THE HOME OF AUSTRALIA’S Toughest STREET CARS
ISSUE #5 - OCT 2018
n o lc Fa a g e M g n ri u o -T ro P i c 604
VIDEO’S GALORE!
Street-Elite Torana
INSIDE THIS ISSUE!
7-sec 820ci Street Legal 1928 Ford Rat Rod The Worlds Baddest EFI-Hemi Plymouth GTX Tuff-Street Valiant Ute - American Car Nats Laurie Starling Memorial Picnic - Muscle Car Show Ford-powered Drag Nats and much more!
From the Desk THIS NEW LAW HAS TO BE THE MOST STUPID PIECE OF LEGISLATION EVER PASSED IN THIS COUNTRY! Yes, I am talking about the new ruling where if you see a Police Car (or any Emergency vehicle) on the side of the road with its lights flashing, you have to reduce your speed to just 40 kilometres per hour! And that applies to people heading in the opposite direction if there’s no barrier dividing the opposing lanes… So I experienced this first hand, not once, but twice whilst coming home from Canberra. This took place on the Goulburn bypass around 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, so you can imagine there was a fair bit of traffic on the freeway. Driving with my cruise control set just under the posted 110km/h, I had to jump on the brakes hard as they cars in front of me slammed their brakes on and proceeded to use both lanes and then some in an effort to get down to 40km/h without hitting each other. Why? Because the Police officer had decided to stop a driver from speeding – which is fair enough. But, instead of doing it on a relatively blind corner, couldn’t he have moved to a safer spot 100-metres down the road? Really, is it that hard? Does common sense not get a look in here? So, with that episode over (I think I managed to get down to 60km/h when I passed him), I flicked the cruise control back on and just as the speedo climbed back up to the set limit, everyone was back on the brakes again! Surely, there wasn’t another… Yep, sure was, but this time it was a Police car sitting there on the side of the road with his lights on and no one else around! Once again, drivers were all over the two lanes trying to get back down to 40. It’s just ridiculous. So my question is; If the Police car is sitting on the side of the road for no reason, why have their lights on? Is it for our own safety? Or is it revenue raising when people misinterpret the rules and think its ok to pass because he’s not pulling anyone over? For me, there’s too many grey areas involved here. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for making the roads safer for everyone, including the emergency service people, but there has to be a defined line drawn in the sand. Both of these instances could have resulted in two or three accidents had the drivers not been aware of their surroundings. Who wears the blame in that instance…? Stay safe on the road guys… Paul.
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28 XY Falcon
Contents ISSUE NO.5 Oct 2018
REGULARS 14
06 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest
Dare to be Different
10 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think 12
SHOW TIME Events coming up
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DARE TO BE DIFFERENT The Wildest Plymouth Belvedere
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COMING ATTRACTIONS Pro-Touring 1967 Chev Impala Coupe
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MUSCLE BOUND IN THE ‘GONG Muscle Car Sunday
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THINGS YOU NEED Cool Car Furniture
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Ford Drag Nationals
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1928 Ford
42 TRIPLE TREAT American Car Nationals 58
BLUE OVAL BATTLE GROUND Ford Drag Nationals
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REMEMBERING A LEGEND Laurie Starling Memorial
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KILLER PIC Exposed Cortina
80 Valiant Ute
100 WINDOW SHOPPING All the latest new products 102 FACTORY OPTIONS 2018 Bullitt Mustang
FEATURES 28
BOLT FROM THE BLUE Injected 604ci Pro-Touring XY Falcon
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GOING FOR GOLD Street Elite LH Torana
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BADDER IN BLACK The Worlds Toughest ‘68 Plymouth GTX
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BACKYARD BLITZ Tough Valiant Ute saved from the Crusher
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UNCLE JED 820ci of Bad-Ass ‘28 Ford Rat Rod
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Cool Car Furniture
48 LH Torana 72
‘68 PLYMOUTH GTX
Lauren Jade - Xposed Photography Russell Zout Tommy Lee Byrd Terry Denomme Cam Hutchins
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What’s Happening KILLER RIDES COMBINES WITH ILLAWARRA STREET SCENE FOR COFFEE & CARS CATCH UP MEETS
Coffee and Car meets are gaining huge popularity around the country and now the greater Wollongong area has one thanks to Killer Rides and the Illawarra Street Scene website. The first Coffee and Cars Catch Up is to be held on Sunday, October 14th at the new Bunnings store on the Princes Highway, Albion Park Rail from 7am-9am. Bunnings will be opening their café early to cater for the needs of those attending. The Coffee and Cars Catch Up’s will then continue every second Sunday of the month at the same venue. For more information on this event and other car-related happenings in the Illawarra area, check out www.illawarrastreetscene.com
WORLD ADVERTISING NO EXCUSES #1 HEADS UP DRAG RACING
A new event on the Drag Racing calender is set to take over Ballarat Airport on Saturday, December 1st. Hosted by Radial Life, the event is strictly for Radial Tyre cars with classes based around the tyre size. “R235” is for cars running up to a 235 Radial, “R275” for cars using up to a 275 Radial and “R325” is for cars running up to a 325 radial tyre. Racing is to be held over an 1/8 mile format with many trophies up for grabs on the day along with each class winner also being award a cash prize. Entry forms, rules and regulations are available from the website – www.radiallife.com.au
HEMI-POWERED HOLDEN STREETER ON ITS WAY
I have been contacted by the owner of this HK Monaro being built in Victoria about doing a feature on the car once its finished – which should be in the next 12-18 months. The owner, let’s call him Mr K, doesn’t want any pics of the car released just yet, but he did tell me the HK has full ProTouring underpinnings and is powered by a full alloy, 646ci Hemi with two big turbos mounted for good measure. The goal is 3000hp on the street. Stay tuned, this is going to be big…
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
When you see this logo through-out the magazine, make sure you click on it to see a video feature on the car or event you are reading about.
Illawarra Street Scene is the Central Hub of all things happening in the Car Scene in the greater Wollongong Area. From events, car features, business listings and more. Its all on this website!
CHECK IT OUT AND SUPPORT IT NOW! 6
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What’s Happening MOONEYES 2018 STREET CAR NATIONALS
Held annually at the Odaiba Aomi Parking Area in Tokyo in May, the annual Mooneye’s Street Car Nationals bought together 1200 cars for show, 145 swap meet sites and no less than 20 pin-stripers on hand to add their art to cars. Now before you jump to conclusions and imagine the show was full of lowered Corolla’s and pimped out Hilux’s, think again. There is a huge American car culture in the land of the rising sun, and they all come out for this event. Check out the variety on show!
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Have Your Say! PRO-STREET OR PRO-TOURING?
G’day Paul, First up, loving the new mag. Can’t wait to get that email each month to say the new Issue is online. Such a breath of fresh air. Secondly, like you, I am a Pro-Street tragic, but lately I have been enjoying the whole Pro-Touring theme. The driveability and look of a Pro-Touring build is something that will live on forever. Please keep the Pro-Touring features coming… Geoff Via FB Messenger G’day Geoff, Thanks for your support with the magazine. I too enjoy the Pro-Touring deal, and trust me, the Studebaker almost went down that road… But, this is the Pro-Street car I’ve always wanted. Yes, it will be blown and injected and have big and little wheels, but it will be built by the book so I can cruise it anywhere, anytime. Rest assured there’s plenty of Pro-Touring cars in the mix coming up…
STREET REGO? YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING
Hey Paul, What is it with guys claiming their cars are Street Cars simply because they have rego plates bolted to them and sometimes they take the risk and drive a few hundred metres on a public street? We all know that wheel tubs, 15x15 rear wheels with 4-inch front runners, a tube chassis and methanolburning mountain motor can never be registered in this Country! Call it what it is guys – a Pro-Street race car. Graham Via FB G’day Graham, There will always be dubious rego on the mostwildest cars on the street today unless they were engineered many, many years ago and have maintained rego ever since. There are some out there, just not many. It is what it is I guess…
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Got something to say? Send it to paul@killerrides.com.au or message us from the Killer Rides Facebook page.
