Whenever you pull up along side a VT Commodore that's throbbing to the beat of a bent eight, you've always gotta search for those all-important Gen III badges on the front flanks. They spell big trouble if you're contemplating an adrenaline charged green-light dash. Without those, you're looking at just an ol' out-of-breath Aussie 5 litre.
Or so most people think...
Glen Parker of Parker Performance on the Gold Coast caters for those who presently have a 5-litre VT parked in the garage. There are a lot of owners out there who want their car to perform like (or better than) the latest 5.7 litre, and Glen says a lot of people come to him for a practical solution. His hardest-hitting example of a warmed-over 5 litre VT is this white '99 model - which was actually the very first Stealth assembled. Stealth build number 1.
Delivered new from Holden in 9C1 trim (identical to those used by the Queensland police), it came equipped with a stock motor, LSD, ABS, FE2 suspension and dual airbags. Not being the expensive top-of-the-range model, it was the perfect base for a comprehensive work-over. There's no point in paying for expensive wheels and the extra factory trimming that's just going to replaced anyway...
Power Push
Glen says the standard "vacuum cleaner" exhaust system is very restrictive, and so the guys at Parker set out making a new system from scratch - with a heavy emphasis on performance and resonance-free acoustics. After computer modelling five or six complete systems and trying out ten different mufflers, the final product combines a pair of Genie 4>2>1 stainless headers, dual in-house high-flow cat converters, a pair of custom stainless mufflers and rear resonators. The pipe layout is twin 2½ inch mandrel bent from the collectors, merging into a single 2½ pipe after a special stainless cross-over box - which is a custom Parker fabrication. And, believe us, the sound that comes out of those trick dual polished tailpipes is good enough to die for!
On the other side, the fitment of a high-flow filter insert and a cold ram-air intake improves the airflow into the 304ci lion heart. The forward-facing fibreglass scoop draws air from both under the bonnet line and through the grille, with a strategically placed deflector plate also used. Parker tried running air pick-ups down low in the wheel arch, but they had grave concerns about the possibility of sucking water into the engine. The throttle body and airflow meter (for now) is standard.
Interestingly, Glen claims that a maximum 5kW gain was achieved with a set of Splitfire spark plugs and Bosch copper wound leads. Filling the sump with ULX110 20/40 oil also gave a worthwhile power improvement (note that this viscosity is different to that which Parker use on the 5.7 litre Chev). To ensure the most performance was delivered from the above mechanical changes, the software within the Holden ECU was altered to suit. This included (mostly) advanced ignition timing maps, adjusted fuelling quantities and a tickled up auto trans control for sharper shifts. All of these mods are covered by Parker Performance's own 3 year/100,000km warranty, which runs parallel to the factory Holden warranty.
Roll these changes in flour, place them in the oven for 10 minutes and you've got a 5 litre Holden with a plump 178kW at the back wheels. And this figure was measured on a local TAFE's Dyno Dynamcs chassis dyno - which means there was absolutely no fudging of results. Glen went on to explain that using a one-third drivetrain power loss through the auto trans, his number 1 Stealth 5.0 makes 255kW at the flywheel. Hence the advertised 255kW on the rear trim panel and the engine valve covers.
An All-round Package
Only being interested in a good all-round package, the Parker VT is slowed by some serious brakes. Under the nose are 330mm slotted DBA discs clamped by Brembo 4-pot calipers (similar to the Lotus Esprit's), while the back uses DBA drilled and slotted discs with single pot calipers. ADR approved braided lines and a combination of QFM and Ferrari-type pads are also used. Glen says that compared to the standard brakes, these are 400 per cent better!
Suspension-wise, Stealth number 1 no less impressive. Bilstein inserts and 50mm lowered linear rate King springs are fitted on an upy-downy axis, while Selby blade swaybars span across from wheel to wheel. An adjustable IRS kit fixes up the Holden rear toe and camber settings, which are normally surrounded by a big question mark. Glen vouches for this comprehensive combo - "they make a big difference, you just point and steer".
So what makes a Stealth visually stand out from the growing band of Commodore body massages on the market?
First of all, its body kit is a fully custom jobbie. It uses specially developed skirts, front and rear spoilers and bumpers. The whole look is heavily influenced by current HSV kits and, of course, it comes in for a full body colour-coding at the end of it. It's very slick indeed. Current-look carbon fibre parts are used for the door scuff plates, lower rear trim panel and the B-pillar. Glen feels the 'fibre B-pillar really helps to set the Stealth apart from the rest of the crowd - although he then went on to add that there's a couple of copy-cats that have recently done the same thing. Walk around the beast and you'll also see a Stealth logo on the leading edge of the bonnet, on the boot trim panel and some hot lookin' Stealth stickers adorn the rear doors.
The wheel and tyre package seen on this vehicle is, what Glen describes as "entry level". These are 17 x 8 TSW Stealth Mesh rims wearing 235/45 Falken rubber. But look closely and you'll discover there's even special Stealth centre caps. No attention to detail has been spared.
Inside, the Stealth also has an individual character, as Glen fits out the seats and door trims with a patterned fabric (the same as in German-spec M3s). Re-framed front seats with additional bolstering together with a leather-bound steering wheel, shifter and handbrake lever can also be found. The dash and centre console is hornified with one-off carbon fibre insets and, like every Stealth, the build number is also put on a plaque on the console. Exclusive is the key word.
To really make the car impress at its media release, it carries an awesome sound system - a Kenwood deck, twin 15 inch subs and a 4 x 100W Signat ROC 1 amp all linked together with proper cables.There's also a selection of tools and first aid kit cleverly sunk into a compartment in the floor. Twelve-volt fluoro lights illuminate the boot in spectacular fashion.
So there you have it - the street smart Stealth number 1.
But - in case you were wondering - Parker customers can chose to go mental with the engine if they want to (as they can with any aspect of the car). This promo vehicle carries what Glen calls the Stage 1 engine, however, the company can go all the way up to a 6.3 litre mega-tough stroker if requested. Now that's grunt!
Another large-cube VT is also on the horizon with Parker's currently in-development 5.7-litre Stealth Signature package. Expected for release in around mid September, this will be a real bruiser - stay tuned for a feature on that one soon!
Contact:
Parker Performance
+61 7 5564 7066
Parker Performance
