Killer Rides #19

Green’s Tough!

ISSUE #19 - DEC 2019

Australia's Wildest F-Truck

!

D E K C U R GET T !

K C O L B IG B E B U C 0 0 6 !

D BAGGED! CHOPPE

NO BORING

CARS

Pro-Street LC Torana 441ci Valiant Sedan Big Block 67 Camaro 434ci Pro-Street HK Premier

SPRINGNATS - EXTREME AUTO EXPO - HOLDEN VS FORD DRAGS - WING CARS REUNION USA

From the Desk CAR EVENT BOOF HEADS - WHY DO THEY EXIST?

Time and time again, we see these knuckle heads go out of their way to cause problems with events that have been happening, hassle-free for a long time, only to be shut down because of complaints made to the authorities that have the power to say “you’re done!”

This is a regular occurrence at car events around the globe, and recently in my local area, a well-established monthly get together has just been given the flick. Why? Well, there’s a number of reasons. While most of the people in attendance are genuine car enthusiasts, there will always be the minority that have to do stupid things to get attention. And when I say attention, I really mean abuse getting hurled at them from all directions by those who just want to hang out with other car guys and girls and enjoy the atmosphere.

I’ve seen first hand how these dickheads drive through the assembled crowd either getting their cars to backfire and shoot a four-foot flame from the back or do some limiter bashing, thinking everyone is impressed. More often than not, the people walking around are families with little kids in tow and doing that kind of shit is downright dangerous. Then, to make matters worse, some feel the need to give into those individuals (usually around 10-15 year old boys) standing on the corner telling each driver to do a burnout! This is a main highway with houses right across the street! It was only a matter of time before the cops decided enough was enough.

This business allowed the true car community to use their expansive carpark to hold the meet each and every month. They didn’t have to, but did anyway. So why should they be the ones copping back from the local residents - many of which are probably customers?

Yet again, another great event has fallen by the wayside because of these undesirables... So next time you’re at a cruise night, car meet or car show, try to behave yourself. Most people will as they understand the implications of doing the wrong thing. If you see someone carrying on like a clown, tell them to get out and not to come back. Better still, get a photo of them with your phone and give it to the cops. Put an end to their shitty antics so we can continue to enjoy the sport we all genuinely love.

Paul

03

Your official OPTIMA® Battery importer & distributor.

2

THE ULTIMATE POWER SOURCE

AUTOMOTIVE • DEEP-CYCLE • MARINE

•

SPIRALLCELL TECHNOLOGY

•

AGM BATTERY DESIGN

•

UP TO 3X LONGER BATTERY LIFE

•

15X MORE VIBRATION RESISTANT

•

99.99% PURE LEAD

Wholesale and trade enquiries welcome / 1300 769 282

/ rjbatt.com.au

5

26

Contents

900hp, 600ci ‘56 F100

ISSUE NO.19 Dec 2019

REGULARS

36 27th Springnats Smokes Shepparton

03 EDITORIAL Ramblings from the Desk 08 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest 16 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think 20

ONCE WERE WARRIORS The 5-year Anniversay of Winged Supercars.

36

BRINGING THE HEAT Hot cars, hot action. The Springnats delivered.

50

434ci HK Premier

60 ADELAIDE ROCKS South Oz’s biggest show impresses again!

6

82 FUELLING THE FIRE The Holden vs. Ford Battle Rages on!

102 IN THE SPOT LIGHT Aussie family favourite - HQ-HZ Holden

Pro-Street 67 Camaro

120 KILLER PIC How low can you go?

110

122 WINDOW SHOPPING What’s new and from where!

124 SHOWTIME What’s on, where and when.

126 PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Quick Find Ad’s

60

128 ANSMA NEWS Street Machine Association news.

130 ASRF NEWS Hot Rodding Happenings

FEATURES 26

PICK-UP ARTIST 600ci Chop Top F100 Stunner!

50

BACK STREET BRUISER Pro-Street HK Premier

72

92

READY TO RUMBLE Tough Street 355ci LC Torana

Extreme Auto Expo

92 Rammed 441ci AP5 Valiant

TUNNEL VISION Australia’s toughest AP5 Valiant

110 MUSCLE BOUND Big-blocked, Pro-Street Camaro

Don’t forget to Subscribe at www.killerrides.com.au

72 355ci LC Torana

7

What’s Happening PRO-FLO PERFORMANCE ON THE MOVE!

Big things are happening at Pro-Flo Performance. As the team gets a number of cars prepared for the Summernats, they are also readying a new Headquarters for the engine building and fabrication supremo’s to occupy.

Come Jan 13, the doors will open 8 at their massive new facility at 36 Mount Erin Rd, Campbelltown NSW. Check it out! Impressive doesn’t even begin to describe it!

With the move to the new building becoming a reality early in 2020, expect to see a host of new cars and powerplants leaving the facility during the year.

9

What’s Happening DJR MUSTANG BUILD #01 TO BE AUCTIONED

You have one last chance to own 1 of 30 very special Mustangs. The first and only Dick Johnson Limited Edition Mustang to be offered to the public, will go to Auction through Grays Online in December.

This particular car, #01, is the only one available as all of the other 29 vehicles have been sold. Designed and developed by Herrod Performance, build #01 will feature not just the most desired build plate, but also an 800-plus HP driveline making this one very special Pony car. Someone is going to get an awesome Christmas present!

10

9

What’s Happening POWERCRUISE TO SMOKE OUT THE BEND MOTORSPORT PARK

Be prepared South Australia, the Powercruise is coming to The Bend Motorsport Park over the weekend of April 3rd to 5th in what will prove to be the wildest car event ever to hit the southern state. For entrants, just about anything goes! If it passes scrutineering, you’re over 18 and have a driver’s license – you’re all set for one high-powered, tyre smoking weekend! You can enter online at www.powercruise.com to make life much easier. For those wanting to take in the action, the Powercruise is a family friendly, non-alcohol event with day starting at just $30. Kids under 12 are free. For all the info you need, check out www.powercruise.com

12

9

What’s Happening CHRYSLER PAY TRIBUTE TO 1969 PACER

Celebrating their Australian heritage, Chrysler have put together a tribute car that pays homage to the 1969 Valiant Pacer. Based on a 300SRT Core, the 50th Anniversary, oneof-a-kind Chrysler will feature a full body wrap in Wild Yellow with Pacer 392 decals, 20-inch black wheels with red accents that match the red front splitter and boot Pacer decals.

14 Powered by a 350kW, 392ci Hemi engine backed by an 8-speed trans combo, the Pacer tribute 300 will have plenty of performance to compliment the Pacer nameplate.

Chrysler will soon announce the production of a limited edition production run of this very special 300 Pacer Tribute.

FREE MAGAZINE OFFER

TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TECHNICAL PERFECTION

TO GET YOUR FREE COPY

CLICK HERE

9

www.liquidintelligence.com.au

INCLUDES CASE STUDIES & ARTICLES OF ONE OF A KIND PRODUCTS

Mailed to your home or business

Have Your Say! Got something to say? Send it to paul@killerrides.com.au or message us from the Killer Rides Facebook page.

CONVERSION DIVERSION

Hi Paul, love the mag – great stuff. I love modified cars just like everyone else that reads Killer Rides. But, and I know I will be getting some people offside here, I just don’t get why people drop engines into cars that don’t belong there. I get the whole V8 conversion when you use a Holden V8 into an early Holden or a nice Windsor into an XP Falcon, but what’s the go with fitting turbo Falcon 6’s into everything from Sigma’s to Camaro’s? There’s plenty of options to keep the car true to its origins, so why do people need to do the unthinkable? Queue the haters…

Ron G via Messenger.