PRO-STREET IS DEAD – LONG LIVE PRO-TOURING
Hi Paul, I think the days are numbered for Pro-Street – at least as a road-going vehicle. Let’s face it, we’re not America. We can’t cruise on 22-inch wide rear tyres with a blown and injected big block hanging as high as the roof! When will guys get the hint that we can still build old cars, just utilise the technology that is so readily available! Late model EFI engines are fuel efficient and powerful, big brakes are extra safe and having a suspension set up that can handle like a brand-new car is definitely the way to go. Surely, I am not the only one that thinks like this? Pro-Touring is the future for modified cars in this country. Peter S Via Email G’day Peter, Whilst Pro-Touring is gaining momentum around the world, I doubt we’ve seen the end of Pro-Street yet. As long as there’s fat tyres and blowers in the world, there will be Pro-Street cars.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Hi Paul, Love Killer Rides – in fact, it’s my new favourite magazine. I just wish I could get it in print form, but I understand why that’s not happening. One of the coolest parts of Killer Rides is the Blast from the Past section especially the article on the transporters of yesteryear. Please keep the cool stuff coming in Killer Rides. Thanks for your continued efforts. James S via Email G’day James, Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed Killer Rides so far. There’s much more to come. The Transporters may be from an era gone by, but are still so cool today. I would love to have something like this as a Killer Rides transporter – just like I did when I had Extreme Magazine. Great days that I hope will return soon enough.
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Showtime! To have your event listed here, send details to paul@killerrides.com.au
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
13 - VIC Malmsbury Show & Shine www.malmsburycfa.com.au
11 - NSW Kiama Auto Expo Kiama Showgrounds www.kiamaautoexpo.com
09 - NSW Maddie Hill Breast Cancer Show & Shine Cameron Park, Newcastle 0418 427937 gayliehill@bigpond.com
07 - VIC Aust. National Show & Shine Euroa, VIC ross@euroashowandshine.com
14 - VIC 13th Annual Marsh Rodders Show & Shine Maddingley Park, Baccus Marsh info@marshrodders.com
03-04 - VIC 2018 Rush Riverside Park / Swan Hill Drag Way - Swan Hill, VIC
11 - QLD Redcliffe Wheels of the Century Redcliffe Showgrounds Check out the Facebook Page
19-21 - NSW 19th Early Falcon Nationals Club North Haven www.earlyfalconnsw.com
11 - TAS Cars on the Coast Car & Bike Show, Triabunna Oval Gary - 0419 519682
21 - NSW 32nd All Chrysler Day Museum of Fire, Penrith Colin - 4016 290 487
16-17 - SA Adelaide Auto Expo Wayville Showgrounds www.adelaideautoexpo.com.au
21 - NSW Hot Rod, Car and Motorbike Show, Gwandalan Public School Jason - 0438 358803
17 - QLD Cars for a Cause Market Square Shopping Centre, Maine Terrace, Deception Bay
21 - QLD 2018 Cooroy Car Show Johnson Park, Cooroy cooroycarshow@gmail.com
23-25 - VIC Autofest Springnats Shepparton Showground www.autofest.com.au
21 - NSW Damfest Warragamba Dam Ray - 0417 292613
24 - NSW South Coast Nationals Moruya High School www.southcoastnationals.com.au
26-28 - NSW Chromefest The Entrance Town Centre Janet - 0429 508355
25 - SA Volksfest Elder Park, King William Road Check the Facebook Page
01 - TAS Aust. Monaro Nationals Launceston, Tasmania Terry - 0419 367181
09 - NSW Special Olympics Soar & Roar Festival Sydney Motorsport Park www.soarandroar.com.au
E V I L
#3
JULY 13/14, 2019
ILLAWARRA INDOOR HOCKEY CENTRE, UNANDERRA Just 10-minutes south of Wollongong!
FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL 0432 795336 OR PAUL@KILLERRIDES.COM.AU
Dare to be Different TONY NETZEL - 1961 PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE PICS - Supplied by Tony Netzel WORDS - Paul Beck
BAD ASS e r e d e v l Be
Tony Netzel’s ’61 Plymouth Belvedere was rescued from a junkyard in ’94 and over many years, was turned into a ProStreet superstar that has been seen all over the world thanks to social media and the internet. It’s all about building something outside the box, and trust me, you can’t get any more outside the box than the ’61 Belvedere! Like most car guys, Tony saw past the Plymouths ordinary stock appearance. “it was so ugly, it was cool!” was how he explained his first impression. Obviously, Tony had a plan of attack already in his head which would make the big coupe more bad-ass than Plymouth could ever hope for. In standard issue, you’d probably snicker at the Plymouth as you walked passed it, never looking back for a second glance. But when its tubbed, sporting a
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twin turbo big block and has killer paint, it’s a whole new ball game. Tony set about building the wildest 1961 Plymouth Belvedere’s on the planet and by all accounts, he achieved his goal. Surprisingly, this isn’t the first-time Tony has built this car. The initial build saw pastel paint, a set of tubs and a blown 440 for power. The Plymouth stayed this way whilst Tony enjoyed showing it for a while, but as things often happen, bigger plans meant the coupe was stripped down to its bare bones for a makeover. The project sat idle for a while whilst the family expanded and life got busy. On top of that, there were a couple of side projects that were easier and less expensive to finish off that ended up getting priority over the Belvedere. Eventually, the time came to get back into the build, and it was on for young and old!
Tony set about building the wildest 1961 Plymouth Belvedere’s on the planet and by all accounts, he achieved his goal.
When you take what some consider to be the “Worlds Ugliest Coupe” and transform it into a high-impact Pro-Street stunner, the chances are the world is going to notice…
Grocery Getter? Hell yeah!
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Strangely enough, the body on the Belvedere is largely untouched from its factory configuration. Sure, the exhaust cut-outs in the sill panels aren’t a factory item, and the lack of door handles wasn’t a box you could tick on the order form either. Its these subtle changes that make a huge difference. Not so subtle however is the chunk of sheet metal missing from the bonnet – taken away to conveniently show off the trick engine that would have otherwise been hidden away. With the body in better than new shape once again, Tony wanted to colour the coupe something more timeless. He found exactly what he wanted in the Dodge Viper colour chart with the Viper Snakeskin Green for the body topped with PT Chrysler Yellow for the roof – the latter mix with some Green Pearl and Gold flake for a unique combo that is nothing short of amazing – especially when combined with the Plymouth’s huge amount of chrome attached to the body. The interior also got a makeover and is now strictly a two-seater. The wheel tubs take up the entire area that used to house a rear seat. Up front there’s a pair of bucket seats, a custom centre console and aftermarket gauges added to the factory dash assembly. A classic Plymouth steering wheel was retained simply because it was cool! A mass of roll cage continues the pro-street theme into the insides. Everything is functional and there’s plenty of leather used on the trim! It certainly is a great place to be when cruising the big coupe…
Tony wanted to colour the coupe something more timeless. He found exactly what he wanted in the Dodge Viper colour chart with the Viper Snakeskin Green for the body topped with PT Chrysler Yellow for the roof!
