1985 Holden Commodore SL 3.3L Black petrol from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

A real beauty!

Faults:

Motor was still completely original and running the Fibro timing gear. One day after a roadworthy, it died on a long highway trip coming back home. I expected it to go, and suspected that it was still running the Fibro cam gear so was well prepared for that. The next day I pulled the motor, rebuilt a high compression 202 block at 40 thousand and installed it. Has literally been running great since, minus those pesky varajet-type headers which had rusted out in a good few spots. Made patch panels and started to repair with the MIG welder on absolute lowest setting, but metal was far, far too thin to get a good weld, so swapped out for a brand new set of extractors.

Apart from that, it's been bullet-proof and has been a great old wagon! Love it to bits!!! :)

General Comments:

Responds very well to modifications and a very good setup.

Removed/bypassed EST ignition system and ran brand new aftermarket HEI distributor and coil, which has given me some tuneability.

I never went much on the feel of the Torquemaster 4 speed manual gearbox, so swapped over to a Celica W50 5-speed. It was a simple conversion to do and didn't take much time. Infinitely better shift feel, has overdrive and bloody mint with the short throw shift kit.

Rebuilt a HQ 202 red block to 40 thousand with ACL Duralite pistons "HQ racing". Fitted brand new Crow 35603 cam and JP helical timing gears with new thrust plate. Bored out 4 x 3/8 holes for water ports to accept a rebuilt 2.85l closed chamber blue head for extra compression, and drilled out rocker bolt holes to accept 7/16th posts for crow stainless steel roller rockers. Slight bump in compression by fitting this head, and adjustable roller rockers have made the motor idle smooth as silk. Fitted Aussiespeed tall rocker cover "a little expensive" as stock cover along with redline chrome one didn't clear rockers on cover and were tapping on them. Bought brand new 12-port extractors to get rid of the rusted out Varajet headers and is much much better. Modified old-school John Cain 350 Holley intake manifold and fitted professionally rebuilt 350 Holley. Runs an absolute treat. Using 60 Mains Jets and 10.5 Power Valve, and 30cc accelerator pump "Info there for anyone who needs it".

The car runs beaut! Doesn't use excessive fuel, starts and runs nice, easy and smooth, and attaining around 12K's per litre overall. Car is running 3.36 LSD and 235/60/R16's. I'm using rack and pinion steering and heavy duty suspension right round with a slight raised setup on the back-end for towing etc.

For the braking system, all I've literally done is got a master and booster from a VX Commodore and made the bracket to suit and ran conversion fittings from the brake lines. Pedal feel is very light and it brakes incredibly well.

Overall it's a 35 year old car, but a great one!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd March, 2020

1985 Holden Commodore VK 3.3ltr Carburettor from Australia and New Zealand

Faults:

This car is the biggest piece of junk I have ever encountered. Just about everything needs replacing, and it looks like a good one.

General Comments:

The only good thing is that you can do a burnout, and that you can throw it away and not give a damn that you did. They're just getting too old, and were never built correctly. If you want an older car, cheap etc. and need a Holden then buy a fair descent VN for under 2000. Far better in everyway. Or do what any good bloke would do and buy a mans car, a Ford. No probs with Fords. Ford Built Tough.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 2006

17th Mar 2006, 15:58

VK were garbage.

Fords are not much better as well.

4th Apr 2006, 19:04

And your saying a VN is better? Misguided is all I can say! Remember it is a 21 y. o car plus what sort of loser goes around doing burnouts? Cool man!!! (rolls eyes)

20th Apr 2006, 03:30

Hey, I am 18yr old and I'm all about burnouts. The Vk I have "couldn't pull a knife out of soft butter", Now a mans car if you want to talk about reliability and comfort, mate ford all the way, I have never been more uncomfortable in my life in a holden (and I have woken up beside a naked 40 yr old fat chick).

Anyway, I didn't even get to drive my Vk for the first five weeks because it spent all that time getting engine rebuilds, suspension rebuilds, new gear box, new diff. The only thing in that whole car that was not broken was the B&M shift kit. I looked everywhere to find a good one and that was the best I found, Although to be honest the body and the interior were 'A1'.

30th Jul 2007, 19:40

Mate.

I have a 1985 6 EFI Berlina, and I must say the last owner was hard on the car. I got the chance to take it for a spin before I took it apart to fix it (last owner really gave it a hard time).

And I gotta stand up for the VK; great car to drive, power to the max and really comfy.

Would give my parent's VX a big run for its money.

Have you ever thought that your VK was crap coz it wasn't looked after?