I'd just bolt a 308 and M20 or M21 aussie box in.

VN-VP 5.0L and TH700/4L60 is an easy upgrade. T5 is a little harder but still easy and will allow you to keep it standard ie no TH firewall hole for the speedo cable. Aircon is an issue with EFI.

_______________________________________________________
If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?

if i was doing this sort of thing, i would definitely go the LS1 route.
first and most importantly, they are plentiful in EVERY form being from stuffed to new in crate. i will do point form actually
cheap engine if you but used one with no coils, $600 for that, or $1500 for a s/h runner here in melb
bits are easy to come by
you can run injection if you want,
you can run carb if you want GM make an intake to suit removal of injection and go NA
pacemaker make pipes for this swap
MSD make a box to run it
canton or moroso make a pan to suit the swap
plates for engine mount can be bought from CAE or easy to make your own, dont touch CRS bits
there are heaps and heaps of places making good hot up bits for them now
they make 600hp easy
being all alloy, they are LIGHT, infact, just a bit heavier than a holden 6 when you bolt on the accesories to them
you can still run all your P/S A/C and whatever else you like one the engine
you can bolt up T/400 or T/350 to it or late model 4 spd auto if you want to go that way

BAD STUFF.
you gotta be commited to finish the job as its still major work and you must have some mechanical apptitude to do any swap or else you might as well pay someone
dealing with places like CAE or CRS if you want to leave injection or find someone else to help with re programming and disabling what you dont need
T56 manual or whatever box it is wont fit unless you massacre the floor and tunnel of the car
they still dont sound like a ball tearing V8, no matter what you do to them(thats a good thing now as i'm gettin to old and cranky anyways for noise and i like a low profile now when driving)
not sure what state you are in, but reg can be gotten here in vic quite easily

if you want to go EFI Holden, buy a donor VN as hainzy is doing in his VH thread, but its still old junk that is getting harder and harder all the time and will still need the same sort of work to be done in regards to fiting it up, it just bolts in easier thats all

anyways, up to you, have a fistfull ready and go for you life son.

i have a good mate doing this LS-1 CARBIED swap into a LX torana as we speak, it looks the part, fits nicely and will be good for driving everyday, I'll get some pics up when i take some

"Reputations are made and broken as soon as you enter or leave my shed.."

Edited by user Sunday, 4 July 2010 11:47:50 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

WE wreck has given a great answer there if you wanna go down that path.

if you wanna do the 304 t5 combo have a look at my VH EFI thread below or above or wherever it currently is.. I know youre talkin a HZ and Im talkin VH but the wealth of knowledge across all models and helpful gurus that are on this site is amazing so whatever you decide theres plenty of info available.

Hi,
I fitted a 308 and VN heads to my HJ Statesman it is on straight gas so no problems with computers or ADR's and goes great.

I had to machine out clearance in the air con bracket for the PCV spout, I converted to a SD 508 Sanden compressor to fit the standard air con bracket by moved it forward, improving alternator access and steering allignment adjustment access and also moved the power steering forward and change the pulley to suit, but everything fits fine and I have driven it all over Australia with no dramas.

Had problems with the starter motor clearance as I used the red block, the VN block and starter would have worked out better.
Also had problems with fitting extractors as all companies I tried at the time claimed they had a product that fitted when in fact none did, it is easier now as at least one company does make a set that fits without burning your car. sorry don't know the name.
You could either use the VN injection or go straight gas, but I don't know why anyone bothers with petrol when gas gives more power and is cheaper.
I kept the Turbo 400 gearbox but as you wanted a manual, a all aussie would work if driven in a non agressive manner and would bolt in with a minimum of fuss, but obviously the later Borg Warner units would be stronger, but would require more money and modification to fit too.
I later steped up the diff ratio to use the increased power more efficienty too.

hope this helps,

Mike

Purpul Police

Edited by user Tuesday, 6 July 2010 10:53:03 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The good doctor is right. I made a 304 starter fit by hacksawing the 308 convertor cover around the back of where the starter would sit. That way you can bolt up the starter then bolt the cover in. Think what you are talking about is the orientation of the starter solenoid around the motor unit preventing extractors to bolt up. I know for a fact the aftermarket bosch unit will not fit with the genie headers I am running, the Holden unit will. If anyone want them I have some pics.

I have heard of some people using pontiac? starters on their holdens (supposidly gruntier/smaller)

OK.

LB9 = 5.0 (304) EFI V8
M30 = 4L60-E auto
GU4 = 3.08 (or 3.07 for late VSIII V8) rear axle ratio

The best fix for the speedo is to buy an electronic conversion speedo for your HZ & stay with the electronic sender, the ECU needs to see that sensor working. You will also need to get the immobiliser removed from the mem-cal.

To explain the TH700 /4L60 thing. The original 4-speed auto was called the TH700-R4 up to 1990. When the Hydramatic division of GM was swallowed up into GM-Powertrain (1990) it was renamed the 4L60. For VR it gained electronic control & was then called the 4L60-E. So all 4-speed autos from VR to VZ, including yours are 4L60-E autos.

Dr Terry

_________________________________________

When calculating a car restoration budget, be as accurate as you can & then double the final figure. It will be closer to the truth.

Dr Terry,

In another thread, you said a VN fuel tank could be reconfigured to suit HZ style vehicles (by relocating filler neck etc). You recommended using the 6cyl one as it is a bit smaller than the V8 one and wouldn't hang down as low.

I've been reading a workshop manual for VR/VS models and it says that the 6 cyl ones are fitted with a single in-tank high pressure pump. The V8 ones have a high volume, low pressure pump and an additional high pressure pump in the fuel line.

When fitting the VS 5.0 engine to a HZ, which tank would you recommend? Does the 6 cyl high pressure pump have adequate volume for the V8?

Regards, Alan.