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HK1837 Offline
#61 Posted : Wednesday, 15 April 2020 6:49:41 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Dr Terry Go to Quoted Post
Late HZ 5.0 auto ?

Dr Terry


Yes but that accounts for more than one of the five. HZ Holden and HZ Statesman. The other two are far more obscure.

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#62 Posted : Wednesday, 15 April 2020 7:43:45 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: castellan Go to Quoted Post
What is the better car HQ Statesman De Vill or ZF Fairlane 500 back in the day.
I was looking at the advancement of the ZF Fairlane surpassing the imported 1972 LTD at the time, as the ZF was the first Aussie Ford with power windows option and the LTD Galaxie does not. so we were really moving forward by 1972.

Holden first had P/W in the HK, but not in any of our GMH Impala or Pontiac. so imagine that having a Sep 1968 HK Brougham, saying yow dowg lookie here P/W. real rad back then.

The biggest let down with the ZF Fairlane is the leaf sprung rear end and the 302 only had a 2bbl carby on it and the 351 only has a 2bbl as well.


My '67 Impala 4dr hardtop had power windows.
Attn camry drivers. The accelerator is the skinny pedal on the right.
Sandaro Offline
#63 Posted : Wednesday, 15 April 2020 8:38:01 PM(UTC)
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Hz SL/E
HK1837 Offline
#64 Posted : Wednesday, 15 April 2020 9:26:44 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Sandaro Go to Quoted Post
Hz SL/E


That falls in the 5 under HZ Statesman. So the first three were VB Commodore, HZ Holden and HZ Statesman. There is at least one more, probably two GMH car lines/vehicles built during HZ and VB production with L31 M41 on the body ID plate but fitted with TH350. Hint, Q3.
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Sandaro Offline
#65 Posted : Wednesday, 15 April 2020 9:42:28 PM(UTC)
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Ahh, WB statesman?
HK1837 Offline
#66 Posted : Wednesday, 15 April 2020 9:49:44 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Sandaro Go to Quoted Post
Ahh, WB statesman?


Yes, restricted production WB Statesman appear to be like HZ. I’m assuming VC is the same. Most WB and VC with TH350 will show M38 though, just the cars plated during probably 1979 and maybe Jan-Feb 1980. Will only be dozens of cars though, mainly brochure and press fleet cars. Haven’t found a real car yet for absolute proof, only records so far.
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castellan Offline
#67 Posted : Thursday, 16 April 2020 9:28:32 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Premier 350 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: castellan Go to Quoted Post
What is the better car HQ Statesman De Vill or ZF Fairlane 500 back in the day.
I was looking at the advancement of the ZF Fairlane surpassing the imported 1972 LTD at the time, as the ZF was the first Aussie Ford with power windows option and the LTD Galaxie does not. so we were really moving forward by 1972.

Holden first had P/W in the HK, but not in any of our GMH Impala or Pontiac. so imagine that having a Sep 1968 HK Brougham, saying yow dowg lookie here P/W. real rad back then.

The biggest let down with the ZF Fairlane is the leaf sprung rear end and the 302 only had a 2bbl carby on it and the 351 only has a 2bbl as well.


My '67 Impala 4dr hardtop had power windows.


Australian built ? or NZ car ? or imported ? or not original ?
castellan Offline
#68 Posted : Friday, 24 April 2020 2:38:07 PM(UTC)
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Just to have a go at you all about the facts of history, what is the best car in the day.

I will start off with the EH Holden vs Falcon XM and AP5 Valiant.

Now Ford did have the Zodiac with disc brakes and 4 speed full syn box and all, I think that this must be the best of this size car in the day within price, so Jag and merc ect is another thing.
One could put a 6 cyl Austin in the game as well they had 3speed B/W auto, I remember seeing them back in the days a times but I took no attention of them at all, but they may of been a good car ?

Was the EH a better car, or why. I think that the AP5 Valiant was a better car with a 225 6cyl and 3sp auto, but I like the look of the EH better.
The XM has a longer WB than all and a option 200 6cyl but only with a 2sp auto but then again they got the 2 door hardtop that was flash.
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#69 Posted : Friday, 24 April 2020 8:31:41 PM(UTC)
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I'll bite. The ap5 definitely wins the horsepower battle, I've not driven one, but similar have had a vc 225 3 on the tree (later converted to v8). It was better in 6 cyl guise than 186 ht I had for general drivability.

