Are we talking published figures or actual figures? SAE gross hp I assume if we are comparing to 1957 GM figures (only real way to do it)? And I also assume production engine, as fitted in the assembly plant(s)?

Makes it a bit hard as power figures changed to the far harder to use DIN net figures that are impossible to get go backwards and get flywheel hp from. However my guess and reasoning is as follows:

I know the flywheel hp of an L48 engine in a GTS350 is 300hp, and I also know the rear wheel hp of one of these is just over 200hp.

I know a VH-VK V5H engine makes just under 200rwhp, so doesn't quite get to 300hp but very close to 308ci. It was rated at 180kW DIN.

I know the VK GroupA was rated at 196kW which would put it over 304hp gross flywheel hp and it was 304ci. And the VK Group A was actually a Holden branded car. So that is my guess.

Edit - the reason I said assembly plant fitted and rated, is I reckon the final spec XU1 would go close to 202bhp although I don't think GMH published a figure . And an L34 with aftermarket HO kit would push 300hp but that is aftermarket. The HDT HO engine would do it easily too, but again not GMH fitted.

Edited by user Monday, 6 February 2017 9:18:07 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Published figures. Baz

Good work guys if correct!

Did GMH publish a figure higher than 190hp for the later LJ XU1's?

I just found my HB specs, the Brabham had 79hp@5600rpm out of 70.7ci, the Series70 has 68.9hp@5800rpm from same capacity.

My question came about as l was rereading Torana Tough and at the bottom of page 14 the Brabham caught my eye as it states 1159 cc ( 70.1 ci ) 79 hp. I thought bloody poms have beaten us again, Vauxhall motor in a holden and its got more than 1 hp per cube.

Technically speaking, it wasn't the Poms. The twin carby conversion was developed & fitted in the UK by Jack Brabham. The Brabham conversion was fitted post production & sold thru Vauxhall dealers, so really it wasn't a Vauxhall thing at all, even though they built the base motor.

Holden imported the kit from Brabham & then in Australia it became a true factory built model.

Dr Terry

Did GMH release a higher power output for the 1971 LC XU1? I have heard 180hp but not seen it in GMH literature. If it is 180hp published then (at least correct to the nearest %) it achieves 97% hp to ci ratio - the same % as the Series 70 HB engine (96.89% vs the Series 70's 97.45%).

The first 186 XU-1 came with one cam and then another a bit different but with the same duration and then the Bathurst type cam later and that same cam was the normal 202 XU-1 engine and then a bigger cam again and intake valve for the Bathurst type, so the 186 180HP should be right as the 202 is 190HP and the Bathurst has to be more.

I don't think they advertised the Bathurst type engines as most people did not know such a thing was so when they ordered the car through Holden. but I think it was in the CAMS racing book.

Thanks Bazza, clears that up for me.

There was a 315hp 283 early in the 60's.

Then a 375hp 327 in 1964. Later on in the 60's a 350hp hydraulic cam version.

The 350 base 4BBL engine was 300hp in 1969 (HT GTS350 got this) although there was a short lived 255hp version also. The Corvette 350 was a 350hp engine too, same basic engine as the 327/350 just more ci.
Then the legendary LT1 350 for 1970. 360hp in Camaro, 370hp in Corvette.

The 302 was only rated as 290hp but it was good for much more especially if fitted with the headers supplied in the boot.

Edited by user Saturday, 11 February 2017 8:49:27 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified