History
Hard to know, especially prior to 1996 but it seems to have been a GMH car in Perth when new and then spent some time around Narellan NSW in mid 1990's before going to Yass a decade later.
In March 2011 I got the car as a roller out of a barn in Bungendore and bought it from a bloke who I was told was a decent character and the car was supposedly complete save for a few items. The car was also in guidecoat and said to merely require rubbing in order to be painted - as it turned both Kane and the car were far from what they were represented to be.
A bare metal restoration started in June 2011 and the car was in paint by Oct 2011 before being brought home where I spent whatever spare time I could piecing it back together before August 2015 when a bunch of fellows from the Canberra Torana Club took it off me in order to finish it for Toranafest 2015 - very kind of them and also very humbling for me.
Modifications
Where to start - lots and none. I always wanted to get back to original but went with the modification route on a few things.
Engine
By Chev’s Performance Centre, Carrum Downs VIC
GM-H 308ci (5.0L) V8 – QT series (HQ, HJ, HX, HZ and WB 1971-1980)
Quickfuel ‘Slayer’ 600cfm carburetor – vacuum secondaries
Edelbrock Performer 2194 dual-plane inlet manifold
Brock ‘B Cast’ iron heads with L34 valves, pressed rockers, hydraulic lifters
Flat-top +0.030” pistons with 10.3:1 compression ratio fitted to A9L conrods
Howards 660991-08 cam - specs 221/221 @ .501/.501 duration - 108 lobe separation
Bosch VK Holden Commodore electronic points distributor
Exhaust
By Roadway Mufflers, Belconnen ACT
Exhaust manifold: HPC coated MPH headers 1.5” primaries, 1.75” secondaries & 2.25” outlets
Dual 2.25 inch (over diff) exhaust with sawn-off chromed table-legs for tips (true)
Cooling
Three-core V8 radiator
Electric thermo fans (Ford Mondeo) with manual override
A9X style overflow/recovery bottle by Torana RPA, Newcastle NSW
Gearbox
M21 (497 - V8 close ratio) Aussie 4-speed by a cretin in Sydney named Peter Zitis of Aussie 4 Speeds.
Use this bloke at your own peril.
He delivered to me (after months of chasing and $2k paid up-front) a box of worn-out (high-mileage) gears, synchros and all manner of issues - it sounded like an air-raid siren. He then drove down from Sydney, inspected my gearbox and in my very home told me a fist full of lies to my face and then he left! Thankfully, Phil d'Arro of Belconnen Drivelines and Transmissions had a look and set me straight - I had a $2k paperweight! After some stern words over the phone, Zitis re-attended my address and delivered to me a replacement box and after fitting the thing still isn't right nor have I seen from him a new filler nut and warranty he promised me. Per the Chris DeBurgh song - don't pay the ferryman - not even if he does get you to the other side...
Rear axle
Ford 9 inch with 3.25 ratio LSD
28 spline 1.29” axles
Brakes
Front - UPC kit – PBR twin spot calipers, 287mm ventilated discs and adaptors
Rear - 1959-61 Ford Customline 11 inch drums
Renewed V8 booster and proportioning valve and new brake lines
Suspension
Front - UC Torana upper & lower control and steering arms, Pedders 2030 lowered springs and K-MAC Bathurst sway-bar
Rear - Pedders 2024 lowered springs, Tubular Suspension Systems (TSS) rose-jointed upper (adjustable) and lower trailing arms, Gabriel shock-absorbers and Whiteline sway-bar
Wheels and tyres
Wheels by Neal Wheels
Front - 15 x 8 Hotwires - 225/45 15 Falken Ziex tyres
Rear - 15 x 10 Hotwires – 285/45 15 Yokohama Avus tyres
Body and Paint
Bare metal by Sodablast, Hume ACT
Repainted original colour - Mint Julep 568-1915 - BASF Baslac 2-pack colour and clear coat
Bodywork and paint on underside, engine bay and interior by Dave Ladd
Paint by Jason Brown of Canberra Automotive Refinishers, Belconnen ACT
Fibreglass A9X style bodykit
Interior
18V Slate Black seat upholstery with golf-ball inserts by Cool’s Auto Trim, Peakhurst NSW
Re-trimming of seats by Pegg’s Auto Trim, MacGregor ACT
SS dashboard and instrument cluster - Portland Grey 04045
Vinyl, headlining and carpets by C&G Auto Upholstery, Brisbane QLD
Fuel system
98 RON pump fuel
120L Brown Davis drop tank
Standard mechanical fuel pump and new fuel lines
