E C R O F G
ISSUE #28 - SEPT 2020
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SIZE DOES MATTER!
HPANA 10BO0L0 S TOR
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INSIDE:
408ci MOPAR COUPE - PRO-STREET HG UTE - INJECTED HOT ROD PICKUP - LOOK BACK AT SPRINGNATS 2003 - AND MORE!
From the Desk
WITH ALL THE DOOM AND GLOOM IN THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT, IT THINK ITS ABOUT TIME WE ALL PITCHED IN AND MADE A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE DOING IT TOUGH! 2020 has been a bugger of a year. It’s affected so many people in so many different ways that I doubt we will ever be able to look back and have a laugh about just how hard it was to get through to 2021. It’s certainly a year that will be spoken about for generations to come – and for all the wrong reasons. It’s hit the car scene hard too with just about every event around the globe cancelled or postponed, leaving modified car owners nowhere to show off their pride and joy. And with that comes the charities that rely on fundraising by car clubs who hold show and shines simply to make a donation to a non-Government funded support group. But what can we do? Well, sadly not a lot this year. But I do have a plan for 2021. My proposal is simple. Let’s all get together on one day, Sunday 12th September and hold a National Cruise Day! This is a chance for car clubs to give back to their communities by hosting a cruise in their area to support a local charity. It couldn’t be easier. You find a meeting place, collect a donation (no set amount) from car owners as they arrive, head out for a cruise to a designated spot and then from the money collected, make that the donation to the charity of your choice! It will be the feel good event of 2021 for modified car owners. At Killer Rides, we’ll be hosting the National event and will be running an Ad in each issue leading up to the date showing where each cruise will be held, by which club or group, contact details and which Charity they will be supporting, to ensure everyone knows where they can join in. Then, in the issue following the Cruise. We’ll run a huge feature showing pics from each cruise and how much was raised by individually and a National total. So who’s in? This will be open to not only modified car owners and clubs, but all Car Enthusiasts around the country. Let’s make this happen people! Watch out for the list to start growing next Issue… Until then,
Paul
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ISSUE NO.28 Sept 2020
CONTENTS REGULARS
03 EDITORIAL From the Desk 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest
26 Whipple Blown 427ci Windsor-powered Capri
18 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think
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COMING ATTRACTION HSV-inspired LH Torana
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THE SHOW MUST GO ON 51st NSRA Street Rod Nationals
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Paige with Jim Peters SS Chevelle
60 COFFEE AND CARS Car meets from around Australia and beyond 92 BLAST FROM THE PAST Nat’s Entertianment - the 2003 Springnats 110 KILLER PIC Easty Entertaining the Crowds
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38 51st NSRA Street Rod Nats - USA
82 355ci, 512hp HG Hauler
50 Turbo LS-powered LX Torana
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72 10-sec Genuine Street Chrysler Coupe
100 Injected 434ci Ford Pickup
112 PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Quick Find Ad’s 114 KILLER KLASSIFIEDS Buy, sell, swap. 120 PARTING SHOT Smokin’ Slammers!
FEATURES 26
HOUSE OF WINDSOR It’s third time lucky for this Pro-Street Capri
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STEALTH MODE 1000hp Turbo-LS Torana Streeter
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WHITE NOISE 408ci Chrysler by Chrysler Coupe
Blast from the Past - 2003 Springnats
82 RAPID TRANSPORT Part street. Part strip. 100% tough 100 PICK UP ARTIST Show stunner ‘32 Ford Pickup
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VALUED CONTRIBUTORS
Lauren Jade @ Xposed Photography Tim McCormack @ Sweet Aussie Rides Chad Silvey @ Pics by Chaddo Leisa Bonnici @ Fordgal Images Blake Williamson @ Insane Grunt Photography Stephen Taylor @ The Motorsports Project John Antoniw @ 9000rpm Photography Jimmy Tee Photography Greg ‘Beach’ Ball - Joe Crispin - Jason Lowe Luke Hunter @ Hunter Media Charlie Sant @ Pro Flo Performance Gary Rosier - www.carsplaneslandscapes.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING RHD C8 CORVETTE CONFIRMED FOR AUSTRALIA 2021
To be sold under the GM Special Vehicles banner at selected dealerships around the country in 2021, the powers that be at GM in the USA have announced the C8 Corvette will be built right hand drive inhouse to be shipped to Australia, New Zealand and other RHD markets early in 2021. At the time of finishing this issue off, there have been no indications of pricing, but all rumours appear to have a starting price of around $130,000. Bring it on…
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KILLER RIDES CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD
I wanted to introduce the Killer Ride of the Year award this year, but then thought that it wasn’t fair on those featured in 2018 and 2019, so here’s the deal. Every car featured within Killer Rides will be in the running to take out the annual award and the winner is 100% chosen by you, the reader. To vote, go to the website and check out the cars on offer, then simply SMS the Issue No. and the car you think should win to 0432 79355. For example, Issue 2 – LX Torana. You can also email your vote to paul@killerrides. com.au or send it via messenger via the FB page. There’s three awards being awarded in the Jan 2021 Issue; 2018 KILLER RIDE OF THE YEAR – (ISSUES 1-7) 2019 KILLER RIDE OF THE YEAR – (ISSUES 8-19) 2020 KILLER RIDE OF THE YEAR – (ISSUES 20-31)
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So get voting! You have until December 31st 2020 to make your decision, with the winners to be announced in Issue #32 – Jan 2021.
LOVELLS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Widely regarded as the suspension of choice, Lovells Automotive have been manufacturing coils and leaf springs since the need for replacement springs began, and now thanks to their new and improved website, you can find suspension components for your requirements with ease. And if you’re tow vehicle doesn’t meet the legal requirements, they may be able to fit you up with a GVM Upgrade so you can tow your race car or show car without fear of being booked for overloading. Check out what’s on offer at www.lovellsauto.com.au
NEW DATE FOR MOTOREX
With Melbourne suffering in stage 4 lockdowns, it was widely touted that MotorEx, set for Melbourne Showgrounds on the last weekend of November, would be postponed. That happened on Thursday August 13th with the announcement that MotorEx will now be held over the weekend of Feb 6th & 7th. Here’s hoping anyway. www.motorex.com.au
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEW DATE FOR GRUDGE KINGS
It seems to be a common occurrence lately, and we are at the point where you kind of expect it to happen. Yet another event has had a date change, but this time it’s not just due to Covid-19. The torrential rain Sydney has received mid-August has delayed the pouring of the new concrete track. Not wanting to take the chance of the track not being ready, the decision was made early to postpone the event. The Grudge Kings event will now be held on October 24th. www.grudgekings.net
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KILLER
Video
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GOODGUYS NASHVILLE AUTOCROSS ACTION!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
RAM LAUNCHES HELLCAT-POWERED 1500 REBEL TRX
Dodge has launched the wildest Ram yet, proving that those running the company are revheads at heart. Dubbed the Ram 1500 Rebel TRX, the new super Ute will be powered by the same supercharged Hemi used in the Hellcat Challenger and Trackhawk Jeep. With plenty of power on tap, the new Ram will tackle the Ford F150 Raptor head-on – but with more power, more attitude and for Mopar fans, more style. Dodge offer the Hemi in three levels of power, 522kW, 534kW and 594kW but at the time of going live with this issue, it was unclear which version would be used in the Rebel. Really, any of the three would certainly make the Ram the most-powerful dual-cab Ute in the Universe! Production is slated to begin later this year, but as yet, there’s no news on whether they will be heading our way. The Ram brand is distributed in Australia through ATECO and rumours are circulating that they have made it known that Aussie’s love tough trucks and would line up for the blown super Ram. Watch this space…
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WHAT’S HAPPENING ZAP TO RACE RADIAL HQ MONARO
Rumour has it that John Zappia has purchased a HQ Monaro to race in the ever-growing Drag Radial category. When ready, he is apparently keen to take on all comers at Grudge Kings and also Kenda 660 events. Will this be the first of many other Pro Slammer drivers to make the switch? Stay tuned for more info…
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16 NHRA INTRODUCE NEW POLITICAL ADVERTISING GUIDELINE After Bo Butner added the “Trump Pence 2020” signage to the side of his Pro Mod, the NHRA sparked controversy by introducing a new rule, limiting the size and placement of political based advertising – and only allowing those that are legitimate sponsor partnerships. Under the “Bo Butner Rule”, the NHRA have advised that placement on sedan bodied cars will be limited to quarter panels and can be no larger than 144 square inches and the NHRA logo can’t be associated with the signage in any shape or form. Will ANDRA and IHRA follow suit?