WANTING TO JOIN A CAR CLUB

Hi Paul, I’ve been a regular reader of Killer Rides since Issue #1 and enjoyed every issue you’ve put out. I have recently moved from Frankston in Victoria to Newcastle in NSW due to work relocation and am looking at joining a local car club to enjoy my HQ Monaro with other like-minded car owners. It doesn’t need to be a Monaro Club or even a Holden club, just a good bunch of people who love cars. Where can I find a listing of clubs in this area? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Peter M via Messenger G’day Peter, That’s a big move, hope it all works out for you. As for a club listing, there’a couple you can try. Shannons Insurance are big on the club scene and have a state by state listing on their website – www.shannons. com.au and the other is the Australian National Street Machine Association. Check out the listing on their site – www.ansma.com.au Good luck with it all!

MORE FORDS PLEASE

G’day Paul, What a cracker magazine Killer Rides has become. I didn’t know about it until issue 12, but have been a regular ever since. It’s great to also be able to go ‘back in time’ and check out the issues I missed too! Of all the issues so far, I have to say Issue #18 is by far the best yet. The mix of cars – both old and new, but all tough are awesome and the event coverage is great too. I love the fact you include a bike every now and then too.

But being a fan of the Blue Oval, I’d personally like to see more Fords featured if you can. Apart from that, 17 love everything about Killer Rides!

Regards, Chad W via Email

16

Oh Ron, I think you’re going to open a massive can of worms here. But everyone has an opinion and you’re entitled to yours. I think the very meaning of modified cars explains it all. We all want to outdo what everyone else is doing and being the first to do some crazy engine conversion usually sparks some kind of attention – and we all know our sport is ego-driven. As for the Barra turbo 6 engine transplant, these engines are the flavour of the month. They make huge power, are fairly economical and readily available. It just makes sense. For the record, I think everything should be Hemi-powered, but that’s just me…

Hi Chad, Thanks for supporting Killer Rides. I try to present a balance of brands, style and colour within each issues feature car line up. Sometimes things fall over right at the last minute and I need to make some changes, but rest assured, there are plenty of tough Ford’s coming up, just like our cover car this issue.

Cheers.

Australia’s Toughest Car Show!

PROMOTING MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES!

PRO-STREET & PRO-MOD CARS ONLY!

March 22nd, 2020 Fairfield Showgrounds 443 Smithfield Rd, Prariewood NSW

ENTRIES NOW OPEN! For More Information Phone Paul - 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au www.killerrides.com.au

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

50TH AERO WARRIOR REUNION

PICS – Greg ‘Beach’ Ball WORDS – Paul Beck

e r e W e c n O

WARRIORS In 2019, Tim & Pat Wellborn of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum are bringing together a group of owners and their cars to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Aero Warrior…

Every five years, the Aero Warriors gather to celebrate the most unusual cars ever produced by American Car manufacturers. Centred around the 1970 Nascar Era, the celebrations include the 1969 Dodge Charger 500, the Ford Talladega, the Mercury Spoiler II and of course those winded wonders, the 1969 Dodge Daytona and the 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

20

Car numbers were limited to just 220 and that number was always going to be filled quickly. Along with the cars themselves, more than 700 enthusiasts would be going along for the ride as well including our man Greg “Beach” Ball who is a regular at the events.

Every five years, the Aero Warriors gather to celebrate the most unusual cars ever produced by American Car manufacturers.

21

The event kicked of on Wednesday 9th October with the early arrivals arriving at one of the motels pre-booked for entrants. The next morning saw the entourage head to the Atlanta Motor Speedway where the group got to do laps around the famous track and grab some pics around the picturesque venue. From there, the tour headed into Alexander City for registration before taking in the sights of the surrounding areas.

22

23

By 10am on Saturday, the congregation had made its way downtown to the Wellborn Musclecar Museum where they went on display for the appreciative public that had gathered to see the history on show.

By 10am on Saturday, the congregation had made its way downtown to the Wellborn Musclecar Museum where they went on display for the appreciative public that had gathered to see the history on show. The museum opened up for the Entrants offering quite a spectacle for those in attendance. With lots of local restaurants within walking distance, getting lunch was easily taken care of. Dinner however was served at the Museum and kept everyone fed with a Cajun/Creole seafood boil, bringing the display day to an end in style.

The next morning saw the entourage head to the Atlanta Motor Speedway where the group got to do laps around the famous track...

24

25 Sunday was by far the most anticipated as the convoy of muscle made its way through Alexander City to Talladega Super Speedway, which was also celebrating its 50-year anniversary. As a special bonus, the track unveiled its brand new, $50 million dollar infield facility with the Aero Warriors being the first to occupy the space. Sunday night marked the end of this five year anniversay, with planning for the next one no doubt already started. Bring it on...

Gary Myers - Burnout Legend!

! gs rin Sp lls ve Lo e us I y wh ’s at th , rs ca y m in s rt pa st “I only use the be ” o! to e oic ch ur yo em th e ak M ! rs ye M am Te r Lovells are the ONLY choice fo

www.lovellsauto.com.au

PICK UP

Artist!

Some car builds are so extreme and taken to the next level that they really do become rolling works of art.

Case in point, this stunning ’56 F100…

26

27

DAVID AQUILINA_1956 FORD F100

WORDS / PICS / VIDEO – Paul Beck

This fat Ford pick-up had been subjected to an extensive eight year, show car build, yet it sports a 900hp, 600ci Steve Schmidt big block Ford, chop top and over-the-top wheel and tyre combo. Yes, it almost too good for regular street use, but as owner Dave Aquilina sees it, if you’ve got it, use it!

Can’t have all that engine going to waste!

28

29

As wide as they are, those big rear bags can’t cope with the gobs of torque the big block pushes at them.

Dave’s a car guy having owned plenty of cool rides over the years, most of which wore the blue oval badge including his current project, a John Goss Falcon Coupe that he is restoring. As a young guy just getting into cars, he remembers drawing many different cars, but it’s the early F100’s that have stuck in his mind. So, when the opportunity came to purchase this F-Truck, the desire to live out a child hood dream was just too strong to ignore. The truck was built in Queensland, which is where Dave picked it up from at 782 Motors.

What sealed the deal for Dave was that mega-cube Ford engine. Having a Chev powering it just wouldn’t have the same appeal for Dave. The engine is a Steve Schmidt-built big block sporting no less than 600 cubic inches! Say it slowly and its even more impressive! Based in Indianapolis, Steve Schmidt Competition Engines have a huge reputation for making lots of horsepower in aspirated form. Dave’s big block relies on a single Quick Fuel carb that sends the fuel through the Trick Flow intake for the big bang to happen down below. Dave’s not too sure of the engines internals, but we can tell you it uses Trick Flow alloy heads, fabricated headers that flow into a dual 3.5-inch stainless system and a cam that scares little old ladies when stopped at pedestrian crossings.

The most important part of this engine build is the horsepower and this one makes plenty. Thank god the F100 has a big engine bay, because there’s more than 900 ponies hiding under that big bonnet! It doesn’t look half bad either!

Backing that big lump of an engine is a purpose-built Turbo 400 auto designed to handle the power being pushed through it with ease.

The converter has a stall speed of 3500rpm. The third member of the driveline trio is a narrowed Race Productions 9-inch diff using tough axles, a four-link and Watts link assembly.

30

31

The chassis has had many hours put into it to, to offer a much better ride than it did in 1956. Both ends now rely on Accu-Air suspension to supply a smooth drive and also get it slammed down low when not on the move. The wheels of choice are Billet Raceline measuring a huge 22x10-inches on the front (with 255/30 Kumho tyres) and an impressive 24x12-inches on the fat rear end wrapped in 305/35 Kumho’s. As wide as they are, those big rear bags can’t cope with the gobs of torque the big block pushes at them. Wilwood discs and calipers handle the braking.

What sealed the deal for Dave was that mega-cube Ford engine.

It’s almost a shame to cover that detailed bright red chassis, but when you have a body like this F100, it needs to be shown off! Chris at BMV Engineering handled the initial metal work including the roof chop that saw 150mm of height removed from the roofline. Whilst noticeable. The new roof line doesn’t look out of proportion.

