Torana V8 Options

[lordaus92]

Hello all Just Commodore Members,

I am writing here today to seek help from within the community.

Recently I came to acquire a SLR 5000 Torana. I am posting here to feed of the knowledge of members and hopefully decide on which engine to put in it.

I will start by saying that my budget is $20000 which must include all running (turn key gear), as well as radiator and piping etc and gearbox. I currently have a 9 inch diff also.

What engine should I put in?

308, 304, Chev, LS1? (With this engine in mind, should I go the stroker option, forced induction way or? )

Thankyou for your help!!!

[walesy]

is it an original slr?? what happenecd to the original running gear? matching numbers and a restoration would be my choice for such a sought after muscle car

[lordaus92]

Only thing that is missing is the original numbered motor.

[walesy]

oh dam that sucks, well id go for an ls engine, doesnt have to be an ls1, ls2s can be picked up as a crate engine for a tad over 5 grand

[lordaus92]

Just reading over the net tonight, I have discovered that a LS1 is out of the question.

Is it possible to stamp my old engine number onto a new engine, in QLD?

[walesy]

umm pretty sure thats illigal lol... whats wrong with puttin an ls engine into it?

[lordaus92]

The fact, that the engine sits really close to the firewall and that the tunnel will need to be modified for a T56 Trans. Also, with the little knowledge and help available, I feel that I may be caught, with excessive costs.

[greenfoam]

It's alot of work to put a LS1 in a Torana, best option is for sure a 355 Holden with a harrop single plane manifold, crane 280 cam or something similar, good heads and good compression. That's a proven around 500 hp combo and that's good enough . Just make sure the heads are done by someone top notch and it'll make big power. The gearbox will want to be a good turbo 350, I don't think a T400 will fit easily into a Torana. Use a good crank too. With up to 20 grand to spend you should come in under budget and have a solid reliable 11 second car

[lordaus92]

The next debate is whether to go a 304 EFI Stroker Option, 308 Carby Stroker or a Chev Stroker.

What are your thoughts for reliability and power?

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Power for Dollar=383 stroker Chev....

I'm a Holden V8 fan, but there is absolutely no denying the power for dollar value of a Small Block Chev.

[lordaus92]

Just out of curiosity, for a occasional drive (2, maybe 3 days a week) and rare, and I mean rare appearance at the drags, what hp should I aim for?

I was thinking in the vicinity of 600hp, with a good amount of torque. Is this possible?

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Personally, I think 500HP is a nice power figure. That sort of power can be had relatively easily from both a Holden V8 with VN heads or a Small Block Chev. IMO, anything above that and it becomes Chev territory. Don't get me wrong, it can be done with a Holden V8, but it is much cheaper & easier with a Chev.

Edit: By the way, i agree with your decision to steer away from an LS engine.

[lordaus92]

Well, if the budget permits more hp and torque, I will vouch for that option. I was thinking about working with a 355 to 500hp then a Chev from their on in, like you mentioned.

I was wondering if any members can reccomend a engine builder with some information on their site. Just wanna study before deciding which avenue.

BTW, thank-you for your input

[greenfoam]

Yep over 500 hp is muuuuuch cheaper and easier with a Chev, if your engineer and local state rego is happy for you to have a Chev in it. Then I'm happy for you to go with the Chev option if not go for 500 hp with the Holden. A 383 Chev can go to 600 hp with good heads but that's alot of power, I don't think you will need that much to get scared in a Torana

[greenfoam]

Well, if the budget permits more hp and torque, I will vouch for that option. I was thinking about working with a 355 to 500hp then a Chev from their on in, like you mentioned.

I was wondering if any members can reccomend a engine builder with some information on their site. Just wanna study before deciding which avenue.

BTW, thank-you for your input

What state are you in?

[lordaus92]

Yes, I see what your getting at and that will certainly be food for thought. I was wondering if any could direct me to QLD Government regulations regarding Chev 383 Conversions. Can't seem to find much.

Greenfoam, If it was you and you had this money, would you go Holden Engine or Chev Engine and Carby or EFI and finally what hp and torque would you settle for.

Thanks

[Blown V6 Hatch]

I agree Foamy, 500HP would push a Torana pretty quickly. At the end of the day, it all really depends on how fast you want to go at the drags, because in reality, you won't be able to use 500HP on the street anyway, let alone 600HP.

Edit: I'd aim for 450-500 HP with a VN headed Holden 355 and EFI.

[lordaus92]

Right, so 500HP sounds great.

But to Go Chev or Holden? Size? Carby or EFI? For QLD REGO

[ryno_vrx]

What engine should I put in?

308, 304, Chev, LS1? (With this engine in mind, should I go the stroker option, forced induction way or? )

Thankyou for your help!!!

or you could be original and become widely adored and/or brutally hated for making an abomination of all that is good in this world and put a 2jz engine in it lol

[greenfoam]

Yes, I see what your getting at and that will certainly be food for thought. I was wondering if any could direct me to QLD Government regulations regarding Chev 383 Conversions. Can't seem to find much.

Greenfoam, If it was you and you had this money, would you go Holden Engine or Chev Engine and Carby or EFI and finally what hp and torque would you settle for.

Thanks

If I had the money and the Chev was going to be ok (I think it will in Queensland) I would build a somewhat mild Chev 383 with around 500 hp if you are going to drive it on the street more than the track you will never get more than that to stick on the road within the legal speed limit anyway. At those power levels you would still have bulk low end torque and it would be a really good street motor

[lordaus92]

Could you please direct me to a Builder or Combo List?

Thank-you so much for the help

Btw, is their much can from Hillborn Injections, or their just show?

[greenfoam]

I don't know about the builders in QLD but you can read this to get an idea of the parts that go into such a combo

Chevy 383 Engine - We Build a Small-Block That Makes 500HP and 500 LB-FT - Hot Rod Magazine

[lordaus92]

Thanks for that article greenfoam. It was quiet a interesting read, and a relative cheap build to. This 383 business is beginning to look cheaper than I expected.

Btw, is their much of a performance gain that can be made from Hillborn Injections, or are they just show?

Thanks,

[ryno_vrx]

where abouts in QLD are you located mate?

[lordaus92]

Cairns, North Queensland.

Can get to Townsville Easily