Street Machine Australia — January 2018

it to a nine-inch packed with 3.9s, Truetrac, and 31-spline Moser

axles all thanks to Southern Differentials.

Strengthening the bounce ’n’ stop, Capital Steering & Suspension

added QA1 adjustables up front with Lovells springs coupled

with Koni adjustables at the rear. Brakes were relieved from a VT

Commodore, with a CVR electric vacuum master cylinder providing

the juice. Rounding off the bling, shiny 17-inch Schott Americanas

wrapped in Nexen rubber were tucked under the flares.

Back on top, the bodywork was finished off with a delectable

Torana A9X two-piece front spoiler, A9X scoop and the

aforementioned flares. Tony Smith of Classic Car Creations then

had the difficult task of painting it black. “I said right from the get-go

that I want it smooth and straight. Tony did a fantastic job and it was

reasonably priced,” Stephen says of the tight panelwork slathered

in uncompromising two-pack PPG Tuxedo Black.

“All of the time and money was all worth it when I fired it up and

drove it up the driveway for the first time,” Stephen continues.

“Then to go to Toranafest and win my first trophy, I couldn’t believe

it.” Yet he soon topped that at Summernats 2014, with a Top 60

Elite spot and 3rd Top Tudor. He then backed it up in both 2015

and 2016 with Top 60 placings and 2nd Top Tudor both years. The

Torry’s since scored more tinware than we can possibly mention – a

testament to Stephen’s ‘do things right’ vision.

“The beauty of the build being over six years is that the cash flow

was consistent and it allowed me to go to shows and see different

things to put into the car,” he says. “Though if I had my time again I’d

probably try and keep it a bit more original, being that it’s a genuine

black SS hatch.” But we’re sure glad he didn’t.

s

STEPHEN BARRIE

1976 HOLDEN

LX SS TORANA

Colour: PPG Tuxedo Black

two-pack

POWER
Donk: 355ci Holden
Induction: Eight throttlebodies,
50mm stacks, DC&O manifold
ECU: Haltech
Heads: Cast-iron, ported, flowed
to 600hp
Cam: COMP roller
Springs & lifters: Crane

Pistons: Cast

Conrods: Precision

Crank: Harrop 355 stroker

Flywheel: Yella Terra

Oil pump: VT Commodore,

ASR pan

Fuel pump: VT Commodore,

Russell regulator

Fuel: PULP

Pulleys: Gilmer drive

Water pump: CSR electric

Cooling: Aussie Desert Cooler

radiator, 2 x 12in Spal thermos,

CSR electric pump

Exhaust: Pacemaker 4-into-1

extractors,^5 / 8 in primaries,

twin 2½in exhaust, Mega-Flow

mufflers, by Brett Russell and

Marcel Jansen

Ignition: VT Commodore,

Manley coil

Power: 347rwhp

COGS

Gearbox: Tremec Magnum TS6

six-speed, by Mal Wood

Tailshaft: Mark Williams 3½in

Clutch: Centerforce

Bellhousing: Quick Time

Diff: 9in, 3.9s, Truetrac, 31-spline

Moser axles; by Southern

Differentials

BOUNCE ’N’ STOP

Front suspension: QA1

adjustable shocks

Rear suspension: Adjustable

upper and lower trailing

arms, Lovells springs, Koni

adjustable shocks

Brakes: 300mm cross-drilled &

slotted rotors with PBR 300mm

VT Commodore calipers (f & r)

Master cylinder: CVR electric

vacuum pump

ROLLING STOCK

Wheels: Schott Americana;

17x8 (f), 17x10 (r)

Tyres: Nexen; 235/40/17 (f),

275/40/17 (r)

INSIDE

Seats: Factory slate leather with

grey golfball inserts

Steering wheel: SS Torana

Instruments: SS Torana

Shifter: Six-speed VT Commodore

Mods: Electric windows

Stereo: Clarion, installed by

Ash Deadman

THANKS

Helen for her sponsorship and lack of moaning; my mates at Royalla

Restorations headed by Craig Ballard; Lawrie Reid; Canberra Torana Club

members; Brett Russell & Marcel Jansen for fibreglass, fuel lines, exhaust,

fitting up; Craig Wilson for the dash; Ben from Phillip Radiators for welding/

fabrication, hoses and cooling system; Matt Hinton from Prestige Plus

Upholstery; Steve Rowland from Transtate Tyres, Queanbeyan; Rob Gardiner

for car detailing; Kit Hunter for engine build; Bruce Ingram for panel; Tony

Smith from Classic Car Creations for paint; anyone else I’ve forgotten