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There was to be a big cube, high-powered Hemi nestled between the inner guards, but with budget restraints come other options. Tony used a 440ci Wedge engine which got stroked to 496ci and fitted with a rare Mopar “long runner cross-ram” intake manifold with dual Holley carbs and two 64mm turbochargers. The engine is good for around 700hp and is ultra-reliable to cruise anywhere at any time. The engine is mated to a 727 Torqueflite trans with the narrowed 9-inch diff feeding the power through to those big 33x22-inch Pro-Trac tyres. Tony’s Plymouth is the perfect example of how you can be known around the world by what you drive. Tony gets the Plymouth out as much as he can and has entered so many shows that he has probably lost count. There’s even a video of him cruising in the snow!! Check out the video link in this article! And because the car has so much impact and is used regularly, people take notice, and it’s those people who post images and videos on social media and websites around the world that spread the news. Thanks to those people, Tony’s Pro-Street Belvedere is an Internet Superstar! Tony also wants to thank those individuals that helped with the build along the way. The WAWAZAT rego plates sum it up nicely I reckon!
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Coming Attractions 1967 CHEV IMPALA COUPE SOUTHERN ROD & CUSTOM PICS - Supplied by SRC WORDS - Paul Beck
Stampeding
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With the Pro-Touring craze well and truly part of the Aussie car culture, the team at Southern Rod & Custom are taking it to the next level with this insane Impala coupe.
IMPALA
The Shepparton, Victoria based Southern Rod & Custom workshop, is well-known for creating mind-numbing automotive master-pieces and this Chev coupe will be no exception. Even at this stage of the build, you can tell that this Impala is going to raise the bar yet again. Check out the chassis. Even in its mostbarest form, it’s a work of art. It’s almost a shame to cover it! Handmade and TIGwelded, the smooth chassis plays host to a complete Shockwave air-suspension setup as well as custom independent front suspension working with rack and pinion steering. Big disc brakes hide inside the impressive wheel and tyre combo. A fourlink and suitable diff have been added to the mix before the body was dropped on for fitting. The engine is a tall-deck big block Chev that is topped by a Custom Plenum Creations billet/carbon fibre intake manifold and throttle bodies that gets fed by two, pizza-sized 88mm turbochargers. We are not at liberty to say too much about the driveline, but when it’s been pieced together by the team at Dandy Engines, you know it’s going to be a killer combo – both in power and reliability.
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C A ATFR V A E A L IL O E A G B U L E E
NROEDW UCTS
P
ELECTRIC & MANUAL BEAD ROLLERS
The engine is a tall-deck big block Chev that is topped by a Custom Plenum Creations billet/carbon fibre intake manifold and throttle bodies that gets fed by two, pizza-sized 88mm turbochargers.
WORKSHOP TOOLS
METAL FOLDERS
SANDBLASTERS
LEAD KITS
GUILLOTINES
ROLLERS
sales@metalmantools.com.au NEW www.metalmantools.com.au WEBSITE
The expansive pieces of sheet metal that makes up the coupes body is where Southern Rod & Custom excel. At this stage, the Impala was awaiting a new floor but the rest of the body has been taken back to bare steel with any imperfections now a thing of the past. It’s the subtle things that make a big difference, such as moving the bumpers in closer to the body for a more streamlined appearance. Once completed, this Impala will be a show stopper – just like everything else coming from Southern Rod & Custom. Here’s hoping we can bring you more updates as the build progresses.
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ENGLISH WHEELS
SHRINKER STRETCHERS
PLANISHING HAMMERS
HAMMERS, DOLLIES, SHOT BAGS
0447 406 980
Shaping a better Australia
Out & About AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR SHOW TOWRADGI BEACH HOTEL , SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 Words / Pics - Paul Beck
MUSCLE BOUND
! g n o G ‘ e In th
With the Summer months approaching, September is the perfect time to raise funds for the Rural Fire Brigade, and that’s exactly what the American Muscle Car Show and Shine does.
Held annually at the Towradgi Beach Hotel just north of Wollongong, the American Muscle Car Club of Australia works in with the Hotel management to interest cars from the US and Australia. It’s quite a spectacle when you drive into the venue and see rows of shiny paint, glistening chrome and polished wheels. The event also draws a big crowd of bike owners who take advantage of the great weather and location.
It’s quite a spectacle when you drive into the venue and see rows of shiny paint, glistening chrome and polished wheels. 22
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There’s no denying that Wollongong has a huge car culture and even though there was another event on the same day, the annual Muscle Car Show attracted a huge number of entrants and of course spectators – all contributing to getting vital funds for the Rural Fire Service.
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BOLT e u l B e th m o Fr ANGUS & RAY PIROTTA - 1971 XY FALCON WORDS / PICS - Paul Beck
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An incident in the home garage kick-started a rebuild that was only ever going to be a repaint. Yep, we know how that story goes! 29
More often than not, car enthusiasts need only the slightest excuse to make some upgrades to their weekend cruiser. Sometimes you have to go looking for a reason to justify the time and cost, and sometimes fate plays a part – and that’s what happened to Ray and Angus Pirotta with their XY Falcon. The father and son duo were more than happy cruising in their GTinspired Falcon with its 351 running sweet and the Electric blue paint glistening. Ray had grown up around this era of tough Falcon’s with his father sharing the same taste in cars. In fact, Ray had owned this car since he was 18! After some shelving dislodged in the garage and found itself taking out the side of the once pristine Falcon, Ray was forced with having to have the Falcon’s body and paint fixed, but as seems to be the case for those with high-octane fuel running through their veins, the desire to take the Falcon to the next level took over and before too long the XY had been stripped down to its birthday suit in preparation for a host of upgrades and a whole new Pro-Touring attitude. Whilst the 351 Clevo engine was no slouch, the need for more horsepower saw Ray opt for a A460ci ‘Eliminator’ big block. The team at Winmalee Car Care in the NSW Blue Mountains were given the task of building a very special engine combo that would grace the Falcon’s engine bay like a piece of jewellery in a box. Obviously, the hero piece of this engine is the trick injection set-up manufactured by Shaun’s Custom Alloy. The eight throttle-body set-up supplies ample amounts of Premium pump fuel to the Trick Flow alloyheaded big block below. Most people would be expecting to see the Shaker when the bonnet is lifted, and with the bonnet down, that’s what you’d expect. But the Shaker is a permanent fixture to the bonnet giving the Falcon that classic GT look whilst hiding the real heart of the engine combo. Now sporting an impressive 604 cubic inches, the over-sized bottom end features a 4.5” crank and 4.625” rods to achieve the goal. Whoever said size doesn’t matter obviously never got to drive a 600-plus cube classic muscle car! Although the engine hasn’t been dyno’d, those in the know reckon there’s a conservative 800-plus horsepower on offer.
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Obviously, the hero piece of this engine is the trick injection set-up manufactured by Shaun’s Custom Alloy. The eight throttle-body set-up supplies ample amounts of Premium pump fuel to the Trick Flow alloy-headed big block below.
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In keeping with the Pro-Touring theme, the big block has been backed with a 6-speed Tremec Magnum box that feeds the power rearwards to the full-floater Race Products rear end. If you can take your eyes off the gorgeous Rushforth wheels for just a moment, you’ll notice the large Pizza sized disc rotors and 6-spot VTTR calipers front and rear. There’s also a host of RRS gear added to the Falcon’s underside including the master cylinder (under the dash), front struts, rear custom coil overs and a complete rack and pinion steering assembly. Lowered King springs have also been added. The Falcon now handles and brakes as well as it performs! After changing so much of the Falcon’s drive line, Ray and Angus thought a change of colour was on the cards. The boys spotted this cool custom blue on a Mustang at SEMA but when Ray contacted the owner,
he wasn’t interested in sharing the paint code. Option two was for the then 15-year old Angus to write an email saying he was building a Falcon and really loved the colour. Long story short, the owner was happy to help Angus out and sent the paint code which PPG then mixed for Glen at the Repair Shed to lay onto the smoothed-out body. GT-spec black outs and cool 604-GT striping complete the body and paint. Opening the doors reveals what appears to be a pristine GT Falcon interior. Certainly, the black leather, GT-badging and woodgrain highlights indicate as such. The boys drive the wheels off the Falcon so the interior is more about practicality than anything else. The stereo has been updated with a retro-digital head unit and better quality speakers for when the boys get tired of listening to the sound of those trumpets inhaling copious amounts of air!
