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castellan Offline
#1 Posted : Tuesday, 24 August 2021 1:03:28 PM(UTC)
castellan

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I remember Wheels mag had a win a commodore.
I remember a Ford mate comment on that back in the day saying, now they are having to be giving them away, well he is been a Holden man now from about 1987 when he bought a HJ 4.2L Premier and he has been a mechanic for 39years now.

Now what was the commodore you won ? was it the same 4cyl commodore that did the test around Australia ?
And what was the fuel economy over all, does anyone know.

I remember a 5.0L 5speed manual V8 VT went around Australia test as well, anyone want to comment on that one as well or any other around Australia test.

Have they ever did a Ford around Australia test, maybe an XD 4.1L I think it was or maybe I am wrong on that.

The took a VB Commodore to the top of QLD, any comments on that.

What car now in 2021 should they test around Australia ? Toyota Camry ?

Was the VC Commodore the first test around Australia ? I don't remember any Holden HQ to HZ test doing such.

What car would you think best like to drive such a distance like that nowadays. I think any SS Commodore from the VX on would of been a good way to go at your own pace and good time. I could do such a stint as co driver even would be interesting.
HK1837 Offline
#2 Posted : Tuesday, 24 August 2021 1:35:27 PM(UTC)
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If it is limited to vehicles assembled here and sold new here I'd take a punt on one of the following:

1979-1980 Chevrolet C20 Silverado optioned with TH400 auto, although these don't appear to have been optional with A/C so that may not be all that good in the hotter regions.

HZ Overlander either a van or a wagon, with integrated A/C. Will always be L31 M41, more comfortable with buckets. Option up with power steer too.

Maybe even an optioned up HZ or WB van with a highway diff ratio. A HZ L31 M41 Kingswood van with buckets, column shift, A/C and 3.08 or even 2.60 rear end with LSD would get you most places comfortable with enough storage.

1999 Holden Suburban 2500, although not assembled here. Big diesel. You could vote for a 2006-ish F250 7.3TD auto for similar reasons.

VZ Crewman Cross8 would be OK too with a canopy on the tub for storage.
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castellan Offline
#3 Posted : Tuesday, 24 August 2021 5:46:47 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: HK1837 Go to Quoted Post
If it is limited to vehicles assembled here and sold new here I'd take a punt on one of the following:

1979-1980 Chevrolet C20 Silverado optioned with TH400 auto, although these don't appear to have been optional with A/C so that may not be all that good in the hotter regions.

HZ Overlander either a van or a wagon, with integrated A/C. Will always be L31 M41, more comfortable with buckets. Option up with power steer too.

Maybe even an optioned up HZ or WB van with a highway diff ratio. A HZ L31 M41 Kingswood van with buckets, column shift, A/C and 3.08 or even 2.60 rear end with LSD would get you most places comfortable with enough storage.

1999 Holden Suburban 2500, although not assembled here. Big diesel. You could vote for a 2006-ish F250 7.3TD auto for similar reasons.

VZ Crewman Cross8 would be OK too with a canopy on the tub for storage.


I drove my wife's Aurion from QLD SA and back loved it.

Big KM's in 4X4's just cut it for me at all.
HK1837 Offline
#4 Posted : Tuesday, 24 August 2021 7:19:35 PM(UTC)
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Depends on the 4x4. My Overlander rode better than a standard HZ cab chassis, it was the lack of legroom and crappy seats that made it a chore. 200 Series ‘cruiser, Ram, Y62 Patrol or Silverado are easy to drive for many kM. Even my Hilux is fine, just not with the standard seats, but with the Recaro Ergomed seat it’s easy. Driving across the Hay Plains unit towing a trailer it would effortlessly cruise at 140km/h if you wanted it to and were prepared to cop speeding fines.
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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?
 1 user thanked HK1837 for this useful post.
Smitty2 on 25/08/2021(UTC)
castellan Offline
#5 Posted : Wednesday, 25 August 2021 11:02:04 AM(UTC)
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I have never driven even any of even the new 4x4 that I liked or wanted to drive on the road ever for more then 10km on the highway. sure they have come a long way from the past 1960's rubbish but still I hate them all for highway work, but if towing a caravan and pulling up camping and then seeking of road tracks I could live with that. but I think many places I would want to go are blocked off nowadays, so many beaches you can not drive on or ride on nowadays. I would always have a dirt bike with me to explore on as it makes it so easy to get about and do distance quickly where a 4x4 would be a pain and slow as.

I have always liked the Holden overlanders back in the day by far over all others back then over all. not for real harsh hilly stuff the old WW2 Jeeps are best for that by far.
4X4 Drivers back in the 80's would go off their rocker at me for stating I would go the overlander hands down for me any day driving 4x4 overall most places and then a WW2 Jeep for the real hard stuff you can pick them up in the rear if you have to in a real tight spot.
A overlander Premer wagon with A/C and tinted windows was my dream 4x4 but they demanded such was f ing gutless and I said I could easy fix that problem up, just the same as I would do with any HX 5.0L car as I would not be able to drive a stock ADR27A 5.0L V8 regardless and I can modify the dopey hopeless slug T400 auto to work as it should as well.