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HAVE YOUR SAY
2020 A YEAR TO FORGET
Hi Paul, Got something to say? Send it to paul@killerrides.com.au I am sure you will agree, 2020 has been a very crappy year. Car shows are being cancelled every day and we can’t even go for a or message us from the Killer Rides Facebook page. cruise with mates in fear of being fined for not social distancing. The sooner we can get past this damn virus situation the better. Being in Lockdown has given me a reason to fix a couple of nagging oil leaks and do some other touch up’s though, so I guess it’s OVER THE TOP CHALLENGER not all doom and gloom. Here’s hoping we can get back to our usual good times with cars sooner rather than later. Great job on Hi Paul, I’ve been loving every Issue of Killer Rides and always the mag by the way – love every issue. look forward to the next one, but I have to say, that Tyler J Via Email blown Challenger you featured in Issue #27 is just a little too far over the top for my liking. Why is it G’day Paul, that American’s think bigger is always better? If that Man, what a year this one has been. If you believe everything the mainstream media shove down our throats you’d be forgiven engine lost some of the height, that Dodge would be for thinking the world is coming to an end – and that’s the main reason I no longer watch the news or listen to commercial radio. I can’t wait for the world to get their act together. I am sick of not going to car shows and getting my horsepower fix every weekend. soooo much more tougher! Thankfully, I have Killer Rides to log onto anytime to help out. Hopefully 2021 is much better. Thanks for giving us car guys and girls Jay W Via Messenger something to look forward to every month! Sam W via Messenger. Hi Jay, Mate, everyone is entitled to an opinion. In the US, this set up seems to be all the rage at the moment Guys, what can I say. I’m feeling your pain… It’s so weird not getting up early to attend to shows on Saturday and Sunday with the Pro-Street scene. It’s horses for course I mornings. Seeing events cancelled daily is so damn depressing. It’s nice to sleep in, but damn, I’d rather be up to my neck in guess. We’ve had guys in Australia try to outdo each custom cars every weekend I can tell you. Bring on those good times again… other in the engine height deal too. That’s the great thing about our scene – everyone’s preference is MORE PRO-TOURING PLEASE 19 18 different! G’day Paul,
GUP FOR PM!
Hi Paul, This country needs people like Gup in Parliament. When the world is saying it can’t be done, he obviously digs his heals in and makes it happen. Just like he has with the Powercruise in Qld recently – as featured in the last issue of Killer Rides. It’s like he thrives on the challenge of proving people wrong. Good on you Gup. If you ever decide to get into Politics, you know the car fraternity in Australia will be out in force voting for you. Bring on the next Powercruise event. Simon C. G’day Simon, You’re right, I think Gup is one of those guys that just can’t take no for an answer. Can you imagine the feathers he’d ruffle in Parliament House? Now that would be entertaining. I can see a reality TV show in that venture for sure…
Whilst I really like the whole Pro-Street theme, I have grown to enjoy the latest Pro-Touring trend even more. Having the ability to build a tough car that you can drive anywhere is so much more appealing to me these days. Don’t get me wrong, a tough ProStreeter still gets my pulse racing, but I would love to see more Pro-Tourer’s featured in Killer Rides. Great mag, by the way! Gordon T Via Messenger Hi Gordon, I’m with you mate. I do love a Pro-Street car, but there is something appealing about jumping in a Pro-Touring styled car and cruising anywhere, at any time. I do have some tough Pro-Tourer’s coming. Stay tuned…
COMING ATTRACTIONS
HI-TECH
Torana 20
L A N O I T C N U F E T E L COMP . L C N I R O I R E T N I VE E3 GTS C T E S T A E S , H S A D
WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - JUSTIN STARK - ULTIMATE CONVERSION WIRING
Justin Stark spends his day completing wiring looms for those car crafters wanting to add latemodel technology to their cars. So it makes complete sense that his own project, this LH Torana, heads down the same road.
R O T A L U M U C C A L I O MOROSO UNDER GUARD
When GM released the LSA-engine as a complete, ready-to-run crate option, little did they know that the factory supercharged, 430kW engine would find its way into all kinds of cool early street cars. The power, reliability and more than reasonable price makes this engine the perfect power-plant for any car – not just GM-related. Justin saw the LSA as the ideal way to fill the Torana’s engine bay, backing it with a Magnum T56 manual box from Mal Wood. The engine hasn’t been left stock though, with Sam’s Performance installing a cam and top pulley to extract a few more ponies from the pumped LSbased engine. To ensure there’s no embarrassing moment when Justin gets 21 a little too lively on the loud pedal, the factory fitted Banjo diff has been ripped from its mounts and replaced with a Tru-Trak 9-inch version built by Street Cred Diffs using 3.5-gears and 35-spline axles. The diff is located with adjustable upper and lower arms and suspended on a pair of coil-overs.
SAM'S PERFORMANCE ENHANCED LSA ENGINE T56 MAGNUM GEARBOX
The underside work continued with the front end scoring 355mm discs and 4-spot Wilwood calipers. The factory control arms are now just a memory, with new items from McDonald Bros Racing taking up position on the original Torana front end. Justin has also added an electric power steering set-up from a Holden Astra. At the other end, there’s 320mm discs and matching 4-spot calipers. Chassis strengthening has been added the transmission tunnel modified for clearance around the larger T56 box. A Moroso oil accumulator is located under the passenger front guard.
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From the rear, the familiar alloy drop tank is in place, but will be set up to hold the factory VF GTS fuel pump, with upgraded pumps to be included. Chris Turner fabricated and welded up the fuel tank as well as the custom headers. Andrew Mobile Motorsport have taken care of the fuel, brake and oil lines – each mounted out of the way where possible.
Justin’s Torana will be fitted with a full VE E3 GTS interior including the seats, dash and door trim accents.
Inside, the once bland Torana trim is nowhere to be seen. Justin’s Torana will be fitted with a full VE E3 GTS interior including the seats, dash and door trim accents. Thanks to the work carried out by Justin’s Dad, everything associated with the interior will be fully functioning including the air-conditioning, 8-way memory seats, central locking etc.
INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION Ford F100 48-52 & 53-56 & 73-79 Chevrolet C10 63-72 & 73-87 LH/LX/UC Torana and more to come !
PROJECT VEHICLE’S STREET MACHINE’S MUSCLE CAR’S HOT ROD’S 24
CUSTOM CAR BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ENGINE BUILDERS FOR 40+ YEARS Chev - Holden - Ford - Mopar Specialising in Turn Key Packages
AUTO TRANSMISSIONS & CONVERTORS Justin’s Pro-Touring inspired is still a way off yet, with his increased workload at Ultimate Conversion Wiring, dictating how much time has gets to spend on the Torana’s build, but rest assured, when it’s completed, it will be a complete standout!