Whoever said size doesn’t matter obviously never got to drive a 600-plus cube classic muscle car!
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This isn’t the only cool car in the Pirotta stable with a blown ’57 Chev and elite-styled LC Torana also taking up space in the garage. With more additions happening soon, this Father and Son team are building quite a collection of toys. You know what they say, the family that plays together, stays together. Good thing they have a common interest in tough street cars…
OWNERS: Ray and Angus Pirotta VEHICLE: 1971 XY Falcon ENGINE: 604ci Ford Big Block, A460 Eliminator base built by Winmalee Car Care, Custom 8-throttle-body EFI by Shaun’s Custom Alloy, Trick Flow alloy heads, 4.625” pistons, 4.5” crank, Total Seal Rings, Oliver rods, Pac valve springs, John Kaase oil pump, Shaun’s Custom Alloy radiator, Liverpool Exhaust headers POWER: Approx. 800hp on 98 pump fuel TRANS: Tremec Magnum 6-speed, triple-plate clutch, QuickTime bellhousing. DIFF: Race Products Full Floater WHEELS: 18X8.5 / 20X10 Rushforth Wheels SUSPENSION: Front: King Springs, RRS Struts, RRS rack and pinion steering. Rear: King Springs, RRS shocks. BRAKES: Huge discs with 6-spot VTTR calipers front and rear, RRS under-dash master cylinder. COLOUR: PPG mixed Super Blue from Painthouse in Texas, USA. GT-spec blackouts. THANKS TO: Winmalee Car Care, Shaun’s Custom Alloy, Glen at the Repair Shed, PPG, Painthouse Texas, Liverpool Exhaust.
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KOMBI COUNTER
Things You Need...
y z a r C
There must be millions of VW Kombi’s in the world today and it’s great to see people coming up with many uses for them when they have passed their use by dates. This counter idea is awesome!
CAR FURNITURE
If given the opportunity, car guys (and some girls too!) would happily take their obsession from the garage into the house with specialised car-theme furniture. Your imagination is the only limit as you’ll see from these examples we found on the net… CORVETTE DESK
The rear of a late model Corvette is probably one of the most recognisable in the world of muscle cars. Making a desk out of a rear clip ensures any time spent at work would be enjoyable.
CHEVY TRUCK TOOL BOX.
This is the coolest tool box I have seen. Using a ’48 Chevy Truck nose cone, the owner made edge grille bar a sliding drawer!
HQ HOLDEN BENCH ELEANOR LOUNGE
Whilst it’s probably only a two seater lounger, this Eleanor Mustang inspired unit certainly looks the part. Just the thing to sit a watch Gone in 60 Seconds in.
Outdoors seating doesn’t always have to come from K-Mart or Bunnings. That old rusted HQ Ute could donate the last couple of feet off the back and have some timber slates added for an all-weather outdoors bench!
FRONT END VANITY
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I’d like to see someone do something like this on The Block! Take a small Euro car, snap the front end off and turn it into a Vanity! I could think of more stylish fronts to use, but I guess space has its limitations.
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MERCURY LEAD SLED COFFIN
MUSTANG POOL TABLE
We all have to die some day and what better way to send off that car guy/ girl than in a candy-coloured Mercury coffin? Available in any colour you can imagine, this would be the ultimate way to farewell a loved one.
I always thought that when my pool table needed recovering I would add the Killer Rides logo to its felt and maybe add some neon lights to “bling” it up. That doesn’t even come close to comparing with this cool, ’66 Mustang themed table…
KOMBI TV CABINET
Got an expensive TV in your man cave? Don’t take the chance that someone could rip it off. Use the back of a Kombi (or maybe a Holden/Ford/Chrysler panel van to house it in and lock it up when not being used.
EURO / JAP FISH TANK VW WINDOW DIE CAST DISPLAY
Once again, a VW Beetle has given inspiration for some wall art. Using the side glass and front door top (as well as a handle) to cover the same shape recessions in the wall where the diecast cars are displayed is clever. You could do the same theme with any cool shaped windows.
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Proving that money doesn’t buy taste, this Euro/Jap coupe has been turned into a mega-sized fish bowl. Each to their own I guess…
PETROL PUMP BASIN
Taking your man cave to the extreme means thinking right outside the box. If you’ve got a bathroom in your ‘cave’, why not build a car-themed tap and basin set like these. The more-simpler one uses an ex-petrol pump handle and a basin set into a tyre. Stepping up from there you could use a transmission case as the basin. Very clever use of old parts.
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VW BEETLE LOUNGE
What is it with VW-inspired furniture? This two and a half seater lounge uses a Beetle that has been sliced in half and then relieved of its roof and door. Pretty cool for the VW fanatic – and there’s lots of them out there too!
RECARO TOILET SEAT
TRANS-AM DESK
You could imagine Burt Reynolds himself sitting at this desk doing deals all over the place. The iconic Trans-am front complete with the “Chicken” on the bonnet and the honeycomb wheels make this one more than desirable for fans of the Bandit!
V8 ENGINE COFFEE TABLE
Probably the most likely item to find its way into any man cave – after all, we’ve all killed an engine at some stage. The clever use of rods and pistons to hold the glass top makes this one a winner.
Ok, so this one begs the question, WHY? Maybe an ex-race driver who likes to be comfy when using the facilities? Whatever the case, you’re aim would have to be better than what I have seen recently…
HZ GTS BARBEQUE
This is so cool and very practical. The front clip of an HZ GTS transformed to house a BBQ with accessories and even drink holders! When your finished and cleaned up, simply close the bonnet to keep everything out of the weather! Awesome!
PICK UP TRUCK BED
Seeing just how popular old trucks are at the moment, this piece of furniture is probably the most expensive we’ve seen. Threequarters of this step-side truck has been converted into a bed fit for a King…or farmer.
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Out & About
TRIPLE reat
AMERICAN CAR NATIONALS QUEANBEYAN SHOWGROUNDS SEPTEMBER 17/18, 2018 WORDS/PICS – Paul Beck
T
It was a big couple of days at the Queanbeyan Showgrounds with the annual Swap Meet also hosting the American Car Nationals – which expanded to include everything from the Big Three! The Queanbeyan Swap Meet has been part of the scene in the area for many years and draws in swappers from all over the country all hoping to either buy or sell those items clogging up the garage. Some were lucky whilst others will take their gear and their cash to the next swap meet – wherever that may be. I didn’t make it to the swap meet on the Saturday, but from all some big-ticket items – namely complete cars, were bought on the spot and taken home. The western side of the Showground was completely full of swappers, even on the Sunday when I arrived, though I was more interested in the car show side of the event.
