VL Info?

[the_goldie]

All,

I am after some specs/pics for VL Commodores. Exec, Berlina or Calais. I am after info regarding standard equipment that came with these cars and any options. Also any info on problems with these cars.

Thanks.

[Three_o_seven]

I know that the 3.0l six were prone to head cracking....i think this was due to the water neck being higher than the top radiator tank inlet forming an air pocket that was difficult to bleed.

Jeremy

Yeah, thats right.

Make sure if you need the radiator flushed or you replace it get a professional to do it as people I know of had the Heads Crack after they changed the radiator.

But strength wise in the engine, they are pretty tough.
You just have to look around at all the Drag cars with Bigger Turbos & stuff and the engines still hold up.
Not sure how much they modify it.

Also, make sure it has an alarm as they are pretty easy to steal & they are high priority for car thieves cause they can sell the parts easy because there is a big market for them out there

Look around on the net and you will find a VL web site & post the question there.

[VS_SS_304]

I had a VL Berlina for years and as long as you change oil and filters every so often, they are pretty bullet proof. Head cracking is a big problem but I have heard of some mechanics making up kits that resolves the problem. I don't know exactly how they work but ask around.
One problem I had was with the "Crank Angle Sensor" failed and everyone I know who has owned a VL has had it fail at some time. Once they fail, you aint goin' anywhere. Easily fixed though.
All models get a tacho except the base executive model which got a big analogue clock in its place. Looked a bit cheap and nasty.
I don't think GM-H used two pack paint in those days either so watch out for fading/cracking paint in metallic colors.
Overall a good reliable car.

[Graeme]

Cameron,

I'll try not to state the obvious, but some may not know that the VL was introduced around March 1986 with only the one engine, "Powertech 6 EI" in Holden language. The Turbo came later in August and the 5.0 litre V8 made its unleaded debut in November 1986.

All three engines were available on all VL model sedans and wagons. The atmo 6 EI was the standard engine for all models, SL, Executive, Berlina, and Calais.

The V8 was only available with the old 3-speed Trimatic auto trans. The others came as 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto.

Power outputs were 114kW for the six, 150kW for the turbo, and 122kW for the V8.

LSD was optional with mandatory option rear wheel discs, which were also mandatory with turbo or V8.

Sports suspension ( FE2 ) was optional with the V8, mandatory with the turbo, but apparently not available on the wagons.
Country Pack suspension was optional on all models.

Full instrumentation was standard in Berlina and Calais, but optional on SL and Executive. You could actually buy an SL Turbo without the optional instruments, ie no tacho.

Rear axle ratio was the same for both sixes, at 3.45:1.
The V8 ran a Salisbury diff of 3.08:1 ratio.

The turbo and V8 sedans drove on 15 x 6.00 steel wheel rims, with 205/65 tyres. The basic six sedan drove on 14 x 6.00 rims and all wagons ran 14 x 5.5 rims, all with 185/75 tyres.

When the Calais was introduced in 1986, the only listed factory options were LSD and Leather upholstery.

Cruise Control was made available later on in VL production.

There was also some trim changes late in the VL model run, whereby the shape of the front bucket seats were significantly altered as was the cloth trim specification, particularly with respect to the Calais which amongst other things inherited a fuzzy glovebox lid.

[ducksguts]

I had a VL SL with a 5 speed, i covered at least 180 000 k's in this car give or take ( the odometer and speedo stopped late into the deal) but apart from that i never had one single failure of any component in the car, it started first time everytime and still drove like a brand new car .
The Executives have powersteering, the SL's do not.. quite a pig in tight spaces without it, also watchout for rust around the front bulkhead around the windscreen, other than that they are a top car and go like stink with a 5 speed.

[Damian]

One way of telling the Series 1 from the Series 2 models were the color of the door handles. From memory Series 1 came with silver or chromed and Series 2 came with black.
Regards
Damian

[mustang1966]

Yeah I had a VL 5 Speed as well with FE2 suspension, we put a set of chaser rims off a VP with IRS onto it and they filled out the rear wheel arches out just fine. It was a factory Auto which droped it's guts and a mate and I did a change over on a weekend. 950 exchange it was. As quoted heads were a big problem, I think around the 140,000 - 160,000 K mark. I never had any dramas and it had 240,000 when I traded it.


