1966 Hr Holden Extra Power - Help me boost its performance  

lil_bobby_260

Drive it and enjoy it. P-plate legal HR's arent really ever going to be powerful, youd be paying a decent amount for minimal gains, and the mods you can do on a budget are limited.
Anyone who owns an old car should know the basics without asking...
Extractors and exhaust, can fit a redline or cain manifold with a 2 or 4 (overkill) barrel holley carb or a weber off an XF falcon, and thats really all performance wise without spending much. Next is a cam, yella terra head or get ur own ports worked on and up the compression a lil bit etc...
Id focus on decent shocks and springs, swaybars, and brakes.

beetlevk

what stage is tthe motor at?

astro boy

highlighted part is valid*


i'd look at suspension and brake upgrades.. get it handling as good as possible then once you off your p's you can chuck a 5L in it or something.

it will honestly be the best way you can spend your cash on an old car whilst on your restricted licence.

if you really want to make it "go better" than the above mods is where it's at.

astro boy

STAGE 2 CAM BRA...


WTF are you talking about?

jebby88

mate i couldnt tell you for sure only realy glanced at the motor, and the car is being stored elsewere

b.t.h

Epic boot space ftw! And those cars do not need power. They're cool enough to do without it.

jebby88

yer thanks for the info, all i was thinking to do was triple carbs and extractors, my fathers the mechanic so mabye i should ask for some advice

jebby88

The engine needs a tidy up but from everyones advice i take it, that the hr doesnt need anymore power?

lil_bobby_260

How is your father a mechanic, and you have an HR, and you dont know anything about how to squeeze some power out of it using basic mods?
Anyone else thinks that makes no sense?
Sorry man, but if you dont know the answer to the question you are asking, you shouldnt buy/own that car. That said, hope the above information i gave you is helpful.

b.t.h

I'll buy it for $1500? Then it can help you get a silvia or skyline if your after something cheap and quick.

EDIT: But yeah, i agree bobby, however maybe is father just expects him to know stuff? eh.

jebby88

it was my fathers car, when he went to sell it (like all the cars) i offer to have it as my first car. any other questions look at my age on my profile

lil_bobby_260

Mate, i apologise.
Get that car off your old man, as it is a classic shape.
Im sure that anyone in this section is going to be more than willing to help a young enthusiast out with any info or advice he needs, congrats for having awesome taste in cars.
Im a Ford man, as you will see from my cars in Members Rides, but did have a HR myself many moons ago.
Awesome first car. Kudos on not gelling a bloody silvia.
Ben? Shut up! haha

jebby88

k thanks man , seen galaxie in the fourms today, sweet job doing it up

b.t.h

haha yeah so good your not wanting a silvia!
Can't wait to see it on the road! Im sure im seeing more and more oldies on the road I think everyones just sick of jap imports. This car can only go up in value

Bobby, im checking out that XC tomorrow. Will take a few happy snaps.

lil_bobby_260

Ben if you dont want that XC im bloody buying it haha... ill give them 2 1999 excels and an XE fairmont for it haha...
Thanks for the feedback on the Galaxie, err... jeb.

b.t.h

Thread jack

Haha, you've already got a cool ride, it's my turn
My rents aren't too keen on it, they'd prefer it if i got a Kingswood or something. But eh, XC's are cooler. I'll probably make an offer tomorrow if its mechanically good enough and doesnt run like a prostitute trying to get away from the cops in high heels. Already done a photoshop of what it would look like in red, or black.

lil_bobby_260

Black has been done to death on those cars - go the red. Actually, you know what IS uncommon on XCs? Blue... Like a deep, rich metallic blue...
Dont worry about the parents haha... Mate you get an XC and i will gladly give up weekends to help you work on it mate, just to get my hands on the thing.

b.t.h

Haha if i went with a deep rich metallic blue.. i would feel like im trying to copy nicks kingswood (deadsled). Red is my first choice though, i'de have to find a place to paint it though. Hopefully the bloke still has it. And hopefully i can knock the price down a fair bit. Hopefully my corolla sells quickly, as that will be a nice pay check to go towards it. All up, i can't let it take longer then two-three weeks to get it on the road. This is all theoretically as i most likely wont get it
Thanks for the offer too! lol i'd love someone to give us a hand on it, especially someone with your know how.
Come check it out tomorrow if your keen? No bidding on it though lol. Im desperate to get on the road again!

