Just some clarifications:

The CK prefix was simply because these engines followed the new HQ engine numbering and the engine numbers were in the HQ sequence. Same as all other LC engines past a certain date and also for HG commercial engines. The engines were different internally as you state, but I don't know how or what. They must have been a special run of blocks and heads though as neither of the items used were current specification - 186 had ceased production by that time.

I have heard that the 200 1972 cars were the cars that were supposed to be V8 XU1's.

Those last 150-151 cars probably didn't get the special cam from what i've heard, I think those were like L34 cams ie only those that needed them got them. Others may clarify more for you. From what I understand some of the special external to engine bits started to go on earlier than the last 151 cars, like headers, fine spline axles etc. There are build sheets showing that is was the case, however none of these cars got engines off the published list of 150 special engines. Some will tell you that the special engines started earlier but I don't subscribe to that theory.

The CK 186 XU-1 engines came out when holden was making the 173 and 202.
I would like to know the casting dates of them CK blocks, and they had the old type heads not the new spark plug type.

XU-2 only 2 were made and never sold and don't exist any more.

The 1972-3 Bathurst cam is massive
Intake 55/90
Exhaust 94/51
Lift 0.456
106 over lap
That's too big for a street car let alone a production car.
Fine spline axels 15/8/73.
There is talk about a Borg Warner 78 star gears being used in the diff I would think it is what they are on about.
The book is Holden Torana GTR XU-1 by Fiv Antoniou.

I think those CK blocks were cast post the end of 186. The heads are just like LJ XU1, and these were special cast too as far as I know.

Lots of XU2's were made, it is the option code for SLR5000. If you mean the V8 GTR's there were 3 made and two still are known to exist. From memory the pink one and the orange one were fitted with 202's and sold, the white one kept its V8. I know where the pnk one is, white one is reported to be alive. Orange one has not been sighted for a longtime.

Fine spline axles were fitted earlier than 15/8/73, I have build sheets for cars with them. It is the final spec engine (as shipped from the GMH engine plant) that appears to be unique to the last cars. The CAMS paperwork appears to be predictive in most aspects, but production reality is slightly different.

I think Fiv is talking about the detroit locker centres. My mate has on in his '73 final spec XU1.

I had a white XU2 as well, I wrecked it and cut it up - rust repair sections helped restore a few other LH's. It had some L34 gear through it too and I still have the calipers.

From what I understand too Terry he had a V8 in the Barney's Shirt LJ XU-1. It has the same tunnel mods as the surviving pink LJ GTR. Speculation is both cars had something other than an aussie 4spd in them (like a Muncie or Saginaw).
Was the yellow car raced at Bathurst at Easter 1972 a GTR? I thought it was an old race XU1.

Cool.
The aussie 4spd V8 box in them was probably an M21, at least for mockup purposes.
The Barney's shirt XU1 and the pink GTR both have tunnel mods though that suggest something else other than an aussie 4spd was in them at some stage.

I'm still looking for the reference for the other (bigger) cam available for '73 XU1's. I think it was like the L34 cam, ie not engine plant fitted, but sold to race teams.

HX cam they are called.
Nothing to do with HX holdens.
I have never seen a HYD cam that big. no mention of it being a solid cam.

quote:

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Originally posted by castellan
HX cam they are called.

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I've heard this debated for many years. AFAIK the 2 LJ XU1 camshafts are stamped XJ & XH. The latter reads HX if it's read upside down, which in isolation is easy to do, it still looks correct.

Dr Terry

I noticed a while back that the 10/71 LC parts catalogue lists the XH camshaft (2822075) for the 186X engine (also lists 2815739 against 186X), I assume this is for 3100X engine (ealrl) and XH for the CK engine. But it lists the 2850S engine as getting an XH camshaft. The 2600S engine is listed with 7428531 which is just the HK 186S cam. So if this is true the 2850S engine would have been a screamer with that cam and a 2 barrel on it, must have been lumpy as hell.