Custom Built to suit all Horsepower.
9” DIFFERENTIAL CONVERSIONS Call Us Today
f O e r o s s d u n o i H W
Frank Zammit - Pro-Street Capri Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck
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k in 1992 c a b y a w d e s a h rc Originally pu k Zammit n ra F r, e g n a -b 4 n as a run dow rebuilds, o tw h g u ro th ri p put this Ca end and p e e d e th in g in before jump one of the to in ri p a C e th g transformin e planet! th n o ’s ri p a C r le il k most
The first time around, the Capri scored a 302cube Windsor swap, Brock-blue paint and rolled on a set of B45 Simmons. With its DIRTY8 rego plates attached, the Capri ran in the 13-sec zone over the quarter. The hunger for more power and lower ET’s saw Frank strip the Capri down to its bare bones for rebuild number two and when it emerged, the Windsor was swapped out for a Clevo stroker from Westend Performance, minitubs and ladder bars. The blue paint was rubbed down and recoated in Purple with red pearl. Off the trailer, the Capri went 9.8-seconds over the Eastern Creek main straight strip – a lifetime
from its previous track outings. Eventually, the Capri was to run a best of 9.0 at 148mph from the 530hp coming out at the rear tyres. The Capri stayed that was for some 24-years – the last 10 of those it has sat idle in the garage whilst Frank concentrated on work, family and another bigtime build. But with the new car taking longer than expected to be completed, Frank rolled the Capri from its resting place and sent the roller to Paul Sant at Pro Flo Performance to have plenty of upgrades made in preparation for a new engine combo that was being built at Westend Performance by Sam Fenech.
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Whilst it may be a small block in physical size, its cubic capacity says otherwise.
Obviously, there’s been lots of advancement in chassis development since the Capri last saw any work, so Paul made the decision to remove all of the old work and replace it with what they do best. Everything underneath from the firewall back has been replaced including the addition of sheet metal floors, a complete four-link set-up with Strange coil over shocks, a Pro-Flo custom sheet metal diff housing with 35-spline axles and 3.25-gears in the TruTrac Strange Pro-nodular centre.
The front end is now equipped with custom struts, and a quartet of 12-inch Wilwood discs and four-piston calipers provide ample stopping power. Weld Racing rims now occupy each corner – the big rears featuring bead locks. Paul and his team also fabricated a six-point moly roll cage to help the Capri from twisting itself inside out, made up the front and rear engine plates and fabricated a custom fuel cell that has dual Aeromotive Stealth pumps fitted internally.
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harger, rc e p u s R 10 5 le p ip h W a r Sam opted fo ke ta in m to s u c a ia v r o s d in mounted to the W . e k ta in m a R iH y e ll o H a s a manifold that started
While the Capri was the focus of the Pro-Flo team, Sam was busy building the new engine combo. Frank scrapped any plans of keeping an aspirated Clevo up front, opting to head back to where things began with a narrower Windsor small block. Frank gave Sam a free reign on the engine build. All Frank told Sam was that he “wanted a blown small block Ford!” Whilst it may be a small block in physical size, its cubic capacity says otherwise. Sam prepared the Dart block before adding a Callies crank and rod combo that saw the capacity max out at 427 cubic inches! The block also houses JE pistons and a mechanical roller cam that is mild enough to make cruising a breeze, but wild enough that when Frank feels he needs to stretch the pumped small blocks legs, it comes into its own producing the goods right through the rev range. The cylinder heads are AFR 225cc units to which Sam added T&D rockers and better valve springs. The signature series rocker covers complete the tough long engine.
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At this point, the engine build took a different turn. Sure, there’s plenty of blown Windsor’s out there that perform effortlessly and certainly look the goods with a traditional Roots-style supercharger providing the fun factor. Instead, Sam opted for a Whipple 510R supercharger, mounted to the Windsor via a custom intake manifold that started as a Holley Hi-Ram intake. A JoeBlo EFI Hat tops the engine combo and with no less than 16, 80lb injectors feeding the fire, the engine produces 1170hp at the crank – that’s almost 1000hp at the long-suffering rear tyres. Sam rates the Whipple blower highly, recommending them for people wanting to make 1000hp in a street driven car. You don’t have to push them as hard and although they a similar in size to an 8/71, they work like a 14/71! Makes sense, huh? Al’s Raceglides pieced together a tough Turbo 400 to mate to the Ford engine and fronted it with a TCE converter with a stall speed of 4500rpm.
Frank obviously liked the Capri in purple, so after the fab work was completed, he shipped the Capri off to Vella Smash Repairs where Nathan Vella not only ironed out all of the bumps and bruises in the Capri’s body, engine bay and underside, he also added the Phantom Purple from the PPG range and then added the black outs. The body is almost stock, the reverse cowl and lack of badges and mouldings deviating from Ford’s plan.
Frank scrapped any plans of keeping an aspirated Clevo up front, opting to head back to where things began with a narrower Windsor small block. 34
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Inside, the relatively small confines of the Capri’s interior space have been treated to an impressive makeover. Recaro seats are the main focus point of the interior and have been retrimmed in dark grey leather, as has the rear seat, door trims and dash top. The factory gauges have been ripped from their facia – the whole lot now in the bin. Frank formed the carbon fibre facia and installed no less than seven, carbon fibre faced AutoMeter dials that not only look great, but offer a more accurate assessment of what’s happening in and around that mountain motor! A slick Billet Specialties steering wheel keeps the cool factor happening when the driver’s door is swung open.
They say that “third times a charm” and for Frank, that is certainly true. The Capri has never looked so good and has obviously gained much more power than it ever had before. But for now, Frank wants to enjoy cruising the small Ford whenever he gets the chance. Sure, he is taking a chance hitting the street with that much engine hardware on display, but so far, so good. Eventually, he will take the Capri back to the track to see what numbers it runs, but at the moment, it’s not a priority.
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Remember how I mentioned earlier that there’s another car in the build? Before dragging the Capri out of hibernation, Frank had the guys at Pro Flo on the job with a wild XW Falcon Ute. This Ute will be killer with a twin-turbo Windsor, big wheel and tyre combo and the usual standard of Pro-Flo fabrication that we’ve come to expect. It’s currently in the paint stage. Stay tuned…
THANKS TO: Pro Flo Performance. Westend Performance. Vella Smash Repairs.
Jake Myers - Burnout Champion!
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51st NSRA Street Rod Nationals AUGUST 6-9, 2020 - KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTRE, LOUISVILLE Pics - Gary Rosier / www.carsplaneslandscapes.com Words - Paul Beck
THE SHOW
This was to be the 26th time the NSRA Street Rod Nationals were to be held in Louisville at the spectacular Kentucky Exposition Centre. Leading up to the event, it was expected there would be around 12,000 street rods, muscle cars, customs and street machines attending the event, but with restrictions in place, that number wasn’t achieved, though it did attract 7402 entrants – each heading into the venue for four days of fun with cars.
MUST GO ON!
With many events across the world cancelled or postponed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the NSRA was determined to host their 51st Nationals in Louisville. 38
There's no denying the state of the world at the moment played havoc with the amount of people attending the 51st Nationals
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Usually attracting more than 75,000 spectators through the expansive grounds, there’s no denying the state of the world at the moment played havoc with the amount of people attending the 51st Nationals with around half of those not making the event this year. Still, with so many events not happening at all, those numbers can’t be considered poor and half is certainly better than not having any at all.
