Sic 'Em Rover!
Rovers - especially the SD1-bodied models - are an often frowned-at car here in Australia. But that's only because the poor Rover saloon arrived in this country terribly under-powered - especially when compared to the home-market UK models. Just take a look at Tom Walker's personally imported black beastie to see what we really missed out on. Certainly, this is a 1985 Vanden Plas that many of us would like to have parked in the garage....
Believe us, this sure isn't a vehicle that does a disservice to the V8 image of power and glory. Boasting the same alloy 3.5 litre V8 block as locally delivered, this import boasts a Lotus-tuned ram-air EFI (a limited edition, of which there were only 1113 made) and a high 9.75:1 compression ratio. Tom has further improved his example with stainless steel extractors leading into a dual 2¼-inch system with a single dual inlet/outlet Genie Tornado 'box. A bit of rumble to match the mumbo. Add to this a Stage 2 camshaft, hi-flow heads and the recent addition of a Powerstack air filter to open up the intake. The driveline uses a GM180 auto tranny putting torque to an amazingly tall 2.85:1 rear end - but it's sure got the torque to pull it!
When Tom thrusts his right foot down, he instantly gets the desired reaction from under the bonnet. The luxurious flyer leans back on its adjustable Spax shockers and steams off to 100 kays in a scant 7.9 seconds. Its available 158kW also powers it to a top speed of 219 km/h - not bad for a Rover, eh? Of course, inside the Vanden Plas is enough luxury to get you looking a little closer to your screen. What you see here is all stock Rover fitment too - except for the aftermarket twirler, Kenwood amp 3-way 6x9s and 6-inch front 2-ways. Nothing hard to put up with!
In contrast to the hairy-chestedness of Tom's black import, he also owns this silver locally-delivered '85 Vanden Plas. This scores only an 8.13CR and a standard Lucas-type EFI system - but it's also equipped with an aftermarket exhaust, cam and Powerstack filter. Oh, and - since Tom's more inclined to drive Blackie when he wants to go fast - it runs on diet of LP gas. Spinning another G180 trans (but with a shorter 3.08 diff), this car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds. Its 116kW gives it a top-end of 188 kms. That's not too bad either, but - as Tom says - you can see how the luxo Rover would have been a bigger hit if only they'd brought out these sporty models...
Lexus GS GeeGees
The Lexus (Luxury EXport to US) GS-300 is one of those sweet saloons that everyone would like to own - especially when it's been given a heap more kWs than Mr Lexus originally intended! When Jon in the US got his paws on this stunning 3 litre DOHC, 24-valve atmo GS, it was inevitable than the quiet refinement of the Lexus would be shot-gunned the hell outa here. That wonderful 2JZ motor has immediately been tweaked with AEM cam gears, MSD ignition, SDS computer, bigger injectors and - wait for it - a 20G Mitsubishi turbocharger with GReddy front-mount intercooler! Y-eah, this is a boostin' GS300!
Now - as if turbocharging wouldn't be enough - Jon has also gone ahead and given the motor a sizeable 150-shot of Nitrous Express! Yee-ha! Of course, with the above insanity running rampant, it makes sense that the motor has come in for a fairly major built-to-suit overhaul. The bottom-end is beefed up with Crower rods, Wiesco low compression pistons fill the bores, the head has been ExtrudeHoned and a custom head gasket is selected for all-important sealing duties. So where are we up to now? Turbo'd, intercooled, nitrous injected and fully re-built!
Rounding out this brilliant luxury street package is a "Level 10" Race Transmission and a dumped set of Eibach suspension to compliment them big boots. Without a doubt, the US-spec GS300 is a terrific looking car to begin with - but these mild mods do it a whole lota good. And just imagine seeing a "gentleman's" GS300 peel off sideways from a set of lights, tyres a-smokin' and turbo a-whistlin'!
Now don't that give the GS300 a new lease in life?!