You're right Ford coupe is pretty and unique really in the market of the day. If just after looks, you would buy this everyday.

HK1837 Offline
#70 Posted : Friday, 24 April 2020 9:06:52 PM(UTC)
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Depends on what you wanted the car for. The Holden was the most durable for Aussie conditions. Remember one came damn close to pulling off a Bathurst “win” in 1963, the very first Bathurst great race. 4 laps ahead of the AP5 in the race and also 4 laps clear of a MarkIII Zephyr. Both were dearer than the S4/5 EH though in the more expensive Class D. The only cars that came close were the GT Cortinas that finished 1st and 3rd in the same class as the EH (and effectively overall). No other Holden came even close again until the 1968 win. Sure the HA Viva torched the field in their class in 1964 but were way behind all the other 3 classes.
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castellan Offline
#71 Posted : Saturday, 25 April 2020 12:51:43 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: HK1837 Go to Quoted Post
Depends on what you wanted the car for. The Holden was the most durable for Aussie conditions. Remember one came damn close to pulling off a Bathurst “win” in 1963, the very first Bathurst great race. 4 laps ahead of the AP5 in the race and also 4 laps clear of a MarkIII Zephyr. Both were dearer than the S4/5 EH though in the more expensive Class D. The only cars that came close were the GT Cortinas that finished 1st and 3rd in the same class as the EH (and effectively overall). No other Holden came even close again until the 1968 win. Sure the HA Viva torched the field in their class in 1964 but were way behind all the other 3 classes.


Ya recon the EH was more durable, I think that Valiant had it over Holden for Auto and diff and the Falcon diff being a B/W over a Holden banjo.
Manual box I think Val and Falcon B/W maybe better.
I think the Valiant front end is stronger and the XM Falcon is as well, but the sump on them both sticks out to be hit and the EH is better protected sump.
I recon the EH to HG front end is as weak as piss, them lower wishbones Brick wall .
What seats were better ?
Did the AP5 wagon get a better setup when folded down, the Holden had that stupid bottom seat sticking up in the way, can't remember the XM Falcon was like the EH, but I am sure that the XR Falcon wagon floor was flat all the way and Holden only got that with the HQ and then Falcon lead the way with the wagon rear door that you could fold down or open from the side.

We can see how backward Holden was back in the days to Ford and Valiant.
Look at the grey motor by 1960 it was still running standard fuel but Ford and Valiant ran Super, they could of upped the compression of the grey to 8.7:1 like ford had at least.

Look at how Falcon got the V8 9/1966 and a GT 5/1967 way before Holden even came out with a 307 and then the GTS327, valiant had the big 273 V8 first of the lot with finned drum brakes Drool T Bar and bucket seats, Holden only gets T Bar with HK and Falcon in the XT I believe.
Look at how advances the Leyland P76 was with a all alloy V8 1973 and Holden 1998.

But look at how Holden advanced and why Valiant failed, if Valiant never had the Hemi 6cyl it was the only thing that they really had going for them, if they only had a Ford or Holden 6 in them they would of failed and gave up on the VH. the Charger was the only thing that they had going for them by then.
If Ford never made the X Flow 6 they would of failed by the end of the XC and then they put the Alloy head on it and saved the day for them.
I recon the Blue 6 went a lot better than the red 6 but the blue v8 was nothing even in 4.2L with 4BBL.

That's just a start for debate.
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#72 Posted : Saturday, 25 April 2020 1:33:39 PM(UTC)
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Fairly sure the blue 253 had it well over the red 253 with its two barrel carb and points ignition. It was behind the times over all, along with the blue 6.
You can’t say which was best out of cars today, it was no different then. They all had for and against.
It is difficult to argue with the sales figures for the EH though, clearly Holden met what the market wanted in 63/64.
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#73 Posted : Sunday, 26 April 2020 12:40:20 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: wbute Go to Quoted Post
Fairly sure the blue 253 had it well over the red 253 with its two barrel carb and points ignition. It was behind the times over all, along with the blue 6.
You can’t say which was best out of cars today, it was no different then. They all had for and against.
It is difficult to argue with the sales figures for the EH though, clearly Holden met what the market wanted in 63/64.