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Still, with so many events not happening at all, those numbers can't be considered poor and half is certainly better than not having any at all.
Aside from the many thousands of custom cars scattered throughout the venue, both inside and outside, the Street Rod Nationals also hosted many vendors as well as a large swap meet giving those currently building their projects the opportunity to find that elusive part or maybe even a new project to take on. The many vendors on hand for this years event were offering all kinds of gear from hot rod bodies to wheels, engine parts and memorabilia. Plenty of money was spent through the array of trade stands on offer – a great sign of support for those companies still wanting to be part of the Street Rod Nationals.
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Hot Rodding is a family deal and the NSRA went to great lengths to make sure the young kids that came to the event with their parents had plenty to keep them occupied too.
To help make this event a reality, the NSRA committee had to abide by some strict social distancing regulations, including some buffer zones, with cleaning crews spending plenty 44 of time making sure the internal areas of the Exposition Centre is spotlessly clean and safe for all concerned. The Association also provided plenty of social distancing signs and hand-sanitising stations around the venues for entrants and spectators alike. It’s the extra effort like this that was needed to get this event back on track.
To compliment the huge amount of cars on display outside, the Builders Showcase was held inside the South Wing Lobby and it was here that you would find those high-end show car builds on display in all their glory, with Roger Burman awarded the Elite Builder of the Year.
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To compliment the huge amount of cars on display outside, the Builders Showcase was held inside the South Wing Lobby and it was here that you would find those high-end show car builds on display in all their glory, with Roger Burman awarded the Elite Builder of the Year. The Nationals isn’t just about cars though. Hot Rodding is a family deal and the NSRA went to great lengths to make sure the young kids that came to the event with their parents had plenty to keep them occupied too with games and live music on offer each day of the event. Saturday afternoon saw the drawing of the Giveaway Car – a 1932 Hi-Boy Roadster built by Show Me Rod & Custom. This years prize went to Louisville locals, Phillip and Wanda Hill.
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At the close of the event on Sunday afternoon, the 51st NSRA Nationals had been run and won under very trying conditions. 47
At the close of the event on Sunday afternoon, the 51st NSRA Nationals had been run and won under very trying conditions. The event may not have broken any entrant or spectator records, but at least it was on as scheduled when so many others have been cancelled. A big congratulations to all concerned at the NSRA for taking the necessary steps to provide an event for all car enthusiasts to enjoy. Hopefully 2021 will be virus free and the numbers will once again go through the roof… For more information on the 2021 NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, go to www.nsra-usa.com
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Photo: Jimmy Tee Photography Instagram: @jimmyteephotography
Model: Paige Instagram: @lucky_number_slevinn Car: 1969 SS Chevelle Owner: Jim Peters Instagram: @jimpeters3709
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H T L A E ST
Anthony Pasoski_LX Torana Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck
MODE
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i’s Torana sk so a P y n o th n A t a If you think th you’d be , d il u b d e ir sp n -i X 9 A is just another hat you w ’s it t u B ! g n ro w ry e wrong. Very, v be wary of… to d e e n u o y t a th e se can’t
Anthony had dreamed of owning this Torana for many years. Owned by an Uncle, Anthony swapped what would be considered a small amount of cash for the keys and signed rego papers. Proof that dreams do become a reality! Whilst he was happy to cruise the Torana in the same guise as his Uncle had kept the car, Anthony was plotting a plan of attack to build one of the toughest Torana’s on the street – even though at first impressions, it looks like an A9X with big Simmons. From the outside, there’s no clue as to the Torana’s performance potential, and that’s exactly what Anthony eventually decided to achieve. I say eventually because there was a time when there was to be a great big blower and carbs hanging through that bonnet. But the fear of not being able to drive the Torana anywhere at any time without a good chance of scoring a defect notice to the windscreen saw Anthony change tack, resulting in the blown street car idea being scrapped.
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A 500hp 308, 4-speed A9X Torana sedan may have been good enough for Brock to blitz the Mountain in 1976, but for Anthony Pasoski, that just wouldn’t cut it.
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A 500hp 308, 4-speed A9X Torana sedan may have been good enough for Brock to blitz the Mountain in 1976, but for Anthony Pasoski, that just wouldn’t cut it. All these years later, if you’re not packing at least 1000hp, you’re just not trying hard enough! There’s no denying the LS-engine has revolutionised highhorsepower engine packages in custom car builds – whether that be for the street or strip. Anthony’s no fool. He knows that the late-model engine package is more than capable of providing enough grunt to keep him smiling. The engine of choice now is an LS3 that was taken to CV Performance with the instructions to build a tough, single turbo, street engine. Anthony wanted lots of power, pump fuel E85 diet (with some use of E98 enthanol), and hassle-free driving. That might sound like Anthony is asking a lot, but for CV Performance, it’s very easily achievable. The factory Ly6 iron block was prepped to accept a K1 stroker crank, Callies rods and Callies Bullet pistons that formed the basis for the
tough, 408ci bottom end that was built to handle boost and plenty of it. A pair of Higgins CNC-modified heads soon found their way down onto the block as did the high-quality billet Plazmaman intake manifold that holds a 100mm throttle body from the same company. As nice as the top end of the engine is, it’s the 86mm turbo charger that is the absolute hero of this engine package – and the reason it made 1001hp on the dyno. There’s plenty more left in it, but at the moment Anthony is playing it safe. The EFI gets its instructions from a Haltech Elite 2500 ECU, with 2400cc injectors pushing plenty of 98-octane fuel in through the engine from the three stage Walbro 460 pump with a Carter black Pre-pump. A full-custom fabricated stainless exhaust – from the headers to the tailpipes, dumps the gases with ease. The pipework is some of the best we’ve seen and is credited to Steve at Boosted Fabrications. Keeping the boosted small block cool is a radiator built by Rick at South Coast Radiators.
Still to come is the SL/R5000 lettering to the boot spoiler in silver to mimic an A9X-spec Torana.
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When you’re packing 1000-plus ponies with the capabilities of punching out many more, you’d better make sure that the second and third members of the driveline trio were up to the task of getting that power through to the rear tyres that scream for mercy louder the more Anthony tries to pump through them. Anthony just grins when he leans on the 408-cuber a little harder, because he knows that the Turbo 400 auto mated to the engine has been built by Al’s Race Glides with only the best internals to handle anything up to 2000hp. A 3200rpm converter fronts the box, with gear selections grabbed using a Pro-Ratchet shifter that’s been recessed into the centre console. A narrowed, TruTrak 9-inch diff completes the driveline and is super tough thanks to the Dutchman axles and Strange centre section.
Not that you can tell, but there’s been some major upgrades made to the Torana’s underpinnings. Starting with a swap to a Castlemaine Rod Shop front end with gave the Torana more positive steering and better suspension and braking over the factory Torana set up. The CRS front bought with it Viking coil-over shocks, 2-piece 355mm Wilwood discs and 6-piston calipers with the same brand attached. The same sized discs were added to the 9-inch, but have 4-piston Wilwood calipers. Providing the necessary stopping power are two VH40 boosters remotely mounted into the Torana’s boot area, right next to the fuel system and battery. Once polished, the FR19 Simmons have now been painted black and fill the pumped guards to perfection.