I knew the show was going to be big. Especially since the organisers have expanded the American Car Nationals to include Australian and English cars from GM, Ford and Chrysler. 42
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I knew the show was going to be big. Especially since the organisers have expanded the American Car Nationals to include Australian and English cars from GM, Ford and Chrysler. This change certainly increased the number of vehicles displayed on the oval, but also the variety on offer too. Still, the event leaned heavily to US iron and those into classic, custom and muscle cars were treated to a great mix of cool cars. There were lots of 55/56/57 Chev’s including a gorgeous red ’57 Sports Coupe, a huge array of all-era Mustangs and Corvettes and quite a few Hot Rods. Buicks are becoming popular now and this event attracted some of the nicest from a restored ’55 sedan to a wild, chopped up custom Ute too the most stunning ’60 pillarless hardtop I have seen for a long time. The bagged, big-rimmed and platinum coloured Buick coupe was to die for…
There were lots of 55/56/57 Chev’s including a gorgeous red ’57 Sports Coupe, a huge array of all-era Mustangs and Corvettes and quite a few Hot Rods.
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There were also many Australian built rides too. In the Holden ranks, early models were well represented but for me, the pick of the bunch was Justin Smith’s IMORTL VK Commodore sporting a killer twin-turbo LS combo that couldn’t be retained under the bonnet. The tubbed Group A replica was as tough as all hell! As you’d expect, Aussie Chargers also had a good showing with several on display along with a myriad of Valliant’s pushing the Mopar marque. Overall, it was a great day for a show with near perfect weather – blue skies with just a hint of wind. It was hard to believe it was only 10-degrees while I was there! With heaps of cars on display and a huge number of spectators flowing into the showgrounds, this is one event to put in your diary for next year…
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GEORGE TANTI - 1974 LH TORANA SEDAN WORDS / PICS - Paul Beck
GOING
FOR GOLD
What initially started out as a tick off his bucket list of dreams, Godwin Tanti soon found himself in a 5-year ordeal of painstakingly building the best Torana he possibly could. 48
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Godwin, “George” to his mates, had wanted a nice, street-driven Torana for as long as he could remember. With family, business and everything else taken care of, it was time for him to reach his goal. It didn’t take long for the 60-year old Tiler to track down a suitable starting point – a well-used 202-powered LH sedan, and before too long, the new project was underway. There was never any doubt that the Torana was going to get a new V8 heartbeat and that came in the form of a 350ci, “Gen V” Vortex Chev crate engine. The complete small block was originally scheduled to be used by his older brother Tom, but when he succumbed to cancer, George decided to use the engine as a fitting tribute to his brother. As it had been sitting around for a while, George had Big Leo at BL Automotive strip the engine down to give it the once over. In standard form, these engines are good for around 330hp, but after Leo added some new goodies such as the 750hp Holley Carb, Edelbrock intake, roller cam, larger valves and a wild set of custom headers, the engine now boasts 450hp – more than enough to keep George cruising with a smile on his face! Check out the detailing on and around the new and improved 350! They never looked that good from the factory!
In standard form, these engines are good for around 330hp, but after Leo added some new goodies such as the 750hp Holley Carb, Edelbrock intake, roller cam, larger valves and a wild set of custom headers, the engine now boasts 450hp!
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The mix of polished alloy, HPC coating and Candy Gold paint is an absolute winner, no doubt contributing to a string of trophies the Torana has amassed since its completion. Continuing with the driveline, George had Joe at Wollongong Automatics build a suitable Turbo 400 to back the engine. The stronger box is fitted with a 9-inch converter with a stall speed of 4000rpm. Gear selections are more precise now thanks to a B&M shifter. Not wanting to take any chances with the factory rear end, George swapped it over to a narrowed 9-inch with 3.5-gears inside the Detroit Locker centre. A pair of 15x10 polished B45 Simmons hang off the diff and fill the mini-tubs nicely. The front wheel’s measure 15x6-inches for that tough street look.
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Whilst the driveline was getting sorted, George had Mohammed at Candy Man Customs relieve the Torana’s panels of all imperfections before any colour was added. George was adamant that the Torana be coated in Gold and after a few test panels, the boys decided upon a modified version of House of Kolor’s Candy Gold. The new mix has found its way not only onto the body and engine bay, but also the entire undercarriage where it competes with an abundance of HPC coating for attention. It’s obvious George is a fussy bugger, with a level of attention lavished onto the Torana like a seasoned show car. The body received some not-so-subtle modifications before the colour was laid on. The most noticeable are the hole in the bonnet for the Shotgun Scoop to hang through and the relocation of the number plate from between the taillights to under the rear bumper bar. Most of the badges have been removed along with the side mouldings and if you look closely, you’ll notice that the external door handles are now gold plated instead of chromed…
George was adamant that the Torana be coated in Gold and after a few test panels, the boys decided upon a modified version of House of Kolor’s Candy Gold.
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The interior was the one area that George struggled with. Not the style, but the colour. He thought long and hard about the right colour to blend in with the paint, but couldn’t bring himself to follow the trend of white or tan. After looking at the combination of the body colour and the red cover George had over the Torana, his mind was made – red it was! Paul Quinlan from P&L Quinlan Auto Upholstery was given the nod to transform the Torana’s insides into something more suited to the rest of the build. Using plenty of red marine vinyl, Paul covered the headlining, rear bench seat and front sports seats, dash top, steering wheel and door trims. Against the gold of the body, the interior stands out like a beacon in the night. The dash facia has been plastic chromed with the factory gauges complimented with more accurate (and much better looking) AutoMeter dials. Billet door handles are added to the door trims to complete the picture. A huge polished fuel cell now lives amongst the red carpet in the boot leaving little space for anything else.
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With the car completed and the rego and engineers happy to sign off on it, George has been having a ball realising his longtime ambition to cruise his very own, street-elite Torana. So, what’s next? “This is it for me”, George explained. “I’m 60 years old and will just keep enjoying this car for as long as I possibly can!” Can’t argue with that I guess…
TRICK OR TREAT!
Now where is my Kandy!
Drop in and see the latest and greatest in Kustom Kolors at our stand at the Adelaide Auto Expo, 16th - 17th November 2018. hok@brisbanerefinish.com.au
OWNER: Godwin “George” Tanti VEHICLE: 1974 LH Torana ENGINE: 350ci Chev Vortex crate engine, 750cfm Holley HP carb, Edelbrock intake manifold, factory alloy heads, roller hydraulic cam, Gen V block, Hypertek pistons, moly rings, factory crank and rods, Manley valve springs, 2.02 & 1.60 valves, Mellings oil pump, modified sump, Holley fuel pump, custom headers and exhaust system, all HPC coated, MSD 6AL ignition with Pro Billet distributor, custom radiator. POWER: 450hp TRANS: Turbo 400 auto, 9.5” converter, 4000rpm stall, B&M shifter. DIFF: 9-inch, 3.5-gears, Detroit Locker centre. WHEELS: 15x6 & 15x10 Polished B45 Simmons SUSPENSION: Front: King Springs with Pedders Shocks Rear: QE-1 Coil overs. BRAKES: Commodore disc front and rear. VT calipers front and VN calipers rear. COLOUR: Modified House of Kolor Candy Gold by Candy Man Customs. THANKS TO: Big thanks to my brother Joe Tanti for helping me. Without his help, the car would still be in the shed. Big Leo from BL Automotive for the engine build. Joe Condello and Kevin Johnstone for the fabrication work on the car. Joe from Wollongong Automatics for the gearbox. Peter Quinlan from P&L Quinlan Auto Upholstery in Oak Flats for the great interior. My nephew Frank Tanti who helped out. Mohammed from Candy Man Customs for the great job on the body and paint. And lastly, a very big special thanks to my best, best mate Graeme Martin for the best wiring job. Thanks everyone…
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FORD POWERED DRAG NATIONALS - HEATHCOTE PARK RACEWAY WORDS - PAUL BECK PHOTOS - XPOSED PHOTOGRAPHY
l a v O e lu GROUND BBATTLE After the success of the recent Holden Powered Nationals, it was only fair that the Blue Oval brigade got their chance to show what they’ve got… 58
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Around 120 Fords and Ford-powered vehicles made their way to Heathcote Park Raceway for the annual event with cars coming from as far as Sydney and Adelaide in order to take home the bragging rights in each bracket. As you’d expect, tough early Falcon’s dominated the entrant list, but that’s not to say there wasn’t an interesting mix of cars all eager to get down the Heathcote quarter. Turbo 6-packs have become increasing popular and at this meet, that style of engine combo was fitted to many different vehicles including the usual late-model Falcon’s, but also an F100, a couple of Cortina’s, a ZC Fairlane, Territory and even a VS Commodore Ute! Blown, turbo’d, nitrous and naturally-aspirated V8’s still made up the majority of the field though. Being a new event on the Ford calender, the potential for this meet to grow in leaps and bounds is more than obvious. Under the guidance of Todd Foley, the Ford Powered Nationals is here to stay. Let the blue oval brigade rejoice…
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As you’d expect, tough early Falcon’s dominated the entrant list, but that’s not to say there wasn’t an interesting mix of cars all eager to get down the Heathcote quarter.
