54 replies to this topic

[Struggler]

As most of you know I sold off the HQ Tonner in my avatar as a roller last year as my kids were whinging they couldn't drive around in it (not enough seats). I picked up a perfect HQ Statesman but was convinced it was too tidy to race so I moved it on and kept looking. I took a month off work over Feb to find and build a new project. After getting a couple of other things out of the way I picked up a tidy HQ Prem with a 253 and M20 and drove it home. 3 Weeks later I had the 377 SBC and Glide from the Tonner in it, a 4.44 Salisbury, new exhaust, engine bay renovation, battery moved to the boot, new brakes and a few other things you do as a matter of course. I finished it at about lunch time on a Friday and took it straight to WSID for a run (completely untested). I should have known better as once I got there I couldn't for the life of me start it. Any way I dragged it home and went back to work.

Over the next couple of weeks I fitted the extra earth lead nec. to start it and also an A9X scoop to cover the hole in the bonnet. I got back to WSID on Wed. night and had a go (it started this time !!) Anyway it reeled off a couple of 11.3's at 118-119 MPH before the tailshaft from my tonner (that I paid good money to have shortened and unis changed) decided to rip my Glide in half.

This was with exhaust and mufflers to the diff and MT Street Radials (275/60R15).

It will take me a while to finance a new shaft and 'box but at least I got a few passes in.

Let me know what you think of it.







Thanks to Badger and Cackling Pipes Photography for the pics.

[Toranavista]

Looks too good to drag Sunburst Metallic from the pics

[Evan]

great stuff struggler! You work very fast!! Great times too!!!
Congrats.
Evan.

[Struggler]

That's crazy.  Where did you fit Herne's motor in with all that going on?

That was one of the other things I had to get out of the way !!

Yes, Sunburst Metallic and yes I will get around to doing the roof as well one day.

Car came from a worker in the oldest profession who got it off the original owners, the Hunt family in Qbn about 4 or 5 years ago. She never got around to registering it in her name and only drove it for a month or two before parking it.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. It was a bit of work, I even did the exhaust (3" dual and X pipe) at home. Only farmed out jobs were the tailshaft and diff gear setup.

[RIM-010]

Same colour as mine should be

Looks good.

Tim

[TempesT]

Nice Andrew,
Its a top car and you have to be pleased with the times it ran for a first outing. Too bad about your tail shaft. The pace you go about your projects youll be back on the strip befor you know it.

[LX2DR]

That front disc is nearly as big as the blade runner
Nice looking car, bad luck about the glide & tailshaft.

Edited by LX2DR, 06 April 2008 - 12:11 AM.

[MRLXSS]

Top Stuff mate! I love the HQ Prems!

[Tiny]

Well done Andrew!

Hoepfully the gearbox repair isnt expensive, it's a shame to hear of the troubles!

Looks like it will be a monster of a vehicle to play with, what are your aims for it!?

[Struggler]

60' were in the high 1.6's (tonner used to go 1.60's).

Very happy with the times. This engine in the HQ Tonner went 11.0 at 120-121. The Prem is 300lb heavier but uses 4.44 instead of 4.11 gears and a tighter (by almost 1000 rpm) convertor. The old convertor used to slip quite a bit but definately had an ET advantage. As it is a bit more stall and a cold night and this crate will go 11.0 as well.

As for the aims, well I dont really know. I love the fact this thing is all steel/chrome and full interior and runs as it does. Unfortunately I have another set of heads, a roller cam and several manifolds to test yet so realistically a ten is not too far away. This means a roll cage, ANDRA UDL and everything that goes with it. As a four door this isn't a real problem but it does take away a bit from the street side. No its not a daily driver but I would still like it to look like it is. I guess straight up I will recase the gearbox and get another tailshaft built and run it again. I am considering a fresh convertor but I'll have to check the extent of the current damage first. I was contemplating doing a few more burnout comps but these days it really is out of hand. You have to smash your car up and set it on fire to even rate a mention !!! That and the fact its hard to place in a N/A car in a field of blown beasts. This is a nice car and I can't go replacing quarter panels too often !

I really like what LX406 has done with his HG Prem, a standard looking thing with a cage, mini tubs and some real grunt. I am sort of looking at that as a bit of a role model. A full coat of Sunburst and a good tidy up is probably on the cards, from there who knows !!

[Tiny]

Sounds like excellent plans!

[LXCHEV]

Awesome stuff Struggler!!

I was about to ask what times the engine did in the Tonner and if you think there might be a 10 with the new car, but you've already answered them now!

How much does the new beast actually weigh??

I'd follow Mark's path with UNRULY too.... you are totally correct that burnout comps have gone stupid these days - you gotta wreck stuff to really get noticed now. Each to their own, but I way prefer looking at super neat streeters like UNRULY - super clean, tough street cars that get driven. Keep it streetable... resist the urge to make her a trailer / burnout / event only car!!!

Well done again, huge fan of your work.

Cheers.

[MRLXSS]

Sounds like you have some awesome plans for it mate! Great idea to go down the same path UNRULY did... Just make its a Street Animal! and push the limits of having to get ANDRA regulations etc...

Top stuff mate!

[Tiny]

Soooo sexy!

[Struggler]

Soooo sexy!

And a great role model !!!

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[makka]

keep the white roof, it makes the car!

[mr5000]

im with makka the white roof looks ace