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The body was in great shape when Anthony became the new owner. There was minimal rust to repair and just the usual scrapes, bumps and defects gained over a number of years of daily commuting. Anthony took to the sheet metal himself preparing the panels for a silky-smooth coat of Ultra Blue with the usual SL/R blackouts. Still to come is the SL/R5000 lettering to the boot spoiler in silver to mimic an A9X-spec Torana. Unlike the exterior, the Torana’s insides are far from how the Holden engineers originally intended. The lifeless standard issue seats are long gone, replaced by Recaro seats in the front and reshaped rear bench to match – the lot covered in Nappa leather, as have the new style door trims. The headlining has been stitched up in suede. Top End Interiors handed the retrim. The dash has seen the standard gauges given the flick to make room for the stylish and practical Haltech dash. There’s no stereo to mention, with Anthony opting to listen to that turbo sing instead…
Like any build of this size, Anthony has had to deal with his fair share of problems during the five-years the Torana took to get to this stage. None however, caused too much concern and were usually fixed with time, money or both! But now the Torana is on the road, Anthony has forgotten about the niggles associated with building a high-powered car. For now, it’s all about getting the Torana out of the garage and onto the road as often as time allows. I wonder what Anthony’s uncle thinks of his humble Torana now?
THANKS TO:
My wife for her patience while it was being built and for handling the pressure and drama’s that come with it. Steve at Boosted Fabrications for the killer Fab work and attention to detail. John, Con and Vic at CV Performance for the engine build and dyno time. Al’s Race Glides. George and Ahmad for the brilliant paint correction, ceramic coating and detailing. Peter at PS Mechanical for the hours he put into the car. Top End Interiors. Steve at Panelworx for the guidance and help. Sam at Hurstville Towing. Everyone that helped me achieve my goal of building my dream car. 59
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The body was in great shape when Anthony became the new owner. There was minimal rust to repair and just the usual scrapes, bumps and defects gained over a number of years of daily commuting.
OUT AND ABOUT
COFFEE AND CARS MEETS - NSW, WA, QLD AND DAYTONA USA Words - Paul Beck
E FFECars COAnd
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It seems there’s a new favourite past time for Aussie car enthusiasts. Meeting up early on a Sunday morning for a coffee with a few hundred mates!
I remember a time when you’d spend all day Saturday preparing your car for a show and shine the next day. You’d get up before the sun, load the family, some chairs and some snacks and wake the neighbours in the street as you tried your best not to rev your engine too loudly as you made your way to the local football field to have the car on display all day, hoping to win a trophy for your efforts. They were great times. These
days, there’s a new phenomenon hitting the car scene. It can be summed up in three simple words – Cars and Coffee. More often than not, it’s the car owner on their own, or maybe with a mate riding shot gun, hoping not to wake their family as they idle out of the driveway to the local meet where hundreds of guys and girls gather to enjoy each other’s cars whilst throwing down a coffee or two in the process.
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These meets are happening all over the country and aren’t just limited to modified cars. We are seeing more and more restored classics, exotic euro’s and even some vintage rides making their way out on a brisk, sunny Sunday morning. I’ve noticed for a while now, that car owners don’t hang around car shows for too long any more. Usually by lunchtime they have had enough, and that’s the great thing about these meets. There’s no commitment to have to stay all day. When you’ve had a week’s worth of coffee in one morning, or you’ve got other things to do, you simply leave. It does make it an appealing venture for sure.
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When you’ve had a week’s worth of coffee in one morning, or you’ve got other things to do, you simply leave. It does make it an appealing venture for sure.
We’ve managed to get together some pics of Coffee and Cars Meets from NSW, QLD, WA and even Daytona from the USA this issue. If you get to a meet and manage to snap off some cool pics, let me know, they could end up right here in Killer Rides…
NSW
The Greenway Shopping Centre in Wetherill Park is a familiar haunt for car enthusiasts, hosting many Saturday night meets during the year – well, not so much in 2020 for obvious reasons. So when the crew from the Cars under the Stars events decided to hold a Coffee and Cars meet, it was no surprise to see it well represented. For further meets later in the year, check out the Cars Under the Stars facebook page.
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Pics supplied by Bero Photography
QLD Like WA, the Queensland modified car scene is huge. With a very active Drag Strip and being the spiritual home of Powercruise, it’s no wonder the state is a hive of activity whenever there’s a car meet of any kind held. On August 23rd, the focus was on Joe’s Diner where hundreds of car owners filled the huge car park to capacity to take in the glorious sunny Queensland weather and also the coffee and food on offer at Joe’s Diner.
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Pics supplied by WOLF RACING
WA
Perth Motorplex is home to many varied car events including Perth’s original and Largest All-In Car Enthusiast Meet. Open to all makes and models, the Custom Cars and Coffee meet attracts plenty of cars and spectators and runs from 9am to 11.30am monthly. West Australia has a huge car culture and thanks to meets like this, it will continue to flourish. To find out when the next meet is on, jump onto their FB page or head to www.customcarsandcoffee.com.au
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Pics supplied by: Andrew Cummins
USA
Pics supplied by GARY ROSIER www.carsplaneslandscapes.com
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Daytona Beach on Saturday Aug 29th. Lots of classic muscle cars, late model muscle and plenty of specialty cars took up position for all to enjoy.
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WHITE NOISE With 408-cubes of Mopar muscle up front, and 10-sec quarter’s to its name, Tom Banks’ tough street Chrysler Hardtop is ready for action. 72
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Not surprisingly, Tom has kept the Chrysler body almost 100% true to the factory’s intentions.
As a 16-year old, Tom Banks was the proud owner of his very first car – a four door, Chrysler by Chrysler with a factory-fitted 360-cube small block up front. That car served duty for some three years before Tom parted company with it. Fast forward a bunch of years, and with the family growing older and funds becoming more readily available, Tom knew the time had come to go looking for another Chrysler by Chrysler – this time though, it had to be a Hardtop. The search for a suitable car led Tom to Melbourne, where he found the perfect car on offer, where the owner
had decided to move on from it after spending 12-years working on it. The car had been stripped to a bare shell, with everything either being replaced or rebuilt, except for the body, paint and interior – all of which still presented well. With the deal secured, Tom headed back to Sydney with his new Chrysler in tow. Once back in the home garage, Tom set about putting a plan in place to build this Chrysler coupe into the car he had always wanted. The plan was simple. Make it quick, make it tough and make it able to be driven anywhere at any time. Tick, tick, and tick…
Tom Banks - 1972 CH Chrysler Hardtop Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck
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A tough car build is all centred around an aggressive heartbeat and in this case, that comes in the form of a stroked 360ci small block that now has a capacity of 408-cubes thanks to the forged Scat 4-inch crank and Eagle H-Beam rods combo that swings a set of forged Diamond pistons to give a compression ratio of 11.6:1, requiring a strict diet of98-octane fuel pumping through the big braided fuel lines. The cam of choice comes from the Crane catalogue and is a solid, flat-tappet version that works in with Schubeck ceramic solid lifters. Forcing that highoctane fuel into the engine is a single APD billet 750cfm carb mounted to an LA-style, Edelbrock Super Victor intake that has been modified to suit the Mopar W5 heads that complete the long engine. The heads have been fitted with Pac valve springs wrapping around larger Manley stainless steel valves. Firing the engine into life is a billet MSD distributor with digital MSD programmable ignition with a Blaster 2 coil. After the big bang takes place, a pair
of custom headers with 3.5-inch collectors that flow into dual, 3-inch stainless exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers dump the gases. Built by Steve Toth at RPM Motorsport in Wetherill Park, the stretched Mopar small block produces around 445hp at the rear wheels, rewarding Tom with Best Small Block on the Chryslers at the Murray dyno for the last three years running. On the strip, the heavyweight coupe (3800lbs!) stopped the clocks at 10.85 @ 124mph at Sydney Dragway in full street trim, but with a change to slicks.
