Gtb 351 - 1983 To Now And Beyond!

[GTB 351]

Hi fellow Coupe lovers, I thought it was about time I started my build thread. I'll start it with a pic of my GT at the last Hardtop Anniversary-

The story actually started in March of 1983 when I turned 18 and wanted a GT Coupe right or wrong! After several weeks searching this was the car that I fell in love with -



I found it in Adelaide in a caryard on Main Nth Rd and paid $6200 for it. My father found out after I had taken possession of the car that he had guaranteed my loan. It was a good thing that he really liked the car too or I may have been in big trouble. He is a "car person" having brought 2 Monaros new and owning/restoring a string of Jags and Triumphs over the years. Interestingly he has never brought a Holden since; owning only Fords or those English things he loves so much.

As you can see from the pics it didnt take long for some slapper bars to find there way onto the GT and it was soon run at a street meet at AIR with the result of -

That was a pretty respectable time in the mid 80's but of course I wanted 12's like the quicker street cars of the time(faster than that was considered unstreetable at that time).
The GT had a 4V engine from an XA GT Sedan fitted, it was possibly an RPO engine as it had a 780 Holley, twin point dissy and extractors(still got the block under the bench but it needs some sleeves). It had a B/W 4 speed and 3.00 lsd db rear, 14x8 and 14x10 hotwires with Kelly Springfield Supercharger tyres on the rear (all show no go). Axle hop was back breaking! So in hind sight I can be very happy with the time it ran.

Time to hit the hay, will add more tomorrow.