The sheet-metal has been smoothed off with all mouldings, badges and bumper bars now a distant memory. Moving rearward from the reworked cab reveals a tray that is simply a work of art. Keeping the F100’s original-styled rear guards, Chris reshaped the tray to include the wheel tubs and clearance for the rear end when the air is let out of the bags. The stamped tailgate is no longer operational, not that you’d want to lower it to put stuff in the back now anyway! The complete rear of the truck is now smooth and has a recessed MORTAL numberplate, LED brake lights and a trick centre-mount exhaust opening. Matt King at Kings Customs in Kunda Park in Qld, finished off the metal work and applied the silky-smooth Titan Silver from the Honda colour chart.

32

33

The engine is a Steve Schmidt-built big block sporting no less than 600 cubic inches! Say it slowly and its even more impressive!

THANKS TO: My understanding wife Kerry. She is such a huge supporter of everything I do and encourages me to follow my dreams. My good mate Carl for helping with some paint touch ups, buffing and polishing. Andy at Andy’s Restoration for his advice and help. Wayne at A1 Automotive for his invaluable help. Matt King at Kings Customs for the body and paint. Tyler at Rewire Australia for the expert wiring. Chris at BMV Engineering for the custom metal fabrication. Peter Delaney at Diamond Valley Old School for the initial mechanical work.

Cameron Hayward at North Coast Custom Trim for the Interior work.

In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been restyled and covered in a mix of Red Elmosoft leather and Alcantara suede that now covers the big bench seat, door trims and headlining. The Mercedes square weave carpet blends in nicely with the material and internal metal that has been coated in Nissan Red. The standard issue dash facia now holds a bunch of late model gauges and was sourced from Dakota Digital. The tilt billet steering column is topped by an old school wheel in black and to keep the floor space uncluttered, a column mount shifter has been used.

Dave reckons that even with the roof chop, there’s plenty of space inside the cabin, even for his six-foot frame! Cameron Hayward at North Coast Custom Trim handled the top shelf stitch work.

In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been restyled and covered in a mix of Red Elmosoft leather and Alcantara suede...

34

35

It’s obvious that there was no expense spared in the build of this custom truck.

Vehicles like this rarely get offered up for sale, and Dave wants to send a special thank you to his wife Kerry for encouraging him to do what makes him happy. When Dave showed Kerry the F100, she pushed him into buying it, despite the hefty price tag.

Good work Kerry!

Though spare time is at a premium for Dave, he tries to get the truck out occasionally for a cruise. There’s a couple of show appearances coming up including Killer Rides Live #4 in August. But for Dave, it’s not all about driving it and showing it. He did admit that he enjoys cleaning it and just looking at it. Much the same way you would sit and stare at a prized piece of artwork in a gallery.

27th SPRINGNATS_SHEPPARTON SHOWGROUND_NOV 22-24 WORDS – Paul Beck PICS – Chad Silvey

Bringing

THE HEAT

The 27th annual Springnats in Shepparton is the biggest event on the Autofest Calender. It’s also the hottest!

36

My first trip to Shepparton for the Springnats was way back in 1998. I was amazed at not just the size of the event, but the friendly atmosphere the event possessed. Les Adam’s certainly took car shows to another level with the Springnats when it was held at the expansive DECA grounds on the towns outskirts. Back then, my association with the event was done through Street Heat magazine who was my employer at the time and a major sponsor of the Springnats. When that mag went under and I launched Extreme, we became the new media partners of the Springnats and that trend continues today with Killer Rides. Les and I have become great mates its still my favourite event to attend.

A few years ago, the Springnats made the move into the middle of town to the beautiful Shepparton Showgrounds that offers a much nicer venue with shaded area’s and air-conditioned buildings to house the show and shine and trade stands. And believe me, Shepparton at the end of November is bloody hot!

37

Seeing the hardcore action on the massive pad under lights is something to behold. Car after car, the tyre smoke and hard-revving engines set the pace for the rest of the event.

Kicking off on the Friday night with the Autotek Night of Thunder along with the Burnout Expression Session under lights at the refurbished Showgrounds. Seeing the hardcore action on the massive pad under lights is something to behold.

Car after car, the tyre smoke and hard-revving engines set the pace for the rest of the event.

Saturday’s proceedings kicked off way too early at 6am to get those arriving scrutineered and into the event as soon as they could. By the time the gates were opened to the swelling crowd of punters, the show and shine was already in full swing with plenty of cars gleaming under the hot Shepparton sun. More cars were lined up inside the air-conditioned pavilion which proved to be a popular place with the temperatures heading skywards.

38

By the time the gates were opened to the swelling crowd of punters, the show and shine was already in full swing with plenty of cars gleaming under the hot Shepparton sun.

39

As the clocked showed 9.30am, the first of the driving events were about to kick off. The hour long Autotek Autokana session had many drivers putting their cars through a timed course as quickly and as smoothly as they could. You could tell who was serious and who was there to cut loose by the amount of tyre smoke created.

With a new patch of rubber added to the driving events arena, it was time for the next driving event – the Jack Daniels Grab-A-Flag. Once again, the drivers skill and ability to work their way through a course collecting flags at different points certainly showed up those who really knew how to pedal their cars!

40

In amongst the tough street cars were a few special cruisers – one being a current spec American Nascar followed by some Go-karts cruising the street Mario style!

41

From there, the focus shifted into the show car pavilion where, at 12pm sharp, the new builds were unveiled from beneath their covers. This year, there was just one car hiding under wraps and being displayed for the first time. The lime green paint of beautifully restored LC GTR XU1 Torana glowed as the covers were removed. The Torana, in its first ever showing, drew a good crowd all weekend.

In no time at all, the Showground was covered in tyre smoke and the Springnats crowd loved every minute of it.

42

43

Before too long the action returned to the driving events arena with the Outlaws Speed Shop Heads Up Go-Whoa that allowed owners the chance to go head to head with other drivers in a skilled display of acceleration and stopping power. As expected, there were plenty of power skids happening much to the delight of the crowd that surrounded the fence line. Following the Go to whoa was the Springnats Burnouts Wild Card Shoot-Out. Let the smoke show begin! In no time at all, the Showground was covered in tyre smoke and the Springnats crowd loved every minute of it.

Before too long the action returned to the driving events arena with the Outlaws Speed Shop Heads Up Go-Whoa that allowed owners the chance to go head to head with other drivers in a skilled display of acceleration and stopping power.

As expected, there were plenty of power skids happening much to the delight of the crowd that surrounded the fence line. Following the Go to whoa was the Springnats Burnouts Wild Card Shoot-Out. Let the smoke show begin! In no time at all, the Showground was covered in tyre smoke and the Springnats crowd loved every minute of it.

44

45

At the same time, the Aussie Hotel Street Cruise was leaving showground enroute for the Aussie Hotel down one long stretch of road that was closed off by the council to allow the cars to cruise in one continuous line to put on an hour long display at the pub. Anything and everything got to do the cruise regardless of what was hanging out of the bonnet, how big the rear tyres were or whether it had rego or not. In amongst the tough street cars were a few special cruisers – one being a current-spec American Nascar followed by some Gokarts cruising the street Mario style! At the pub, already set up was a wild Blown Funny car that had the body removed for all too see!

Saturday night was all about the burnouts! The first of the 5-group Showdowns kicked off at 5pm and ran through till 10pm when the Young Guns Burnout Mayhem finished off the nights impressive smoke show. Those that weren’t ready to call it a night, headed back to the Aussie Hotel for the Springnats After Party.

The final day of Springnats 2019 promised more hard-charging action with Sunday’s program 46 kicking off with the finals of the Jack Daniels Graba-Flag, Autotek Autokana and Outlaw Speed Shop Heads Up go to whoa competitions. After the finals had been run and won, it was time for round 2 of the Burnout Showdown with participants in all 5 groups as well as the young guns, all eager to destroy their tyres in one last ditch effort to take home the main trophy in their category. What ensued was the biggest, most impressive burnout competition in Springnats history.

At the pub, already set up was a wild Blown Funny car that had the body removed for all too see - and hear!

