VL RB30 to V8 conversion

[DG355]

I thought the 87 Berlins was EFI catalytic converters which means that replacing with carb fed engine will make it illegal for road use.

So if your desire is a modded registered road car, it’s only a matter of time before your stopped, things checked and you’re then pooch screwed by having any carb fed engine installed.

If it’s a paddock basher, you can do anything you want.

So what’s the use case for the car and why not turbo the straight 6 which is the more conventional mod route?

Nothin like a V8-even though the VL turbos were a great vehicle and left the 5 litres of their time in their wake.

 

[Skylarking]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore_(VL)
According to this and yes I read quickly over it, the injection only seemed to be fitted to the walkies....So if this is the case, a carbed V8 can be fitted to the car legally....

Have a read for yourself and make your own decision

The earlier black motor was available in carbi version but later replaced by EFI version though not sure when the change occurred in the VK lineup. With the release of the VL in 86 where the black motor was ditched in favour of the RB30E because of the need for unleaded petrol.

The VL wiki link you provided specifies RB30E was used in the VL within Australia and if you click on the RB30E link within and scroll down you’ll find the following:

• RB30 - 3.0 L (2,962 cc), bore x stroke: 86 mm × 85 mm (3.39 in × 3.35 in)
• "D" indicates a dual overhead cam as opposed to a single overhead cam
• "E" indicates the individual engine ports are electronically fuel-injected 'single-cam'
• "S" indicates the engine is carbureted

Being that VL had the RB30E, it must have been EFI which lines up with my recollection.

There are other VL straight 6 threads within JC and the few I’ve seen all reference EFI &/or cat converters (and I’m not aware of any carbi engine that also had cat converters?).

Oddly, according to the wiki, the VL v8 had a Rochester four-barrel carburettor but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can change a straight six for the ve eight as pollution laws are nuts

@andywebb will be able to clarify what engine is standard in his car as specified by the build plate. He’d also be able to clarify what ADRs the vehicle body must comply to as such is listed on the compliance plate

 

[vc commodore]

The earlier black motor was available in carbi version but later replaced by EFI version though not sure when the change occurred in the VK lineup. With the release of the VL in 86 where the black motor was ditched in favour of the RB30E because of the need for unleaded petrol.

The VL wiki link you provided specifies RB30E was used in the VL within Australia and if you click on the RB30E link within and scroll down you’ll find the following:

• RB30 - 3.0 L (2,962 cc), bore x stroke: 86 mm × 85 mm (3.39 in × 3.35 in)
• "D" indicates a dual overhead cam as opposed to a single overhead cam
• "E" indicates the individual engine ports are electronically fuel-injected 'single-cam'
• "S" indicates the engine is carbureted

Being that VL had the RB30E, it must have been EFI which lines up with my recollection.

There are other VL straight 6 threads within JC and the few I’ve seen all reference EFI &/or cat converters (and I’m not aware of any carbi engine that also had cat converters?).

Oddly, according to the wiki, the VL v8 had a Rochester four-barrel carburettor but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can change a straight six for the ve eight as pollution laws are nuts

@andywebb will be able to clarify what engine is standard in his car as specified by the build plate. He’d also be able to clarify what ADRs the vehicle body must comply to as such is listed on the compliance plate

I only posted the wikipedia link for reference.....In that link it did say the VL V8 did come with a carby....

The VLV8 was also a bit of an after thought.....Originally Holden were ditching the V8 altogether, but the infamous V8 til 98 campaign was launched, so Holden decided to go the V8 route in the VL to satisfy their client base.....I also believe only the walkies in the VL came with injection...

I have also seen a couple of VL carbed V8's.....Was was a group A and the other I did a k-frame swap...Both were black V8's....

And yes the VL 6 was EFI.....Holden couldn't get the black 6 upto emission standards so they jumped into bed with Nissan and fitted their 6 cyl motor

All this is of course speculation....The best approach would be consult with the rego authorities in your state before proceeding...

 

[vc commodore]

Not sure whether to believe it or not, so others can be the judge...Can also help when discussing it with the rego authorities

https://themotorhood.squarespace.co.../aussie-muscle-87-holden-vl-group-a-plus-pack

 

[Skylarking]

The best approach would be consult with the rego authorities in your state before proceeding...

@andywebb is living in Sydney so has to deal with NSW RMS and their mod rules which from what I gather is better than living in Brisbane and dealing with QLD mod rules.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/defaul...-Standards-Information-No-6-November-2013.pdf

 

[Skylarking]

Not sure whether to believe it or not, so others can be the judge...Can also help when discussing it with the rego authorities

https://themotorhood.squarespace.co.../aussie-muscle-87-holden-vl-group-a-plus-pack

I believe it as stuff sold in NZ didn't have the same pollution requirements as our Aussie cars so they could be dirtier thus carburettor fed. That’s why the Nissan straight six variant in NZ was also carbi fed

PS: it’s a nice car by the way

 

[DG355]

I only posted the wikipedia link for reference.....In that link it did say the VL V8 did come with a carby....

The VLV8 was also a bit of an after thought.....Originally Holden were ditching the V8 altogether, but the infamous V8 til 98 campaign was launched, so Holden decided to go the V8 route in the VL to satisfy their client base.....I also believe only the walkies in the VL came with injection...

I have also seen a couple of VL carbed V8's.....Was was a group A and the other I did a k-frame swap...Both were black V8's....

And yes the VL 6 was EFI.....Holden couldn't get the black 6 upto emission standards so they jumped into bed with Nissan and fitted their 6 cyl motor

All this is of course speculation....The best approach would be consult with the rego authorities in your state before proceeding...

Recently gone through engineering a modified VS 5 litre.. E

 

[DG355]

Try gain.
Recently gone through engineering a modified VS.. Alot of the RMS approved engineers seemed either unwilling or not to know what was required. i think I am now heading in the right direction. Will post some detail once I'm over the line.

 

[vc commodore]

I believe it as stuff sold in NZ didn't have the same pollution requirements as our Aussie cars so they could be dirtier thus carburettor fed. That’s why the Nissan straight six variant in NZ was also carbi fed

PS: it’s a nice car by the way

How about this NSW registered one

https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/1986-hdt-vl-ss-grop-a-reader-ride/

 

[Skylarking]

How about this NSW registered one

https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/1986-hdt-vl-ss-grop-a-reader-ride/

A very nice 1986 Group A (I should have bought one back in the day... hindsight… )

Memory is fuzzy as I thought base model V8 went EFI back in 87 so must be wrong…