May 06, 2013

Turbo Holden Grey Motor

Came across this old article.  Nice to see a turbo Grey.  I have never seen one in real life but I'm guessing there are still a few out there.

What better way to begin building the perfect car than with a brand new body shell.  This is how Peter Campo began building “The Wedge”. The new old stock bodyshell was bougit in Albury in 1968.  Work didn't commence until January 1973 and the FX has been on the road and appeared in shows I for over seven years. Many changes have I been made to the car since 1980 with continual  upgrading to its present high standard.  At first glance it would appear that Peter's FX is stock bodied, almost a restoration except for the chrome wire wheels.  But this is definitely not the case. Peter is a spray painter, so naturally did all his own paintwork and also performed the subtle body modification.  The new body shell has not been altered but the rear doors have been widened one inch and the rear guards have had 1 and ½  inches added to them retaining the original lines.  The front guards have been widened two inches at the front and tapers down to one inch at the back of the guard.  To maintain the original proportions on the front guard.  Peter has moved the headlight rims forward one inch.  To match the widened guards both the front and rear stone trays and bumper bars have been widened four inches.  As a final touch the rear number plate has been slightly recessed into the bootlid.  All modifications have been carried out it such a way that they are barely noticeable and appear to be factory original.

Peter’s FX is one of the very few modified Holdens that’s doesn’t run a red motor or a V8.  Instead it uses a turbocharged EJ Holden motor. It nuns a sheet crank, solid mains, forged pistons and modified cam.  The head has been modified to make maximum advantage of the turbocharger.  Fuel is carried in the stock tank and transferred to the motor through a 1 inch stainless steel wet line at 7 lbs. pressure and metered into the engine by a two inch S.U. carb.  Water injection is also fitted.

Complete exhaust system is stainless steel from W: inch to two inch at the rear.  Behind the motor is a bellhousing specially manufactured by Rare Spares to bolt the Opel four sped gearbox to the grey motor. The original king pin type front end has been replaced with a HR crossmember fitted with HZ Holden stubs and discs and gas filled shook absorbers.  Steering arms are original although Rare Spares have made a ball jointed drag link which is to be fitter in the near future. Tho rear suspension has been improved with the addition or one extra leaf and a thicker main leaf in each spring.  The rebound on the springs is dampened by gas tilled shock absorbers.  The diff is a Holden one tonner housing with a Salisbury 3.08:1 centre and SLR 5000 axles and disc brakes.  Rear wheels are 14x10 chrome Trepoke wires with low prolile B.F. Goodrich IA radlals 265x5oxt4.  Front wheels are 14x8 chrome Tru-spokes with 246x5ox14 TIA's Polished stainless steel brake lines are used throughout the car.  Front and rear sway bars have been specially made by Rare Spares and all chromed suspension components have been heat treated.

As with the exterior, the interior has been fully refurbished without deviating greatly from the original theme.  Front and rear seats are stock as is the dash except for a Nasco accessory gauge panel fitter below the speedo.  Seats and door panels are upholstered in blue-grey leather with embroidered cloth panel inserts.  Grey felt is used for the headlining.  The boot area is fully trimmed to match the interior.  Every single piece of rubberware used in the car is reproduction were supplied by Rare Spares. Rare Spares also supplied the other reproduction parts used In the rebuild as well as the electrical work and other previously mentioned components.  Other companies involved with the rebuild were Sunny Autos and trlmworit by Edward Downs 8 Sons. 

The rebuild originally took seven months to complete but that was over seven years ago.  Since then various improvements have been carried out plus a few more minor changes are planned, all in the name of detailing which makes Peter's FX a most outstanding example at Holden's first model.
 



Norman supercharger for Holden Grey Motor

The Norman supercharger is probably the most well know supercharger for the Holden Grey motor.  These days there isn’t alot of them or information around but they still pop up from time to time.  There were a few variations including water and air cooled variants. 

In a recent Street machine article there was a FJ that many years ago fitted with a Norman charger ran a 12 second quarter mile.  That's quite impressive for a 2.3 litre motor build in the late 50's

Here are some pictures:




FB Holden Grey Motor with Repco Cross Flow head

An FB Holden utility with a rare Repco crossflow cylinder fitted on top of a "grey" 6 cylinder engine. Extractors and what looks like to be twin DCD Weber carburettors are also fitted. Video taken at the 21st FB - EK Holden Nationals, Narrandera, NSW, Sunday 13th June 2010.

Hot Grey Motor in FC



Here are the specs:

Short motor

Stock block, crank, rods & pistons
35-75 cam with steel timing gear
lightened flywheel
recurved dizzy
raised oil pressure (the ol’ washers behiend the spring trick)
fully balanced, clutch and all

Head & manifold

Shaved enough to raise compression to 8.6/1
179 intake valves in relieved chambers
hardened valve seats
runs premium unleaded fuel
ported intake & exhaust
Matching ported speco manifold with oversized mating rings
10mm alloy plate, Tig welded to manifold to head face to
clear 4 into 2 into 1 Extractors

Carbs

Triple 1-1/32 strombergs
fitted with venturi restrictors

Devilrod

Frogmouths were purchased from Alan Fountain Ph(02) 4392 2215
they come with the mesh and an adapter ring to holden strommies
as they are made for American stromberg 94′s

What problem?
The motor revs its ring out as some of our club members can atest.
Although I dont give it a hard time very often.
All I wanted to achieve was a lumpy idle, A nice sound through the gears & to look good to

Holden Grey Motor Speedway

 
The Holden Grey motor was used in quite a lot of speedway.  Most of these cars and motors would be long gone or buried at the back of sheds.  Lots scrapped.  Such a piece of Australian history.  Listen to the sound and enjoy.
 

 

Grey Motor Repco Cross Flow heads

Here are some extracts from Phil Irvins auto biography.
 
 
 
This head came up on eBay.  Quite rare these days although it's possible to get reproduction heads made up.  They are quite expensive but come as a complete kit with gaskets, valves and manifolds.