Oh and Jeb, is the car roadworthy/registered? It'd be a great project!

jebby88

it has road worthy and is registerd. the previous owner did full restoration 7 years ago but now has small amount of rust the size of 20 cent coin in rear left hand door. I have pictures of when the car was first restored and taken to shows, it has won awards (only minor) as you can see buy the badge on the grill.

b.t.h

good stuff, what will be your plans for it? Excluding the previous upgrades mentioned.

jebby88

definately a decent stereo and speakers, then the rust repair and rechrome of headlight surrounds, and possibly power steering as it will be a daily driver .if i have any spare cash ill find something to spend it on like 15inch rims to fit some whitewalls i got in the shed

lil_bobby_260

Ben my days off are Saturday and Sunday, so no can do.
RUST AREAS ON XCs - Check the following areas for rust. Pull the boot lid seal up and cheack it, the the panelling behind each wheel (rear quarter and rear edge of front guards) as well as the area on the c-pillar where the roof comes down to meet the rear guards (there is a factory join there that likes to rust out).
Also, take a philips head screw driver and remove the grille between the rear edge of the bonnet and the windscreen, as leaves and shit get stuck in there and make it rust and is a massive headache. Means a car full of water. I actually recommend asking if you can run a hose over the windscreen for a minute to see if you get a puddle in the front footwells, its that common. Umm... open the boot and check around the taillights from the inside as that can be an issue too. pop the bonnet, and just under the leading edge where it tucks around, right at the front edge, that often rusts away.
In the boot, pull the jack and foam mount out and check under it, as well as the other side also, as these commonly hold water and rust out.
Also, take a torch, and crawl underneath, check the footwells.

DOnt feel bad or awkward about doing any of this, any old car owner will understand you checking everything.
Enjoy!

b.t.h

Wow, thats heaps of awesome information PLUS a diagram! your the man! I'll also take a trusty magnet to check for bog on those fixed up spots. But then again, even if it was my car i'd use bog.. so thats not a huge deal if theres some. I'm writing everything you said down right now. Thanks for your help uh rob? I've been watching wheeler dealers so i know a few things to look for. What sounds should i check for when taking it for a test drive? I have a feeling im going to swamp him with questions too. If i manage to find a few rusted spots, i'm sure that'll give me a chance to knock down the price a fair bit. Cheers for your help! i really appreciate it.

jebby88

lol "spot the lemon"

lil_bobby_260

Listen for anything abnormal. Essentially, if you didnt hear it while driving your sigma, you shoudlnt hear it in an XC.
Try to find a hil to drive up, plant your foot and feel the auto kick back a gear to make sure its solid and no clunking through the drivetrain, and no smoke. Make sure you tell him NOT to start the car til you get there, so you can see how it starts when cold. Start it cold, then see how noisy the tappets etc are when compared to after you drive it. Also, when you start it, be looking in your rear view mirror for a burst of smoke on startup. This will indicate head gasket etc. MAKE SURE you check the oil level before AND after you drive it. check the radiator before you drive for milkyness. I recommend removing the radiator cap BEFORE you start the car, and let it warm up with no cap, while you do ur rust checks etc, then wander back to the radiator to make sure you arent getting air bubbles popping up.
turn the wheel from lock to lock while idling to see if the pwr steer (if fitted) pump whines.
check all electrics - headlights, taillights, reverse lights, all indicators. Make sure all windows wind up and down easily, click all seatbelts together, handbrake should only be 7 or 8 clicks to tight. make sure all door handles work from inside and outside. anything that doesnt work is a bargaining chip.

lil_bobby_260

dude all cars from early 80s and older are lemons. something will f*ck up on them every couple of months so get used to it haha...
the key here is not really to find a good car, but the one that is LESS SHIT than all the others available haha... Sorry Ben and i hijacked your thread and turned it into an XC falcon buying tips thread

b.t.h

haha, nahh i know that hey, thats why i was so happy with my sigma it was perrrfect.. well.. 100x less shit then anything else for that price

But yeah, i completely agree, find one thats less shit, if you do find a GOOD car in mint condition - expect a pretty penny for it. I'd recommend the guy with the HR do some of these checks too, before worrying about power or sound system lol.
I just spent the last 20 minutes writing a whole checklist page. Thanks for all the advice rob, its going to be a huge help - i was going to look at it blindfolded basically. I just hope i don't look like a 'little punk' asking him all these questions. I'll make sure he can see the receipt in my hand for a deposit

Thanks heaps for your help. I shall let you know tomorrow how it goes.

Peace

trev084

Alternator by pass switch is what people used to do in the early days on eh's, hr's, xc's and so on to decrease load on the engine and gain slight power street racing

76LX_FTW

Fixed.

wbtonner

^^^^^^^^
Haha win!

You'll get away with murder in that car mate, anything with chrome bumpers usually does. Work the shit out of that 186, or better yet throw a worked 202 in it. My ute is heavily worked and im on P plates. When i get pulled over I just say its outta tune.

DeadSled

I agree with what Bobby said, and what Astro Boy highlighted.

You should google a bit and read up on red motors before actually asking so it makes you seem less of a noob, regardless of age.

You also did not tell us what the motor has already done to it, what carby / manifold its running, whether it has extractors or an original cast iron exhaust manifold, ect ect.

Give us some general info first and then we can give you an informed post as to how to get a bit of oomph out of that red motor for cheap.

jebby88

Just brought some stuff for the frount end like, ball joints and pivet arm. And will hopefully have triple SU's by tomorrow. Then next month im getting a lumpy cam and extractors.
Our mate suppososly has a yella terra head and a couple of 186s in his old mans house, so ill have that for a carton of grog

jebby88

Just got some triple su's with manifold and linkages $505

DeadSled

Triple SU's are a terrible idea if you don't even know enough about how to make power out of the motor.