1995 Calibra SE4 - Modified & 2.5 V6 Converted
Discussion
1st day & second post here so not sure what to expect by way of a response to a Vauxhall Calibra (this one especially) but here goes.................
I bought this pretty much standard in 2003 with the exeption of the 17" BK158's. Was my daily hack until a couple of years ago when 2 young boys meant time to expand the car fleet! This left the Calibra fairly redundant & after a light front ender, some replacement panels & not much love she was looking a bit sorry for herself.
So I put her to bed & drew up some plans.
Now, I was never really one for bodykits & the "Max Power" look but for some insane reason I thought "what the hell, I'm a 30 something bloke so why not have a premature crisis"? So I did! I did, on the other hand, accept that the 2.0 8v 115bhp engine was not really going to match a "showy" car & as I'd recently purchased a Vectra B 2.5 GSi Estate (the now family car) & as I kind of like the way it drives, I decided 2.5 V6 was the way forward for the Calibra too.
& so it began.......
Lowered 40mm all round, Rieger Infinity bodykit, Powerflow cat-back exhaust, Irmy spoiler & rooftip spoiler (suddenly I began feeling under 30). Yes, the "Bad Boy" bonnet extension was immediately binned!
Treated the suspension all round to a bit of an "overhaul" & some nice, poly bushes.
Lots of silly lights.
MkII Astra GTE bonnet vents (yes, they are cut in not just stuck on).
A trip to the paintshop.
& she emerged looking somewhat tidier.
Then came the engine transplant, the bit I really should've done before the bodywork but we can't all be perfect.
Picked up a tidy Calibra V6 as a donor...........
& started doing my homework on what this conversion would involve.
That is where panic set in. I won't go into every little detail here or you'll all get bored & disappear but, to get all of the ancillaries on the V6 engine & cooling system running as they should, I either had to become an auto-electrician overnight or swap every single loom from the donor car to mine first (that means everthing from the filler cap to the headlights). Being slightly mad I did just that.
Then it was engine time!
Out with the 2.0 8v........
......& in with the 2.5 V6
Ta-Da!!
After wiring it all in, several weeks of electrical issues, large ammounts of alcohol & lots of headaches later she finally came to life, got tidied up & went for a little photo-session.
Had a few more elecrical issues since but with the help of a lot of mates, they were finally all resolved this weekend & she's firing properly on all 6!
Unfortunately, due to financial constraints & other commitments, she's now SORN'd & won't see the road until next spring but in the meantime, the tinkering continues & all the finishing touches can be made at my own pace. Now I feel about 25, I reakon with some good engine 'bling' I may even reach 21 again (but with much lower insurance).
The bling has only just begun with a modified engine cover.
Current spec'.......
Exterior.
Rieger Infinity body kit with grill mesh.
Astra GTE bonnet vents.
Colour coded bump strips.
'Angel Eye' headlights.
Irmy tailgate spoiler & rooftip spoiler.
17" BK158's on Avon ZZ3 205/40/17's
Clear, oval reapeters
Interior.
Blue LED conversion to all dash lights/switches.
Various colour coded dash parts.
Cream leather gaitors, Richbrook gear knob & handbrake lever.
Blue seatbelts.
Rear headrests.
Silly steering wheel & silly pedals.
Brakes/Suspension.
40mm G-Max full kit all round.
Poly bushes all round.
Front strut brace.
288mm M-Tec drilled/groved front discs with V6 calipers, standard rears.
Engine & Exhaust.
2.5 V6 (X25XE)
SAI system removed, exhaust manifolds from C25XE.
3.0 inlet cams.
3.0 lower divider (yet to be fitted).
Lightened crank pully (from 3.2).
Enlarged TB.
4.0 bar FPR (soon to be replaced with a 3.8 as it's over-fuelling slightly).
Pipercross panel filter.
10mm leads
Vectra V6 metal cam covers (the reason for the modified engine cover as the oil filler cap is in a different location).
Powerflow cat back exhaust (twin rectangular tail pipe)
There we go, make of it what you will (while I potentially go & hide).
All of the above has been on the go for about the last 18 months & it's been an enjoyable hell! I've missed loads but I don't want to bore you all to tears on my second post so either enjoy or think "what the hell is that"?!?!