253 V8 nothing really changed apart from the 4BBL carby on the Blue. I do not think that points are a problem at all as to making power.
I remember every 253 Blue I had been in and I was thinking my HG 253 would have them and a mates stock VB 4.2L 4sp vs a VH SS 4.2L another mate owned, well the VB clearly went better to us all, we were shocked the VB owner was going to buy the VH SS 4sp in top nick it was and all, looked like new, but he hung on to the VB and put a worked 5.0L in it.

I have been surprised by stock 3.3L Blue that would give 253 a good run. the 3.3L auto could do 185KM/H in WB ute and VC Commodores and I never seen any stock 253 go over 185KM/H ever.

Holden only came into the 1960's with the EH one could say and then with the HD X2 made something more than just transport sort of somewhat, until the HR 186S 4sp the first Holden to be worthy of a drivers car. then we have the HK become much more with The V8's Something that one could be proud of driving and that no one could truly look down their nose at.

I think that the 253 Holden was a worthy car for family man car or anyone over all.
The 6 cyl were town or city hacks or the wife's car type of thing.

When the EFI 3.3L came out that was a fine performing car for most noting to sniff at and then when the Nissan EFI 3.0L came even better but lacked torque down low but could do the job on the highway fine.
And the V6 got up and went well out performing most V8 before them with 218KM/H easy in a VS V6 auto or manual.

I remember my dad looking to buy a new ute it came down to a HG 186 manual or a VG Valiant 245 2 BBL manual, he asked me what I liked the best and I said the Valiant. I don't recall going and seeing a Falcon ute, maybe we did. I think that the Austin 1800 ute was out on the market, but who would buy such as that ? that's what I am getting at, who buys what and what for. look at all the Toyota Datsun ect cars that were about, my dad did not like the Japs at all and knew Pommy cars leaked oil crap reliability as he owed a Jag.
I have heard many People bag our Aussie cars but we were much better off with them than the rest, just think what we would of got without our Holden's and Fords and Valiant's.
wbute Offline
#74 Posted : Sunday, 26 April 2020 6:57:35 PM(UTC)
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No 253 that would go over 180? My brother has a WB that will pull over 200 no worries. You won’t do it with a 3:36 diff but you will with a 3:08.
That quadrajet made a huge difference over the wheezing old two barrel.
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#75 Posted : Monday, 27 April 2020 8:03:25 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: wbute Go to Quoted Post
No 253 that would go over 180? My brother has a WB that will pull over 200 no worries. You won’t do it with a 3:36 diff but you will with a 3:08.
That quadrajet made a huge difference over the wheezing old two barrel.


5.0L blue were flat out making 195KM/H

The big 2V Stromberg fed 302 V8 Fords as well.

I would think that the 4V Rochester was a bit too big for a stock 253.
185KM/H HQ 253 dual exhaust 4sp 3.08 diff.
185KM/H 253 VB Commodore 4sp 3.08 diff stock that's all that they will do.
HG Premier 253 auto 2.78 diff 2 1/4 free flow exhaust 112MPH manly to 115mph at times.
185KM/H XD Falcon 4.1L 4sp alloy head with 2.92 diff.

A mate had a HQ 308 4sp dual exhaust with 3.08 diff but someone put a 2V Stromberg on it before he bought it and it did 200KM/H I think, I remember floating along for miles sitting on 180KM/H taking it easy and remember cops on the side of the highway with radar and then Pete flattened it and I heard the carby change note and I remember on one corner that the arse came adrift must of come so close to a guide post and I was siting in the back thinking f that was close, old box head up front passenger made a grunt nneeerrh.

