Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:01:49 GMT
|
Many thanks for the that, its very much appreciated Can I ask, do you know if the Chevy 307 conversion is straight forward, and what is the manual box like (worth sourcing?) I'll start by saying it's been quite a few years since I've done anything with a 308 or converting one. Every Torana/Kingswood I touch lately has already been Small Block Chev'd. Or is aiming for concourse originality so nothing gets changed. While I've never put a 307 into a HQ-Z before, I can't imagine it's much harder than the 350. IIRC that's just a set of engine mounts and exhausts - can't remember if the radiator lines up properly or not. But I do remember that a SBC swap into one of these almost throw-it-in-and-it-works easy. The BBC is a little harder, being that it requires bigger and better suspension. As for the Aussie 4 speed, it isn't a bad box but it's very 70's Australian. Which is a polite way of saying it's not great, but it does the job. Unless you have one lying around (or it's cheap), I'd look for something newer. I definitely wouldn't bother importing one. Did you guys ever get the Australian 5 litre (304ci) V8 Commodore over there? The first couple of generations of Commodore used the 308/304 V8 (they downsized the capacity to fit into 5 litre racing) before they changed over to the GenIII Chev. The last of the "Holden" powered Commodores used an updated version of the 253/308 that were in the Kingswoods. I mention it because I've heard all sorts of vicious rumours that the injection heads and intake can be retro-fitted for injection and unleaded fuel purposes. So it's worth investigating 1990-1998 Commodores as donors. I'll put the engine/gearbox/diff question into perspective for you. You have a blank sheet of paper to make a 70's muscle car. The tunnel should be big enough (if not, find a bigger hammer ) for any box. The structure of the front end is a pair of rails that have a compact IFS setup attached. None of the sheetmetal is there to do anything other than hold up the lights and close the lid. And given there's a racing series for the HQs, there's a wealth of knowledge about making the darned things handle! The common route over here is to find something V8 that was wrecked and plonk the entire driveline into the Kingswood. The current flavour is to take the Commodore/Chev LS V8's and use them - you have them in the Maloo and the Vauxhall. They fit easy enough 'cause there's acres of room, you can get kits for the wiring harnesses, and you have a ton of get up and go without worrying about points or carbs. Or you could go the whole Summernats route with a blower that's higher than the roof
|
|
|
|
|
Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:24:42 GMT
|
You don't have to lever out the Holden V8 that's already in there though. This was done with a 383 Holden stroker (stroked 308) with a 6/71 blower on top. Nothing wrong with the grunt this was putting out...
|
|
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:36:02 GMT
|
Stuff engine conversions just get the bodywork sorted and have a working car Without spending thousands it'll never be quick. Matt
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:48:55 GMT
|
maybe you would be best just tidying it up and using it, we don't want another delica style thread popping up anytime soon...........
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:50:28 GMT
|
I don't want quick though, i just want to release the V8 rumble a bit more ;D
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:52:52 GMT
|
I don't want quick though, I just want to release the V8 rumble a bit more ;D In that case a set of less muffled exhaust pipes, possibly a mild cam, and you're away
|
|
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:56:26 GMT
|
Yup mild cam and new exhausts should fix that. Don't run the exhausts open though sounds awful on stock-ish V8s.
Matt
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 11:58:31 GMT
|
was thinking of a centre cherry bomb, and a less restricted rear box?
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
chevazon
Posted a lot
1939 Chevrolet 2 door coupe, `67 `Zon estate, `87 Ragtop Cavalier, 4 x 800 Drifters,(!) 1500 Drifter
Posts: 2,259
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:02:41 GMT
|
Maybe getting insurance and some of the bits SOC pointed out sorted first would be a good starting point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:03:31 GMT
|
There isn't a rear box... it has one centre silencer fed from both banks and a tailpipe.
|
|
To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
|
|
|
Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:04:34 GMT
|
A full set of duallies doesn't go astray. I'd lose the single exhaust (cut the current system before it joins) and just run a resonator and one rear muffler per bank. If it's too loud you can always add a muffler later. The mild cam will add the 'lumpiness' that we all love.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:07:31 GMT
|
Maybe getting insurance and some of the bits SOC pointed out sorted first would be a good starting point. Insurance sorted, and when scary has time i will take the car back for the welding, and also hopefully he can mot it too The mods are mainly stuff i am thinking of in the future (like, next week ;D)
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:08:43 GMT
|
Does it have the horrible on the floor by the door handbrake?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:10:06 GMT
|
I can see Bo11ox making a comment soon...
|
|
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:10:09 GMT
|
Get it working and legal then mod it. Waste of time spending all your funds on nice bits, then you get the car on the road and 3 weeks later something major goes wrong and you don't have the money to fix it.
Matt
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:20:06 GMT
|
I have an idea. PS is going to need help with this car. I really don't want to see any more slagging off and snidey comments from anyone, and it is obvious that there is a lot of want to see the car finished. SO I'm going to make an area-52 style offer to anyone who wants to help (*assuming PS is in agreement - it is his car not mine). I've mentioned using my place as a northern RR base before, the welding day was good fun and I regularly have qwerty and autofive helping fix their cars here anyway, it could be a laugh. Plus, the southern boys have that falcon to play with. Let's meet their mettle and fix some metal Deadline:RRG11
|
|
To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:24:04 GMT
|
I don't think any of the comments are derogatory, just that everybody really wants PS to have a car that he wants on the road and working. The only way I can see that happening is if he hangs fire with mods, gets it legal, drives it round for a few months and see what breaks. Once it's been proven as a reliable runner then mod it.
Matt
|
|
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:24:42 GMT
|
Oh and i'd be up for a trip up the A1 though would it be weekends as i'm usually working.
Matt
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:28:19 GMT
|
I don't think any of the comments are derogatory, just that everybody really wants PS to have a car that he wants on the road and working. The only way I can see that happening is if he hangs fire with mods, gets it legal, drives it round for a few months and see what breaks. Once it's been proven as a reliable runner then mod it. Matt Hammer, Nail, Head
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2011 12:54:07 GMT
|
Thats fair enough, but what the car needs to be legal is one thing, and what it wants fixing just so it will survive to next year is another. It is going to be MoT'd and used, for one thing I don't have space to store it, but I thought it might be nice if people offered help instead of internet advice
|
|
To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
|
|
|