81 replies to this topic

[My390]

Long term Torana project. Bought as a project over 5 years plus to give me a new interest and perhaps a longer term retirement project.

Just a shell with tags and chassis number intact. Started collecting some bits but there is a long way to go.

No driveline, no dash etc, etc.

Good bones to start with though

Gotta decide lots. 253 or 308? Original or custom dash?

Should be fun  IMG_0459.JPG   165.86K   25 downloads

[purrlx]

Just started myself, look at a 4 year build to be ready for daughters grade 12 formal.

[My390]

What plans have you got for yours?

[StephenSLR]

Gotta decide lots. 253 or 308?

 

What about a 390? lol.

 

I dropped in a 308 and regret not rebuilding my 253, that was a very torquey motor. There were two versions of Torana 253: high compression (HR prefix) which I had and low compression (HS prefix).

 

It depends on what you want to do with the car, are you into preformance or nostalgia?

 

Is it an SL/R?

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 30 January 2018 - 12:43 PM.

[My390]

It is an SL. Numbers say factory 253 with auto. Nothing special but as it has a pretty good body I felt up was worth the effort.

Holden dudes say it is an ex GMH owned car.

I like the idea of a slightly angry 253 if I can find a reasonably priced HR prefix motor. I do know a dude with one if I can convince him to let it go.

Nostalgia is the way to go for me with a few improvements if bits are hard to find. I wont be cutting very good and solid guards for flares But probably a slightly better dash though the SLR dash is too pricey but I suppose they wont be getting cheaper. Some discussion here a while ago about someone who might do a repro?

Won't do the 390 in this one but I think you might be like me and just enjoy old cars of all types?

[StephenSLR]

It is an SL. Numbers say factory 253 with auto. Nothing special but as it has a pretty good body I felt was worth the effort.

Nostalgia is the way to go for me

 

Definitely worth the effort!

 

A friend had one of those, I think his was an LH, I recall 4.2 badges on the front fenders whereas I had SL/R badges.

Not sure but I think LX 253 non-SL/R's had SL badges on the front fenders.

 

If I recall correctly the LH had the motor capacity, 3300, 4.2, etc. on front fenders. The SL badge was on the grille right hand side.

For the LX they put a lion badge in the centre of the grille and model badges S, SL, SL/R got shifted to the front fenders.

 

 

Won't do the 390 in this one but I think you might be like me and just enjoy old cars of all types?

 

Yep, I don't get into the Holden vs. Ford thing; that's for high school kids although I'm not the biggest fan of Aus. Fords, the Bathurst rivalry runs deep, lol.

 

I have a 65 Mustang, only a 302; the 390 in your ID stood out.

 

Here's a thread on it:

 

http://www.gmh-toran...ony-has-landed/

 

I'm also a member of the Aus. Mustang forums.

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 07 February 2018 - 09:20 AM.

[My390]

Thanks Stephen

I agree. I don't get involved in whose is better. Just like the old cars.

The 390 in the name is a giveaway isn't it.

Looked at the link, looks like Matt and Sheri did the right thing for you and I know of a few that went through them with great results.

Hopefully I can get some great tips here to help with the build.

I have already got some bits and help from forum members and so far has been great.

Still chasing the correct HR prefix motor with one to look at next week.

So far the panelsI have rubbed pack have been solid with no work needed on most panels.

I will need to patch/replace bits of the boot floor and a small bit in rear drivers side floor as well as the battery tray.

Have unpicked the battery tray and have been practicing on MIG but not good enough yet. More practice

It's all good fun

Thanks

Dale

[Ice]

The repro SLR dashes aren't to far away i think last i heard i have seen the proto type they look good
wouldn't waste my money on a 40 year old one

[StephenSLR]

Hopefully I can get some great tips here to help with the build.

 

You've come to the right place, there's a lot of knowledge here.

 

s

[My390]

Thanks Ice.

Good info. I don't need it right away so I will hold off and keep an eye on here for any news.

I do have the surrounds but no gauges so hopefully it will work out in time?

