Table of contents for No 211 December 2022 in NZV8

I’m a pretty simple man when it comes to things that make me feel good; one of those things would have to be knowing my car survived AutoFest with no major issues. I must say that having it sitting in the garage clean, with nothing broken and nothing major that needs to be fixed before I take it out again, makes me feel pretty happy. During the build process of the engine bay, I would often tell myself that I wouldn’t give it too much grief as I didn’t want anything to break. I even told the mate who was riding shotgun with me at AutoFest that I would take it easy. I should have known I was completely lying to myself. I hit the Manfeild racetrack at AutoFest, got…

Got a secret admiration for muscle cars and V8s? Then chances are you’re also a fan of Repco Muscle Garage. The weekly TV series showcases New Zealand’s finest V8s, hot rods, and muscle cars. This show delves into the depths of the muscle car culture through interviews, workshop profiles, and tours of various sheds across the country. Season 11 of Repco Muscle Garage is now broadcasting every Sunday on Three as part of the CRC Motorsport line-up. With season 11 well and truly underway, now’s the time to put yourself into the draw for this season’s mega prize pack donated by the show’s long-time supporters and sponsors: Repco New Zealand, Meguiar’s, Rislone, and Mount Shop. The prize pack includes a Mechpro Blue 9-drawer workbench valued at $724, a Meguiar’s complete…

Mopars in Morrinsville Sunday 20 November From 8am, Morrinsville Recreation Ground Enjoy the first annual Mopars in Morrinsville in a nice, relaxed, park-like environment. If it’s Mopar (Valiant, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler)… it’s welcome. Non-Mopar separate parking/display area. Food stalls, trade sites, and swap meet. Entry is gold coin donation. Register online via mopar.co.nz. Gear Jammers Auto Jumble Sunday 30 October From 8am, Southward Car Museum, Paraparaumu Automotive sellers’ plot in the massive car park with a car corral for complete and project cars for sale. Preferential parking for classic cars. Museum will be open. Activities, giveaways, food and drink available. Sellers’ plots $10, entry is gold coin. Contact: got2bmrt@gmail.com. EDITOR’S PICK Canterbury USA Day Sunday 6 November 10am to 3pm, Gladstone Park, Woodend, North Canterbury A display of American vehicles…

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It’s somewhat ironic that Kevin Watkins lists his dream car as being a ’53 Chev pickup. Sure, he owns the jaw-dropping example that you see on these pages, but the irony is that’s not the car he set out to build. Having owned a myriad old cars over the years, Kevin decided it was time to build something with a big block for a change. With this plan in mind, he set about sourcing and building the motor even before buying the car to drop it into. The car he found wasn’t the pickup, but a ’63 Chev Impala. Having previously owned Chevelles and Camaros, the change of body style appealed, as did the fact the car was mint and already on the road here legally. When it arrived to…

Slammin’ Sam Levien has owned a few cool drag cars over the years, one being a 1971 Plymouth Duster that was campaigned in a flame-emblazoned vinyl wrap. The car was run with a big cube naturally aspirated Chrysler RB engine package that pushed it into the eight-second zone. Eventually, it was sold as a roller and ended up not only with a new paint job but also with a big block Chev under the hood. It has now moved back into the hands of the Levien family, this time Sam’s son, Alex. As you can imagine, with the Leviens being a Mopar family, the Chev has gone and Alex has fitted up a Dodge Hellcrate Redeye engine. Alex’s uncle, Dave Levien, is swapping a three-speed into his Road Runner, so…

The New Zealand Hot Rod Association (NZHRA) recently had a Covid-delayed celebration of its 60th anniversary. For two weeks during September, the ‘Diamond Cruise’ travelled from one end of New Zealand to the other, stopping at hot rod clubs and shops all over the country. Those who attended said it was an unreal journey as the cruise zigzagged its way through the country, starting in Blu and concluding at Cape Reinga. Just over 20 hot rods, classics, and street machines did the cruise in its entirety, with others opting to join in and out of it along the way. There was a reported 100 cars at one time. One of the stops in Auckland was to my own shop, GMS Hot Rods in Kumeu, West Auckland. The shop has been…

From inception, Pukekohe Park Raceway has been subject to a love/hate relationship within the Kiwi motorsport community. Its location and proximity to our largest city has ensured it has hosted the biggest and most important racing events on the New Zealand motor racing calendar. Yet its facilities and presentation often fell well short of international standards, and of a track befitting its status. Indeed, throughout much of its history it has been the worst-equipped permanent racing track in New Zealand. Pukekohe’s existence was the result of necessity rather than desire. By 1962, motor racing in New Zealand had become enormously successful, and every summer the nation played host to a series of races contested by current Formula 1 teams and drivers wishing to escape the harsh northern winters; every January…

Those of you who are old enough, cast your minds back to the mid ‘80s. The Prime Minister of the time, Rob Muldoon, was soused and, with a head full of schnapps, announced a snap election, which ended very badly for the National Party we might add. Labour was thrust into power and the daily lives of everyday Kiwis were turned upside down. GST on pretty much everything was introduced, much to the hue and cry of the people. Tari  protections were lifted and the country was flooded with imported goods of every imaginable persuasion, costing the country thousands of jobs in the manufacturing sectors. To some it was the beginning of the end; to others it was the start of something new. To say it was a tumultuous time…