47

LEO VANGELOVSKI

PHONE: 4285 0300 MVRC LIC: 54814 After the smoke had cleared from the last set of tyres, it was time for the trophy presentation, which bought an end to yet another fantastic Springnats. The Autofest team should be justifiably proud of the event they just held – the last event in their series for 2019. No 48 doubt their focus will soon turn to the 2020 series which starts with the Bathurst Autofest (March 8/9) which also includes the EJ/EH Nationals with the Murray Bridge Autofest and the big one – the 2020 Springnats! It’s going to be a big Autofest year ahead. For more information on any or all Autofest events coming in 2020, jump onto www.autofest.com. au or check out regular updates in the world of Facebook!

STOCKISTS OF

MOB: 0415939307 ABN: 73669 696 204

NOW WITH IN-HOUSE CHASSIS DYNO!

www.blautomotive.com.au

leo@blautomotive.com.au 49

VINNIE PRATICO_1968 HK HOLDEN PREMIER WORDS – PAUL BECK PICS – JOHN ANTINOV / 9000RPM PHOTOGRAPHY

BACK STREET

Bruiser

After a string of tough street cars including a 10-second, big-block VC Valiant and an 11-sec, 308-powered HG Monaro, there was no way in hell that Vinnie was going to settle for a ‘normal’ street car. When this partially completed HK Premier popped up for sale, Vinnie couldn’t reach for his wallet quick enough.

There’s no denying that when laid onto the right car, black is simply sensational. The body has to be straighter than a High Court Judge though before that colour is even considered. Thankfully, the Premier’s body was the perfect platform for the black paint that had already been applied when Vinnie swapped the rego over into his name. The body is just how the Holden executives insisted with all the mouldings and badges reattached after the new paint was buffed to perfection.

Bought as an almost finished project, Vinnie Pratico added his own touches and created a show-quality, tough Pro-Street HK Premier.

51

50

There’s no denying that when laid onto the right car, black is simply sensational.

When this partially completed HK Premier popped up for sale, Vinnie couldn’t reach for his wallet quick enough.

53

52

In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been retrimmed in a brilliant Goya Red leather with matching coloured carpet. The original HK style has been retained with just an AutoMeter gauge cluster, B&M Shifter and colourcoded Monaro steering and bright red seat belts being the exception to the rule. The black venetian blind in the rear window is a nice touch. Vinnie obviously prefers the sound of that tough small block under the bonnet to any music as there’s no sound system fitted to the Premier.

Speaking of that engine, it’s a small block of big block proportions!

How big? Try 434-cubes of tyre-frying muscle. Built by Graham at Advanced Engine Reconditioning, the engine build kicked off with a four-bolt Dart Little M with splayed mains caps, four-inch Scat crank, H-Beam Scat rods and custom coated Mahle pistons.

The cam is a custom roller item that works in with Comp Cams roller lifters to provide a tough street car idle.

55

54

On the dyno, the aspirated 434 produced 635hp @ 6200rpm, with 560-ft pounds of torque!

Graham then prepped a pair of alloy Brodix Track 1 heads with bigger vales and Manley springs before adding them to the tough bottom end. Supplying the fuel and filling the gap between the heads is a Quick Fuel 850 ‘Q series’ carb mounted to a Holley Strip Dominator manifold. Hanging off the outer edge of the heads are Pro Flow Tuned 1.75-inch headers that send the gases the way out via a fabricated, dual 3-inch system incorporating custom mufflers. An MSD 6AL ignition system creates a big spark to light the big cube small blocks fire. On the dyno, the aspirated 434 produced 635hp @ 6200rpm, with 560-ft pounds of torque!

When you’re packing that much power, you need the transmission and rear up to be up to the task of getting the grunt to the pavement.

The Turbo 400 box now features much tougher internals along with a full manual valve body and a 4500rpm B&M converter. As you’d expect, the rear end is a 9-inch that was narrowed and fitted with 4.33-gears and 31-spline Moser axles before getting slotted under the HK’s reworked rear. Other notable changes underneath include HZ discs and calipers on the otherwise standard front end, whilst the diff runs with drum brakes. Covering the brakes are satin finished Centerline Auto Drag – 15x5 up front and 15x10 on the rear, wrapped in 28x12 Mickey Thompson tyres to fill those mini-tubs.

Speaking of that engine, it’s a small block of big block proportions! How big? Try 434-cubes of tyre-frying muscle.

56

57

Vinnie has owned the Premier for less than 12-months, and in that time, he not only finished the HK to the highest level, (winning Promoter’s Choice in Tuff Street at the Custom Auto Expo in Adelaide) but also cruised the wheels of it every chance he got. And at the end of 58 the day, isn’t that what we build these for? After getting the car 100% engineered for SA, Vinnie plans include lots more cruising, a few more shows and then see how the HK goes on the quarter. The goal is to break into the 10-sec zone. Stay tuned…

THANKS TO: Graham at Advanced Engine Reconditioning. Wilshire Motor Trimmers for the seat belts. Huey the Auto Electrician.

59

e d i a l e d A

2019 EXTREME AUTO EXPO_WAYVILLE SHOWGROUNDS_NOV 15/16

WORDS – Paul Beck

PICS – 9000RPM PHOTOGRAPHY / CHAD SILVEY

ROCKS

The South Oz capital comes alive as the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the annual Extreme Auto Expo takes over the Wayville Showgrounds.

60

It may not be the longest running show ever held in Adelaide, but for just one Friday evening and the following Saturday each year, the Extreme Auto Expo brings together the best Street Machines, Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Bikes and Drag Cars ever assembled in the southern state.

Promoted by Geof Tartoosie, the event has gained plenty of momentum since he took over the event and is now part of the prestigious Meguiar’s Superstars series, guaranteeing some of the scene’s big guns make the trip from other parts of the country to showcase their cars and bikes to an appreciated crowd. In 2019, around 8-cars made the long haul to the show making quite a spectacle. One of the cars coming across from Sydney was the ZZ Top Eliminator ’33 Ford Coupe that coincides with the bands 50-year anniversary. Other interstate entrants included Joe Panzarino’s pro-street, blown/injected ’57 Chev coupe, Craig McKenzie’s blown six-pack HR Ute and Paul Caccamo’s blown LS-powered ’37 Ford Slamback – all of which scored well at the awards ceremony.

There’s no denying that the South Australian modified car scene has some of the toughest street cars on the planet...

61

But it’s not just about the interstaters than make this show a hit. There’s no denying that the South Australian modified car scene has some of the toughest street cars on the planet, so you can always expect to see a number of tough street and pro-street cars on display spread across a number of indoor show areas. Matt Morgillo’s Street Machine of the Year winning PRO HQ Statesman looked absolutely amazing as did the candy green Centura that sported a triple weber-fed six-pack for power.

62

63

Other interstate entrants included Joe Panzarino’s pro-street, blown/injected ’57 Chev coupe, Craig McKenzie’s blown sixpack HR Ute and Paul Caccamo’s blown LSpowered ’37 Ford Slamback – all of which scored well at the awards ceremony.

64

Part of the show is dedicated soley to the Adelaide Hot Rod Show that occupies one of the buildings. Showcasing everything the hot rod scene is about, the building was once again full of cool cars and traders. Along with the Hot Rod pavilion, the main building not only housed the Auto Expo but also a huge 50-years of GTR Skyline display, a pinball competition, Fuch’s Pole Position display and the Shannons Big Rig that acted as the main stage.

65

Every child under 13 that attends the show gets a free Hot Wheels car as they come through the gate and with a 6-lane Hot Wheels Drag Racing track set up on the South Australian Drag Racing Association stand, they were put to good use. A first for the show is a 10 car “Barn Find” Auction that created plenty of interest on Saturday afternoon.

The Extreme Auto Expo isn’t just a static car show. The Aussie Muscle Car & Classic Cruise was a major highlight on Friday night, setting the standard for the huge Zippel American Car Cruise that is a regular attraction as part of the Saturday evening festivities. The cruise brings all manner of US cars to the venue before setting up on the showgrounds oval for a show under lights.

66

67

The Extreme Auto Expo isn’t just a static car show.

