My 4.0 Litre V8 Calibra build

[chip]

Well, I figured I may as well have a proper build thread for once rather than just occasionally remembering to post, I collected the donor vehicle today, a Lexus LS400.

Rough spec:
4.0 V8 engine, quad cam, 32v, and only making 32bhp per cylinder to total 256bhp in standard trim with a standard rev limit of 6500rpm
Steel crank, steel rods, multi bolt mains, and enormous tuning potential

Auto gearbox, 3 speed + overdrive + reverse
Standard gearing is roughly 50mph in 1st, 90mph in 2nd, 140mph in 3rd, 155@5200(limited) in overdrive 3rd (which is effectively 4th)
On an 8K limit instead, which is what I eventually intend to run it at, it should be about 60 / 115 / 165 / 200+
It pulls pretty well from 40mph in 2nd, so on track I basically intend to essentially just leave it in 2nd gear for everything once its able to do 115 in 2nd, well except the initial pull away and on long straights where I will just sneak into 3rd for a few seconds, thats the good thing about these engines, REALLY good spread of torque.


This is the donor car:



This is the calibra that I will be doing the project with



Sadly, this will be the only update for several months I suspect, as before work can start on taking the two cars apart, we first have to build a workshop to do it in, as im all out of space at my place, thankfully my mate jason is up for us doing a workshop at his place, as he is building a 4wd corrado and we can share the space and tools and help each other etc.
Workshop space is looking like being (wont know exactly till we've removed a woodshed, a 8foot high bank and a couple of small trees) about 13ft wide by 35 foot deep, so hopefully should be ideal for the two cars to fit in with plenty of space to move about them, and there is another workshop next door that we can use for stripping donor cars etc, but just not for long term working on as that workshop is already in use.

Here is a picture of the engine I'll be using, its a "1UZFE" if anyone wants to give it a google, and its gotta be just about the worlds most well balanced engine and one of the best designed in general, its possible to stand a coin on its edge on top of it even at 5Krpm+



Here's the coin video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TYVL...eature=related

And here is a video showing how well they rev for a fairly big engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TYVL...eature=related
(I wont be going TB's though, I will be going forced induction eventually, but initial plan is just to get it in and running as standard first)

[Benn]

Sounds like it will be fun, guessing you'll have to make up the engine mounts, and cut up the floor pan, and fit a rear diff from something jap?

[chip]

Originally Posted by Benn

Sounds like it will be fun, guessing you'll have to make up the engine mounts, and cut up the floor pan, and fit a rear diff from something jap?

The hard part is putting RWD steering and suspension on the front TBH mate, things like engine mounts are fairly easy.

Going to do it initially with the calibra rear diff, then look into back ends once its a running car.

I want to do it in small stages if possible, obviously getting the engine in and front end steering is a big step that I cant cut down smaller, but everything else afterwards will be done on a "rolling project" basis.

[Benn]

Could you do like lee868? has done using the omega stuff? sits under the box doesnt it? Why do you need to change the suspension?

[chip]

Originally Posted by Benn

Could you do like lee868? has done using the omega stuff? sits under the box doesnt it? Why do you need to change the suspension?

His is a vectra, the steering arrangement is different.

And I have to change the suspension because of where the steering arms sit on the struts.
I'll probably go cossie or 3 series, but undecided till ive got it all apart, might even by able to use the lexus rack for example, although wouldnt want to use the struts as its air suspension.

[RobJenko]

subscribing in now at the start!

its going to be very interesting!

[chip]

Interesting maybe, but slow progress definately, lol

One of those "long term" projects

[Steve!]

M60B40 would of been a better choice.

[chip]

Originally Posted by Steve!

M60B40 would of been a better choice.

I disagree, nasty fragile nikasil blocks, and less tuning parts available, and I actually feel just not as good a design in the first place, but feel free to do your own project with one if you like them more mate

[Steve!]

it's in the pipe line for my car.....



This will be a nice project to watch and very different to many Calibra's out there. Thanks for bringing us such good threads!!

[Adam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba8sT2BQ4uc&NR=1

makes shopping list for chip

look forward to reading this thread....them ls400's were a 55k car now u can pick em up for 5k amazin how they dropped in price yet still a luxurious car

what happened to v8'ing ur truck chip?

[chip]

Originally Posted by Adam

what happened to v8'ing ur truck chip?

Decided id sooner have a v8 car as it will be quicker, corner better, and be nicer to drive.
v8 pickup truck would have been cool, but not actually that useful to me really, as couldnt drive it fast due to the handling etc.

[Chriscavturbo]

Plans look great so fair. I dont really like calibra,s probally why ive broke so many. Now this is different i like it, keep up the good work.

[wayne85]

E30 and E36 3 series BMW is pretty similar to GM stuff suspension wise. Were you not tempted by a GS430 V8 instead?

[chip]

Originally Posted by wayne85

E30 and E36 3 series BMW is pretty similar to GM stuff suspension wise.

What are you on about? In what way is it similar?

Originally Posted by wayne85

Were you not tempted by a GS430 V8 instead?

Not tempted at all, I specifically wanted an earlier one because they are lower compression (10.0 instead of 10.5) and also I wanted to NOT have the vvti, as its a complication that IMHO would bring nothing to my project but hassle, finally, you cant buy a complete working MOT'd and taxed donor for sensible money to be able to drive and check you have everything you need in good working order.

[Galahad]

How much was the donor?

[chip]

Originally Posted by Galahad

How much was the donor?

Only 600 quid! I managed to find one with tax and MOT but that had been driven into on the drivers side and damaged both the doors
Although cost me a day and over 100 quid in trainfare/fuel to collect, so essentially owes me just over 700 quid plus a day of my life now!

[Galahad]

Originally Posted by chip

Only 600 quid! I managed to find one with tax and MOT but that had been driven into on the drivers side and damaged both the doors
Although cost me a day and over 100 quid in trainfare/fuel to collect, so essentially owes me just over 700 quid plus a day of my life now!

£600!!

Fecking result!

if you get stuck with the remains of the car, give me a shout, i'll buy it for parts if you haven't got plans for it.

[EY]

This is going to be an extremely interesting build. Is the car going to be designed as a fun/track slag then?

[chip]

Originally Posted by Galahad

£600!!

Fecking result!

if you get stuck with the remains of the car, give me a shout, i'll buy it for parts if you haven't got plans for it.

I dont want the rest mate, all im after is the engine/box/loom/ancilleries and possibly the steering rack and front subframe, other than that its all up for grabs, and EVERYTHING works, the needles on the dials are mint, the aircon screen is clearly a new replacement and even stuff like the electric seatbelt height adjusters still work.
Would only want a couple of hundred quid for the whole lot if you collected it, as it gets it out of my way and TBH I cant be arsed breaking it, its located near collumpton in devon though so maybe a little too far out of your way.
Anyway, drop me a PM when you notice the engine out if you are still interested, wont be for AGES yet though

[chip]

Originally Posted by EY

This is going to be an extremely interesting build. Is the car going to be designed as a fun/track slag then?

Primary use: Fast road car
Other uses will include
The odd quarter mile day
some trackdays
bit of ameteur drifting


And "just because" is of course the MAIN reason for building it, I know a caterham would be better and easier to make etc, lol

[rc]

wow good plans, deffo gonna be keeping an eye on this one!

[djivesp]

Mental, a 'proper' engine *subscribed*

[tommychimp]

Another mad project here Chip, subscribed

[Mark T]

Se if you can get it on the Road before Pete's V8 Astra Coupe.