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“DTM Automotive” NA V8 Class
1st Place - Luca Cascianelli (351c XD Falcon)
2nd Place - Dushko Smilevski (383c XD Falcon)
“Tuff Mounts” Boosted 6cyl Class
1st Place - Braiden Hargrave (Turbo SOHC EF Falcon) 2nd Place - Aaron Madex (Turbo SOHC EL Falcon)
“Joel’s Garage Gear” Boosted v8 Class
1st Place - Tony Muscara (Blown v8 Mustang)
2nd Place - Frank Marchese (T/Turbo XW Falcon)
“Geelong Differential “Outlaw Class” 1st Place - Mark Jachman (Nit. 250 xflow XF Falcon)
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2nd Place - Ante Segavac (Nitrous 393c XY Falcon)
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REMEMBERING
! d n e g e AL
2018 LAURIE STARLING MEMORIAL PICNIC PENRITH LAKES, REGATTA CENTRE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH 2018
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It may have been raining on his parade, but a diehard group of mates braved the wet weather for a get-together to remember a mate… 67
Laurie Starling was a car guy. A hands-on master craftsman that knew no boundaries when creating custom rides for his customers, who ultimately became his mates. Whilst well-known in the mini-truck scene, Laurie ventured into the custom car realm creating timeless masterpieces that will keep his legacy alive and kicking for many years to come. I first met Laurie in 1994. Whilst still in the latter part of his schooling, Laurie and his mates had rung me about bringing their custom Lowrider pushbikes to my indoor event in Wollongong – the Hot Car Titles. I was blown away by the talent these guys had in creating jaw-dropping, chrome plated bikes. They really were works of art. I remember saying to my brother that these guys are going to be big in the scene if they move into cars. From that event, Laurie and I became good mates. Even though I may have only caught up with him a few times a year, his passion for all things custom always shone through. He was always smiling and was always talking about the next project and how excited he was to be working on “such and such’s car”. Laurie had time for everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone. That’s how I remember Laurie. Like so many who have been infected by his enthusiasm, I still struggle to believe that he has been taken away from us. But thankfully, the memories we all created over the years will keep him in our hearts.
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Laurie had time for everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone. That’s how I remember Laurie.
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Each year, Laurie’s family – and by that, I mean his immediate family and his good mates who he treated as family, get together to celebrate the life that was. This year was to be no different. During the persistent downpours, and in amongst many cars that Laurie had impacted on, many yarns were told amongst mates and each time there were smiles and laughter.
The crew also held an auction to raise funds for the Laurie Starling Scholarship that gets awarded to a promising young craftsman at the Summernats each year, keeping the art of customising alive and well. Sure, the rain may have scared a few people off, but those who did attend the regatta centre, had a great time. One thing is a certainty, Laurie would have been looking down over everyone with that massive smile happening‌
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BACKYARD BLITZ After spotting a mates Ute mid build, Owen Navybox decided he too wanted to build a tough Valiant Ute. And so the search began...
Valiant Ute’s aren’t that easy to come by. In the overall scheme of things, there was probably one Valiant sold for every 30 or 40 Holden’s and Ford’s. It’s not that the Valiant was a bad car, it’s just that Holden and Ford had been around a lot longer and people tend not to break habits when purchasing new cars. It took one look at his mates VE Ute for Owen to decide he wanted one too. His mate, being a plumber, had been using his Valiant as a daily work hack complete with steel racks and a myriad of body war wounds. Then out of the blue, he decided that his trusty Valiant was to get a makeover. When Owen rocked up, the Ute was mid-way through its overhauling. It had been slammed on the ground, the pipe racks removed and was sporting a big V8. That was it. Our man Owen was hooked and instantly started thinking about his own project. At the time, Owen and his mate were both residents of Tweed Heads. After Owen made the move to the Illawarra, the desire to have his very own Ute was too strong to ignore. Wanting the same model Valiant as his mates - a 1967 VE - was going to be a big ask. You just don’t see them around. That is unless your name is Owen and you just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The place was Milperra, and out of the corner of his eye as he drove passed, Owen spotted a beige and primergrey VE Ute amongst the Trade-In fleet at a dodgy car yard. Thinking that the Ute was probably going to get sold for scrap metal, Owen couldn’t help himself and
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went back to the yard looking for a bargain. What he found was a well-worn Ute with two flat tyres and four different Ford rims. Oh, and the fan belt had gone AWOL. Still, it was the right model and the chances of finding one any better was pretty slim, so a deal was done. Owen then drove home to Wollongong, picked up a mate and a car trailer and drove straight back to the car yard to collect his purchase. The whole deal cost $1300 for the car, trailer hire and a carton of beer for his mate. That day kicked off a ritual where Owen and his mates would congregate in the shed, share some beer and some laughs and occasionally do some work on the tired old Val. The boys had some work ahead of them with the sheet metal around the Ute showing plenty of signs of misuse, hard work and old age. Still, there was no time limit on the rebuild, so the crew did what they could, when they could. Eventually what seemed like an eternity of grinding, welding, filling and rubbing; the Valiant’s body was ready to have some colour squirted on. Owen did the final prep himself so that Joshua Marimin could lay the Turquoise on, over a ready to go platform inside the booth at Shane’s Spray Painting in Unanderra. Owen is the first to admit he’s not a trained panel beater, but thanks to Corey Baker’s persistence in showing him the ropes, Owen took to the task full of confidence and the end result speaks for itself. The paint covers a body that has had the mouldings and badges removed for a cleaner, smoother look.
Thinking that the Ute was probably going to get sold for scrap metal, Owen couldn’t help himself and went back to the yard looking for a bargain. 81
That day kicked off a ritual where Owen and his mates would congregate in the shed, share some beer and some laughs and occasionally do some work on the tired old Val.
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Complimenting the colour is a set of oldschool, but still way cool Centerline Auto Drag rims that have been highly polished to match the new grille, re-chromed bumpers (the rear is from a wagon - try finding one of those!) and refurbished tail lights. Measuring 15x4.5-inches and a whopping 15x12-inches, the wheel combo offers a Pro-Street look without going to Extremes. The newly-coloured body covers an underside that has had quite a few changes implemented to make the Ute handle and steer much better than it did in 1967. Obviously, there’s been some work performed to the rear wheel tubs to get that bigger wheel and tyre under the Valiant’s bum. Shane Grant took on the job of mini-tubbing the rear and sorting out the suspension to make it all work properly. The torsion bar front end is still retained, but now has the added benefit of having a rack and pinion steering setup adapted to help the old girl steering like a new car. Fitting the rack meant that Owen had to change the steering column shaft and modify the driver’s side headers, but the effort was well worth it. Disc brakes have been fitted to each corner to complete the underside refurbishment.