The Aussie Muscle Car & Classic Cruise was a major highlight on Friday night, setting the standard for the huge Zippel American Car Cruise that is a regular attraction as part of the Saturday evening festivities.

At the close of the show on Saturday evening, thousands of people had visited the best Extreme Auto Expo yet. The 2019 event not just drew a great crowd, but had some of the coolest, most powerful and wildest cars and bikes on display. The Extreme Auto Expo is like no other event held in South Oz. Geof has his work cut out for him to better this year’s effort in 2020. Keep an eye on www.extremeautoexpo.com.au for info leading up to the next event.

68

It may not be the longest running show ever held in Adelaide, but for just one Friday evening and the following Saturday each year, the Extreme Auto Expo brings together the best Street Machines, Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Bikes and Drag Cars ever assembled in the southern state.

For a complete list of award winners, check out www.extremeautoexpo.com.au

69

CAR & BIKE ENTRY BY INVITATION ONLY! ALL NEW CARS AND BIKES ON DISPLAY FOR 2020!

4 # E V I L

NEW FOR 2020

REVEALS!

AUGUST 15-16, 2020

ILLAWARRA HOCKEY CENTRE, UNANDERRA

www.killerrides.com.au

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON: CAR & BIKE ENTRY TRADE STANDS & SPONSORSHIP Please contact Paul Beck @ Killer Rides (0432) 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au or Via Facebook

STREET MACHINES HOT RODS DRAG CARS CUSTOM BIKES TRADE STANDS & MORE!

JASON MCGRATH_LC TORANA

WORDS / PIC / VIDEO – PAUL BECK

O T Y D REA

E L B M RU

72

73

With the help of some close mates, Jason McGrath transformed his neglected LC Torana project into a Summernats Top 20 standout.

Where would a car guy be without his like-minded mates? Probably still sitting in the shed, alone and trying to work out where to start on the project car! With just weeks before Summernats 31, the boys were sitting around with no completed car between them, and that’s when Jason suggested they pool their combined talents and get his LC Torana finished and on its way to Canberra for the annual car festival.

Jason had purchased the LC some 15 years earlier after longing for the model since his school days. The LC was a partially completed project, but was finished enough for Jason to cruise home. The intention was to build it straight away, but as is usually the case, he either had the time and no money or money and no time to spend it. Jason did have a firm plan of what he eventually wanted to Torana be, he just needed all the planets to align to make it happen. Which they did – just replace the word planets with mates!

74

75

For Jason, there was always only one engine choice – the humble 308. The Torana had already been approved for a Holden V8, so it was an easy choice to keep it that way. Though now stroked to 355ci, the Holden ‘big block’ was pieced together by Vince Macri at Macri Motors. The goal was for around five-hundred streetable horsepower.

Vince added a Scat stroker crank and rod combo to the prepped VK-spec block along with a solid roller cam and lifter kit that produces an angry-than-thou idle. Massaged VN Commodore heads soon joined the party but not before the Manley valves, better springs and rockers were added.

On the dyno, the big-inch small block produced 548hp – better than what they expected so it was smiles all round.

Jason wanted to keep the Torana as a reliable street car, so he opted for a single 750cfm AED carb mounted to the coated Torque Power dual-plane hi-rise intake manifold. Custom headers and a dual to single 2.5-inch exhaust system dump the gases after the MSD ignition lights the fire. On the dyno, the big-inch small block produced 548hp – better than what they expected so it was smiles all round.

76

77

Getting all those ponies to the narrowed 9-inch diff isn’t what you’d expect to find. Turbo 350? Nope!

Turbo 400? Wrong. Oh, so it must be a Powerglide then? Guess again… Jason wanted to change gears himself and added an old-school Ford TopLoader four-speed box complete with a 10.5-inch clutch and billet flywheel. The beauty of keeping the manual box in place is that Jason spends his days as owner of Gear Exchange, so fixing the Top Loader and diff would never prove an issue.

The rear end is suspended via adjustable arms and uses a 3.89-geared, 31-spline True-Trak Strange alloy centre to get the power to the tyres. Other notable underside upgrades include Monroe shocks on the front and Viking coil-overs on the rear, with the braking duties handled easily by the Wilwood disc and XY Ford drum combo. The wheels of choice are Weld Aluma Star measuring 15x3.5-inch on the from and 5-inches wider on the bead-locked rears. The 275/50/15 tyre fits nicely in the mini-tubs.

So, Jason’s choice of colour may not be for everyone, but that’s why he chose it! Being different to everyone else is why we modify our cars in the first place. As the Torana’s body shell wasn’t a bad starting point, so he had the guys at Exclusive Customs massage out any imperfections so it was ready for colour. Aside from the cowl bonnet and the obvious lack of mouldings and badges, the Torana’s sheet metal is just how the factory had intended. With the stripped-out shell in primer, it was time for David O’Brien at Merv Shippe Smash Repairs to lay on the VF HSV-inspired Spitfire Green that has had gold pearl added for that extra pop when in the right light. The colour looks spot on against the polished grille and chrome bumpers! If nothing else, you’ll never miss this one on the road!

78

79

History shows that Jason and his Torana didn’t score the top honour, but he was in the Top 3 Finalists for the Grand Champion Sword!

Transforming the insides of the Torana was left up to Steve at All Trim. The original LC low-back front seats are now just a memory and have been replaced by a pair of stylish VF Maloo buckets that have been trimmed in beige leather. The re-worked Torana rear seat (to work around the mini-tubs) has been stitched to match, as have the door trims, dash pad, headlining and inside the boot area. Steve even retrimmed the baby seat so Jason’s youngest son can cruise in comfort and style too!

A MOMO steering wheel replaces the larger Torana item and sits just forward of the AutoMeter filled GTR dash. Jason has incorporated a small amount of billet alloy into the trim to offset the hides in the form of window winders and internal door handles and shifter knob.

With the car complete, the crew headed to Summernats 32, with Jason just hoping to make the Top 60 elite Hall. The boys knew that was a given and wanted to see just how far their combined efforts could take the LC. At the trophy presentation, Jason couldn’t believe his Torana had scored Top Elite Tudor! He had a grin from ear to ear with that one, so he was beside himself when they announced his homebuilt Torana had made it into the prestigious Top 20 Elite! Now as the Summernats rules state, those making the Top 20 can then nominate to go for Grand Champion. History shows that Jason and is Torana didn’t score the top honour, but he was in the Top 3 Finalists for the Grand Champion Sword! That certainly topped off a big Summernats debut for Jason and is many helpers that dedicated their time and expertise to help Jason realise a dream. It’s great to see that a car that obviously gets used, can perform at such a high level.

80

81

So, Jason’s choice of colour may not be for everyone, but that’s why he chose it!

THANKS TO: John Spinks for being that guy that helps out anywhere at any time. Vince and Adrian

Marci, Toy Land and all the boys at Marci Motors. Steve Maiolo from All Trim. Ricky Parker from Ricky’s Driveshafts. Damien “Chubby” Lowe and Jason Lowe from Lowe Fabrications. Mark Hinson from EZE10’s Performance. David O’Brien from Merv Shippe Smash Repairs. Jason & Glenn Coburn from Exclusive Customs. Aaron Brookes from VPW. My late Dad Peter McGrath. Mainalign Suspension.

Kevin Bartlett. My wife Anne Marie and my boys Joel and Cameron.

02 96091514

Jason and the boys are heading back to Summernats 33 with a bunch of cars in tow. Will the Torana replicate its 2019 showing? Time will tell, but I can tell you that Jason is loving driving the Torana as much as he can, so when the show deal is over, he is going to put as many miles on that AutoMeter speedo as time allows. It’s a ProStreet car with the emphasis on Street! And that’s how it should be…

FORD VS HOLDEN NATIONALS_HEATHCOTE RACEWAY_OCT 26 PICS – LAUREN JADE / XPOSED IMAGES WORDS – PAUL BECK

FUELLING THE

FIRE

82

There’s no greater rivalry than the age old Holden vs.

Ford battle. Put those two groups on a drag strip and all hell breaks loose!

