515 hp 253

[HK1837]

If the Statesman was meant to be a stand alone car above Holden why then were they build based using a lot of interchangeable parts from their poorer cousins the Kingswood , Premier and Monaro etc, It would make a lot more sense to me if if they were a stand alone design and the argument was raised about them not being a Holden but to me they are top of the food chain so to speak in their model range and you can see the similarities.

There isn't any if about it. It is a straight fact that it is meant to be a different car line to the Holden. It is called economies of scale, the car would never get off the ground if it didn't share componentry and Engineering with the Holden. No different to Fairlane or LTD in Australia versus the Falcon/Fairmont car line. Or the Chrysler long wheelbase offering. There was no market hence profit in Australia to run 4-5 x different car lines which were all very different in external design and parts. GMH ran the Torana4/Gemini, the Torana/Sunbird, the Commodore, the Holden and the Statesman. The Sunbird and Torana shared components as did the Holden and Statesman. Early on the T size car (the predecessor to the Gemini) used earlier Torana componentry as the TA when the new LH was already around. GMH/Holden even continued old componentry into new series or at least ran an old series in parallel with a new series simply due to economics (examples include VS ute sold new into VXII, HD ute/van rear styling continuing into HR and also in parallel with HK for a while, V2II and V2III in parallel with VY and VYII).

[Innuendo]

If the Statesman was meant to be a stand alone car above Holden why then were they build based using a lot of interchangeable parts from their poorer cousins the Kingswood , Premier and Monaro etc, It would make a lot more sense to me if if they were a stand alone design and the argument was raised about them not being a Holden but to me they are top of the food chain so to speak in their model range and you can see the similarities.

I'm with you on that Craig. Public doesn't fall for bullcrap for very long. As much as Holden may have thought people would fall for it as being another mark the fact they shared almost everything means they were only fooling themselves.

[HK1837]

GMH didn't intend it to be a different marque, just a different car line that is all. I reckon the calling BS should be more reserved for stuff like the Ford Maverick, Nissan Ute, Holden Apollo etc. The Statesman isn't a big deal really. No different to a W size Statesman today not being intended to be seen as a V size Commodore or Calais yet share similar levels of common components. In small details like screws, nuts, bolts, hinges etc say a HJ Caprice is similar to say a HJ Belmont sedan. Yes front door frames, front guards and bonnet are the same basic pressing. Nose panel is the same basic pressing as a Premier/LS. But boot, quarters, roof, beaver, rear bar, tail-lights, rear floor, rear doors, interior trim, console, shifter, dash components and fascia plus paint finshes and grilles are all unique. Then there is stuff like the anti-lock rear brakes, interior lights etc unique to it. I'd reckon the HJ Caprice has similar or less in common with a HJ Holden than a WM has with a VE. Same deal with V2, these have less in common with their Calais counterpart (particularly the II and II versions) than a HK Monaro does with its HK counterpart the HK Kingswood.

[wbute]

The difference is that one would be easier to live with in traffic then the other and then return 10-11lt/100 on the highway, not to mention hanging together for upwards to 300,000km. The same money that was spent on the 253 would get the LS engine well into the 450-500KW range (on 98 pump fuel and you watch that extra 150+kw just magically appear when tuned on E85), which is as you say: 2hp/ci (or better).

The age old adage, how fast do you want to go? How fast/much do you want to spend. Rocket science it isn't but there is some serious ingenuity in some headwork some guys are capable of. Heads, displacement and compression increases in the mechanicals get any engine moving. A sodding expensive cam and ignition/intake system to meld all the changes into a result and dependant upon just how wild you went with the design you might crack some big numbers.

The power numbers that everyday tuning houses are achieving out of NA LS, blown Miami and turbo'd Barra engines these days is staggering. Most with only minor external mods such as intercoolers or exhausts/pumps/injectors. Now just how "safe" some of those tunes are is debatable, but good tuners will only take things so far to keep good margins over detonation etc.

Good on them for getting some great numbers out of a 253. I just don't think it would be a nice thing to live with.

Yeah, but not bad for a "boat anchor,thong slapper, starter motor etc etc. if Holden had thrown as much money at their own V8 as GM had at their motor I think no one in Australia would have the interest in the GM engine. Such a shame really.

Anyway, 515 from a 253 for every one who asks if a 253 has any potential is the answer.

[HK1837]

Yeah, but not bad for a "boat anchor,thong slapper, starter motor etc etc. if Holden had thrown as much money at their own V8 as GM had at their motor I think no one in Australia would have the interest in the GM engine. Such a shame really.

Anyway, 515 from a 253 for every one who asks if a 253 has any potential is the answer.

I agree it is impressive, but the only reasons I can see for it are: because you can, or because of an arbitrary limit you had to abide by eg engine size limit in an LJ.

[wbute]

What other reason than "because you can" is there in anything to do with old cars????

[Vombil]

thong slapper... best name ever for em. i remember when i first heard the reference. I didn't stop laughing for 5 minutes

[HK1837]

What other reason than "because you can" is there in anything to do with old cars????

Yeah, because you love them, some do it for profit others for the hell of it. Personally i'd never waste my time doing anything to a 253 unless it was a good motor already in a car and I put a decent exhaust and induction on it. I'd never rebuild one even if it was original to the SS, Sandman or GTS, i'd replace it with a 308.

[wbute]

I'd buy a 81837 HK and pull the 327 out and put a 253 in it and paint it hot house green

[Robbo]

Good on the bloke's that build their own engine's, regardless of what other's think, say or do. If you want to build up a 253, and you have the knowledge and resources to do it, go for it, who want's to alway's conform. A lot of guy's are now doing diesel performance vehicles and getting very imperessive number's, great to see.