Cam your not looking at the VL turbo for sale on Glossop St, St Marys for sale are you?

One of the best cars I have ever owned. I would still love another one.

[Road Runner 72]

I own a 88 VL sereis II Caliais.........

yes main problem is that damn crack in the head, well I got mine from doing that lead foot thing, but i payed the price, blew both heater hose's near the firewall, then got a bit hot, and CRACK and sizzle. but head was fixed.
The other problem with most VL's is the rust spot under the bottom back window seal

some main Differnces from a series I to the series II is the door handle colours like Damian stated, also the the serires II the glove box has carpet on it, and the back head rest's are fully coverd while the series I are hollow in the centers.

goldie I've added a pic of my car.

Cheers

Mike

[the_goldie]

Thanks for the info people.. keep it coming..

Hi Mark - no not looking at getting a turbo, but I am going to look around on the weekend. It is going to be my daily driver (selling the new mazda we bought last year) to get me to and from the dreaded station so it will be like fort knox inside as I know they are quite easy to get into (aren't all cars these days!) + the insurance for a turbo is about another $600/yr. Might give it a test drive though ;)

[V8SS]

Slightly off the subject but still on it....sort of...has anyone noticed that the Walkinshaw Roadcar is now showing as production planned and priced at $120-00 + GST. What a bargain.

[frosty]

Sorry the_goldie, it is slightly off the subject... I apologise.

I am after information about the VL Calais Turbo.

How can you tell the difference between a factory made VL Calais Turbo and a VL Calais that has a turbo fitted later on?

Any info would be greatly appreciated, as my 21 yo son is interested in purchasing a VL Calais turbo.

[the_goldie]

Hey Frosty - that's ok. I have no idea how to tell, but one word of warning if you have not checked already - INSURANCE! I checked insurance for a VL Calais Turbo against a standard Calais and the difference was about $600, also with your son being young it may be expensive :(

[Graeme]

Frosty / Goldie :

I'm no expert on the mechanical conversion of a VL atmo to turbo, but as you're talking of the Calais here, it comes standard with the four wheel disc brakes. However, the turbos had bigger disc units on the front.

The manual trans is upgraded in the turbo models, with different ratios for first, second and third gears, and a bigger clutch.

The only other difference of which I am aware is the front and rear suspension, being the FE2 type with linear rate springs up front, larger sway bars, and gas pressure shocks up back.

The Holden literature of the time also mentioned a fuel tank guard was fitted to the turbo models.

As a trivia item, bootlid turbo badges were coloured red on the Commodore models and white on the Calais.

Also, there was a limited run of Calais wagons produced as copycats of the sedans, however they were actually Berlina conversions carried out by HDT on behalf of Holden.

[ducksguts]

i dont know too much about spotting factory turbo's, but the head on a factory turbo is red, as opposed to the normal silver on the normally aspirated 6. Guess it can be a little hard to tell seeing as turbo option was available on the poverty SL version and all the way through the range from there, but as was mentioned earlier, look out for badges 4 wheel discs etc.

[john]

I owned a VL Calais 6 cyl 1986 for about 5 years untill it was stolen, never to be recovered. It is easily the best car I have ever owned still to today. At the moment I own a VT Calais, but I still believe the VL was a better car. No annoying squeeks from the VL doors like my newer VT model, which is a real turn-off. The 3 litre Nissan engine provided ample power for daily driving. My father owned a Berlina VL 6cyl and did have the cracked head problem, but fortunatly I never had that trouble. I would without doubt sell my VT for an immac VL calais if one were to come up but the missus won't have a bar of it.

[frosty]

Thanks Guys for the info.

Goldie, we have checked into the insurance for the Turbo.

2 options for Insurance.

Only RACV will insurance us.... no one else... even Just Car Insurance won't touch him. It makes life hard for young people these days.

1. in my son's name - full comprehensive cover premium $2,920 per year

2. In my name with Jason as nominated driver $1,800 per year

Car is covered for $6,200.

Both options decrease his rating each year.
So I think we are going option 2 :)

I cannot talk him out of the turbo, and he is prepared to pay the premium each year. He could get a VN or VP Calias but only wants the VL Calais Turbo.