Cast date numbers can be all over the place, so I wouldn't get too concerned about cast date numbers on the heads. Just get the right heads for HT-HG which are those without the accessory hole boss at the top. From memory the HT-HG 253/308 head was 7449033. The intake manifold is very similar to a HQ one as well, just has an extra hole drilled and tapped for the heater hose.

It is hit and miss with HP and 308. The first 308's were very low volume as they were only in HT Brougham, these are where most of the HP cast marked blocks are from. When it gets closer to 308 being used across the range (end of 307) GMH added more patterns with 308 on them so they could build more 308 engines, they kept using the older HP patterns for a while. So there is a crossover where engines can have either. I think this started around late September. If the 308H engine number is original and it has K19 on it with 308 then no-one has changed it, it is how GMH built it.

I never said anything about a 4/70 GTS. How you described the engine is fine but very unlikely that it would be found in a 4/70 GTS originally. In most cases a 4/70 V8 GTS engine will have 253 or 308 on the side and be cast in 1970.

Yours must be an Acacia Ridge build with that model line and it also means it was a manual, and most manual HT V8 GTS were 253. 308 manual was a pretty rare combination in HT GTS. It is easy to pick though as it will have had a Salisbury rear axle whereas a standard HT V8 GTS will have had a banjo rear axle behind either M21 (standard Saginaw), M35 ('glide) or in very late examples M40 (Trimatic) transmissions.

The engine number on the 308 will tell you roughly what time frame it was installed into a car.

Salisbury cars have a hump in the floor and the tank above the diff centre. Banjo are flat in the same area.

Saginaws behind Holden V8 were right hand clutch fork not left, with mechanical clutch setup (not hydraulic). There should be a linkage clearance pressing along the passenger side of the transmission tunnel for a Saginaw fitted car. Most HT V8 GTS were 253 and M21 Saginaw. Then there is an odd mix of 307 powerglide, 253 powerglide, 253 Trimatic, 308 manual, 308 powerglide and 308 Trimatic. Given yours in 4/70 and it was a manual it will have been 253 or 308 with M21 Saginaw.

All 253 and 308 are Holden pattern until late in 1974.

308H11801 will be from an engine originally put in a car in 1969, probably November. I don't have a huge amount of records from that timeframe but it definitely won't be from a 4/70 car.

Normally a 4/70 complianced HT V8 with a 253 or 308 will have an engine cast sometime between February and April, normally within a few weeks of the car being assembled but sometimes it can be a few months in rare cases.

J2 9 would be September 2, 1969.
L2 9 would be November 2, 1969.

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That looks to be fabricated. An original looks like this, which is the boot of a Pagewood HT GTS350. Same hump though and the tank is made to suit.

I'm pretty sure the only difference between a 253 optioned HT GTS and a 308 one is the Salisbury rear axle. I'm pretty sure that the banjo and salisbury HT's have the same brake hose brackets unlike earlier HK.

Edited by user Friday, 14 October 2022 8:16:25 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Exhaust hangers?

I believe that the chrome sided ones are the fully reclining seats & the ones with the painted arms are the standard non-reclining ones which just fold forward.

Either of these would be correct for a 4/70 HT GTS, because the AFAIK the recliners were optional.

Dr Terry

Yes, the reclining buckets were are commonplace option option in the HK/HT/HG series, especially Monaro GTS & Premier.

Dr Terry