matched to an Edelbrock Air Gap manifold and
850cfm Holley carb round out the intake side,
while Gonzo from South Geelong Exhausts
fabbed the neat custom headers and twin three-
inch mandrel system.
An MSD ignition package sorts the fire in the
hole, while an Aussie Desert Cooler radiator
ensures maximum driveability in all conditions.
A fresh 727 transmission now features a full-
manual, reverse-pattern valvebody and shift
kit, and connects to the engine via a 3500rpm
Dominator converter. An A1 three-inch chrome-
moly tailshaft was chosen, while the original
modified BorgWarner diff has been replaced
with a shortened AU one-tonner Borgy unit that
features 31-spline axles, a machined-down nine-
inch full spool and 3.23 gears.
This fresh rear end retains the original S drum
brakes and sits atop leaf springs relocated for
added tyre clearance, while CL Valiant discs
are an upgrade to the factory torsion bar front
end. A KJ’s rack-and-pinion steering kit not only
modernises the Val’s road manners, but when
combined with a notched sump and enlarged
transmission tunnel, enabled Scott to fine-tune
the engine fitment and pipe clearance.
The car was now running and driving great,
but after nearly 30 years the paint and interior
were starting to look a little tired. A mishap with
some bodgy wheel studs and the resultant panel
damage were just the push Scott needed to give
the car a cosmetic makeover.
“It was time to pull the old girl off the road and
give it a birthday,” he says. “The S had been in
the family since I was a young boy, so I knew
there’d be no surprises under the paint. It was
stripped back to bare metal and the engine
bay was smoothed, before being resprayed in
Holden Sting Red by Chris Pantony. We then
reassembled the car with new glass along with
fresh chrome and stainless, which really pops
against that bright paint.”
Ken had specced a black interior with his
build, so that theme stayed put with Scott’s
revamp, with a fresh retrim of the twin benches
and adjacent surfaces deftly sorted by Tony
(aka Dickie Knee) of Geelong. A Pro Ratchet
shifter and subtly mounted gauges were theonly modern concessions, but do little to detract
from the S’s signature gauge cluster design and
factory ebony-ivory wheel.
Scott and the S have been making their
presence felt at a number of recent events,
including Summernats 30 and Chryslers On
The Murray, where the car has received plenty
of attention and some great feedback. “I built it
to cruise and have some fun with my mates and
young family, but the greatest accomplishment
has been people saying how happy Dad would
be if he could see the car today,” Scott says.
“It’s been a very emotional build with a few
setbacks along the way, and I really need to thank
my wife, Sarah, and our kids, along with a few
close mates for their time and my effort. And of
course my brother Roscoe; he doesn’t know one
end of a spanner from the other, but has a knack
for shit-stirring me and keeping me motivated
when times are testing.
“I inherited my lead foot from Dad too, so the
car cops a hiding whenever it’s called for,” Scott
laughs. “But overall I just hope he’s proud of what
we’ve achieved; RIP Nutsy. Love ya.” sB