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On the strip, the heavyweight coupe (3800lbs!) stopped the clocks at 10.85 @ 124mph at Sydney Dragway in full street trim, but with a change to slicks.
. The end is about as tough as street cars get ced pie o aut te efli qu Tor 727 ilt bu A purposescored plenty of upgrades with both e sid der un s atic tom Au nce ma for Per together by Pro-Trans ineers ends sitting lower than the factory eng et bill a ing lud inc als ern int elf -sh features top ed with the fitment of new custom end int had h wit dy bo ve val al nu ma drum, pro-brake, full on the leaf springs with reverse eyes installed dle han to ed add all – n ter pat ft reverse shi i 90/10 shocks fitted to the factory Kon and r rea is ter ver con The . ded around 1200hp if nee g sion bar front end. The complete brakin tor h wit m, 0rp 450 of ed spe ll sta a h from TCE wit s overhauled and now features wa tem sys M B& the h wit ly ick qu gear changes made nt with twin-spot Falconfro the on cs dis mm 300 gh ou thr fed is Pro-Ratchet shifter. The power y calipers, while the rear end has 11allo le sty ll wa ck thi oly e-m om chr a custom 3.5-inch lled by inch drum brakes. Each corner is contro ks Ric by ilt bu es yok et bill e ang Str h tailshaft wit VT Commodore booster and master ed difi mo a s ear 3-g 4.3 ng usi ho diff ch Driveshafts, to the 9-in in inder, with a CVR vacuum pump mounted cyl ck Tra e Tru on Eat an e, cas n iro lar in the Nodu tially hiding the brakes from view Par ot. bo the ilt bu tre cen the h Wit es. and 31-spline billet axl Street wheels measuring s ltie cia Spe et Bill are and ng usi ho by Jimmy at Speedy Diffs and the rear 15x6 and 15x10-inches. axles by David Bosnjak Engineering, the
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A tough car build is all centred around an aggressive heartbeat and in this case, that comes in the form of a stroked 360ci small block that now has a capacity of 408-cubes...
Not surprisingly, Tom has kept the Chrysler body almost 100% true to the factory’s intentions. The only move away from the original build sheet is the missing piece of bonnet steel where the air cleaner now hangs through and the fact that the vinyl roof is now just a distant memory. The badges, mouldings and mirrors were put back into place when the body was treated to a new coat of custom Pearl white. Can you believe that was some 15-years ago?
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Inside, the tough street car theme is more than evident with the inclusion of the Pro-Flo fabricated 6-point chrome-moly roll cage with removable taxi-bar and side-intrusions along with the AutoMeter filled dash and floor mounted switch panel holding all the necessary switches and buttons to not only get the engine fired up, but also keep it running smoothly. Whilst Tom has retained the factory rear seat, he did ditch the Chrysler buckets, making room for the more stylish and much more comfy aftermarket leather seats. A Moparstyle Grant steering wheel now tops the standard column.
During the 4-year build period, there’s been plenty of frustrating times and no doubt, plenty of times where Tom would have walked away ranting and raving, but when a cool head prevails, problems get solved and life goes on. The Chrysler’s makeover is quite finished yet though with a repaint on the cards and then finish off the R3 Race block / W9 Mopar heads inspired engine combo that should see the ET’s drop into the 9-sec zone whilst retaining its driveability. There’s also a burning desire to take the coupe to Drag Challenge too with his son Junior riding shotgun!
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The plan was simple. Make it quick, make it tough and make it able to be driven anywhere at any time. Tick, tick, and tick…
THANKS TO: My wife Rachel for releasing the necessary funds and being patient with
my car addiction. My son Tom Junior for all the mechanical work, motivation and countless hours spent on the car. This car is a massive passion for both of us and is a great father and son time away from the daily grind of the real world. To all the mates and family that have helped out! Steve Toth at RPM Motorsport. Fred at Pro Trans. David Bosnjak ay Bosnjak Engineering. Jimmy at Speedy Diffs. Rick from Ricks Driveshafts. Daniel Banks from Metal Mavericks Mechanical. Paul Sant at Pro Flo Performance. Nick at Turbo Exhaust Centre. My cousin Brad and Fotus for the electrical work.
1004 Botany Rd, Mascot NSW 2020 Unit 2/20 Bluett Street Smeaton Grange NSW 2567
Ph (02) 9316 9289
www.speedydiffs.com.au
Leigh Chandler - 1970 HG Holden Ute Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck Race Pics - Grant Stephens / Cackling Pipes
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RAPIDPORT TRANS
After finding this Ute pulled down in a backyard shed, Leigh Chandler set about building a tough street version of Holden’s humble hauler.
Right from the outset, Leigh had intentions of punting this Ute down the Sydney Dragway quarter mile, so it comes as no surprise to find a tough engine bolted into the HG’s smooth engine bay.
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By the looks of the Ute when Leigh found it, the HG’s days of hauling any kind of cargo were well and truly over many years before he opened the garage door, exposing the HG’s well-worn body. With the body and associated panels dragged from their resting place and now taking up space in Leigh’s parents’ garage, it was time for Leigh to put his plans into place – the end goal being a tough street and strip car that was easy on the eyes too. Spending his days as a panel beater in the family smash repairs shop certainly made life easier when Leigh decided to get stuck into bringing the HG’s sheet metal back to better than new condition. Panel by panel, Leigh applied his trade removing any and all defects that found their way onto
HG over the years. In the process, some minor modifications were made including deleting the fuel filler, smoothing of the front skirts and deleted inner front guards. Mini-tubs were added to the load area in readiness to fit some more impressive rear wheels and tyres. When Leigh was happy with how the body was looking in primer, he called on work mate and gun painter, George, to lay on the Spies Hecker Barcelona Red Mica. The colour needed something though, so Nippy Signs were called in to add the black GTS-style strips to the bonnet and sides. With the chrome work fitted back up, including the Premier twin-headlight front, the Ute’s makeover was progressing in leaps and bounds…
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THANKS TO: Ben Judd – Judd’s Speed Shop for the
engine package. Simon Judd – Elite Custom Interiors for the trim work. Johnny for the wiring. Mum and Dad for letting me start the build in their home garage and finish it off down at the workshop. George for the paint work. Fred – Pro Trans. Dave Miller Chassis for the Mini-tubs. Thanks also to all the boys who helped through the build.
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When you’re as fussy about the body and paint as Leigh was, you need someone just as passionate about the interior, and it just so happens that Leigh is mates with one of the best! Simon Judd at Elite Custom Interiors is highly regarded in the custom car world for designing and creating some of the best interior makeovers seen in this country. When you have mates with that much talent, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of their abilities. Leigh wanted to keep the interior period correct, so a bench seat was retained and then recovered in Coffee coloured leather with the same colour employed onto the patterned door trims, dash top and custom flat headlining. An array of AutoMeter gauges were added to the dash to compliment the factory items with the view from the driver’s position dominated by the 5-inch tacho and shift light mounted to the column, just behind the Monaro steering wheel. A B&M Pro-Ratchet shifter completes the tasteful, yet functional interior redo. Leigh also had Simon trim the onetime load area in the same material covering the backing panel, sides and newly installed mini tubs. The floor itself is weatherproof timber that Leigh coated in matt clear.
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When you’re as fussy about the body and paint as Leigh was, you need someone just as passionate about the interior...
