Hi everyone,
So, as mentioned in my introduction, I am about to embark on the restoration/transformation of my LX SS Hatch that has followed me around (mostly in boxes) for the last 30 odd years. Firstly, to the purists, I'm sorry, this is not going to put it back to what it was. It was originally powered buy a 253/Trimatic/ Banjo combo (yuk). I plan to give this little car the attitude and stance it deserves. In consultation with a friend of mine (Grant) who has an LS powered Hatch (who regularly runs very respectable times with it as a drag car) about my plan and he was the one who turned me toward this website. I am in his debt for that. I had no idea such an amazing website existed.
Anyway, I digress.....
This Torana needs a lot of attitude (as mentioned) so I am thinking Full body kit , including Flares, Drop tank, Big wheels and a sound that will remind my neighbours that I don't like them very much. I still have the 253, though the turd who borrowed it from me left it in the garden for a couple of years so all of the pots filled with water and rust... The salvageable engine parts I have are Cast iron Yella Terra heads (that probably need a reco), Pete Jackson Gear Drive (which I could never hear despite the naysayers..maybe coz I didn't remove the direct lubrication nozzle, so they were always sprayed with oil), an Edelbrock Performer dual plane manifold (port matched to the YT heads), YT Roller Rockers, the obligatory HV oil pump and a Quadrajet Carby.
Given this list of bits and pieces, I think my best move forward is to secure either a 308 or 304 short motor and build what I can. I was thinking maybe a stroker as I previously owned a VS Senator 215i which had the 355 and it was very nice to drive... but again more expense....and it was way too smooth for what I feel a 70's muscle car should be. It doesn't need to be fast, but, it needs to be MUSCLE.
I told my friend, who has the super fast LX, what I was looking for and we agreed on......Old School 308, Big lopey cam (for attitude rather than necessity), manual trans and a 9 inch coz the banjo belongs at the tip and then all of the trimmings that make an LX Hatch look tough.
Well, this will take me a while. Wish me luck fellas. I'll post pics as appropriate. Nice to meet you all.
Cheers,
Russ.
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