The Holden Grey motor is often referred to as the Holden side plate. The engine earned its name as they were painted grey from the factory. They came in 2 sizes, 138ci and 132ci. More engineering and after market modifications have gone into this engine than any other engine in Australian automotive history.

August 05, 2014

12 Second Grey motor - The Judge

08:07 Posted by GreyFC 1 comment


Allan McGullaguh’s beautiful new D/A runner “The Judge” has made an impressive start to laying down the law.  Already the vehicle has chopped a sizeable slice from it’s calss record, knocking it to a new low of 12.7 sec.

With it’s career just beginning, the side-plater Holden rig has been cutting a swath in both show and drag competition, and so far shows no signs of stopping”

The Wynnum workshops of Alan's employer Jeff Amos, were responsible for the body  (Amos' "standard”  Altered), seat, front spokies and rear mags.  The rest of the work was done by Alan, Sid Simpson and friends, with all the Amos facilities at their dis-posal. 

Of course the heart of every beast is the mill — and who said side-plates are history? A Wade cam was considered a good grind to match the other modifications and really hurries it along older the of a brace of...

Sid and Alan did all their own head work, though their attentions were somewhat extreme, as demonstrated by the team's prolific usage of head gaskets. The 149 pistons are flat top.  
An X2 clutch is used and has done a great job in taking the load in second gear hole-outs. The 92 in. wheelbase frame is of 16 gauge tube construction. ½ in. for the top rail and I ¼ for the lower. The glossy black finish covers brazing by Barry Covington. 


The narrowed Austin 4.1:1 diff with 43 in. track is solid mounted, and turns Amos wheels wearing 7 in. slicks. 

The front cod sports a trick torsion bar so-up with shock absorbers of friction material built in. The axle is a straight tube type support......
Anglia spindle … the front spokies. 

The gas tank is the chromed Anglia vacuum variety mounted on the front cross-member — the hot set-up now-a-days. 

Inside it’s strictly business. A hydraulic handbrake lever (acting on rear wheels only) shares space with a custom wheel (working via Singer box) and shifter.  
Oil pressure and Arrow tachometer are the only two gauges. and Alan maintains these arc used for tuning more than anything else. 

Chrome has been lavished on virtually all but the body beautiful which is just that.  Decked out in Sultan Maroon, shot by Scott Hunting and sporting immaculately detailed sign work from long-time hot rodder Ron Drysdale.   It looks every pro a class winner.
This alone should make a 1m of other top runners sit up and take notice...





1 comment:

  1. great story of father & son rebuild, terrific job. stylish, not too overdone!

    ReplyDelete