I have heard people making such claims of 253 blue doing 200KM/H never seen it tho, one claim was a WB 1 Tonne auto, I have been in it with the next owner who was cutting loose doing donuts and then lost it smashed into a bank with back wheels up off the ground, and I was thinking oh well it a fair walk back to town, but lucky the local cop came out to take us home, it had a Statesman front on it to. old mate had had a fight with his wife after he locked the pub up and came and got us out of bed not to mention when he took off he went around the back yard and ran over a big flash steel wire chair and then was going to cut loose on the golf course, but he did not but he was set to enter, something held him back Pete and I never said a word, because if we said yes he would and if we said no he would. I don't think that it went that well, but Swill who owned it before claimed it flew.

I would think that if you put a small cam in a 253 blue say 20/60 it would go well and make 200KM/H I am sure.
But that Publicans blokes brother had a well worked 253 and It was in and I think it was doing 200KM/H in 3rd gear, I remember seeing 7000RPM old radar was saying look and I was saying yep but watch the f ing road, it was at night.
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#76 Posted : Monday, 27 April 2020 9:05:55 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: castellan Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: wbute Go to Quoted Post
Fairly sure the blue 253 had it well over the red 253 with its two barrel carb and points ignition. It was behind the times over all, along with the blue 6.
You can’t say which was best out of cars today, it was no different then. They all had for and against.
It is difficult to argue with the sales figures for the EH though, clearly Holden met what the market wanted in 63/64.


253 V8 nothing really changed apart from the 4BBL carby on the Blue. I do not think that points are a problem at all as to making power.
I remember every 253 Blue I had been in and I was thinking my HG 253 would have them and a mates stock VB 4.2L 4sp vs a VH SS 4.2L another mate owned, well the VB clearly went better to us all, we were shocked the VB owner was going to buy the VH SS 4sp in top nick it was and all, looked like new, but he hung on to the VB and put a worked 5.0L in it.

I have been surprised by stock 3.3L Blue that would give 253 a good run. the 3.3L auto could do 185KM/H in WB ute and VC Commodores and I never seen any stock 253 go over 185KM/H ever.
......


hmmm.. having driven (and owned, even bought the missus a VH 253 'Vacationer' manual wagon, dual zorst, LSD, 4WDs)
most of those you mention above does not jell with my experiences. Had VB 207 4.2 sports pack in a sedan, VC 119 3.3 M20 pack, VC124 etc,
a blue (VC or VH) 253 with the 4BBL Quaddie, twin exhaust and manual trans (sedan or wagon) was a quiet.. goodbye seeya weapon

A stock 3.3 blue XT5 give a blue 253 a run? bwahahahaaaaa .I had both, the 253 was so far in front just not funny. Revvy, torquey
my missus drove hers..1,2 then 4 and let it pull around town. Quick getaway from the lights, 3+ grand and you were gone.
The blue 6 with the 12 port head, Varajet and EI was good, vast improvement on the red 202.. better with a manual than Tri auto.
Pack the family in the VH253 wagon and head up to Mt Buller and larf as you pull out and pass the Rangeys on the way up.
185??? run a VH blue 253 to 6400rpm in top and you see numbers starting with 2...the needle hits the reset button :)
I found that it will go as fast as a 5.0 VH SS (NOT the HDT version) and get to 100 as quick at the std 5.0. Sure the M20 box
helps but tell me what std XT5 5.0 308 engine revs to 6400 ? Even the V5H versions struggle over 6000. I say that from
driving both.

The blue L36 XT5s I had were a good engine... but I do understand why GMH dropped them when VK came along

Edited by user Monday, 27 April 2020 9:06:45 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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HK1837 Offline
#77 Posted : Monday, 27 April 2020 9:26:51 PM(UTC)
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They didn’t drop the L36 with VK, they remained until the end of 1984 in WB. I agree though that a red 253 won’t keep up with a blue one. Unless you get the higher comp 9.4:1 red 4.2 (pollution), throw the intake in the bin where it belongs and fit a decent intake to it like a Performer or the KC multifit XT5 copy, and a Quadrajet tuned to suit the engine. Then they are pretty much the same thing with the red engine having a small amount of extra compression.
The HQ SS did show what a 253 was capable of though, by nature of it getting a 3.36 rear axle and dual exhaust. It was almost as quick accelerating as a stock HQ 308 manual sedan or coupe which also had a 3.36 rear axle but was hobbled with a single exhaust.