Around 150 entrants converged on Heathcote Raceway under sunny skies to go into war for brand loyalty. With five classes to choose from, the event drew in entrants from as far away as North Queensland as well as a huge contingent of tough street and strip rivals from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

Heathcote Raceway staff made sure the track surface was prepared for those racers attending this event. And prepare it they did. The amount of wheels up launches proved the small country track had some bite to it – a real credit to those working hard on the tracks bitumen.

83

The event not only drew a large list of racers, but also a moderate crowd too that were treated to some big, smokey burnouts, huge wheel stands and also some very quick times. Steve Athen’s piloted his Mustang to the quickest time of the day, a staggering 7.9 @ 165mph, the twin-turbo Ford blistering down the track to set the standard for the racing. The fastest Holden on track was Alex Blias, whose tough HQ Monaro not only ran an impressive 8.75 second ET at 157mph, but did so on a small 275 radial tyre!

84

85

With five classes to choose from, the event drew in entrants from as far away as North Queensland as well as a huge contingent of tough street and strip rivals from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

WHO WON WHAT GEELONG DIFFERENTIAL SERVICES HEADS UP CLASS WINNER: Steve Athens - Mustang R/Up: Nathan Eccleston - Torana SPEED PRO BOOSTED V8 CLASS WINNER: Tony Lamana - Statesman R/UP: Alex Blias - HQ Monaro 86

GJ DRIVELINES ENGINE SWAP CLASS WINNER: Jamie Ackland - Cortina R/UP: Rod Jansen - LH Torana KB PRESTIGE & RESTORATION BOOSTED 6 CYL CLASS WINNER:Troy Muehllechner - VN Commodore R/UP: Mark Jachmann - XE Falcon ENEMIES EVERYWHERE MOTORSPORT N/A CLASS WINNER: Lui Dicerbo - XD Falcon R/UP: Steve Janev - LH Torana

87

All five categories were well subscribed, keeping the racing hard-fought and action packed, making the 2019 Ford vs. Holden Nationals another great success story. Although the Holden’s far outweighed the Ford’s on the day, it was Ford who scored the lowest ET and highest speed of the meet – both belonging to Steve Athens.

88

89

Events like this don’t happen without the support of many valued sponsors. Todd Foley wanted to send a big thumbs up to the following companies for helping make this event the success that it was. They are; Geelong Differential Services, Speed Pro, GJ Drivelines, KB Prestige & Restoration and Enemies Everywhere Motorsport.

90

FASTEST FORD Steve Athens 7.9 @ 165mph FASTEST HOLDEN Alex Blias 8.75 @ 156mph FURTHEST TRAVELLED Rob Valsatro North Queensland FASTEST CAR ON 275 RADIAL Alex Blias 8.75 @ 157mph HARD LUCK AWARD Cameron Jones PROMOTERS CHOICE Peter Mattas Cortina

91

TUNNEL

THEO STERG - 1964 VALIANT AP5

WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - LAUREN @ XPOSED PHOTOGRAPHY RACE PICS - MICHELLE POROBIC @ BRIGHT DESIGN

VISION

92

93

Theo Sterg had just one goal in mind – to own one of the toughest AP5’s in the country.

Mission accomplished!

Not many people can say they kept their very first car, let alone attest to creating a mechanical monster with it. It was 1985 when a young Theo handed over $250 for the AP5 that was part of a deceased estate in Melbourne. Whilst it was treated as every day transport for a while, Theo longed for the day when his Valiant could sit amongst other tough cars in the Melbourne car scene. Fast forward a bunch of years and the once-stock sedan had seen various levels of modification. Theo now has the Valiant at a stage where he is almost at the point of considering it finished.

94

95

The desire to transform the Valiant from family cruiser to hardcore Pro-Streeter saw Theo prefer to spend his hard-earned dollars on the mechanicals rather than modifying the body. The factory sheet metal was in relatively good condition when the transfer of ownership took place, so very little work was needed to get it back to a stage where it was ready for a new coat of Dulux Jet Black that was laid on by Andrew Giahtsidis at ESP. Theo kept the stock look with the only change made being a piece of bonnet steel removed for the induction to poke through.

The tough bottom end now sports a capacity of big block proportions – 441 cubic inches!

The interior was starting to show its age, so Theo had Terry’s Motor Trimming recover the VF Valiant bucket seats, factory rear bench in black cloth whilst the door trims remain untouched.

The AP5 dash facia now holds an array of AutoMeter gauges that sit just behind the original steering wheel. A Pioneer sound system was added to the dash and the factory shifter has made way for a more practical TCI Outlaw shifter that has been adapted to the centre console. The boot area now holds the fuel cell, pump and battery.

Sure, the mini-tubs filled with 15x10 Aluma Stars and matching 17x4.5-inch front runners give the Valiant a tough look, but looks alone will only get you so far. For Theo, a tough driveline was always on the cards. Theo consulted with Con Sagiaris at Pro Race Engines about piecing together a big horsepower Mopar small block that matches the tough stance the Valiant has taken on.

Theo’s intentions for the Val were obviously straight-line speed, so it comes as no surprise to see some basic steering, suspension and braking upgrades.

96

97

Starting with a Mopar Performance R3, Con prepped the block and added a Scat crank, Scat H-beam rods, Diamond pistons, high-volume oil pump and a custom camshaft with a menacing idle – just what every tough street car deserves. Con then added a pair of Edelbrock alloy heads and filled the gap with a Weiand tunnel ram and twin Quick Fuel 750cfm carbs to feed the fire below with ample amounts of 98-octane fuel. An ICE ignition system provides ample spark to burn the fuel. The exhaust system starts as a pair of snug fitting headers and flows through no less than four mufflers. On the dyno, the engine produced an impressive 703hp!

An ever-popular two-speed Powerglide has been adapted to the back of the rammed small block and uses a 5600rpm TCE converter to help send those stampeding ponies through to the TruTrak 9-inch diff fitted with 35-spline axles and full-floaters.

Street car drivelines don’t get much tougher.

98

99

Theo’s intentions for the Val were obviously straight-line speed, so it comes as no surprise to see some basic steering, suspension and braking upgrades. The Torsion bar front end remains, but has been updated considerably with the fitting of the VC Commodore steering rack, Moroso Competition front shocks and Nolathane bushes. The rear-end scored a Gazzard Bros mono-leaf slide link, Moroso shocks and again, Nolathane bushes. Pulling the big Val up after a quick hit down the quarter is a quartet of disc – PBR on the nose and Wilwood on the rear, with the Wilwood master cylinder controlling all four.

On the dyno, the engine produced an impressive 703hp!

100

Theo is quite content at the moment with how the AP5 is looking and running. For the time being, he is happy to cruise the car as much as possible and get a few runs down the quarter when the time allows. That is of course, until he decides the AP5 needs some more power.

Will that include a Procharger to replace the tunnel ram and twin fours? Time will tell…

THANKS TO: My family for all their help, support and long hours during the build. Con

Sagiaris and Andrea Murphy from Pro Race Engines. Alex Kasidiaris, Con Giatrakos, Steven Maheras, Andrew Giahtsidis from ESP. Tony Kamarinos from TJ’s. Race Radiators. Daniel and the boys from All Race. Michael from Ice Ignitions. Speed Pro. Michael Sironic. Jim from Terry’s Motor Trimming. Castlemaine Rod Shop. Barney’s Exhausts. Addicted Performance for the dyno and Custom Engines.

101

In the Spotlight

WORDS – Paul Beck

AUSTRALIAN

Idol

102

The HQ-HZ series from Holden have gained a cult following with many different build styles lavished upon them. Check these out!

No matter whether you’re into Panel Vans, Ute’s, station wagon’s, coupes or sedans; there’s been plenty of modified HQ-HZ Holden’s bought into the custom car world over the years, with more seemingly appearing monthly. A trend we are very happy to see.

103

Just as varied as the engine swaps are the build styles that have seen the humble 71-78 Holden’s appealing to a huge group of custom car lovers.