Pumped Prelude
Paul's '97 Honda Prelude Type SH Turbo is a real flyer - let's get that straight right now. It's a perfect example of how the Americans just l-o-v-e getting into Honda's top hi-tech motors and hitting them with a few psi of boost pressure. Powered by a H22A 2.2 litre four, this baby has been built to feature a JG Engine Dynamics Pro-Series block, 9.0:1 Arias slugs (still well down from the standard VTEC's CR), Saenz forged chrome-moly rods and iron cylinder wall sleeves. The turbo system additions include a DRAG turbo manifold, Spearco air-to-air intercooler, Turbonetics T04B/T03 hybrid turbocharger, external Deltagate, HKS twin sequential blow-off valve, A'PEXi AVC-R electronic boost controller and turbo timer. Also wired in is a Field SFC-VTEC fuel and VTEC controller for full tuning flexibility. Fuel and ignition is catered for with a Bosch fuel pump, boost-dependant rising rate regulator and a MSD 6A unit, Blaster 3 coil and Magnercore 8.5mm wires. Bulletproof it most definitely is.
Okay, enough techno-babble - how much grunt has this street-driven Prelude got?! Well, with that hybrid turbocharger spinning leisurely enough for only 8 psi boost, the Honda has dyno'd 285hp at the wheels! Acceleration times aren't yet known - but that will soon be changed. One thing's for sure though - this baby is the one to beat on the street! Boost pressure comes on, the VTEC system swaps over and whooossh!
The updated Prelude body now also sits a little closer to the tarmac thanks to Neuspeed springs and is further complimented with a Honda ground-effects kit, clear front markers, PIAA Superwhite H4 bulbs. And ain't it pretty? And what's left to come? Presently under consideration is a full TEIN coil-over suspension (to go with the existing LightSpeed front and rear swaybars) as well as a DFI (or similar) stand-alone fuel/ignition computer. Once that's done, maybe Paul will turn his attention to his little white Civic (which you can see in one of the above pics). Just try stop him!
If you want to see the Prelude for yourself, surf to http://www.gotrice.com/prelude/.
Toyota Turn-Around
Like the Rover, here's a car that's been largely downtrodden by the masses. The 1983 RA60 Toyota Celica XT. "Nark", however, was able to see past this reputation and spot the potential lurking in the engine bay of Toyota's boxy hairdresser-mobile. Of course, there wasn't much point in spending too much attention to the oil-leaking stock 21RC lump - but an imported 1G-GTE twin turbo six? Ooo, yeah!
With a transplanted 2-litre, DOHC, 24-valve, water-to-air intercooled twin turbo six (gasp!), the Toyota instantly responded with positive acceleration. After all, the twin turbo'd !G is good for over 200 horses in standard trim! A bit more than the 21RC's stock 90hp...
But who'd keep it all standard? Not Nark! A 2½-inch mandrel bent exhaust system (with a high-flow cat) lets those dual turbines spin a lot easier, and a HKS pod-type filter (complete with cold air induction and heat shielding) ensures the compressor sides are kept in an abundant supply of air. Backing this power-house is an alloy-cased W58 5-spped 'box with a heavy duty clutch and machined flywheel.
The RA60 Celica was much maligned for its below-par handling. That's one reason Nark has bolted up K-Mac 24mm front swaybar, K-Mac 2-inch lowered springs, K-Mac front shocks and Monroe Sens-a-trac rears (from a Commodore!). The result is very much worthwhile - and, as you can see, Nark likes to chuck it around on the dirt! Brakes meanwhile are - well - stock 10-inch ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear. The rims, too, are stock 14s. Incidentally, the car's all-up weight is 1220kg.
Nark says yet-to-come-is a boost bleed valve (for 14 psi), tint, the removal of any rust, hook up the air-conditioning, Supra front-end (maybe?!), an LSD and rear discs. Oh, and a dyno run as well!
Update: Recently, Nark's 1G engine has developed a knock on low load - caused by a worn crankshaft bearing. He's since bought a GA70 Supra front-cut so he get line-up another 1G transplant. The old engine will go to Darren from the ToyMods car club - so he can have a go at twin charging!
See the Celica at Nark's homepage at http://members.tripod.com/Narks_Celica/ or at the TOYMods Car Club site at http://www.toymods.org.au/
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