Here are some road tests top speeds:

HT 253 manual (3.08 rear axle):
Modern Motor, August 1969: 111.2mph (185km/h)
Wheels, August 1969: 111.2mph
Sports Car Road Tests No6: 112mph.

HQ 253 LS, Modern Motor April 1972 (I think auto 2.78): 112mph.

HQ SS, Modern Motor January 1973 (3.36): 110.5mph.

HQ 253 manual. Wheels June 1973 114mph.

Apart from any aero differences HJ is the same car as HQ when fitted with the 4.2 engine.

I don't have the HX and HZ figures at hand but given that apart from the first handful of HX 4.2 fitted with 3.08 rear axle standard, the standard rear axle was changed to 3.55 everywhere except Premier which was auto standard. It remained this way until mid HZ when it was changed to 3.36. Neither 3.55 or 3.36 behind a manual 4.2 is going to have a higher top speed.

I do have HQ 308 manual GTS (3.36 rear axle, single exhaust) in Modern Motor February 1973 at 119mph which shows you the extra power/torque of the strangled (with single exhaust) 308 will push the HQ through the air harder than a 253 ever could, when the HQ SS with dual exhaust and 3.36 rear axle only managed 110.5mph.

Found HX Sandman ute and van in Motor Manual October 1976. Both with 3.08 rear axle and single exhaust. Ute was M41 and van M21. Doesn't actually give a top speed for the van, just says NA but it did 140km/h in 3rd. The ute says "off the clock" in 3rd which is hard to believe as these had a 220km/h dash, so I think they didn't take into account a speedo error that is reported at 30km/h at 110 (110kmh actual reading 140kmh). Using that same % error at 220km/h+ means it could at least do 173km/h. Van shows spot on.

Found HZ Sandman van in Motor Manual January 1978, 5.0L manual (3.08 rear axle and single exhaust), top speed 170km/h. Not bad for a big heavy lump. 4.9 manual XC Sundowner with 2.92 rear axle gets to 160km/h, as does the Drifter with 4.3L 6cyl, manual with 2.92 rear axle.

There is a road test of a HJ GTS that escaped GMH with dual exhaust in proper tune, I haven't got it yet but it was very quick.

There is a very interesting road test in Motor Manual in May 1974 where somehow GMH let slip the very first SLR5000 in proper tune to the Press, and fitted with the optional 3.08 rear axle (and 13" tyres). It never really appeared again afterwards, and all road test cars after that were far slower and fitted with 2.78 rear axles, this sort of thing happened before where the odd car got to the Press in proper tune. It pulled a top speed of 125mph and standing 1/4 mile of 14.9s. Remember this is with a tiny dual exhaust not much larger overall than a single 2" pipe and with the lower power HQ type engine. It is that close to PhaseIII and HG GTS350 times it doesn't matter. Really shows you how quick a later LH or early LX 5.0L with the proper 250hp engine optioned with 3.08 rear axle would have been. Give it 2" tailpipes and a proper tune and it'd be a weapon.

Edited by user Monday, 27 April 2020 10:26:07 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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#78 Posted : Monday, 27 April 2020 10:41:32 PM(UTC)
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Hi Byron, I know you have raised the point before of Holden supplying vehicles for test in poor states of tune. Why would Holden do this, particularly pre supercar scare, you'd think the publicity of fast times (and at least some good pub banter) would have justified supplying good vehicles?

Edited by user Monday, 27 April 2020 10:42:42 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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#79 Posted : Monday, 27 April 2020 11:37:14 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Sandaro Go to Quoted Post
Hi Byron, I know you have raised the point before of Holden supplying vehicles for test in poor states of tune. Why would Holden do this, particularly pre supercar scare, you'd think the publicity of fast times (and at least some good pub banter) would have justified supplying good vehicles?


