28 replies to this topic

[Indy Orange]

Every motor has its flaws or weak points etc,the Holden red motor has always been regarded as a robust reliable motor ,wether it be. 149 ,161 ,186,202.Did any of these motors have known faults from factory or components within that failed often?Interested in any thoughts.

[Indy Orange]

Under reasonable running conditions of course and not thrashed.

[Rainman]

Was there also the 173 ?

[Rainman]

All tough motors in there time. Personally I don't know of any common fault. You could drive any where with any one of those motors. Rainman

[Indy Orange]

Yeah ,138,173,179 as well.

[Rainman]

138 was the grey motor ? Were there any other grey motors ?

[Indy Orange]

Both Red and grey for the 138.

[LJ RB30]

138 was also a red motor

[purrlx]

Timing gear when they were the old fibre ones. Other than that very reliable

[Indy Orange]

When did they phase out the fibre timing gear Danny?

[rodomo]

That's a good question? I don't think they did but could be wrong. Most were replaced with alloy ones after they stripped.

Distributor drive gears used to strip too.

I have read here about 202 blocks cracking between the welch plugs.

[arrimar]

Great engines, kept 1,000's of mechanics employed for years.

[Dr Terry]

The Red 6-cyl engine was one of the most popular motors ever sold in Australia. They were simple, strong & reliable. With Bosch electrics & a Bendix-Stromberg carby (on most versions) they could be repaired & tuned by any novice mechanic.

 

The only regular failure that I can think of was that Red 202 pistons used to lose their top when hot & under stress. This was remedied around HJ I believe.

 

They were one of the first common 6-cyl motors to feature 7 main bearings. This made the bottom end very strong, even with cast iron crankshafts. This was evidenced by how successful the LJ 202 XU1 was in Series production & Group C racing.

 

As mentioned above they were produced in sizes ranging from 138, 149, 161, 173, 179, 186 & 202. There was also an even smaller 130 version for exports, where a particular country has a tax regime penalising engines over 2.2 litres in size. There were many versions of each size built, e.g. low comp, high comp, X2 & S etc.

 

The Grey engine used in 48 to EJ Holdens were made as 132.5i & 138i. There was no commonality of parts between the 138 Grey & the 138 Red, even their bore & stroke is different.

 

Dr Terry

[Indy Orange]

Was the Holden red motor Australian designed or was it copied from America?

[S pack]

Was the Holden red motor Australian designed or was it copied from America?

Have a look at the Chevrolet 230, 250 & 292 6cyl engines. You'll get the idea.

[Indy Orange]

Yeah right ,look very similar ,I wonder how they would have gone instead of the 202 with triples?

Attached Files

•  image.jpeg   71.93K   4 downloads

[jd lj]

Yeah right ,look very similar ,I wonder how they would have gone instead of the 202 with triples?

I've read about the inline 6 cylinder chevs running triple dcoe's. When you think about how a Holden red motor or hemi goes with triples and a bit of work then surely the chev 6 has good potential. But I think that most of the cars in the US that had the inline sixes also were available as a v8 so if people want more hp then obviously a v8 is more a more common choice.

[madtoranajzedded]

There was a 201 buit too wasnt there,but not for holden vehicles..those chevy motor would b longer than the 6 .i wouldnt mind seeing one with a custom stroker crank and up the capacity ..thats got me thinking there was a couple guys making bigger capacity blocks based on the holden donk little while back..

Wonder if they kept going..capacity was somethng like 250 odd if i remember correctly..

Edited by madtoranajzedded, 10 November 2018 - 09:31 PM.

[Indy Orange]

This has come up for discussion before on the 201 ,I've never seen one but I believe may have been used in cement mixers etc.

Attached Files

•  image.jpeg   92.15K   8 downloads

[jd lj]

My father in law used to work at a concrete plant and has said that the mixers would need their red motors rebuild on a regular basis. I thought that maybe they needed tougher engines with more torque. Imagine seeing a concrete truck with a Holden red with a lumpy cam, some head work and a set of triple carbs hanging off it.

[RallyRed]

This has come up for discussion before on the 201 ,I've never seen one but I believe may have been used in cement mixers etc.

uh oh,........................ a dozen or so rivet counters were just taken to hospital.  They are now in Recovery, following the nasty shock.

[Indy Orange]

My father in law used to work at a concrete plant and has said that the mixers would need their red motors rebuild on a regular basis. I thought that maybe they needed tougher engines with more torque. Imagine seeing a concrete truck with a Holden red with a lumpy cam, some head work and a set of triple carbs hanging off it.

And an XU1 transfer on the side of the front guard.

[purrlx]

Not sure when they were swapped.