Opel Calibra 2.5 V6 Cliff Motorsport Edition

[agw9262]

Finally got around to starting a thread after introducing myself.. I bought myself a Calibra some 20 years after owning one as a whipper-snapper. Well actually I bought two since a donor car came with the sale.

 

Here's the good car, will add a picture of "skrotis" (scrapper?!? in English) later but this is "Cliff".

 

 

Cliff is in pretty good nick but needs a new timing belt, the cam covers are doing the usual on this engine and filling the spark plug wells with oil and well it could do with some overall TLC.

 

Thought I'd try to capture the work on this thread for anyone who might be interested. This afternoon was basically some dismantling and prep.

 

Odometer to begin:

 

 

Engine cover removed:

 

 

Intake and throttle body removed:

 

 

Leads removed, oil sucked out of plug wells, plugs removed and finally covers off and sealant cleaned up:

 

 

After all the distraction it felt like time to do something that was heading in the right direction so I cleaned and painted the intake and the new alloy Vectra B covers. Primer today:

 

 

Well, that's it for today, will be back when more progress is made but unlike some of you Jedi on here, progress will be a bit slower.... But bare with me!

 

 

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[Pillock]

Oooooh! That's shiny.

 

A bloke I used to be friends with had an SE9 model with those wheels and the V6, but red with black leather trim.

Is that a standard bumper? The grille looks different.

[sutty2006]

rare them V6s are!

[John F]

Tidy looking Cally, glad you got around to putting up a thread about it! Are the BBS alloys standard for the Swedish market? We only got them on the SE9s IIRC.

 

NB you can't re-fit the engine cover with the Vectra B alloy cam covers, the oil filler hole is in a different place. But that's not the end of the world.

[agw9262]

Oooooh! That's shiny.

 

A bloke I used to be friends with had an SE9 model with those wheels and the V6, but red with black leather trim.

Is that a standard bumper? The grille looks different.

Thanks! As for the bumper, it is completely standard, but only on the Cliff and Last edition Calibras IIRC. Cliff edition is a bit like the DTM/Irmscher but was only sold in Germany I believe - this is an import from there. So you have lowered suspension (20mm), 16" BBS alloys, different bumpers and strips, Bose sound system and different side repeaters that look more flat.

 

 

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[agw9262]

Tidy looking Cally, glad you got around to putting up a thread about it! Are the BBS alloys standard for the Swedish market? We only got them on the SE9s IIRC.

 

NB you can't re-fit the engine cover with the Vectra B alloy cam covers, the oil filler hole is in a different place. But that's not the end of the world.

Yep thanks for the original prompt, hadn't forgotten but a bit slow off the mark...

 

This model wasn't actually sold here and I'm not sure how many Calibras were. It's imported about 2001 from Germany and it's an equivalent to DTM or Irmscher models. Everything you see is standard to this model plus it has some other hidden goodies but it's mostly styling and while it's quite subtle I think it makes a difference.

 

Thanks for the tip about the engine cover - had thought about remanufacturing it but then thought better of it - it's only plastic after all... So instead I will spray everything magnetic blue so it at least looks tidier.

 

So the thinking goes

 

 

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[Cavcraft]

Calibras are champion's chariots.

[stormee]

Cliff was a popular shower gel by that time and sponsoring Opel's racing team. Nice dacals on the racecars!

[omegod]

That engine is hard enough to work on in an Omega and the thought of delving into that engine bay..I'd rather rummage barehanded into a bag of loose razor blades    .  I had a nice 2.0 Cally and do miss it occasionally, your's is lovely colour 

[agw9262]

That engine is hard enough to work on in an Omega and the thought of delving into that engine bay..I'd rather rummage barehanded into a bag of loose razor blades . I had a nice 2.0 Cally and do miss it occasionally, your's is lovely colour

Cheers! And yep it's "challenging" let's say to get in to work on it, can't wait* for the timing belt, there looks so much room to work on it... <eyes roll>

 

 

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[agw9262]

Tonight's handy work, colour on the covers and manifold, just need top coating now:

 

 

And between coats I managed to clean the crankcase breather (no pics, not a lot to see!) and strip and clean the throttle body assembly. Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[agw9262]

Some goodies have landed so time to start putting things back together

 

 

 

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[barrett]

Cliff Motorsport sounds like a Steve Coogan character

[agw9262]

Finally the new leads set arrives and Cliff is back together, running sweet as a nut and no leaks! Still not sure if i like the semi-naked look without the cover - might have to think about trying to modify it... Later.

 

 

 

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[John F]

I thought the same about the cover, about 8 years ago.

 

Mine is still not modified... it's easier to just close the bonnet

 

Are you not putting the spark plug removal tools back onto the HT leads? I noticed they were in place on your initial pic.

[agw9262]

I've kept them handy but they just weren't in keeping with the blue theme - fickle, I know

 

 

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[Guest bangerfan101]

I had a v6 calibra. Most worrying car I've ever driven fast.shite myself going over snake pass The thing just would not go round corners. Then again the bottom arm bushes banged like a shit house door when the plagues in town

 

I'd seriously look at the front suspension before detailing the engine bay

[agw9262]

Snake pass isn't a place to check the handling - miracle you're still here albeit I imagine a pair of pants shorter since the incident... Lucky for me the previous owner must have had an experience similar to you - brand new bushes all round, new Kone adjustable shocks, new springs and a couple of wheel hubs to boot. So I'm pretty fortunate that it holds pretty well, especially for a Cav in disguise!

