148 replies to this topic

[308mate]

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Been a while. Some progress is being made. Crank is ordered. Heads & Manifold ported, assembled & matched, engine parts are being ordered.

 

Pulled the diff today. Ready for a rebuild.

 

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Painted up the rocker cover & sump bolts

 

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[308mate]

Well the diff has been sent off for a blast, drain plug & some modifications

 

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Few other bits have arrived, including pro-gram engineering 4 bolt main caps.

 

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750 holley

 

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3.55 tru-trac

 

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[Potta]

Whats the pink thing in the first pic?

[308mate]

Yeah the holley is cool Greg, nice & lite, and less junk hanging off it. But no choke. The idea is that it should still look OK in a few years with the anodising. It was about $870. Other thing is these Ultra Hp carburettors require a fuel rail with a 9.75" spread and not the 9.5" (i think) spread of the typical holley double pumpers - so If you cant get the adjustment out of a standard fuel rail you are up for that as well.

 

I guess you are referring to the "Orchid Metallic" on the HQ front Potta. Its one of my panel Vans - HQ Sandman Mock-up, same one thats in my Avatar. Theres a few pics in the non Torana projects section. Its finished-ish & on the road but always changing something. I spoze thats the way with most of our cars...

[Potta]

I guess you are referring to the "Orchid Metallic" on the HQ front Potta. Its one of my panel Vans - HQ Sandman Mock-up, same one thats in my Avatar. Theres a few pics in the non Torana projects section. Its finished-ish & on the road but always changing something. I spoze thats the way with most of our cars...

 

Yeah I am and I know the car you refer to, I'm pretty sure I've seen the other thread, but didn't put 2 and 2 together. I've checked out a LOT of projects over the years.

 

It is definitely the way with most cars owned by people on this forum, but people who drive washing machines don't tend to change much other than the steering wheel cover from time to time.

[308mate]

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Crank arrived today, along with the studs for the main caps. A large order from VPW is coming through any day & that will be the last of the stuff required for the rebuild. Can't rush these things apparently.

 

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[308mate]

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Pulled out the backing plates & Commodore handbrake drums/ hubs. I've had them sitting around for years. They'll clean up after a blast.

 

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I have a few things back from Graeme at Extreme blasting. I'll throw up some photos to show how they came up.

 

Apparently these early commodore live axle disc brakes fir onto a 9 inch without hitting the shocks if there is some modification made to the backing plate & the handbrake cable mount is modified. I've seen a little about this on some other threads here. Any recommendations, tips, regarding this conversion?

 

 

[308mate]

Spoke to the diff fella today & he's going to modify the shock mount on the diff so I don't have to muck around with the brakes.

 

On a different note I put together the fuel pump this evening. Its an Ozrace conversion for the mechanical v8 pump. Heres a few pics of how I did it....

 

Firstly, here are the parts involved. Use the standard ac delco holden mechanical pump to along with the lever & the small spring. The rest is not used.

 

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Drill out the 6 threaded holes to 5mm for the new bolts (there are 8 holes drill only the 6 threaded)

 

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Assembly. Remember to put the small spring in the fuel pump top - should be able to just make it out in the centre.

 

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Next, the new diaphragm has to be installed, this is supplied with the kit as is the new pin. The next photo shows how the lever fits onto the plunger at the base of the diaphragm.

 

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Next photo is the lever & diaphragm installed into the cast ac delco top. You can see the pin is protruding & must be pressed through the housing to locate the lever. No photo but small plugs have to be fitted either end of the pin to stop it from working its way out over time.

 

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Next the bolts are passed through the red base, then through the diaphragm and the  fuel pump top and the nuts fitted finger tight.

 

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Next, importantly, the pump must be gripped in a vice & a wedge (I used a big screwdriver) used to hold the lever down in order to tension the diaphragm so that the bolts can be tightened.

 

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Thats it. Heres a picture of the modified pump next to the old base.

 

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[LS1LX]

How much are those fuel pump kits worth? You look like your going all out on a massive spending spree with some nice little goodies there. Should be one tough ride mate

[308mate]

I cant remember what I paid LS1. I got it from a fella selling it on ebay - he had brought it some time ago but not used it. I did have a look on the ozrace website but no price listed. 