I bought this pretty much standard in 2003 with the exeption of the 17" BK158's. Was my daily hack until a couple of years ago when 2 young boys meant time to expand the car fleet! This left the Calibra fairly redundant & after a light front ender, some replacement panels & not much love she was looking a bit sorry for herself.
So I put her to bed & drew up some plans.
Now, I was never really one for bodykits & the "Max Power" look but for some insane reason I thought "what the hell, I'm a 30 something bloke so why not have a premature crisis"? So I did! I did, on the other hand, accept that the 2.0 8v 115bhp engine was not really going to match a "showy" car & as I'd recently purchased a Vectra B 2.5 GSi Estate (the now family car) & as I kind of like the way it drives, I decided 2.5 V6 was the way forward for the Calibra too.
& so it began.......
Lowered 40mm all round, Rieger Infinity bodykit, Powerflow cat-back exhaust, Irmy spoiler & rooftip spoiler (suddenly I began feeling under 30). Yes, the "Bad Boy" bonnet extension was immediately binned!
Treated the suspension all round to a bit of an "overhaul" & some nice, poly bushes.
Lots of silly lights.
MkII Astra GTE bonnet vents (yes, they are cut in not just stuck on).
A trip to the paintshop.
& she emerged looking somewhat tidier.
Then came the engine transplant, the bit I really should've done before the bodywork but we can't all be perfect.
Picked up a tidy Calibra V6 as a donor...........
& started doing my homework on what this conversion would involve.
That is where panic set in. I won't go into every little detail here or you'll all get bored & disappear but, to get all of the ancillaries on the V6 engine & cooling system running as they should, I either had to become an auto-electrician overnight or swap every single loom from the donor car to mine first (that means everthing from the filler cap to the headlights). Being slightly mad I did just that.
Then it was engine time!
Out with the 2.0 8v........
......& in with the 2.5 V6
Ta-Da!!
After wiring it all in, several weeks of electrical issues, large ammounts of alcohol & lots of headaches later she finally came to life, got tidied up & went for a little photo-session.
Had a few more elecrical issues since but with the help of a lot of mates, they were finally all resolved this weekend & she's firing properly on all 6!
Unfortunately, due to financial constraints & other commitments, she's now SORN'd & won't see the road until next spring but in the meantime, the tinkering continues & all the finishing touches can be made at my own pace. Now I feel about 25, I reakon with some good engine 'bling' I may even reach 21 again (but with much lower insurance).
The bling has only just begun with a modified engine cover.
Current spec'.......
Exterior.
Rieger Infinity body kit with grill mesh.
Astra GTE bonnet vents.
Colour coded bump strips.
'Angel Eye' headlights.
Irmy tailgate spoiler & rooftip spoiler.
17" BK158's on Avon ZZ3 205/40/17's
Clear, oval reapeters
Interior.
Blue LED conversion to all dash lights/switches.
Various colour coded dash parts.
Cream leather gaitors, Richbrook gear knob & handbrake lever.
Blue seatbelts.
Rear headrests.
Silly steering wheel & silly pedals.
Brakes/Suspension.
40mm G-Max full kit all round.
Poly bushes all round.
Front strut brace.
288mm M-Tec drilled/groved front discs with V6 calipers, standard rears.
Engine & Exhaust.
2.5 V6 (X25XE)
SAI system removed, exhaust manifolds from C25XE.
3.0 inlet cams.
3.0 lower divider (yet to be fitted).
Lightened crank pully (from 3.2).
Enlarged TB.
4.0 bar FPR (soon to be replaced with a 3.8 as it's over-fuelling slightly).
Pipercross panel filter.
10mm leads
Vectra V6 metal cam covers (the reason for the modified engine cover as the oil filler cap is in a different location).
Powerflow cat back exhaust (twin rectangular tail pipe)
There we go, make of it what you will (while I potentially go & hide).
All of the above has been on the go for about the last 18 months & it's been an enjoyable hell! I've missed loads but I don't want to bore you all to tears on my second post so either enjoy or think "what the hell is that"?!?!
Edited by DanSE4 on Thursday 24th May 14:54
Edited by DanSE4 on Thursday 24th May 16:58
That my friend............................is surprisingly nice and tastefully done. Nice to see you have not gone OTT with the exterior and I like the blue lighting in the interior although that might not be to all tastes.