The interior is practical, but no less as stylish as any number of show cars. The bench seat (with centre fold-down armrest) has been repadded and covered in Grey velour as have the door trims and headlining. Retractable seat belts have been included in the interior makeover as has a combination Sony and Soundstream sound system comprising of a flip out LCD screen, two 200W amps and no less than four 250w speakers with colour coded covers. The dash copped a couple of coats of body colour as did the base on the Hurst shift. The steering wheel is the original item that has been two-toned in turquoise and silver to great effect. The informative dash was once part of a ‘770’ Valiant but looks so much better in Owens Ute. The sight of his mates Ute with a V8 firmly in place obviously stuck in Owen’s mind because there was no way he was going to settle for a six pack of any description. For Owen, it was eight cylinders or none at all. Eventually settling on a 360-cube small block, Owen decided mild was better than wild for a cruiser and set about using parts that were reliable as well as offering a certain level of performance.
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A lot of reconditioned original parts were fitted back into the four-bolt block with an upgrade to the cam and pistons marking the only changes. It’s the same deal with the cast iron heads. They’ve been rebuilt using slightly larger valves to offer a lifetime of cruising without any fuss. A 750cfm Holley carb feeds the engine the right amount of air and unleaded fuel and is hidden under the chrome air cleaner. Providing the spark is an electronic distributor ably helped out by an MSD coil and leads combo. Mild steel Pacemaker headers offer an escape route for the spent gases which flow through a dual 2.5-inch system before reaching the rear of the Ute. Part two of the driveline is a 727 Torqueflyte auto that gets its gear selections via the Hurst “Pro-Matic 2” shifter. Like the engine, the box has been built keeping reliability as the main ingredient. The diff is a nine-inch item that has been narrowed before being fitted with the LSD centre and 31-spline billet axles supplied by Illawarra Gear and Diff.
The 360-cube small block has been built to be both reliable and a decent performer without being painful to use regularly.
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With the rego process passed easily and with the new plates secured, Owen and his family can now enjoy the Valiant as much as they can. After 13 long years, he’s not even contemplating any changes - that would interfere with their cruising time...
138 DUNSTERS LANE, CROOM, NSW 2527 20-minutes South of Wollongong
OWNER: Owen Navybox VEHICLE: 1967 VE Valiant Ute ENGINE: 360ci small block Chrysler, mild cam, larger valves, 750cfm Holley carb, Pacemaker headers, dual 2.5inch exhaust system. POWER: Enough for the street TRANS: 727 auto, Hurst Pro Matic 2 shifter. DIFF: Nine inch, 31-spline billet axles, LSD centre SUSPENSION: Front: Torsion bar front end, lowered, rack and pinion steering Rear: Mini tubbed, relocated springs BRAKES: Front: Disc Rear: Disc WHEELS: 15x4.5 and 15x12-inch Centreline Auto Drag COLOUR: Turquoise THANKS TO: Shane Grant for doing the mods to fit the wheels under on the rear; Corey Baker for teaching me how to straighten the panels during four years in his panel shop; Josh Marimin for the final coat of paint; Shane’s Spray Painting in Unanderra for the use of his spray booth; My family and friends who contributed to the build over the years.
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STANDARD AND PERFORMANCE ENGINE REBUILDING SERVICE SUPER FLOW ENGINE DYNO MOTORS WITH MUSCLE PERFORMANCE SPARES IN STOCK PH 02 4256 0100 Mob 0418 431 518 PRECISION MACHINE WORK INBOARD MARINE SPECIALISTS MACHINE WORK INBOARD MARINE PERFORMANCE SPARES
SUPER FLOW ENGINE DYNO STANDARD & PERFORMANCE REBUILDING
138 DUNSTERS LANE, CROOM NSW 2527 Email: sre_mc@hotmail.com
PH 02 4256 0100
Email: sre_mc@hotmail.com
MOBILE 0418 43151885
UNCLEJed
Robert Killian - 1928 A Model Sedan Words/Pics – Tommy Lee Byrd
There are only so many ways to build a Ford Model A, but it is great to see a guy with extreme imagination to take an old steel body and turn it into one of the wildest drag cars you will ever see. 88
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Canton, Georgia resident, Robert Killian is the proud owner of this 1928 Model A sedan, and he certainly played a big part in making this over-the-top hot rod a reality. “Uncle Jed” gets lots of attention at car shows and cruise nights, but it really turns heads when it hits the track and puts the 820ci Jon Kaase Ford Hemi to work. In all reality, Robert has yet to lean on the combination. He has struggled with traction, which is understandable with 2,000 horsepower on tap, but he has it figured out and plans to turn the big- inch Hemi loose in the near future. If his mid-7 second quarter mile passes at more than 180 miles per hour are an indicator, Robert should dip into the 6’s at 200-plus miles per hour. We should also mention that Robert can realistically get his car out and drive it on the street, as it is completely street legal. It definitely isn’t what you’d call fuel efficient, and it is a bit more complicated than hopping in your average street/strip car, but he has driven the car on the street on a few occasions. Despite its “rat rod” appearance, the car is a work of art, in terms of the chassis, suspension and roll cage. Steve Tucker of Southeast Race Cars is responsible for the chassis work, and did a masterful job mixing a double frame rail chrome moly chassis with traditional hot rod parts such as a Pete & Jakes I-beam front axle. He set up the four-link rear suspension to have lots of adjustment, because they simply didn’t know what to expect with the old-style solid front axle.
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We should also mention that Robert can realistically get his car out and drive it on the street, as it is completely street legal.
They have most of the bugs worked out of the suspension, so the car yanks the front tires, and carries them nicely. A fabricated Pro Mod-style rear end is packed with high end components, including a Mark Williams 9.5-inch centre section, a 3.90 gear set and bullet proof 40-spline axles. Disc brakes are visible between the spokes of the Billet Specialties Comp 5 wheels, which measure 15x3.5 inches up front and 16x16 out back. Traction is provided by a set of Mickey Thompson tires, measuring 27.5x4.5-15 and 33x10.5-16W respectively. It’s a killer combination that gives the car a crazy hot rod appearance, while also serving a great purpose on the track. Horsepower is in abundance with Robert’s wild ’28 Model A sedan, and we could write an entire book about the top-secret tricks inside this engine. Robert, being a former IHRA Pro Stock racer, had used one of Jon Kaase’s awesome Hemi creations, so he knew it was the perfect choice for this build. He basically had Jon build an IHRA Pro Stock mountain motor, but change a few small details to make the car drivable on the street. In the end, Jon didn’t make many changes, because it is hard to make one of these engines mild enough for regular street duty.
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Jon started with a Dart billet aluminium block, which features five-inch bore spacing, and stuffed it with Diamond pistons, BME connecting rods and a Sonny Bryant crankshaft. The 820ci displacement is a result of a 4.78-inch bore and a 5.75-inch stroke. The oiling system is a Moroso dry sump, which keeps the mountain motor lubricated properly. Jon Kaase is secretive when it comes to his cylinder head and camshaft specifications, and that’s understandable with an engine of this caliber. Jon’s crew undoubtedly spends many hours tweaking the cylinder heads, and the HRE sheet-metal intake manifold is a oneoff piece to fit this particular engine. Up top is a pair of split Braswell carburetors, totaling 2,800cfm, which drinks a steady flow of VP C23 race fuel. The Ford Hemi breathes through a set of hand-fabricated stainless steel headers, fit with Burns mufflers, creating a unique sound. With 2,000 horsepower and 1,800 ft-lb of torque, the ATI SuperGlide transmission and eightinch torque converter has quite the task to transfer all that energy to the rear wheels. Without a doubt, the car gets lots of attention, thanks to its super low stance, long wheelbase and chopped top.