 

 

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[John F]

I've driven four or five V6 Calibras... three of them were eventually lowered 25-30 mm from standard with reasonable quality lowering kits, essentially giving them the same ride height as the factory DTM models. This REALLY improved handling and effectively eliminated body roll.

[barmatt]

 

NB you can't re-fit the engine cover with the Vectra B alloy cam covers, the oil filler hole is in a different place. But that's not the end of the world.

 

I've got a Saab 900 with that engine and it had the same oil leak when I bought it. The Vectra B cam covers do fit but they're a bugger to find. After a couple of weeks of searching to no avail I gave up and refitted the original with new gaskets and plenty of good sealant, 2 years down the line they're still holding strong.

[agw9262]

And today, finally got to spend some more time on her. Some more minor adjustments, still waiting to have the funds to switch timing belt and so on but get good to actually drive her and do some minor tweaks anyhow!

 

New number plate lighting courtesy of shiny LEDs:

 

 

 

And finally painted and fitted the Vectra B handles, delocked!

 

 

 

 

 

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[stuboy]

id still love to have a calibra.

[catsinthewelder]

It's the only Vauxhall I've ever wanted, I've had one and with 3 kids I can't have another

[agw9262]

A little more fettling today, Cliff emblems painted up with my daughter's craft set... And cills removed, cleaned, primed and painted with black plastic paint - get rid of the nastiness of age!

 

 

 

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[agw9262]

So finally, the job I have been putting off - changing the timing belt.

 

 

Well, as predicted, there was tons of space - don't know what I was worrying about

 

 

 

 

Let the fun begin he thought - but it was one challenge after another - water pump pulley bolts undone but pulley doesn't move. Finally get pulley to move and then realise it won't come off since the engine is too damn close to the inner wing. Much jacking up later, got an axle stand under the front engine support, removed the bolts holding the support to the body then lowered the body back down to bring the water pump pulley up high enough. Then comes the PAS pump whose pulley was pressed on - let's take it off he thought but not a chance, too close to the inner wing to get the pulley off... Hmm dejavu?

 

Managed to let the pump bolts off to allow the pump to move forward and got the timing cover off...

 

 

Got the locking kit on and removed the belt

 

 

 

Then took off the pulleys, looks like bits of old belt stuck to the lower tensioner suggesting it's maybe never been changed

 

 

Wrestled the new tensioner and guides on and then the belt. Setup the timing, 2 rotations - slightly off on bank 1 & 2 - retimed and then did 8 more rotations checking the timing at every other one - spot on

 

 

Rebuilt the engine and then clenched the buttocks in anticipation of first start - need not have worried though, fired up immediately and purring again - success!

 

 

 

 

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[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Hi Guys.

[agw9262]

Tonight I had a rare and unexpected evening to myself so off the the Cliff cave I went.

 

 

Time for some fresh 10w40 oil, oil filter, fuel filter, pollen filter - easier breathing all around:

 

 

 

I'm sure this wasn't blocking flow at all....especially if the outside is anything to go by:

 

 

New silicone coolant hoses all around will be next and some nice coolant instead of the slightly weird looking water currently circulating...

 

 

 

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[John F]

stuboy, on 16 Apr 2016 - 7:33 PM, said:

id still love to have a calibra.

 

 

catsinthewelder, on 16 Apr 2016 - 10:00 PM, said:

It's the only Vauxhall I've ever wanted, I've had one and with 3 kids I can't have another

 

So chuffed I've still got mine

 

Values are creeping up though, so anyone that wants a cheap one will have to be quick.

[agw9262]

The coolant was the last service item left - almost clear there was some antifreeze in it but negligible. A drop, flush and refill was the order of the day but that wasn't enough in itself! So more mods today including a nice cleaned (by me) coolant header tank swap, new Roose coolant and induction hoses throughout and the K&N cold air induction kit that I won on EBay (second hand, couple of months old and a real bargain!).

 

The hoses were the biggest pain with the engine bay and clearances being just huge* and the most fun* part was changing the connections to the heater matrix which are up in the depths of hell on the firewall behind the block...

 

Done now! Waiting for new wheels to arrive and then I'll fit them and swap out the mud flaps for some genuine ones.

 

 

 

 

 

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[agw9262]

It's been a while...but

 

Did battle with Cliff today. When I bought him I didn't notice but the rad was leaking due to a prior front end. Poor sucky repair job on the cheap no doubt...

 

After scouring breakers and a failed shipment from the UK (damaged in the post) I finally managed to get a replacement rocking horse poop v6 Calibra Rad with secondaries for the pump.

 

This weekend it was time to swap it, bumper and steel bracket off:

 

 

 

 

To get at the front connections that hook up the secondary pump. Much skin loss later, a wrestle or ten and a lot of choice words and the new (old) one is fitted and Cliff no longer dribbles at temperature:

 

 

Even managed to correctly refit the cables on the back of the bracket so they don't rub against the fan, where the last careful "mechanic" left them

 

I reckon the intention for swapping the rad is that you'll take either the engine out or remove the slam panel... bit of a squeeze.

 

Now officially cream crackered and going for rest to recover and try to delete all memories of this "fun" day.