Litre8’s 1976 Holden Torana

MotorvationOn Track - Wakefield Park June 2009

Dressed for the track

This is just a very brief coverage of the details of my car, LITRE8. For full details, specifications and history (plus almost 100 images and some track video footage) please visit Litre8's official homepage Litre8 started out as a new (I'm still the original owner!)1976 Torana SLR 5000 (308ci V8). Over the years it has run a 330hp 308 ci V8, 550hp 202ci turbo 6 and, since 1990, a 479ci BB aluminium Chev (Versions I and II). It is best classified as a toy that I occasionally exercise on asphalt road-racing circuits. I also still do the occasional car show. In-car track video It is neither an L34 (a limited edition race enhanced version in 1974 for LH model) nor an A9X (a limited edition race enhanced version for LX in the 3rd quarter of 1977), so performing significant body/driveline changes certainly didn't seem a big issue at the time (this all started in 1977). These days however I would be hesitant to seriously modify a good condition SLR 5000/SS.Among the more significant awards (35 in total) Litre8 has achieved are Top Engineered Street Machine twice at the SummerNats as well as Judges Personal Choice, also at the SummerNats. In addition it has been featured in Street Machine Magazine both as a Turbo 6 and with the BB Chev as well as appearing on the cover three times.The car was featured on the cover of the July 2007 Xtreme Holdens magazine (plus a 10 page article and centre spread)and, more recently, included in Street Machine Magazine's Top 20 Holden Legends.Reviews and associated magazines articles etc of Litre8 from 1984 (as a turbo 6) to 2007 may be viewed here

The block is a Keith Black Big Block Chevrolet replica (aluminium, 4.5" bore), Crower 4340 forged steel crank (3.76" stroke)and Crower 4340 forged steel rods, JE forged pistons (12.2:1), heavily modified Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminium heads (2.3"/1.92" intake/exhaust), custom 2.125" x 36" primary pipes converging into 4" collectors that feed dual 3" exhausts (with siamesed style crossover), .728"/.716" Crower Roller cam, Crower Roller Lifters, Keith Black Gear Drive, Comp Cams one piece stud girdle, Crower Rev kit, Kinsler cross-ram independent runner manifold with sequential port injection, Motec M48 engine management, dry sumped. It runs on a steady diet of 102 octane racing unleaded. It has been dynoed at 727hp at 6500rpm and 695ft lb at 5150rpm. It also has a fully plumbed and operational 200hp NOS direct port nitrous system. This is really an aesthetic only add-on for the Kinsler manifold, the car is pretty exciting to drive under full throttle already!

Jerico gearbox                                                   Front rotor & caliper

Backing this up is:- a Lakewood scattershield, a McCleod twin plate clutch with McCleod hydraulic throwout bearing fitted to a McCleod steel flywheel, a magnesium case Jerico 5 speed 'dog' gearbox, aluminium 9" diff centre (2.5:1) with Detroit Locker, negative camber differential housing (full floater), 13.5" slotted front rotors, 12.5" slotted rear rotors, billet 4 piston calipers (front and rear, staggered titanium pistons), 17"x10" Compomotive 3-piece wheels at each corner with 265/625 Dunlop D11 slicks, 130 litre alloy fuel tank, 8 point alloy roll cage.