Cheap and easy ways to beef up a red motor?

J · Post by J » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:50 pm

Im sure it's everybody's dream, but I already have a smaller air filter (I actually dont have one at all atm), pacemaker extractors and a thermo fan.

I have a set of twin carbs I can use according to trev it doesnt do much unless the motor is worked. I checked out an article on holleys on blue motors and apparently the original blue motor varijet might be a bit better as they found the holley had a problem with jetting. What about a dual throat holley on a red? or could I somehow get the varijet on there?

Another thing im looking at is putting in a bigger cam, anybody have much info on them?

A bloke offered me a 4sp box the other day out of an HJ with a shift kit on it. $200ish so i figure that could be a good investment

Cheers
Jay

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:34 pm

sorry but there is no cheap or easy way to do it by holden figures there's about 40 hp in twins and headers but i've twins and headers and haven't really noticed much

what you'll really notice is cam couple of hundred min, not much good with an auto unless you spend money there aswell
head around if yor lucky another couple of hundred
either the twins but need to be tuned correctly or a holley another couple of hundred
then it will all need to be fitted plus gaskets i'de say min $1,000

if yor mates 4 speed is a manual there's no such thing as a shift kit for a manual maybe he said shifter or shift if it's just a box and shift you'll also need bellhousing flywheel clutch preasure plate slave cyl + bracket master cyl, lines and a manual pedal set up

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:16 pm

I hate Varajet carbys and I hate Holleys.

Love Webers but they are pricey.Love Quadrajets but they are fiddly bloody things to work on.

Don't overcarb an engine, bigger isn't always better, same goes with cam selection.

If you don't want to go twin or tripple carbs try the WW stromberg carb and manifold from from the S series engines.Two barrel carby,easy to work on and relatively cheap to buy and good for mid range modified engines.

Cam and headwork,better carb is your best bet.Extractors do help but a lot of people overestimate the power increase extractors give.They sound good so the car must be going quicker................ yes they help, but not as much as people make them out to be.Depends on the extractor design as well.They are good for a few HP increase.They work as part of a modified motor package, just bolting them on with no other mods doesn't give you much of an extra kick in the pants.

Most power increase is gained by getting the engine to breath better by a better profile cam and modifying ports and bigger valves in the head.Appropriate carb selection to go with the engine mods is sensible practice.

J · Post by J » Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:18 pm

just thinking, blue motor heads are obviously better then reds and dont have that little bolt through the ports.
Do you think one of those heads and the varajet carb etc would fit and make a bit of a difference? Surely I could score one pretty cheaply and just spend money on a cam.

vmx-mxr · Post by **vmx-mxr** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:34 pm

I've got a manifold (Lynx) that will take a Weber.

What do the experts think of them as opposed to the other stuff out there?

Triple SU's - XU1 and others ?

Triple Strommy sidedraught - XU1 ?

Got to agree on camming up along with head work and better breathing chambers.

Once I have my 'new' ute I'd like to know more - I want a reasonable package that doesn't get too thirsty and certainly don't want that shitty cam shake we used too think was cool in the 70's.

Mild not wild - Oh and did I mention reliable?

Also what is the deal on an injected VK six?

Dave Mac

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:08 am

J wrote:just thinking, blue motor heads are obviously better then reds and dont have that little bolt through the ports.
Do you think one of those heads and the varajet carb etc would fit and make a bit of a difference? Surely I could score one pretty cheaply and just spend money on a cam.

I've only ever heard one bloke that ever said that the Varajet carbys were any good and he was pissed at the time.They are Made in France too which is the same place that makes ugly cars as well.

Earlier red motor Yella Terra heads have the boss cut out in the head ports and they insert a sleeve which the head bolt fits through to reduce the flow obstruction that this boss makes on the air flow.It improves red head air flow a fair bit.

The Yella Terra Bathurst heads don't even use this sleeve at all.They cut out the boss completely and just machine a flat surface on the lower end of the port to use a short head bolt which gives the port a hell of a big area.

Yes the 12 port heads are a cheap betterment on the standard red heads.

If you are buying a 12 port head, a lot of them suffered valve seat recession so check for that although I'd imagine any of those heads that suffered recession and are still around now would have been repaired by now with new seats and valves.

Don't expect massive improvement by a 12 port head fitment alone.

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:16 am

Listen to waht the others have said.

Head, cam, carby, dizzy and exhaust are a good start. But then you'll need a new convertor to suit the cam/diff gears in your car if you want it to all work properly. None of which is cheap.....

EK JAY · Post by **EK JAY** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:53 am

you should have got a worked
red motor to start with j

you would have got something decent for
the money you forked out for the standard 161
look around and see what you can pick up
maybe a whole worked engine and box
check your local wrecker's

and trading post
just parts magazine also often have complete worked
reds you will find one for the right price

Cal · Post by **Cal** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:14 pm

Personally I wouldnt bother.

I remember on one of my reds I had a 350 Holley and extractors. It went quite well for what it was. When I started mucking around with the head and putting twin carbies on it, it became a bit of a dog to drive.

Start playing with cams and stuff, and as other said, you'll need a stall converter.

If it's going to be a daily driver, leave it alone.

dave68 · Post by **dave68** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:41 pm

If its' going to be a daily driver the "VK" injection is the way to go, but you will have to do some work to get it in and working well. But in all of that its' not brain surgery and there are a couple of master surgions that can help on this forum. From experience when you get the bugs out it goes well...

Scubbs · Post by **Scubbs** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:47 pm

heres some cam profiles and there applications

http://www.tighecams.com.au/cars.htm

Mephious · Post by **Mephious** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:51 pm

Hmmm cheap ways to do a red motor -

Electronic Iginition
JP oil pump
High Volume fuel pump
Holley 350
Extractors

These are easy bolt on/in pieces which will help you engine perform better.

From this it starts getting more expensive -

Bigger cam
Ported head / bigger valves / valve springs (girdles even)
Roller Rockers
Stroking
Balance block
Blue print
Billet timing gear
Good rods/pistons/lifters to suit the above
Triple sus or webbers/dellortos (now basically stupid money)

Stupid money -

Intercooled turbo
Blow thru turbo
Supercharger
Oil and fuel pumps to suit
Ignition to suit
Internal engine components to suit (stud guides/pistons etc)

From experience I have done everything up to the "Stupid Money" on my 179 which has racked up an easy 6grand + over time. Its on a stand gathering dust because the money spent verse what I would get for it to sell just aint worth it. Will save it for a future project.

Save your cash for a V8, you can grab a good working SBC chev for 2 to 3 grand and it will easily out perform a worked 6 (without the stupid money).