Quote Originally Posted by Big Rob View Post
A lot of HG Monaro's had a standard 186 fitted if they were automatic. I had a few mates with them back in the 70's and have a current member of my car club with one.

The late LC GTR did have a 2850 S. Not many were made, it was the transition motor coming up in the HQ and LJ (the 173/ 2850). The reason they did a short run of 2850 S was because they had simply run out of 161 blocks. To maintain continuity in the GTR range with the S motor, they simply upgraded the 173 to S specs with manifold, carby and headers. They didn't fit the X2 cam either, just ran the standard profile.
Apparently fitting the standard 202 (3300) was considered, but since the XU-1 only had a 186 (albeit a highly modified one) they waited until the LJ GTR to do it.
Trivia...... 5 LC SL Torana's (all manuals) were fitted with 2600S motors although it was not an option.
Rob, the vast majority of 6cyl HG Monaros (0337 models) were 186 engines. It was Monaro GTS 6cyl (0737 models) that were 186S standard with no engine option available. The HG Monaro was standard with 161 HC but most were optioned with 186 HC, although there were 3 other optional 6cyl engines in that model (161 LC, 186 LC and 186S).

It wasn't just a short run of LC with a 173 in it, it was a considerable time. GMH didn't stockpile any 6cyl engines for HG and LC, they just used HQ spec engines from the start of HQ engine production (approx. 5/71 or thereabouts). V8 engines (253 and 308) were stockpiled for HG commercials (built until around 10/71) and for the South African SS. Which meant LC got the 173 and 173S plus the revised 138 and as far as I'm aware the revised 130 for export. The HG commercials got the 173 and 202 (in high and low comp) plus if they did exports at that time the revised 130 as well.

Where did the figure of 5 x 173S SL's come from? I have heard of dealers doing these but not GMH.

Oops - got distracted, and Dr Terry beat me to the punch!