Not poor tune, just no optimal tune. All it takes is the Quadrajet's secondaries opening only 90% and there is your 20hp performance loss. They always did it (or similar) with the quickest cars from about HK. GM had a strict no racing policy, and GMH didn't want to be seen to be flaunting that with cars that were perceived to be too fast (Ford did not have this problem, they were fully involved in racing and win at all costs was the mantra). GMH's market share was too great to risk it from a PR perspective either. The HK was such a leap in performance too compared to what came before it. At the HK Press release and the drive day at Lang Lang the prior week (to meet magazine deadlines) it was all very orchestrated. The 307 Monaros were all auto with 2.78 rear axles (like all prior V8 HK), single exhaust etc, no manual cars. The GTS327's (most (possibly all) with 3.08 rear axles) were not allowed to be driven without a GMH staffer in the car and no-one was allowed to exceed the tacho's 5500rpm redline. All the magazine tests of the car were from these days. Only Rob Luck didn't believe it, and got a private car to test which was tuned right and had a 3.36 rear axle. That test is public record, 15.4s and 130mph top speed. GMH didn't want that publicity - they made money from vanilla cars, not the few hundred 327's. Winning with the car at Bathurst was what mattered, not on the street. When the HT came about, it was so much quicker again that every car presented to the Press for testing never made maximum power (simple Quadrajet adjustment), except for two of them (one HT by Mel Nichols and a HG with Peter Robinson) but proper tests were never done, only 0-100mph by Mel Nichols. The time it becomes really obvious is when the Press tested HQ 350 manual and auto GTS side by side, and the auto trounced the manual to 100mph, plus out accelerated it. Same engine, same exhaust, same 3.08 rear axle, and the auto being a power robbing TH400. The manual was again fiddled with, impossible not to be. They even commented on it. This continued too, with cars like the L34 not allowed to be tested by the Press plus it was so de-tuned as a road car it was not super fast anyway, until you made the few right mods it was designed for (cam, carby and exhaust). It is very rare also to find road tests anywhere of a 308/5.0L manual pre-pollution Holden car (HT to HJ) with dual exhaust (proper 2" dual exhaust, not the Torana pea shooters), as far as I know there was only that HJ GTS test I mentioned. After HJ the 5.0L performance dropped off significantly (lost about 34hp I think it was 250hp down to 216hp) so it didn't matter if they had dual exhaust standard. By the time Commodore and V5H came around the world had caught up and it wasn't so much an issue.

Just think about it though, if an A9X with a 216hp 5.0L and a 2.6 rear axle with 14" tyres can do a 16s flat quarter, imagine how fast a well tuned pre 6/76 LX SS hatchback or SLR5000 with the 250hp 5.0L, optional 3.08 rear axle and 13" tyres would be? If the 227hp LH SLR5000 with optional 3.08 rear axle could do a 14.9s quarter, what does an extra 23hp get you? My guess is 14.5 or thereabouts, that is quicker than a stock PhaseIII (but not a fair comparison as it is an optional rear axle, give the PhaseIII an optional 3.5 rear axle and it goes quicker again). Take the engine fan off and give it the A9X's electric fans and maybe even better?

I just remembered, they were even at it with HX and HZ. See that those HX and HZ manual 5.0L Press test Sandman vans I mentioned in the prior post also had optional 3.08 rear axles? This would slow them down dramatically than the standard car with 3.36. GMH were very careful with the whole image, every car in the press fleet was carefully chosen with certain options for various reasons. I have thousands of HQ to HZ’s recorded and L31, M21, GU4 is rarely seen and my guess is GMH didn’t build any for sale, the only ones built were ordered that way. An M21 with a 3.08 in a commercial is a horrible thing too, the magazine comments that the van pulled like a train but was heavy clutched (which a HX half cable clutch mech is) and hard to get off the line. Even with the 3.08 rear axle they say that it will still blow away most cars on the road from the lights, they timed it at 16.9s over the quarter mile. For what other reason than to take some edge off would they fit 3.08 rear axles to these Press test Sandmans? I’ll go looking, wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t more commonplace in earlier Holden.

Edited by user Tuesday, 28 April 2020 7:35:30 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?
castellan Offline
#80 Posted : Tuesday, 28 April 2020 10:51:35 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Smitty2 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: castellan Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: wbute Go to Quoted Post
Fairly sure the blue 253 had it well over the red 253 with its two barrel carb and points ignition. It was behind the times over all, along with the blue 6.
You can’t say which was best out of cars today, it was no different then. They all had for and against.
It is difficult to argue with the sales figures for the EH though, clearly Holden met what the market wanted in 63/64.