Because of their size and weight, they are the perfect candidate for engine conversions and we’ve seen just about every engine imaginable dropped into the engine bays.

Yeah sure, the LS-engine is the latest hero swap, but before that, big block and small block Chev’s were the norm along with both the 253 and 308-cube Holden V8’s.

We’ve seen not just traditional street machines, but also Showcars, Custom Vans, Sleepers, Pro-Street, Pro-Touring, Drag Racing and everything in between.

104

105

But thinking outside the square saw some interesting engine swaps being made including Chrysler Hemi’s, Turbo Barra 6-packs, RB30 Nissan turbo 6, Diesel V8’s and even an old school, 455ci Oldsmobile big block and Ford 429ci big block. And of course who could forget the V12 Jag conversion made to the famous Alley Cat show van?

106

Because of their size and weight, they are the perfect candidate for engine conversions and we’ve seen just about every engine imaginable dropped into the engine bays.

107

108

Just as varied as the engine swaps are the build styles that have seen the humble 71-78 Holden’s appealing to a huge group of custom car lovers. We’ve seen not just traditional street machines, but also Showcars, Custom Vans, Sleepers, Pro-Street, Pro-Touring, Drag Racing and everything in between. It certainly has been a wild ride. If you’ve got a tough HQ-HZ Holden, lets see it!

109

MUSCLE BOUND

DOM DEMASI_1967 CAMARO WORDS – PAUL BECK PICS – JOHN ANTINOV / 9000RPM PHOTOGRAPHY

A trip to Queensland to take in the 2010 Winternationals Drag Meet saw Dom Demasi bring home a well-used ’67 Camaro…

110

When Dom and his mates touched down in Queensland, they found themselves with a little extra time on their hands, so being a bunch of car guys, they did what car guys do and set about checking out some cool cars for sale. With the GPS in the rental car set, the boys checked out plenty of Camaro’s at dealers, but nothing had taken Dom’s fancy as yet. It wasn’t until they rocked up at a Mustang shop that Dom asked whether they knew of any solid Camaro’s on the market. As fate would have it, the owner said there was one sitting out the back, but it had already had a deposit paid on it.

111

Dom checked it out anyway and knew this was the one. He made an offer on the chance that the sale would fall through, which it ultimately did and a couple of months later, the ’67 arrived on his door step in Adelaide and the journey to make this a tough ProStreeter was about to begin.

Ultimately, the Camaro was going to be a streeter first and foremost, so even though Dom had planned to fill the engine bay with lots of horsepower, it needed to stay below the bonnet line. The easy fix was a big cube big block. Dom had Sawka Performance piece together a 540-cube Chev that started with a Merlin block that was soon housing a Scat crank with matching brand stroker rods, SRP pistons and a cam and lifter combo from Crane.

112

113

Next up were the Brodix alloy heads, that scored larger valves and Crane springs before being bolted down onto the prepped bottom end. The gap between the heads was quickly taken care of with a Brodix intake manifold dropped in between the heads. Supplying the fuel is up to a single 1050cfm Quick Fuel Brawler race carb. A set of Western Welding custom headers kickstart the exhaust system that incorporates 3.5-inch Magnaflow mufflers. Getting the fire lit in the cylinders is left up to an MSD Digital 6-plus ignition system with billet dizzy and Blaster coil. Dom isn’t letting on how much horsepower the big block makes, but let’s just say it makes plenty.

All that horsepower is transferred through a stage two, Turbo 400 auto fronted with a Hughes 3000rpm converter to a narrowed 9-inch diff that relies on 35-spline Moser axles and Detroit Locker centre to handle the power being pushed through them. A heavy-duty, four-inch steel tailshaft connects the two.

Stance is very important to any tough streetcar, especially a Pro-Street styled car. No problem here though, Dom got his Camaro spot on.

Whilst the engine was getting sorted, the body was getting plenty of attention lavished onto it. Though in pretty poor condition initially, the team at Proformance Body Works in Adelaide took the job of resurrecting the sheet metal in their stride, knowing full well that when finished, the Camaro was going to be one tough street car. The body was always going to be restored back to factory specs, though much smoother. You simply don’t mess with these classic muscle car lines. But it’s not all original. The firewall is now flat (after the left to right conversion was completed) and the floor was modified with new chassis rails added, a custom cross-member and those big wheel tubs. After the body shaping was finished, it was time for colour. Dom wanted a custom blue pearl and that’s exactly what he got. The colour is sensational, and the finish is first class.

Dom isn’t letting on how much horsepower the big block makes, but let’s just say it makes plenty.

114

115

Inside, is pure muscle car. Forget about splashes of colour, true muscle cars had black interiors! The Camaro keeps its heritage alive with the black and white Deluxe trim kit that covers the factory styled door trims, original bucket seats and modified (for the tubs) rear seat.

Frontier Trimmers handled the stitch work, bringing the interior up to the same standard as the body and paint. Whilst most of the interior is circa ’67, the same can’t be said for the gauge cluster. Where the older gauges once sat, you’ll now find a group of AutoMeter “American Muscle” series gauges. The silver-faced gauges scream muscle car without looking like an after-thought. The other nonfactory additions are the B&M shifter, Ididit steering column and the retro-digital stereo head unit.

Ultimately, the Camaro was going to be a streeter first and foremost, so even though Dom had planned to fill the engine bay with lots of horsepower, it needed to stay below the bonnet line.

Stance is very important to any tough streetcar, especially a Pro-Street styled car. No problem here though, Dom got his Camaro spot on. It’s not too low, and sits high enough 116 to show off those 29x15-inch Mickey Thompson tyres jammed under the modified rearend. The wheels of choice are Centerline Convo Tristar that measure 15x12 on the bum and half that on the front. Getting the ride height right is a set of Koni adjustable shocks front and rear with coils on the nose and heavy-duty leaf-springs hanging off the diff.

The front end was upgraded with a power rack complete with billet pump from the crew at Retro-Rack. For brakes, there’s only one way to go – four-wheel discs! Providing the braking power are ’69 model calipers on the front and Wilwood calipers on the rear. The master cylinder is a Wilwood tandem 1 1/8” bore unit that works in with twin boosters to slow the Camaro down from any speed.

117

THANKS TO: Sawka Performance Centre, Western Welding, Tubs CDS Engineering, Proformance Body Works, Frontier Motor Trimmers.

The body was always going to be restored back to factory specs, though much smoother.

You simply don’t mess with these classic muscle car lines.

118

Individually, each section of the build is done to the highest standard, so when the Camaro finally come together as one complete car, Dom was over the moon with the finished project. The car battled a little through the build process, but nothing so bad it couldn’t be sorted without too much fuss. Four years and around $100K were sunk into the Camaro’s resurrection, and since hitting the South Australia scene, it’s amassed plenty of show awards, proving it’s more than just a tough street car.

Even though the build was relatively hassle free, Dom is convinced that if he was to do another build, he’d be starting with a project that was close to being finished and then add his finishing touches. Time will tell…

119

PIC - STEPHEN TAYLOR @ THE MOTORSPORTS PROJECT

Killer Pic Pro-Street cars don’t need to sit high to reveal their tough stance.

Owned by Rob Johnson, this wild ‘67 Impala coupe literally can’t get any lower to the ground. Stephen Taylor snapped this Pro-Street Chevy at the Du Quoin Street Machine Nationals.

