is mostly hidden, and the usually visually dominant LS1 coil packs
have been hidden under the dash. Once this was done, the bay was
given a fresh coat of Torquay Sand. It’s fair to say Ben’s turned the
usually messy-looking LS1 into a work of art.
Ben tells us one thing the car lacked when the original 202ci was
in there was noise.
“The car looked good, but the noise just wasn’t there,” he says.
“Once the motor and transmission were in I had the car moved over
to Moolap Mufflers, where Andrew fitted up custom-made four-into-
one headers and a mild-steel exhaust – with a sleeper-spec pea-
shooter out the back to boot!”
Andrew from Moolap then put the car on the dyno and tuned it to
make 364hp at the wheels.
“It makes for a very fun street car,” Ben says. “I’d say it’d run a low
11-second time at the drags, but we’ll see. I’ll take it to the track
next year.”
Ben likes that his engine bay is a conversation starter.
“I’ve had a few people scratching their heads, and then when you
tell them it’s an LS, they’re like: ‘Oh yeah, I see it.’ Most people seem
to figure it out pretty quick when they see the water pump.”
What Ben’s ended up with is a damn cool street car. The combination
of the VH’s original look mixed with a tough stance and a mean set
of wheels – not to mention a very healthy, retro-looking LS1 – makes
it a special bit of kit. They certainly build them nice in Geelong. sBEN LEAT
1982 HOLDEN VH
VACATIONER WAGON
Paint: Torquay Sand
ENGINE
Brand: LS1 346ci
Induction: Holley mid-rise
intake, Accufab 1250cfm four-
barrel throttlebody
ECU: Stock
Heads: Stock LS1, 30thou
shaved
Camshaft: COMP Cams
234/236 112 LSA
Conrods: Stock
Pistons: Stock
Crank: Stock
Oil pump: Melling
Fuel system: Stock injectors,
DeatschWerks DW300 in-tank
pump
Cooling: SPAL USA twin 11in
fans
Exhaust: 4-into-1 custom
extractors, 3in-into-3.5in mild-
steel exhaust
Ignition: Stock coils, custom
leadsTRANSMISSION
Gearbox: Turbo 400, fullymanualised
Converter: Dominator
4500rpm 8in
Diff: VS Commodore wagon
BorgWarner with 31-spline
axles, 3.45:1 gearsSUSPENSION & BRAKES
Front suspension: King
Springs, Monroe gas shocks
Rear suspension: King
Springs, Pedders short-travel
shocks
Brakes: Four-piston Wilwood
calipers (f), factory VS
Commodore wagon discs andcalipers (r)
Master cylinder: VF
Commodore SV6 brake boosterWHEELS & TYRES
Rims: Billet Specialties Comp
5 Series 15x3.5 (f), Weld
Racing 15x8 (r)
Rubber: Drag Star; 5.60 (f),
235/60/15 (r)THANKS
Dave Di Natale for all the help
with the wiring; Tim Holmyard
(TJH Performance) for the
engine rebuild; Aaron Madex,Craig Marshman and Sam
Maisano at DTM Automatics;
Matt Dietrich at Geelong Diffs;
Andrew Darby at Moolap
Mufflers; Jason Waye at
Muscle Garage; Paul Drew at
Garden City Wreckers; Julia
Parker at Repco North Geelong;
Mick, Danny and Koonks for
the beers; Shane Marshall at
Marshall Speed Shop; Luke
and Todd Foley for the advice;
Phil Awramenko; Daniel at
Reidspeed; lastly my wife
Sandi and kids Mason and Evie
for all their help and support