253 V8 nothing really changed apart from the 4BBL carby on the Blue. I do not think that points are a problem at all as to making power.
I remember every 253 Blue I had been in and I was thinking my HG 253 would have them and a mates stock VB 4.2L 4sp vs a VH SS 4.2L another mate owned, well the VB clearly went better to us all, we were shocked the VB owner was going to buy the VH SS 4sp in top nick it was and all, looked like new, but he hung on to the VB and put a worked 5.0L in it.

I have been surprised by stock 3.3L Blue that would give 253 a good run. the 3.3L auto could do 185KM/H in WB ute and VC Commodores and I never seen any stock 253 go over 185KM/H ever.
......


hmmm.. having driven (and owned, even bought the missus a VH 253 'Vacationer' manual wagon, dual zorst, LSD, 4WDs)
most of those you mention above does not jell with my experiences. Had VB 207 4.2 sports pack in a sedan, VC 119 3.3 M20 pack, VC124 etc,
a blue (VC or VH) 253 with the 4BBL Quaddie, twin exhaust and manual trans (sedan or wagon) was a quiet.. goodbye seeya weapon

A stock 3.3 blue XT5 give a blue 253 a run? bwahahahaaaaa .I had both, the 253 was so far in front just not funny. Revvy, torquey
my missus drove hers..1,2 then 4 and let it pull around town. Quick getaway from the lights, 3+ grand and you were gone.
The blue 6 with the 12 port head, Varajet and EI was good, vast improvement on the red 202.. better with a manual than Tri auto.
Pack the family in the VH253 wagon and head up to Mt Buller and larf as you pull out and pass the Rangeys on the way up.
185??? run a VH blue 253 to 6400rpm in top and you see numbers starting with 2...the needle hits the reset button :)
I found that it will go as fast as a 5.0 VH SS (NOT the HDT version) and get to 100 as quick at the std 5.0. Sure the M20 box
helps but tell me what std XT5 5.0 308 engine revs to 6400 ? Even the V5H versions struggle over 6000. I say that from
driving both.

The blue L36 XT5s I had were a good engine... but I do understand why GMH dropped them when VK came along

What I seen of stock Blue v8's and red is 5500RPM max I don't think the valve springs were up dated like the Blue 6 was as they could rev to 6200RPM but not all, some blue 6 were gutless but from new they went well, but as the years went by some lost a lot of power, I am talking 60.000km up and I have driven red 6 that were total gutless crap, one I test drove valve bounced at 4500. so I think that if you get them to hot the springs go to mush, one mate had a WB 1 tonne M22 and 4.44 diff that he bought 2yo and says it valve bounced at 5500.

What I think is with the stock Holden red spring type is that over 4500 on I think they start a harmonic phase a sort of shake shimmery thing happens and that would add more heat stress to the spring more over time. now you could rev the stock Holden out to 5500 but not on the highway as it will start to valve bounce at 5000rpm because you are sitting on such rev over a longer time and the spring starts to go into that phase.
Inside of the Valve spring is a harmonic devise some call it a spring but it's not a spring at all, it's flat coil and not round I believe that's what it's for, take it out and you may have 4500 valve bounce ?
I would say that Holden try and keep as least pressure on the cam as they can to save the cam and lifter life.

I will say that a lot of it comes down to gearing and the power and by looking at torque graph that we can see what is viable and what is not.
So a mates mum's VB SL Commodore with a 3.3L and auto could do 185KM/H in fact, now I did not believe him at all, but I seen it for myself as I was driving behind him and yep it was true, I looked all over that engine and not even the rocker cover had been lifted and another mates mum had a VB 3.3L auto std Commodore and it only did 165KM/H but they came with a 3.36 ration diff and the SL auto came with a 3.08 ratio, but the 3.36 ratio was quicker off the line but say from 40KM/H on the 3.08 one killed it everywhere it really performed well.
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