QT 308 block turbo pattern

[L31 Sandman]

I came across a 308 block today and did the usual check the number and cast date. It is QT753387 and is a Turbo pattern block. Is a turbo pattern block with a QT number fairly rare or common.

I guess I better change my avatar pic too

[HK1837]

Yes and no. TH400 was a VERY expensive option if a manual was standard (like in everything except Premier and Statesman), but there were a lot of HJ-HZ Statesmans made. However these all have 11 in front of the QT so that narrows down the QT prefixed TH blocks a fair bit. Most of those you find are either 5.0L HJ-HZ Premier/LS or GTS, plus a small percentage from Belmont, Holden and Kingswood. Plus we know 580 of them were in HX LE, 106 in HJ LS. TH400 was also much more common in GTS than it was on 5.0L optioned Holden, Belmont or Kingswood. It was also standard behind 308 on 1-tonner.

[Absinth]

I'd say T400 was most common in HZ Prems with 5.0L option. Whenever I saw a 5.0L badge on the back of a Prem I jump in the drivers seat and think wow.... Nice car and it has a GTS woodgrain dash as well!!! Pity it's an auto...... Not too often I would think...... Cool, it's a four speed....

Back when I was a youngin...... Autos were a "lazy mans car".

[HK1837]

Sean is spot on, but not too often you find a 5.0L Premier either. Maybe 1 in 20 or less. The reason a Premier is probably the most common application of TH400 in a Holden is because auto was standard on Premier for HJ-HZ. But the most common application of TH400 by far in HQ-HZ is on Statesman. There were thousands of HQ 350 TH400 Statesmans made, and probably teens of thousands of HJ-HZ Statesmans.

[L31 Sandman]

Thanks guys, can you give me a rough idea when this block was made using the engine number provided and all the info you have. The block cast date has been smoothed off!!!

[HK1837]

It'll be from a Jun-July-August 1976 build depending upon the assembly plant. 5.0L engines were slow movers and could have sat around so even September at the outside. So HJ or HX. Cast date will be 1976 prior to then probably March-April possibly even Feb or May or even June.

[Absinth]

Yep, my Brisbane built July 76 HX 308 Monaro had a 700000 engine number with a cast date of March 76. It was another cocked up plate stamping by Acacia Ridge as the vin had a T for 308 but the body plate was stamped L32 for a 253. I ended up on selling it as everyone I spoke to at the time said it de-valued the car as it would be assumed it had been messed with as in a body swap etc.