But as the testers did in the mag or with a around Australia fang with no regards to speed limits to much I would go any of the VX-Y-Z-E-F SS Commodores, with such you can eat up the km in ease and overtake all the wombats when you feel you want without getting f ing pissed off as hell, with a manual you just go back to 2ed and put the foot down pass that truck or wobble box and all. not to mention that they are so good on fuel, the 6cyl and 4cyl are no good on fuel economy at speeds that such V8's can cruse on. you can sit on 210km/h with ease in 5th gear and with good HP brake pads you can stop just as quick from 200km/h as many std pads can from 110km/h.
HK1837 Offline
#6 Posted : Wednesday, 25 August 2021 1:12:18 PM(UTC)
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The Overlander were streets ahead of anything else you could buy in Australia in the late 70’s, other than maybe the V8 Jeep Cherokee which actually shared the same basic driveline. In Premier or Statesman form you got luxury too. The problems I found with my Overlander cab chassis were legroom (but any HQ-WB ute or cab-chassis were the same). Plus a 308/5.0L isn’t really the right engine.
With any of he other W size body styles you can fit better seats that slide back further, but the ute and cab-chassis cabin back kills that.
I found with my HZ cab chassis, it was geared OK with the 1:1 TH400, 3.54 gears and 31-32” tyres. The TH400 was superb as they always are. However the 5.0L lacked the torque you need for a big 4x4. It initially had its original red 5.0L and I replaced that with a VP 5.0L. The short stroke V8 needed to be bigger. It needed at least a 304/308 stroked to 350ci. I got a 454 for it (still have it), but ended up selling it and replaced it with a VZ Cross8.
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castellan Offline
#7 Posted : Thursday, 26 August 2021 2:50:30 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: HK1837 Go to Quoted Post
The Overlander were streets ahead of anything else you could buy in Australia in the late 70’s, other than maybe the V8 Jeep Cherokee which actually shared the same basic driveline. In Premier or Statesman form you got luxury too. The problems I found with my Overlander cab chassis were legroom (but any HQ-WB ute or cab-chassis were the same). Plus a 308/5.0L isn’t really the right engine.
With any of he other W size body styles you can fit better seats that slide back further, but the ute and cab-chassis cabin back kills that.
I found with my HZ cab chassis, it was geared OK with the 1:1 TH400, 3.54 gears and 31-32” tyres. The TH400 was superb as they always are. However the 5.0L lacked the torque you need for a big 4x4. It initially had its original red 5.0L and I replaced that with a VP 5.0L. The short stroke V8 needed to be bigger. It needed at least a 304/308 stroked to 350ci. I got a 454 for it (still have it), but ended up selling it and replaced it with a VZ Cross8.


Looking back at the XR to XY utes they had not much leg room or the EJ HD HK had less than the HQ on, I think that Holden and Ford based their cares on small people under 5ft 10 I am sure. my grand dad was 6ft 6 and he could not drive a Falcon sedan so he bought a new XW Fairmont 3.6L T Bar auto, Gold with a white roof and racks. his tallest brother was 6ft 11 1/2 I think that he drove a VW Beetle, now they were good on the beach in sand and mud, the way that the rear wheels could swing helped get out of a bog and they road real smooth, not like them old land rovers boy they were harsh ! and a sponge that could fly out for a passenger seat steering was dreadful. but boy people that loved them, the old Datsun and Toyotas steering up the highway was an ordeal with 120 deg free play and the whine in the diffs d'oh! but they were fun off road back in the days.

How was the steering on the Overlanders ?

I loved all the F100's up to 1986 years.
HK1837 Offline
#8 Posted : Thursday, 26 August 2021 5:11:28 PM(UTC)
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Agree. I’m 6’5” and struggle with legroom in them. The passenger versions I used to get away with by moving the seats back or like my LX hatchback fitted an aftermarket driver’s seat. I fitted a Stratos seat to my 1987 Hilux and a Recaro to the 2011 to give me comfortable leg room. In HQ to WB I did find them far better leg room wise with a bench and column shift as I could stick my left foot up on the tunnel, although those benches were not comfortable to sit in.
Funnily enough I’ve not had leg room or comfort issues in certain other cars. Like my SII RX7, it was awesome. Same with the V2 CV8, VY SS ute and the other really nice one was an FG G6E. This is why I’ve got a pair of black CV8 buckets out of a low kM wreck to put in my HK GTS.

The Overlander was all 1973-4 Blazer underneath including the steering. It steered fine. Got the Blazer front and rear brakes (same as those 60’s Cherokees). The biggest issue was the short front leaf springs which didn’t allow enough differential movement between the front wheels (one up, one down). A bit like the old Hiluxes were. Mine had the standard HZ steering box which I changed to a HZ power steering box, however it ended up with a poorer turning circle. Mine was a good car, but by 2006 a HZ was getting to old and expensive to keep on the road. Doors, guards, grilles, front bar etc we’re getting harder to find. The bonnet inner skin tore under the catch, luckily I had a good WB one in the shed but even then a good one was $400 minimum. Plus being an everyday driver we all know what a HQ-WB can be like cabin rust wise. Finding seals and other consumables like uni joints for the front axle, calipers, wheel cylinders etc was hard. I had to find bits off Cherokees and order other bits from the USA just to keep it running. If I ever busted an axle I’d have to have got one made. Finding parts for the twin stick Dana20 transfer case would have been an issue too. Even the rear springs, although they were GMH, Haywood had added extra leaves. The TH400 column shift setup was all flogged out but it wasn’t standard, it had been altered to clear the front springs, so it either had to be fully rebuilt or changed which I did to a UC Trimatic T-bar to keep it going.
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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?
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