GMH HQ (down under)

[Thomo5150]

My project is just starting so I'd thought I'd better start a build thread. I guess you would call it a truck in the US, in Australia we call them utes. They where made from 1971 to 1984. Like some C1500's a lot of front panels inter change.

Holden HQ cab / HZ chassis.
Corvette C5 ZO6 drivetrain and suspension
Kenne Bell LS6 supercharger
Rushforth 19x8 20x13 wheels
Toyo 245/35/19 345/25/20 tires:thumbsup:

This is what the guy next door is building in his shed

www.aussieinvader.com

Heres some photo's of the parts I have.

[70rs]

Sounds like a very cool project. With that blower and LS motor it should move right along. Thanks for posting and please keep the pictures coming.
:cheers:

[Thomo5150]

Time to post some more details. There has been a delay with the project with parts some stolen from the local whaf.
Mike made the torque tube with a carbon fibre drive shaft and replaced a noisy bearings. The tube was lengthen 10 inches.

[Thomo5150]

This project is back on the go. Spent the weekend making a chassis table and setting up the wheelbase and ride height with the C5 cradles.

[Thomo5150]

Just finishing my chassis table this week. I am lucky that the Holden chassis is about the same width as the Corvette C5 at the front rails, so adapting the cradle is straight forward. The rear chassis is a different story I have to narrow the chassis rails to fit the C5 cradle and suspension. The pic's posted below is what I am looking at doing to my chassis. I thought I'd post them up before I start cutting my chassis, this is what they do to add a 4 link and wider rims and tires here. Can any one see any problems with the way this is done?

Cheers Tim.

[Greg from Aus]

Looking fantastic, keep up the good work.

Greg

[Thomo5150]

Cheers Greg, this project has had a few stops and starts with parts being stolen, dealing with insurance companys etc..... I got the cab for free but it needs inner and outer sill put in it. I am waiting for a reply for a HJ cab down in Rockingham to see if that has less work.

Good to see a West Aussie on the forum................

[coolwelder62]

You mate's down under have some pretty cool holden stuff to choose from.It would be neat to get something like that over here state side to build.Even the ford stuff is cool.At least we can get a cold foster's.:thumbsup:

[Thomo5150]

Funny thing is we can get some Budwieser beer easier than we can get Fosters.:) Here.........

Here is the rolling chassis pic's from Pick A Part. Gus and the guys did a top job in packing this for shipping to Australia. I asked for the original frame rails with the original suspension and shock mounts. These where supplied by Gus at no extra cost and made this project a little easier to complete.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/DSC00357.jpg
<a href="http://s574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/?action=view&current=DSC00358.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/th_DSC00358.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/DSC00359.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/DSC00380.jpg

[Thomo5150]

Here is some pic's of the Holden chassis be set up tof the Corvette C5 cradle. The coil spring part of the chassis is cut away. The outside rails will be reboxed and welded to give nice square rails. The cradle is in a rough position to show the Holden and Corvette are nearly the same width at the front. Once all the brackets are cut of and smoothed the chassis is be set up on the table for ride height etc......

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/9uj8j8u.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/nuju9j89j8j8.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/uhh78hj9j8ju8.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/untitledj98j890j09i09i.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/untitled.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/8j8iji9.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/99h98j80j8j8.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/0j8jj8j8j8j.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/0j8j8u8u8u8.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/ijj89i9i9i.jpg

[Thomo5150]

I'll make some jigs up for the suspension. The Vette rails are 6" x 3.5" while the Holdens are 5" x 3". With the last photo you can see how much the rear rails have to be narrowed.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0339.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0340.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0342.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0343.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0344.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0345.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0346.jpg

[Thomo5150]

Slight change to the project I am now sourcing a well body ute which will fit on the modified chassis. There are a few unfinished projects on the market here I'll look at a few this week. Here is some pic's of them same body different front sheet metal.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/1973_HQ_HOLDEN_UTE.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/1973_HQ_SANDMAN_UTE.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/33563450023_large.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/4187f88_20.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/dsc00135jpgdm7.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/th_rob600.jpg (http://s574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/?action=view&current=rob600.jpg)

[Thomo5150]

The lengthened torque tube compared to the stock C5 tube............

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0347.jpg

[Greg from Aus]

Looking great Thomo, how come the change to the well body?

Greg

[Thomo5150]

There are a few unfinished ute project for sale at the moment. Its not set in stone, I will look at my cab this weekend to see how much panel work there is.

[Thomo5150]

Mounted the old cab today. Cut the rear chassis rails off, set the chassis a 5 inches of ground clearence. Working on the front end this weekend to mount the C5 cradles. Need to remove most of the firewall.

One of the boys playing with photo shop

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0353.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0356.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0357.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0361.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/ujuj7uh7h.jpg

[Thomo5150]

More work today, realized I made a mistake on the chassis to ground clearence it was set at 5 inches needs to be 7 1/2 to 8 inches. Looks like it mite work though. The cradle is in a rough postion and the chassis still needs to have its height reset and be squared on the table.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0367.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0368.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0369.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0370.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0371.jpg

[Thomo5150]

More work, still need to raise the chassis up 2 or 3 inches to get the lower control arms level. Mite need some flared fenders on it........

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0376.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0377.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0378.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0379.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/21BeDpj2CgBWk7E2428KGrHqYOKkIEq4umLUERBK7rvFP29pQ7 E7E_12.jpg

[Thomo5150]

Sticking with the One Tonner cab, removed the rusted cowl today and the plentum area was ok. Still needs a new tunnel and inner and outer sill panels. It will get a recessed firewall, also looked at measureing the factory suspension.


RHD Corvette Rack
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/C620Corvette20Rack20Pinion20Housing2001.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/C620Steering20Rack20Hi20Res.jpg

One Tonner with out the rear tray/bed
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/P1010549.jpg

Removing the Cowl panel and top dash panel
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0388.jpg

OBX Headers
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0394.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0397.jpg

Measureing the factory suspension points.
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0386.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0384.jpg

[Thomo5150]

Chassis will be a roller by the end of the month, looking at the new Kenne Bell 3.6LC Supercharger on a LS6 383 stroker engine.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0405.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0406.jpg
http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/Photo0407.jpg


http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss183/thomo5150/3_6_cooler.jpg