completed but not shown on the photos)
More to come.... all new glass, mini tubs, Enemy Wheels, Haltech rewire all coming in 2024/25!
Passionate Motor Sport Enthusiest and Racer
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