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I had a guy in at work last week & he asked for some parts for his car. I asked him which engine he had & he said it was an "iron Lion".
I said a what !! He said you know an iron Lion, a 308 Holden cast iron V8. I said to him that I've been working on Holdens of all types since the 60s & have never heard that term. He said he & his mates have always called them this. Maybe it's a Melbourne vs Sydney thing or something, but has anybody else heard of this before ?
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I first heard the term on a Skid Factory Youtube video from 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgNTN9p8O-o
I think they are Queensland based. Even parts shops are using the term. https://www.tiperformance.com.au/engine/308/
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Lived in Queensland for 35 years and never heard the term before.
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Yeah, I’ve heard it over the last few years on YouTube and the like.
I’m in Sydney, but I’ve only heard it online. |
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I have heard the term , originally I'm sure it was a new cast 308 block advertised (performance) brand of some kind
But then it was used on social media by "experts" that have been into holdens for 5 minutes. Similar to "long roof" for wagons, + "styleside" for utes, I see as attention seeking. Just my opinion
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Originally Posted by: HK-Q-Z5.0Lfan  But then it was used on social media by "experts" that have been into holdens for 5 minutes. Similar to "long roof" for wagons, + "styleside" for utes, I see as attention seeking. Just my opinion Styleside is annoying enough, but "Long Roof", really ?? Dr Terry |
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Its a step up from calling it "Plastic" I suppose.
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Just another modern term that’s ridiculous. Sick to death of people who can’t understand what a Ute, van and one tonner are also.
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And H series for HQ to WB.
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Originally Posted by: greenhj Its a step up from calling it "Plastic" I suppose. Chev SBC and Ford (anything) fans gave the 308 that moniker 'plastic'... what 50 years ago? as it wasn't a real V8, it was plastic! One reason I stayed with my Monaro (chev SBC upfront) until I got my first GMH co car (HZ Prem wagon with 308/M21 combo and other nice bits) It went good and as an interstate traveller... it was awesome and then moving to Commodores (VB SL/e 308 pack with 5.0/M21 combo was my first) I was happy to have a Holden with a 'plastic'308 up front Still am... ! ! run a VK Commodore Grp A replica race car for some weekend fun (as in Sandown, PI, Winton etc) ...308 'plastic 'powered of course Edited by user Thursday, 20 February 2025 9:38:19 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Warren Turnbull And H series for HQ to WB. And on top of that, they all seem to think all HK to WB are Kingswoods. And will argue black and blue that you are an idiot when you tell them their ute or cab-chassis is not a Kingswood. Yet they immediately call a Monaro a Belmont Monaro. |
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Originally Posted by: Smitty2 Originally Posted by: greenhj Its a step up from calling it "Plastic" I suppose. Chev SBC and Ford (anything) fans gave the 308 that moniker 'plastic'... what 50 years ago? as it wasn't a real V8, it was plastic! One reason I stayed with my Monaro (chev SBC upfront) until I got my first GMH co car (HZ Prem wagon with 308/M21 combo and other nice bits) It went good and as an interstate traveller... it was awesome and then moving to Commodores (VB SL/e 308 pack with 5.0/M21 combo was my first) I was happy to have a Holden with a 'plastic'308 up front Still am... ! ! run a VK Commodore Grp A replica race car for some weekend fun (as in Sandown, PI, Winton etc) ...308 'plastic 'powered of course Yes, I’ve never understood the “plastic” thing??? Or, the H series thing either! H started in 65 with HD??? Edited by user Sunday, 23 February 2025 4:57:00 PM(UTC)
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I thought the 'plastic' tag came from the comparable light weight of the Holden V8 as opposed to the Chev V8 achieved in part through the use of alloy bolt ons including timing cover and intake.
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Originally Posted by: Sandaro I thought the 'plastic' tag came from the comparable light weight of the Holden V8 as opposed to the Chev V8 achieved in part through the use of alloy bolt ons including timing cover and intake. I agree, the SBC was quite heavy in stock form compared to the Holden V8. Dr Terry |
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Originally Posted by: Dr Terry Originally Posted by: Sandaro I thought the 'plastic' tag came from the comparable light weight of the Holden V8 as opposed to the Chev V8 achieved in part through the use of alloy bolt ons including timing cover and intake. I agree, the SBC was quite heavy in stock form compared to the Holden V8. Dr Terry It was in the 1970's. But by 1985 the L98 4BBL 350 began getting alloy heads and intake. This was 40 US lb lighter than a cast iron headed 350. GMH probably would have looked at this engine to replace the VK's 304 as they did cancel the Holden V8 for VL. |
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Originally Posted by: Sandaro I thought the 'plastic' tag came from the comparable light weight of the Holden V8 as opposed to the Chev V8 achieved in part through the use of alloy bolt ons including timing cover and intake. nothing I saw or heard supports that... remember GMH released the 253 first (well before the 308) and not a PROPER V8 was the talk on the street as it was vastly smaller that the littlest SBC in 283 form and also the Ford offering. The XR GT of course getting a 289ci V8, a real V8 BIGGER than the 283 Chev offering |
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308 was released alongside the 253 in HT. The 283 was a Dodo basically everywhere by mid 1966 and replaced by the 307 as the small Chevrolet V8. Edited by user Wednesday, 26 February 2025 6:04:35 AM(UTC)
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Amusingly, there is a wikipedia page on the HV8 that refers to it as an "iron lion" in the opening paragraph.
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Originally Posted by: Smitty2 Originally Posted by: Sandaro I thought the 'plastic' tag came from the comparable light weight of the Holden V8 as opposed to the Chev V8 achieved in part through the use of alloy bolt ons including timing cover and intake. nothing I saw or heard supports that... remember GMH released the 253 first (well before the 308) and not a PROPER V8 was the talk on the street as it was vastly smaller that the littlest SBC in 283 form and also the Ford offering. The XR GT of course getting a 289ci V8, a real V8 BIGGER than the 283 Chev offering I don't believe that you are right there Smitty. Besides what HK has already pointed out, any V8 was above the level of the average Australian buyer who was used to 6 cylinder power as the norm. This is evident in Monaro sales in the day (HK, HT, HG) where 6 cylinder sales outstripped V8 of any type (Holden or Chev) Edited by user Wednesday, 26 February 2025 7:30:20 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Smitty2 Originally Posted by: Sandaro I thought the 'plastic' tag came from the comparable light weight of the Holden V8 as opposed to the Chev V8 achieved in part through the use of alloy bolt ons including timing cover and intake. nothing I saw or heard supports that... remember GMH released the 253 first (well before the 308) and not a PROPER V8 was the talk on the street as it was vastly smaller that the littlest SBC in 283 form and also the Ford offering. The XR GT of course getting a 289ci V8, a real V8 BIGGER than the 283 Chev offering I guess I can see that on the 253. They are calling it a 6 alternative (which is pretty right) rather than a “real” V8 (which isn’t right). I wonder if GM had disallowed the Aussie V8 but built the SBC here instead what we would have got? The 283 and 307 in place of the 253 & 308? Edited by user Wednesday, 26 February 2025 9:40:36 PM(UTC)
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