[toryman76]

Stick with originality My390 and you will not be disappointed 😊

[StephenSLR]

Stick with originality

 

LX: SL & Sunbird - Lighter (Teak) timber grain dash

 

http://www.gmh-toran...c/23525-dashes/

 

s

[My390]

Thanks for the link Stephen I have a dash surround and glove box lid in wood grain. Time to look at some cars to confirm it is the right one. I think so as they look like the pictures.

I will try for originality Toryman if I can find the bits. Except the engine, a mild cam never goes astray.

[StephenSLR]

Time to look at some cars to confirm it is the right one. I think so as they look like the pictures.

 

The ones in those pictures is the dark woodgrain be sure the look at the right cars, unfortunately many Toranas aren't original.

 

What trim and paint codes do you have on your tags?

 

Just out of curiosity, on the tag, does your model read: LX8VC69?

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 11 February 2018 - 05:03 PM.

[toryman76]

Yeah nothing wrong with a mild cam and a bit more hp. This is tasteful.

[My390]

Yes. The code is LX8VC69

Paint and trim is 1934-18Y

I understand that to be Atlantis blue metallic with Black trim and cloth inserts.

It came with the front seats that match that description ( they look fairly original but well worn) and plenty of evidence of the Atlantis blue everywhere.

I intend to keep it that way and I like that combination.

At least when I catch up with Toryman 76 we can have a beer together on that and the engine.

Codes say 253 and auto.

I’m having fun already

[My390]

Negotiating on a HR coded 253 at the moment . Not matching numbers of course but the right engine for it. Seems in relatively good cond. Had a head taken off for gander and seems like a good base for a rebuild.

Botton dash is hard to find.

Any leads would be appreciated

Gotta make a list of bits to gather over the next few years

[StephenSLR]

Negotiating on a HR coded 253 at the moment . Not matching numbers of course

 

Holden didn't have a 'matching number' system; not in the way Ford, etc. did where the engine no. was the same as the body number.

 

The best you can do is get an engine with a number within the range of numbers that were built the same month of the car's build date.

 

s

[Bigfella237]

Holden didn't have a 'matching number' system; not in the way Ford, etc. did where the engine no. was the same as the body number.

 

In Holden terms a "matching number" is the original engine that came with that car from the factory.

 

To be honest Dale, there isn't much point searching for a similar engine number, there's only one original engine and once it's gone it's gone, and there's no point lying to anyone because someone looking for an original car will check the service records and find out it's the wrong engine.

 

May as well spend the same money rebuilding a 308 and enjoy the extra neddies.

[StephenSLR]

there's only one original engine and once it's gone it's gone, and there's no point lying to anyone because someone looking for an original car will check the service records and find out it's the wrong engine.

 

This is true and I'm a firm believer of not lying when selling, many realise engines blow up, old cars are modified, etc. You tell the story of how you found it, what you did and that forms part of its history and character.

 

Nostalgia is the way to go for me

 

A HR prefix would still acceptable to many, of course try to find one from an LX; it just depends on how nostalgic you want to go.

 

Corvettes numbers also aren't true matching like Fords and many Corvette restorers in the US search the country to try find an engine that was released in the same month as their car.

 

Naturally, the more original the more prized a car is to a collector. It's your car so plan out what you want then aim to build to plan; don't worry about what the next owner would want, you can't predict the buying market at the time; should you sell.

 

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 27 February 2018 - 06:21 AM.

[My390]

Thanks for that. I will try and get a HR block.Only a 253 and might not go as hard as a 308 but it will still make the right noise.

Maybe just a weee cam.

Anyone out there with a black lowerdash they want to sell?

[toryman76]

Jump on to the new buy swap sell page on fb. Never know your luck. If only I took the lower dash when I bought my cluster...

[My390]

Will do. They do come up from time to time on ebay. Just gotta keep looking. Will keep on FB as well.

Thanks

[My390]

Got my lower dash. Not ready for dash for a while but it is in very good condition so into storage it goes.

Time to get serious on the boot floor and the rear passenger floor which needs some patching. Learning to weld MIG but still not good enough to move into the real world.

More practice.

[Rockoz]

Are you going gas or gasless mig?

If you are trying gasless, bite the bullet and go for gas.

You will be impressed by how good you become very quickly