ringfeder3
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2005
- Messages
- 584
- Reaction score
- 369
- Points
- 63
- Age
- 56
- Location
- Nsw
- Members Ride
- Ssz crewman, wm caprice, 2018 prado, hq Belmont u
Now that I have worked out how to add pictures, I thought I might post a few pics of my old workhorses in the early 90s.
Both the VN and the VPs were V8s and after earlier models, the injected 304s seemed very smooth and refined.
The VPs were the first we had with IRS and I recall when you pulled the transmission into Drive, the rear of the car would drop and it felt like you were about to be propelled like a rocket....
The big fuel tanks were often damaged by rocks on dirt roads, the bullbars were absolutely essential for regular rural night shifts and the big HF aerials did little for fuel economy.
In one photo, where the two VPs are parked together, you can see one has the roofbar sitting further back then the other. The driver made this modification believing that the reduced wind drag gave him an extra 15 km/h...
Another modification I saw was on a VP V8 that had had ongoing cooling problems. Holden engineers organised for a fabricated alloy scoop to be fitted below the grille requiring removal of the centre section of the bumper. The registration plate was repositioned to beneath the right headlight. Apparently it worked but looked very Mad Max.
We all used to removed the duct to the front of the airbox for a better 'note' and make other, er, modifications in the name of street cred.
One VN I knew of had had the entire exhaust replaced with some aftermarket system. It sounded like a Nascar.
We would only keep these cars for 40000 km then they'd go back to auction. The country cars were considered a good buy, often going back on their original Bridgestone Supercats...
I'm still operational many years later ans have plenty more info like this if anyone is interested.
Both the VN and the VPs were V8s and after earlier models, the injected 304s seemed very smooth and refined.
The VPs were the first we had with IRS and I recall when you pulled the transmission into Drive, the rear of the car would drop and it felt like you were about to be propelled like a rocket....
The big fuel tanks were often damaged by rocks on dirt roads, the bullbars were absolutely essential for regular rural night shifts and the big HF aerials did little for fuel economy.
In one photo, where the two VPs are parked together, you can see one has the roofbar sitting further back then the other. The driver made this modification believing that the reduced wind drag gave him an extra 15 km/h...
Another modification I saw was on a VP V8 that had had ongoing cooling problems. Holden engineers organised for a fabricated alloy scoop to be fitted below the grille requiring removal of the centre section of the bumper. The registration plate was repositioned to beneath the right headlight. Apparently it worked but looked very Mad Max.
We all used to removed the duct to the front of the airbox for a better 'note' and make other, er, modifications in the name of street cred.
One VN I knew of had had the entire exhaust replaced with some aftermarket system. It sounded like a Nascar.
We would only keep these cars for 40000 km then they'd go back to auction. The country cars were considered a good buy, often going back on their original Bridgestone Supercats...
I'm still operational many years later ans have plenty more info like this if anyone is interested.