Right from the outset, Leigh had intentions of punting this Ute down the Sydney Dragway quarter mile, so it comes as no surprise to find a tough engine bolted into the HG’s smooth engine bay. Wanting to keep the driveline Holden powered, Leigh had good mate Ben Judd (yes, the brother of Simon) piece together a five-litre stroker engine to provide the power. Starting with a prepped VR Commodore series block, Ben took the cubic capacity out to 355 88 by adding an Eagle crank and I-beam rod combo along with SRP forged pistons and rings and a Comp cam that has an idle to let you know this is far from stock. A pair of cast VN heads were ported and fitted
with Pac springs wrapped around bigger valves before being added to the stroker bottom end. Filling the gap between the heads is a Harrop single plane intake that hosts a 750cfm Holley carb. Custom headers hang off the outer edge of the heads and flow into a dual system from the 4-into-1 collectors. A Holley black electric fuel pump pushes plenty of 98-octane fuel into the engine for the MSD ignition system to provide the spark to burn it off. The engine was bolted to the dyno and produce 512hp. Not bad for an aspirated, Holden based engine. Not only does the engine perform effortlessly, it has proved to be ultra-reliable too.
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A reverse-pattern Turbo 350 auto was ordered from Fred at Pro-Trans to handle the power with ease. Helping with hard launches at the track is a TCE converter with a stall-speed of 5200rpm. A one-piece tailshaft transfers the grunt down the line to the 9-inch diff that’s equally as tough thanks to the inclusion of 4.33-gears and 31-spline axles. The diff is located on Gazzard Bros mono-leaf’s and Caltracs with Koni coil-over shocks. 90/10 shocks were added to the otherwise standard HG front end. HQ discs replace the HG units on the front, while the drum brakes on the 9-inch have been retained. Initially, polished Weld wheels were jammed under each wheel arch, but more recently they have been replaced by 17x4.5-inch and 15x10-inch Weld Aluma Star wrapped in Mickey Thompson rubber. Leigh has invested around 8-years and a considerable amount of the folding stuff to create the Ute of his dreams and now enjoys the results of all the hard work that has been lavished onto it, every chance he gets. Whether it’s on the street or strip, this tough HG Ute does everything right, and then some.
Elite Custom Interiors PTY LTD 3/75 Montague Street, North Wollongong NSW 2500 T: (0414) 803084 F: (02) 4228 8298 E: elitecustomint@gmail.com W: www.facebook.com/elitecustominteriors I: #elitecustominteriors
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When you have mates with that much talent, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of their abilities.
BLAST FROM THE PAST 2003 SPRINGNATS - DECA SHEPPARTON
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WORDS / PICS - PAUL BECK
ENTERTAINMENT
This issue we venture back to 2003 and head out to Shepparton in country Victoria for the annual Springnats, held at the sprawling DECA complex on
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Long before the Springnats moved into the centre of town and took over the Showgrounds, the event was housed at the DECA centre. A venue that offered a series of cruising roads, a massive skid pad for all of the driving events to take part on and a wealth of grassed areas for the show and shine. For the burnouts, a purpose-built pad was built on the western edge of the venue that was easily accessed by a quick walk across the paddock.
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As great as the venue was, it did lack somethings. Shade being the biggest issue, and with the Springnats being held on the last weekend of November each year, the heat in Shepparton can be unbearable. Still, that small issue didn’t stop hundreds of car owners and thousands of spectators from attending the Springnats, and in 2003, the event lifted to another level.
The Springnats is all about having fun with cars and the program allows plenty of time to do just that.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
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I’ve made no secret of the fact that I consider the Springnats to be my favourite event of the year. The sheer volume and quality of cars is awesome, and the crowds are really well behaved due to the alcohol-free policy implemented from day one by Les Adams and his team, making the Springnats the ideal event for the family. There’s zero chance of your car being damaged by drunks demanding burnouts too. The Springnats is all about
having fun with cars and the program allows plenty of time to do just that. Cruising the grounds happens from the time the gates opened until they closed – at which time the cruising took to the streets of Shepparton, mainly the street running alongside the lake where it was five deep on each footpath to catch a glimpse of the cars cruising well into the early hours of the morning. Despite the high Police presence, the cruising happened with minimal fuss.
Most of the attention was placed on the massive skid-pan where the majority of the driving events were to take place.
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BLAST FROM THE PAST The show and shine was spread out around the venue, with most entrants finding a spot along the cruise route where all kinds of Street Machines, Hot Rods, Drag Cars and Show cars were on display. The Dyno Competition and Sound-Off were also held in this area which attracted plenty of spectators.
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Most of the attention was placed on the massive skid-pan where the majority of the driving events were to take place. Whilst some took the challenges on offer seriously in order to record a low time in an effort to win the category, some drivers used it as an excuse to blow off some tyres and maybe get in a little practice for the burnout competition held later each day. No one cared though, as long as the huge crowd surrounding the skid-pan was entertained, it was all good.
BLAST FROM THE PAST The burnout pad at DECA wasn’t what you’d call huge by any stretch. The pad, and the donut area mid-course, was lined with guttering which caused some damage to those who pushed the limits just a little too far. One great thing about the burnout pad though, was that each side that lined the course, featured a raised mound, offering a great vantage point for spectators to take in the action, inhale plenty of tyre smoke and in some cases, get covered in rubber. Good times…
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These days, the Springnats has shifted to the Showgrounds where the venue offers a much bigger burnout pad, grandstand seating, air-conditioned indoor show area’s and plenty of grassed areas for the popular show ‘n’ shine. And yes, it still remains my favourite event of the year. Check out the latest Springnats (and other Autofest-staged events) at www.autofest.com.au
PICKUPARTIST 100
Tim Stewart - 1932 Ford Pickup Words - Paul Beck Pics - Jimmy Tee Photography
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After deciding he wanted to build a Hot Rod, Tim Stewart bought himself a ’32 Ford chassis. He had no idea where that purchase was going to lead him six years later…
Not having any previous experience with building Hot Rods, Tim got in touch with Daniel Cassar from Fast Lane Speed Shop for some advice to make sure his first foray into the Hot-Rodding world was as painless as possible. Right from the outset, Tim wanted a ’32 Pickup, but not the way you see it here, he was more interested in building a Rat Rod. With that in mind, Tim put the feelers out for a steel body to start with, but soon found out just how difficult a task that was going to be. Resigned to the fact he was going to have to settle for a repro steel three-window coupe out of Sweden, Tim ventured out to Ballarat Swap Meet for one last look before placing an order. As luck would have it, there as an allsteel ’32 Pickup for sale on a trailer, each panel a different colour showing it was pieced together from several cars. With Daniel set up in the very next row, Tim dragged Daniel over to check it out and an hour later, the rusty relic was on its way to Fast Lane Speed Shop.
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Visually, the dominating feature on this 434ci small-block Chev is the Hilborn 8-stack injection that is controlled by a Holley ECU.
A couple of days later, Tim dropped off the already acquired chassis to Daniel so he could set up for the planned roof chop and also channel the body over the chassis. With those jobs done, the body and chassis combo were returned to Tim so he could get his hands dirty. After completing the build on the driveline, Tim attempted to weld up the roof chop, but quickly realised his body working skills were nowhere near the standard they needed to be, so once again, the bare chassis and body took up residency at Fast Lane Speed Shop so that Daniel and his troop could get stuck into it. It was at this stage that the build went from being a basic Rat Rod to something more special that would turn plenty of heads.