How does it drive? Is it quick enough for you or are you looking for a little more? Maybe FI route? Were you not tempted by the 2.0 turbo 200 bhp engine?
Once again though it does look nice. Like a baby Monaro!
How does it drive? Is it quick enough for you or are you looking for a little more? Maybe FI route? Were you not tempted by the 2.0 turbo 200 bhp engine?
Once again though it does look nice. Like a baby Monaro!
Thanks for the comments.
I never really had the time & money when I was younger & all my mates were modifying thier XR2i's, kind of something I missed out on so have finally got it out of my system!
I didn't go down the turbo route as I've driven a Calibra Turbo with FWD & traction is BAD, they really need 4x4! I am now considering a 3.2 V6 in there, now all of the hard work is done with the electrics, it's practically a straight swap & the low down torque is a massive improvement on the 2.5.
Wheel wise, I do like the BBS wheels but I've had these on there since day one & as daft as it sounds, they're kind of part of the car now.
I never really had the time & money when I was younger & all my mates were modifying thier XR2i's, kind of something I missed out on so have finally got it out of my system!
I didn't go down the turbo route as I've driven a Calibra Turbo with FWD & traction is BAD, they really need 4x4! I am now considering a 3.2 V6 in there, now all of the hard work is done with the electrics, it's practically a straight swap & the low down torque is a massive improvement on the 2.5.
Wheel wise, I do like the BBS wheels but I've had these on there since day one & as daft as it sounds, they're kind of part of the car now.
y2blade said:
Those V6's sound lovely don't they.
The exhaust is ever so slightly, completely mental!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB47WWtEnQ4#]Calibr... V6
This was from last weekend when I went for a 200yd blat after we'd finally got it running properly.
Edited by DanSE4 on Thursday 24th May 17:10
I had a Cav GSi 4X4 in the mid-90s. Great car but needed more grunt. I could never afford the Cav turbo back then with around 70 more bhp and the 6-spped box but I always lusted after one.
Your Calibra is a tidy looking motor. I understand the whole culture of modifying even when you're not sure the results will be "current" or fashionable. It's fun having a go though and I respect the effort you've put in. That said, although it's not to everyone's taste, it *is* PH-worthy because there's an engine swap involved.
Nice one..!!
Your Calibra is a tidy looking motor. I understand the whole culture of modifying even when you're not sure the results will be "current" or fashionable. It's fun having a go though and I respect the effort you've put in. That said, although it's not to everyone's taste, it *is* PH-worthy because there's an engine swap involved.
Nice one..!!
Good Photoshopping there!
Damn you (meant in the nicest possible way), I was really liking my BK's (they do look kinda' smart when it's rolling) but now you may have booked me an unexpected visit with the bank manager!
Wow, I'm really quite surprised with the positive comments here. This is the first non-dedicated Calibra/Vauxhall forum I've joined & obviously the one's I use frequently are slightly more bias so I was expecting some "my god, what have you done to a perfectly good Calibra".
Re: the steering wheel, yes it's not the most practical nor the most desirable but I was sold on the blue when I spotted it so I kind of went with it. I like it & I guess that's all that matters & I wanted (from the start) to get some subtle colour matching throughout the whole car.
I'm 35 & as mentioned previously, this project has kind of been doing all the things I couldn't do when I was a teenage driver but have never been able to let go of. Early mid-life crisis!
Damn you (meant in the nicest possible way), I was really liking my BK's (they do look kinda' smart when it's rolling) but now you may have booked me an unexpected visit with the bank manager!
Wow, I'm really quite surprised with the positive comments here. This is the first non-dedicated Calibra/Vauxhall forum I've joined & obviously the one's I use frequently are slightly more bias so I was expecting some "my god, what have you done to a perfectly good Calibra".
Re: the steering wheel, yes it's not the most practical nor the most desirable but I was sold on the blue when I spotted it so I kind of went with it. I like it & I guess that's all that matters & I wanted (from the start) to get some subtle colour matching throughout the whole car.
I'm 35 & as mentioned previously, this project has kind of been doing all the things I couldn't do when I was a teenage driver but have never been able to let go of. Early mid-life crisis!
Edited by DanSE4 on Thursday 24th May 20:23
Edited by DanSE4 on Thursday 24th May 20:25
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