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Despite its “rat rod” appearance, the car is a work of art, in terms of the chassis, suspension and roll cage. Steve Tucker of Southeast Race Cars is responsible for the chassis work, and did a masterful job mixing a double frame rail chrome moly chassis with traditional hot rod parts such as a Pete & Jakes I-beam front axle.
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The long wheelie bars, dual parachutes and a massive scoop that is higher than the roof line offers the cartoonlike appearance that everyone loves. So far, Robert’s best pass is a 7.40 at 184 miles per hour, but he plans to continue tweaking the combination until all of the issues are sorted out. For now, he enjoys showing it off, and testing when he gets the chance. It’s certainly an eye-catching hot rod with an amazing amount of craftsmanship in each and every component. Without a doubt, Uncle Jed is the World’s fastest ‘28 Ford, but he’s bound to go even faster as long as Cowboy Bob is driving!
In all reality, Robert has yet to lean on the combination. He’s struggled with traction, which is understandable with 2,000 horsepower on tap, but he has it figured out and plans to turn the big- inch Hemi loose in the near future.
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OWNER: Robert Killian VEHICLE: 1928 A Model Ford Tudor ENGINE: 820ci Kaase Hemi, Dart aluminium block, Diamond pistons, BME con rods, Sonny Bryant crank, HRE sheet metal intake, twin split Braswell 1400cfm carbs, hand fabricated stainless headers, Burns mufflers. POWER: 2000hp / 1800 lb-ft torque TRANS: ATI Superglide, 8-inch converter, DIFF: Fabricated Pro-Mod rear, 9.5-inch centre, 3.90-gears, 40-spline axles SUSPENSION: Front: Pete and Jakes I-Beam Rear: Adjustable four-link BRAKES: Front: Disc Rear: Disc WHEELS: Front: 15x3.5” & 16x16” Billet Specialties Comp 5 COLOUR: Rat Rod Patina THANKS TO: Steve Tucker of Southeast Race Cars, Jon Kaase Racing Engines
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Joe Keating’s Chev-powered Cortina was as tough as nails. Thanks to some photo shop trickery, we can show you what was happening behind that front clip without having to remove it... PIC BY PAUL BECK
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Window Shopping SPEEDFLOW AT SPEEDPRO
Speedflow are well known for supplying top quality Australian made hose fittings. This year Speedflow are celebrating their 35th year of supplying hose fittings to every facet of the motorsport industry. These fittings are just a sample of the new products available from Speedflow with more coming off the machines every week. Call Speed Pro for all your hose and fitting needs on (03) 9794 5177 or check them out on the web at www.speedpro.com.au.
BOOSTane – HORSEPOWER IN A BOTTLE
BOOSTane makes it easy to convert your regular pump fuel to a much higher octane, all from the safety and convenience of a small bottle in your boot area whenever you need it. Some older cars need it for poor detonation others want the Horsepower benefit. Whatever the reasons, it’s never been easier to treat you ride with the fuel it deserves. In most cases, gains of up to 116 Octane have been seen. Distributed within Australia by the team at Ziggys Design Driven, BOOSTane is the easiest way to unleash your engines horsepower potential. Contact Ziggy now on (0409) 737710 for more info or jump onto the BOOSTane Australia Facebook page for more info.
OXYTECH EASY PHOS FOR BARE METAL PANELS
SHRINKER STRETCHERS FOR ALL BUDGETS FROM METALMAN TOOLS
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Metal Man Tools are now offering 3 Shrinker Stretcher models to suit all metal fabricators budgets. Firstly there is the smaller bench mount, lever operated units sold as a pair for the home builder and also the sturdy foot operated stand that can be added to the bench mount units (shown in the picture) and the professional unit for the serious home builder and larger volume fabricators. All models come with both shrinking and stretching jaws and are extremely effective and easy to use although the foot operated units do make the larger work pieces easier to manage by freeing both hands to hold the work. For more information or a catalogue and price list on these or the many other products from Metal Man Tools simply phone 0447406980 or email sales@metalmantools.com.au or check out their website www.metalmantools.com.au
Oxytech’s EASY PHOS is a one-step phosphate, degreaser and sealer for bare metal protection. EASY PHOS is specifically formulated as a pre-paint treatment for steel, galvanised steel and aluminium and is easily applied by aerosol, spray gun or brush. EASY PHOS, when dry, protects the surface from surface rust, fingerprints, etc during temporary indoor storage (usually for 6 months or more). EASY PHOS performs a conversion of the metal surface by the deposition of a phosphate layer, which is then sealed with a purpose-formulated organic polyphosphate. Most powder coatings and solvent based paints used to coat steel and/or aluminium are compatible with EASY PHOS. Available in 300g aerosol cans, 5-litre, 20-litre and 200-litre drums to suit all applications. Phone Oxytech on 1300 353655 or jump onto www.oxytech.com.au to see their full range of products.
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Factory Options 2018 BULLITT MUSTANG
BITING THE BULLITT With just 700 of the specially modified Mustangs being built for sale, will you be one of the lucky ones to get yourself a movie Icon?
Owning one of these special Mustangs does come at a premium though with an increase of a little over $10,000 over the price of the manual GT Fastback – which is the vehicle the Bullitt edition is based on. Expect a price tag of about $73,000 and change as a starting point (plus on road costs of course!). The 2018 version of the famous ’68 Bullitt-movie Hero car, should be in dealerships around the same time as this Issue of Killer Rides hits the stands – mid October which coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Movie. What a way to celebrate! So what do you get for your bucks? Distinctive Bullitt badging and a darkened grille accent the Dark Highland Green paint colour and unique 19-inch Torq Thrust wheels in gloss black complete the visual package. Those in the US will also get the option of Shadow
Black instead of the green body colour. Engine wise, the Ford technicians have beefed up the 5-litre engine to produce an extra 6kW – not a huge increase, but then again, 345kW and 556Nm is a nice package for the general punter. No doubt those with a passion for horsepower will easily get more than that out of the engine. The power increase is gained through an open-air induction and reworked intake manifold with 87mm throttle bodies. All 700 Bullitt Mustangs will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox only – forget about ticking the box for the Auto version, it’s not there to tick! The “MagneRide” damping system comes standard on the Bullitt Mustang and the drive, steering and exhaust functions can be played with to suit your needs and style.
All 700 Bullitt Mustangs will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox only – forget about ticking the box for the Auto version, it’s not there to tick! 102
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Inside, the Bullitt gets a build number plaque on the passenger side of the dash along with Bullitt scuff plates, green stitching on the dash and door trims and front seats that are heated and cooled. There is an option for sportier Recaro seats if you have the necessary dollars to spare. There’s a 12inch screen in the dash and the gear shifter gets a white “cue-ball” gear knob and custom shifter boot. All in all, with just 700 Bullittinspired cars available and showing just how popular the Mustang has been since its release in its modern form, Ford won’t have these sitting around for too long. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are already spoken for. If you’re keen, better get of the computer and get on the phone to your local dealership. Good luck…
Ford won’t have these sitting around for too long. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are already spoken for.
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CALL PAUL e v i t a v o n n I t e G (0432) 795336 with your TO SECURE ! g n i s YOUR SPOT i t r e v Ad paul@killerrides.com.au