 

I'm getting close to having everything I need for the car now. Still a few things to go however. The idea is to put the whole car together in its current shape and when i'm sure everything fits & is just the part I want to use, then I'll pull it all apart & paint & plate.

 

As far as thing I need, anyone got some tailpipe exhaust hangers, I'm after 2?

 

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Edited by 308mate, 19 July 2014 - 08:36 AM.

[308mate]

Weighed the diff centres to compare them

 

Standard LSD (does have the guard & bumps stop around the Yoke): 35 kg

 

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Aluminium centre tru track: 28 kg

 

 

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[warrenm]

Substantial weight loss.

[308mate]

I'm also changing from HQ drums to VN style discs. When I get the backing plates & hub back from the blasters I'll wweigh them up to see what the difference is between the VN brakes & HQ

[N/A-PWR]

be nice to lose 7kg's here and there,

 

all round Disc's sound good Scott.

 

 

Good informed Build.

[308mate]

Thanks Dave. I have the same brake setup on one of my panelvans and i'm quite happy with that.

 

A few things are back from the blasters & painted.

 

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[308mate]

More bits rolling in.

 

Sump.

 

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ASR Aussie made> note the modifications on the inside of the sump on the edge of the lip / mounting face, these are for the extra stroke of the 383.

 

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Rear discs arrived also. DBA Aussie made.

 

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[308mate]

I've collected the last of the bits for the engine & I'll be taking them to the builder this week.

 

Sumps painted

 

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Ive also painted the spacers for the inlet manifold that are required with the dash 3 YT heads.

 

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Heres the rockers I went with.

 

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[308mate]

I've collected the last of the bits for the engine & I'll be taking them to the builder this week.

 

Sumps painted

 

 IMG_4560.jpg   50.6K   10 downloads

 

Ive also painted the spacers for the inlet manifold that are required with the dash 3 YT heads.

 

 IMG_4561.jpg   46.43K   9 downloads

 

Heres the rockers I went with.

 

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[308mate]

Commodore rear brakes blasted, painted & assembled.

 

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I put a tech-screw into the brass fitting inside the master cylinder (for rear brakes - the larger of the two threads) and pulled it out, along with the spring & plastic valve. This supposedly is required for correct functioning of the commodore rear discs.

 

 

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Then I fitted the rebuilt brake booster and proportioning valve, along with the new engine bay brake lines.

 

Chip, chip, chip...

 

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[N/A-PWR]

Glad you know what you are doing Scott,

 

All looking Good Bud.

Some dismantling Methods are needed hey 

[308mate]

A while since the last update.

 

The diff has the shock mounts moved so that the commodore discs dont foul the shocks, a few new brackets and things welded up. The housing was then blasted & painted along with the locating links. I bent the standard rear sway bar to fit the bigger bulge of the 9", it was also blasted & painted

 

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I measured some 31 spline Strange axles and cut them to size.

 

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I got some ARP wheel studs but were too long for the original type GTS wheel nots so they were cut to length. The axles had to be re-sized for the new studs.

 

Just to fit the bearings and press in the last 5 studs, fit the brake lines, seal the centre to the housing, fit the brakes & Install - should be done in the next few days.

 

The engine builder called today and said the motor is ready for the dyno...maybe next week.

[308mate]

Picked up the engine today from Ned at Hercules Competition Engines. Ned has done a real fine job and he's a pleasure to deal with. Heres a couple of photos. The YT -3 heads dont stand out so much with the paint, I much prefer it this way. The oil pump appears to be a real good thing - very stable oil pressure all the way through the rev range.

 

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Motor dynoed at 462hp at 6000rpm and 468ft/tq at 4400rpm and has 415ft/tq at 3500rpm. The heads are basically stock with a small 1.94 inlet and are the limitation according to Ned. Im sure its enough to make short work of my 225/60/15's.

 

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[308mate]

Diff is in now, just to make up some brake tubing and it will be complete. All in all came up well.

 

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[Redslur]

Coming together well.  I have one of those oil pumps on my 355 and they work a treat!