120

121

? o g W u O o y n HOW L a C

Window Shopping OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERY

The Optima Yellowtops are true dual-purpose automotive batteries offering premium cranking power and impressive cycling capability, ideal for use in modern accessory-loaded vehicles. Optima batteries are constructed with truly unique SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY for more efficient output, greater vibration resistance & starting power with extended battery life. www.rjbatt.com.au/optima/ 1300 769 282

DYNO TUNING AT BL AUTOMOTIVE

For years BL Automotive have been building some of the toughest street and strip engine combo’s in Australia and now they can dyno tune your engine in house. Ake advantage of Leo’s vast engine building and car preparation knowledge and book your car in for a dyno tune now. Contact Leo at BL Automotive on (02) 42850300 or via the website - www.blautomotive.com.au

BL AUTOMOTIVE 39 Pringle Rd, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519 (0415) 939307 - leo@blautomotive.com.au

WRAPTOR SERPENTINE SUPERCHARGER KITS

Wheels within Wheels are proud to introduce the newest product to our rapidly growing product line, the Supercharged Wraptor that was on debut at SEMA! Keep the slick look of our signature Wraptor systems when you upgrade your ride with a supercharger! Wraptor kits are compatible with ProCharger, Torqstorm, Edelbrock and Vortech. With side-mounted superchargers continung to grow in popularity, there simply aren’t many options available to keep the slick billet front drive kit look while bolting on extra horsepower. So, Wraptor changed the rules of that game. Not only does the new Wraptor system incorporate a supercharger from popular manufacturers like Procharger®, Vortech®, and Torqstorm®, but they’re also adaptable to existing Wraptor systems that customers have been purchasing for years. For more information, contact Wheels within Wheels at www.wheelswithinwheels.com.au or (03) 5158 0268

Showtime!

To have your event listed here, send details to paul@killerrides.com.au JAN- 2020 2-5 - ACT

Summernats 33 EPIC, Canberra www.summernats.com.au 11 - VIC Camperdown Car & Bike Show Main Street, Camperdown Andrew - 0419 675529

15 - TAS Tassie Mustang Spectacular Parliament House Lawns, Hobart dobrien@hondacentral.com.au 16- VIC Daylesford Motorfest Victoria Park, Daylesford www.daylesfordmotorfest.com

12 - VIC Port Fairy Rod Run Southcombe Park Oval Dale - 0407 424643

16 - VIC 27th All American Day Display & Man Cave Alley Toomuc Reserve, Pakenham allamericandisplay@gmail.com

19 - VIC 5th Annual Northern Car & Bike Show ‘n’ Shine Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale sconroy@powercor.com.au

16 - TAS Deloraine Classic & Custom Car Show Main Street, Deloraine Deloraine-street-car-show@hotmail. com

19 - VIC 38th NSW All American Day Macarthur Square Shopping Centre www.mustang.org.au

20-23 - NSW Powercruise #80 Sydney Motorsport Park powercruise.com

25-27 - VIC VictorianHot Rod & Cool Rides Show Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton www.hotrod.com.au

22 - QLD Brisbane Car Show Beenleigh Showgrounds qldcruising@gmail.com

FEB - 2020

22-23 - TAS Wings & Things George Town Airport ricksherriff59@gmail.com

2- NSW Autorama Illawarra East Berkeley Sports Club 0418 966323 8 - WA Boddinton Street Machine & Motor Show - Boddington Football Oval admin@pcsmc.com.au 8 - QLD Powercruise Powerplay #35 Queensland Raceway powercruise.com

23 - VIC Old Skool Rod Run Halls Gap, The Grampians craig@breurs.com.au 29 - VIC Colac Show & Shine Colac Memorial Square gamarketing@optusnet.com.au

MAR - 2020

7-8 - NSW Bathurst Autofest Mt Panorama, Bathurst www.autofest.com.au 8 - NSW Show & Shave for a Cure Coffs Harbour Leagues Club shownshineforbloodcancer@gmail. com 8 - NSW Kool Kruisers Charity Car & Bike Show - Liverpool Catholic Club John - 0417 401402 13-15 - VIC 28th Chryslers on the Murray Gateway Lakes, Lincoln Causeway www.chryslersonthemurray.com 22 - NSW Killer Rides Pro-Street Sunday Fairfield Showgrounds 9am-3pm - All Undercover 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au www.killerrides.com.au 22 - VIC All Commodore Day Caribbean Gardens, Scoresby www.allcommodoreday.com

APR - 2020

10-12 - NSW ASRF Regional Nationals Goulburn Showground www.asrf.org.au 10-13 - NSW Camaro & Firebird Nationals 2020 Tumut, NSW info@cfnats.com.au

Performance directory Making a Difference Advertise your business here from just $55 per month* * Based on 6-month Booking @ 1/8 page size.

Email: paul@killerrides.com.au for more info.

2020 DATES

Monthly Meets at Greenway Plaza, The Horsley Drive, Wetherill Park

JAN 4 - FEB 1 - MAR 7 - APR 4 - MAY 2 - JUN 6 JUL 4 - AUG 1 - SEP 5 - OCT 3 - NOV 7 - DEC 5

Sundown Car Fest at Penrith Homemaker Centre

JAN 11 - FEB 8 - MAR 14 - APR 11 - MAY 9 - JUN 13 JUL 11 - AUG 8 - SEP 12 - OCT 10 - NOV 14 - D12

126

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

PHONE: Paul - 0432 795336

EMAIL: paul@killerrides.com.au

www.prostreet.com.au

ADVERTISE HERE - JUST $55 PER MONTH

www.carsunderthestars.com

HISTORIC & CLASSIC CARS LOG BOOK SCHEME TO STAY!

On Oct 2nd, Paul Toole Minister for Regional Transport and Roads) and Andrew Constance (Minister for Transport and Roads) released a joint media statement confirming that thanks for the Liberal and National Government, the trial of Log Books for Historic and Classic cars were to be made a permanent addition allowing car owners on limited rego to track how often they are driving their vehicles outside of club organised events which is currently at 60-days per year.

Mr Toole said they would deliver phased improvements to the Log Book system over the coming twelve months to streamline to the use for everyone. “We are looking fo ensure compliance of the conditional registration and to support motorists by ensuring they have a say in the log book format,” Mr Constance said.

Aust. Conferation of Motor Clubs President, Tony O’Donnel welcomed the announcement adding, “The Log book scheme allows owners to more easily enjoy and share the pleasure of our vehicles with each other and the community.”

More information can be found at www.ansma.com.au

71

GOULBURN NATIONALS ITINERARY RELEASED

20

The ASRF Regional Nationals to be held in Goulburn NSW in 2020 is quickly 21 approaching. I’ve got my accommodation sorted, have you? Don’t wait too long! If you are planning on entering the event, the ASRF now have the fourday itinerary on their website - simply click the link below to get there.

As expected, the Thursday is a laid back,casual set up day with registrations happening and is generally a catch up session with old mates you don’t get to see often. But come Friday, the event kicks up a gear. Friday is open to Entrants only and will feature more registrations, the trade stands will be open and the rod-balance competition will be happening. Friday will end with a party on site featuring a live band and BYO drinks.

The show and shine will be the main feature during Saturday with the general public allowed in from 10am before the Street Cruise runs on the main street between 6pm and 10pm at which time there will be live music in Belmore Park.

Sunday will again feature the show ‘n’ shine, the Ladies High Tea and of course the Trophy Presentations. It’s going to be big - don’t miss this one!

www.asrf.org.au

e v i t a v o n n Get I with your Advertising

HERE’S WHAT WE OFFER! EXCEPTIONAL RATES! GLOBAL AUDIENCE! ONLINE 24/7!

VIDEO ENHANCED AD’S! ALL AD’S LINKED! NEW PRODUCT PROMOTIONS! For more information on advertising in Killer Rides, please contact; Paul Beck 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au

PUBLISHING EDITOR

Paul Beck paul@killerrides.com.au Phone 0432 795336

MAILING ADDRESS

PO Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529 129

WEBSITE

www.killerrides.com.au

VALUED CONTRIBUTORS

Lauren Jade @ Xposed Photography Tim McCormack @ Sweet Aussie Rides Chad Silvey @ Pics by Chaddo Leisa Bonnici @ Fordgal Images Blake Williamson @ Insane Grunt Photography Stephen Taylor @ The Motorsports Project John Antoniw @ 9000rpm Photography Greg ‘Beach’ Ball - Joe Crispin - Jason Lowe

s a m t s i r h C Merry

Thanks for your support during 2019.

Looking forward to huge 2020!

Hope the Big Dude in Red is good to you all this year!

Killer Rides is going in for some tweaks and upgrades !

See you all in January with Issue #20!