Quote: Originally Posted by NZER [View Post] Your doing an awesome job there bro! If it was me I'd be keeping the air con. Might pay to have a search about VL air con compressors. Not sure if Marty SS nut is running air con in his wagon. If he is, he could possibly help. I'm runing a later model compressor due to the efi engine and where it mounts on the motor. The 308's ran the compressor on a high mount bracket factory. Drivers side. In saying that you may be able to go with a low mount bracket and run a later model compressor. Cheers. I need to do a bit more homework. Air conditioning on a hot day is an attractive proposition. Getting spoiled in old age! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Back to work again! Removed the front windscreen, which came out rather easily. Didn't seem to have been fully sealed. A little bit of rust to clean up but nothing major. Thinking of using the VT style seal instead of the VL style seal when it comes time to fit the new screen. Looks a bit better and have heard that it seals better. Any one agree? Cleaned, rustkilled and primed the floor/fire wall drivers side where the windscreen seems to have leaked. Lucky it was only surface rust. Also repainted all interior plastic trim. A bit of a bugger but the so called colour match was anything but a match. The colour ended up baby blue/lavender instead!!! Wasted a bit of time and money on the first attempt. Second colour match was spot on and was well worth the extra $$$. Some of the interior bits after painting. Uncovered some ****in bad news. While stripping bits out of the engine bay. Found a 253 stamp on the block!!!. Very pissed off . I bought the car on the understanding that it was "definitely 110% a 308". When I first got it I tried to check the engine number just to make sure, but it was not very clear. I went back to the previous owner and was again told that it was a 308 not 253. Not very happy with this, as I seem to think that a 253 is complete waste of time. Now the good news. I have bought a 308 bored 60 thou with flat top pistons, new bearings and seals . Looks like I will be taking the engine out after all...haha Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

that blows it was a boat anchor after all, but awesome you got a 308 to throw in now. progress is looking good. def go with the VT rubber seal man, youi wont regret it. just take the metal loops out that clip to gutters to stop future rust and glue your hood lining in.

Quote: Originally Posted by NZ-SXYHDT [View Post] that blows it was a boat anchor after all, but awesome you got a 308 to throw in now. progress is looking good. def go with the VT rubber seal man, youi wont regret it. just take the metal loops out that clip to gutters to stop future rust and glue your hood lining in. Ta mate. It was a bit of a bummer, but at least I now have a way foward . Would not have been the same with a 253, would have had a nagging feeling if I carried on with it. My wifes civic would have been faster! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Started stripping the engine bay. Removed all the airconditioning, power steering and radiator items. Ill look at removing the engine in anticipation of fitting the new one. Found fair bit of surface rust up the front but nothing too serious. Ripped out the piece of **** exhaust - it was obviously high tech custom fabrication by looks of it hahaha!!! Close up of the seamless welds and mandrel bends. Might assemble it together as a work of art. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Keep up the good work,I have never seen a block with 253 stamped on it,My VH SS GP2 was a 253 but the block they used were still 308's just destroked.We do have air in the Sport wagon so it you need pics give me a yell.Also have wiring diagrams for it. Cheers Marty

Quote: Originally Posted by ss nut [View Post] Keep up the good work,I have never seen a block with 253 stamped on it,My VH SS GP2 was a 253 but the block they used were still 308's just destroked.We do have air in the Sport wagon so it you need pics give me a yell.Also have wiring diagrams for it. Cheers Marty Thanks mate. With the air, appreciate the offer. Ill see how I get on and will let you know if I need some info. Cheers. I was a bit confused with the engine capacity partly because the limited engine numbers that I could read suggest that it was high compression 253 out of a hq-hz. The new one will be about a 317 cause it has been bored. Atleast this will definiately be bigger than a 253! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Worked late last night. Managed to pull out the engine and trans. Was quite a mission which wasnt helped by not being able to hire a crane. Managed borrow one from an ex-mechanic (it was a homemade job, but worked a treat) Started prepping the engine bay - gonna keep it black. Toyed with the idea of changing the colour, but a little bit too much involved. Also just removed a few redundant brackets. Will look at removing steering rack, struts etc. this weekend. Hopefully will make good progress! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Paint it body colour bro! You are half way there now. Remove the battery plate and relocate it to the boot. Fill all the unused holes and fill the indent on the drivers side wheel arch. Think I'm going to do it. Evens out the engine bay IMO. You are making good progress.

Quote: Originally Posted by NZER [View Post] Paint it body colour bro! You are half way there now. Remove the battery plate and relocate it to the boot. Fill all the unused holes and fill the indent on the drivers side wheel arch. Think I'm going to do it. Evens out the engine bay IMO. You are making good progress. Youre a trouble maker haha. Just kidding. Ive had a nagging feeling that the black engine bay doesnt seem right. Youre probably right - body colour will be a better solution. At least with the engine out its a hell of a lot easier. Not a bad idea regarding the battery, something I hadnt thought of. Probably gonna do it now too! Thanks for the input, greatly appreciated Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Engine bay has to be the same colour as the body,Just does not look right otherwise. Cheers Marty

Most do it with engine in and bay stays original colour when doing a repsrays. Your motors already out so your a step ahead, do it while you can mate, you will regret it otherwise. Gives that complete look too when you pop bonnet.

You are all right . Thanks for the advice guys, I would have regretted later if it stayed black. Ill paint it body colour ( panorama silver). Ive already started stripping out bits and pieces, and will smooth some parts of the engine bay. I pulled out the front suspension, steering rack, took out battery tray and a few other brackets. Will probably end up replacing all the front bushes as well - as soon as I can separate a few seized items. More money, but might as well do it properly. Hopefully it wont be too expensive. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

MK 5s Nice car I had one of those when it was just 3 years old.Great old bus.Hard to find a good one now days. Cheers Marty

Quote: Originally Posted by ss nut [View Post] MK 5s Nice car I had one of those when it was just 3 years old.Great old bus.Hard to find a good one now days. Cheers Marty Thanks Marty, glad you appreciate a classic! Bought it and restored it a few years ago, very complete and original. I am still a Holden fan (I also have a Ve SSV). Hopefully the photo wont offend the Holden followers. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I used to have a spare factory grill with the rectangle hella lights,But I sold them only a few moths ago when we moved,If I had known you could of had them for nothing.Bugga. They still are a nice looking car. Cheers Marty

Quote: Originally Posted by ss nut [View Post] I used to have a spare factory grill with the rectangle hella lights,But I sold them only a few moths ago when we moved,If I had known you could of had them for nothing.Bugga. They still are a nice looking car. Cheers Marty Thanks mate. I have acquired a few spare parts as I bought a pink stickered MK 5 and stripped it for parts. Unfortunate thing is that they are pretty rare now and parts are hard to come by. As you can see the VL is a bit of a change from the Cortina (V8 aswell ). No worries about the grill, appreciate the thought. Cheers Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Glad to hear your going with painting the bay body colour

Just a quick update. Started filling, sanding engine bay and trying not to get too carried away. Results are starting to look good - definitely the right decision . Still needs more filling and sanding - slow and painful but will be worth the extra effort. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

looking good man nice and smooth