13 replies to this topic

[sr2]

Hi all. Sadly not from a Torana but it’s Holden and in my opinion you guys are, and always have been the go to Holden 6 brains trust. (LOL, yes I know flattery gets you everywhere……..!).

 

Early HD/HR block (massive amount of sentimental value).

https://oldschool.co...”-build-thread/\

 

• 186 block .060” over with 3.25” Blue crank (208 ci).
• 9.5 to 1 (approx.) compression ratio.
• Stage 3 Yella Terra Head
• 5:1 Y/T Roller Rockers with double valve springs.
• Electronic Ignition
• Lightened std. flywheel.
• Mild street cam.
• Extractors into 3 ¼” exhaust.
• Single 32/36 dual choke downdraught Weber Carb (300 cfm) on a  Kel-co Manifold
• Manual transmission.

 

Found a set of Starfire rods from a low mileage Blue 3.3 and had them lightly blasted. While balancing the rods, (i.e. bought the missus a bottle of wine and some flowers and while distracted “borrowed” her new digital kitchen scales!) I noticed theses marks on both sides of one rod. Having many years ago in a previous life worked as a machinist they appear to me as being from a sizing procedure in the initial production, would be interested to know your thoughts?  

 

 

Attached Files

•  R2 (2).jpg   47.44K   5 downloads
•  R2 (1).jpg   48.17K   4 downloads

[warrenm]

The marks look like a "bruise", possibly from pressing the original piston off, I had a similar mark on a conrod for 304 that I was building for a mate. should be ok if you dress it with a file, emery etc. might need checking for straightness. If you are going to use big revs or big boost, might be better to change them out. 

[Shiney005]

I have pulled apart a few "unopened" motors, and have never seen that.

[yel327]

Original motor might have had a blow up. Was fixed and put in another car, normally an internal GMH car. They kept them until warranty was near expired and tendered them out to dealers.

[76lxhatch]

Looks to me like some sort of fixture has caused it. As warrenm says just clean it up a bit with a file.

[UCSLE]

On the right hand pic , whats that line below the marks you are talking about ?

 

Almost looks like a crack . probably me just seeing things

[Muzza]

If this engine is intended to be a high RPM, I wouldn’t run them, I would source another set of XT5 rods and fit ARP bolts to them

stock engine don’t bother 

[sr2]

If this engine is intended to be a high RPM, I wouldn’t run them, I would source another set of XT5 rods and fit ARP bolts to them

stock engine don’t bother 

I thought XT5 rods were for the 308?

The engine I'm building is a mild street motor.

[Muzza]

I thought XT5 rods were for the 308?

The engine I'm building is a mild street motor.

XT5 was the code name given to the blue engine, the rods had 11/32 bolts rather than the standard 5/16

Not sure about the v8, I think the VN rods were stronger than the others 

[sr2]

 IMG_0048.JPG   107K   4 downloadsJust a quick update and a big thanks for all the advice.

I've linished and polished all the rods, (the rod with the marks on it has come up well). I've checked them all for being parallel and have got the total and end weights within 1.5 grams with my homemade balancing setup, (and the Mrs has her scales back in 1 piece!). 

 

XT5 was the code name given to the blue engine, the rods had 11/32 bolts rather than the standard 5/16

Not sure about the v8, I think the VN rods were stronger than the others 

https://www.streetma...or-1980-to-2000

[yel327]

XT5 was the code name given to the blue engine, the rods had 11/32 bolts rather than the standard 5/16

Not sure about the v8, I think the VN rods were stronger than the others 

I don't think that the V8's got stronger rods until sometime in VK (L34 engines aside), maybe a bit earlier. The standard ones use SBC SJ bolts, the stronger ones were SBC LJ bolts. They had an X on them like the L34 engine's rods, just a slightly different font. Then the design changed a bit for the VK GroupA (A9L engine) and stayed that way until the end of the Holden V8 engine during the last year of VS (2000).  

[hanra]

I thought the first few VT SS still had a Holden V8?

Edited by hanra, 08 August 2025 - 06:04 AM.

[Dr Terry]

I thought the first few VT SS still had a Holden V8?

They did. All VT Series 1 V8s were cast iron Holden engines, but the VS in ute form, ran alongside the VTI in production & was sold until the end of 2000, over a year after VTI had finished.

 

There was no VT ute. The first ute with an LS1 V8 was the VU, which was released in late 2000 after the VX release.

 

Dr Terry

[yel327]

I thought the first few VT SS still had a Holden V8?

 

As Dr Terry say. VS were still being sold new into VX, well into 2001 but no V8's left by then, I tried to buy one in December 2000 but had to suffer a V6 as all V8 VS had been sold by the end of October-ish. I bought the second last VS S manual, there was still a black one in WA. There were no manual VS Holden ute left in December though, only auto, and plenty of S auto left too. I remember still seeing VS Holden utes with bench seat and column shift for sale new in dealers around February or March 2001 and around the same time I also saw a Tungsten auto S on "special" at a Holden dealer on the Pacific Highway around Gordon in Northern Sydney, not sure if how much longer or if dealers were forced to later rego any that were left unsold. The Holden V8 production timeline was from HT to VS.

Edited by yel327, 08 August 2025 - 09:07 AM.