Ideas were thrown around between Tim and Daniel in regards to body mods and between the two of them, the aging sheet metal not only ended up straighter than a high-court Judge, but smoother than a second-hand car salesman. The roof chop is obvious, the bonnet and sides are now just a memory and the load area has been remanufactured to the high standard expect by Tim and delivered by the Fast Lane Speed Shop workers. With the metal shaping tools back on the rack, it was time for colour. Not wanting to blend in with anyone, Tim knew that black, red and orange was off limits. Instead, he had the reworked body covered in a slick pearl colour called Glacier. Looks cool, huh? The same colour was added to that old chassis which now plays host of Rod Tech gear including the dropped I-Beam front axle, the triangular four-link assembly locating the 9-inch diff and the shocks on the front end. The rear scored a set of coil-overs. The steering has been upgraded with a complete rack and pinion assembly. Whilst the Pickup appears to have drum brakes on each corner, the fronts are actually Commodore disc and calipers that have been concealed in finned covers. Keeping in trend with the build theme, the wheels of choice are oh-so-cool Halibrand SoCal. 104
Tim knew that black, red and orange was off limits. Instead, he had the reworked body covered in a slick pearl colour called Glacier. Looks cool,huh?
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Whilst the work was happening on the body and chassis, Tim was busy putting the driveline together in readiness to drop into place. Visually, the dominating feature on this 434ci small-block Chev is the Hilborn 8-stack injection that is controlled by a Holley ECU. Whilst it retains the traditional fuel injection look, the benefits of being EFI make cruising the pickup effortless. As cool as the engine looks, it’s what’s on the inside that gets the heart pumping when the accelerator pedal gets leaned on. Starting with a Dart Little M block, Tim added a forged steel crank and forged steel H-beam rods, Wiseco pistons and a hydraulic cam and lifter kit from Comp Cams. Tim then prepped a pair of 23-degree Dart alloy heads adding Comp Cam valve springs before bolting them onto the tough bottom end. An MSD ignition system fire the injected small block into life for it to burn the 98-octane fuel and send the gases out via a pair of custom, block hugger headers. The engine produces around 500hp and delivers it smoothly through the semi-auto Turbo 400 auto (with 3500rpm Dominator converter), sending it rearward via the GJ Drivelines tailshaft to the 4.11-geared 9-inch.
It’s quite obvious the Cabin space is limited, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish at the same time. The bench seat and door trims have been covered in Blue/Grey leather to contrast the body colour that also flows onto the dash and door frames. To keep Tim informed of what’s happening in and around the injected Chev, there’s no less than six classic instrument gauges added – three in the centre of the dash and three attached to the steering column just behind the rejuvenated ’48 Ford steering wheel. A custom centre console houses the Lokar shifter with the billet handbrake lever mounted right alongside. Moving into the lad area, there’s now zero chance of anything being thrown into the Pickup’s tray with the floor lined with stencilled polished floorboards. The battery has been recessed into the floor as has the fuel filler.
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Tim got in touch with Daniel Cassar from Fast Lane Speed Shop for some advice to make sure his first foray into the HotRodding world was as painless as possible.
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Tim has sunk five-years of work and a considerable amount of money into the construction of the Pickup. And during that time, Tim once again found the passion for drag racing from his younger years, leading to the purchase of a front engine dragster that he ran in Modified for a few years and has now taken a back step to the Mustang Funny car he now campaigns in Supercharged Outlaws. His racing journey doesn’t end there though with a Nitro Funny car now being constructed!
NATIONWIDE 2021
SUNDAY SEPT 12
CALLING ALL CAR CLUBS!
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The Pickup project wouldn’t have progressed to this point if it wasn’t for Daniel Cassar and the team at Fast Lane Speed Shop. Tim can’t thank them enough for the effort they put in to create the finished product. “All credit must go to the amazing skills and workmanship from Daniel and his team,” Tim explained. “When I said to Daniel one day why don’t we put a cage in it and I’ll drag it, he quickly replied with a hot rod is a hot rod, and a drag car is a drag car.” Great advice – and now Tim can enjoy both…
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF AUSTRALIA’S ONLY, NATIONAL ONE-DAY CHARITY CRUISE? IT’S EASY TO BE A PART OF IT... 109
ORGANISE A CRUISE ROUTE IN YOUR LOCAL AREA CHOOSE A LOCAL CHARITY TO SUPPORT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON SUNDAY 12TH SEPT 2021 FULL DETAILS ARE AT THE OZ CRUISE FACEBOOK PAGE For More Details - Contact Paul Beck @ Killer Rides paul@killerrides.com.au 0432 795336
KILLER PIC Photo by Paul Beck
Let me Entertain You!
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Not known for being an introvert, Glenn “Easty” Eastwood punishes his OG blown 308-powered Torana at the 2005 Springnats when held at the DECA Cemtre in Shepparton!
PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Advertise your business here from just $55 per month* * Based on 6-month Booking @ 1/8 page size.
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Open to Private Advertisers Only. Cars are only to be specialty and/or modified cars / bikes only. Parts are to be performance parts and accessories only. Cost is $20 for one photo and upto 40 words. Ad will run for 2 issues. All Ad’s are to include price, phone number and/or email. Ad’s can be emailed to: paul@killerrides.com.au and direct deposit details will be sent for payment. All enquiries to Paul Beck - 0432 795336
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FOR SALE - 1968 CAMARO DRAG CAR Roller, no engine or transmission. Weld Racing wheels all round. New Hoosier slicks. 1 Pass rear, front MT tyres are new. Full roll cage. Full fibreglass front clip.and boot lid. Tank, lines and fuel pump in place. MSD 10AL. Set up for SBC/BBC. Front engine plate. 12-bolt diff and tailshaft. This car is set-up ready to race, just drop an engine and trans in and you’re on the track! $27,000 Contact Ricky Boske - Qld Phone 0488 777412 Email: rb@boske.com.au
FOR SALE - HQ HOLDEN PREMIER Dandy engines built, supercharged LSA, 500rwkw, turbo 350 auto, 31-spline 9-inch diff, 3.7-gears, 9.8-sec quarter mile with more left in it, split rear tubs, genuine Centrelines, good body and paint, tan interior, AutoMeter gauges, B&M shifter. Great street and strip HQ Holden. $75,000 ono Phone David - 0412 570898 Melbourne Vic. FOR SALE - LJ TORANA COUPE LC Grille and lights, twin 66mm Garret turbos, 377ci Chev, bowtie block, 2-speed Powerglide, 9-inch diff, all new interior, nice clean street car, has modification plate, needs minor work to finish. Any questions, please call. $90,000 - Qld Phone 0413 942139
FOR SALE - BLOWN / INJECTED BBC Fresh built BBC with 14/71 Mooneyham blower and New Powerglide Transmission Contact for more details. $47,000 Contact Ricky Boske Phone 0488 777412 - Qld Email: rb@boske.com.au
FOR SALE - 1974 HQ GTS MONARO Genuine Monterey Green Metallic with Doeskin/Chestnut interior. Original 253, now a 350 engine. B&M shifter. CD player in glovebox, original books, and pictures of the car on the Holdens production line. Great driver..excellent investment! Rego - SGO791 $97,500 Phone 0404 066318 - SA
FOR SALE - 1967 XR FALCON SEDAN 363ci Windsor, Dart block, AFR heads, Hughes C10 rated at 900hp, transbrake, TCE converter, shortened 9-inch, 35-spline billet axles, full-spool, too much too list. Genuine Enquiries only. See full feature in Killer Rides No.8 - Jan 2019 Rego - FLO-93D $79,000 - NSW Phone 0418643266
FOR SALE - 1973 CAMARO Split bumper model, mild 350ci, manualised Powerglide, remote control stereo, New TruTrac 10-bolt diff, new suspension, master cylinder, new 18” & 20” Showwheels and tyres, no rust or damage, registered, selling as is! $59,200 Phone Bill 0406 481747 - VIC
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