The first step to make the brake lines up is to assemble the backing plates and calipers onto the housing. The Wilwood calipers have an ⅛-inch npt thread in them, so I use an adaptor made by Speedflow that goes from npt to -3an male. They come in both straight or 90 degree bend, in this case a 90 degree is what I chose. These must be tightened into the caliper using a thread sealant – Loctite 567 is my preferred sealant for all tapered threads. Pro tip: Use Cupro nickel tubing, it’s much nicer to work with over the zinc plated stuff (remember that copper line is not acceptable on a car). Pro tip: Wipe away the excess sealant while it’s still wet, it looks much tidier. Pro tip:…

Rob Claridge and his wife, Lana, were looking on sites like Trademe and Facebook marketplace for the perfect muscle car that they could enjoy for many years. When they thought they’d found it, they chose a 1969 XW Ford Falcon. A common story we’ve heard too many times is that something that was said to be in ‘immaculate condition’ wasn’t when it was looked at more closely and, unfortunately, after it was bought. Rightfully a little pissed o., instead of cutting their losses they have decided to fully rebuild it to a condition that will now see it live on for many more years to come. With a chat to Joel Arcus at Arcus Performance, the car was shipped o. and the tired factory 351ci was rebuilt to a stroked…

Earlier this year, Mobil™ motor oils and their brand ambassador, motorsport legend Greg Murphy, went looking for New Zealand’s Meanest Machine. With $10,000 cash up for grabs, they put the call out to all tinkerers, tuners and polishing pros. The Mobil™ Mean Machine competition was open to all kinds of vehicles — sports cars, muscle cars, supercars, show cars, not-even cars! Whether it was a pick-up, low rider, fixer-upper, or even still on blocks, it was eligible. And the whips came flooding in with more than 1000 entries and nearly 100,000 votes from members of the public. The top 20 featured Mazdas, a Mitsi, Subaru, Chevs, Fords, a couple of trusty Corollas, and a fair few Holdens, including a 2008 HSV Murph edition featuring an under-hood mural of the man…

The depths of Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace often present a deal for the diligent hunter. At times it’s like a minefield of projects where there has been one setback too many — someone’s pride and joy reduced to hopes and dreams — then just deadweight needing to be rid of. It’s something most of us will be familiar with. If you haven’t been through it, you’ll know someone who has. The thought never crossed Craig Taylor’s mind, even though he probably has had more reason than most to throw in the towel during the build of his epic HSV Clubsport R8. It started not long after he got his dream car — this one, in fact. Once he’d done the mandatory wheel swap and over-the-radiator intake, he got bored…

THE 1938 EXAMPLE CERTAINLY LOOKED THE PART Ever since he saw a photo of a Willys Gasser in 1973, Wayne Tierney knew he had to have one. Little did he know that he’d end up having to wait more than 40 years. Looking at the extensive list of cars Wayne’s owned, though — the majority from the years dating 1930–1940, we might add — he didn’t exactly sit back and watch the grass grow. Wind the clock back seven years or so, and Wayne and better half Alison decided to start looking for something properly. Plane tickets were booked, and the pair boarded a steel bird to the USA with a list of about seven real McCoy steel-bodied Willys to look at. Wayne says, “It’s hard to find a good…

Whanganui’s John Hooper has been making a name for himself in the former Dean Scott HZ Holden ute. Even though he’s been running as quick as 8.11 at 167.70, seeing the fun the guys and girls are having in Wild Bunch he knew he had to join the action. When the former Wayne Hussey top doorslammer Chev Nova came up for sale, it provided him with the perfect entry point into the class. Having previously run 6.80s before being upgraded to a double frame rail chassis, the car has plenty of potential. Sold as a roller, all it really needed to go racing was an engine and box. John’s 540-cube big block Chev was just the thing, although that hasn’t stopped him from strapping on a high-helix supercharger and making…

Most of the columns I write, I’m lucky enough to be able to talk about driving a race car. I think it’s obvious I love driving race cars, but what people might not know is that I actually like tuning race cars more. Now, don’t take that the wrong way; driving a race car is 99.9 per cent pure awesomeness, and I appreciate every time I get in the seat of any car, but I also love making these cars tick — making a change and seeing the results, and the challenge it presents mentally. For our most recent race, at Palmyra Dragway in Mackay, we were only taking two cars out of the Aeroflow Raceshop. Now, logically, that would be One Bad Kiwi and King Kong, along with the…

NHRA’s Super Stock competition of the 1960s facilitated the creation of some of America’s greatest factory-built cars. Rare, special, and blisteringly fast machines were created by Ford, Chrysler, and GM in order to vie for supremacy on the quarter-mile. Only one machine could take the top-dog spot of that era, though, and arguably that was the biggest and the baddest of them all: the 1968 Dodge Dart Hemi LO23. After seeing Ford and Chevrolet’s recent success with their Shelby Mustangs and Yenko Corvettes winning on Sundays and selling on Mondays, by early 1968 Dodge wanted to up its game on the drag strip in the SS/B and SS/BA classes. The Chrysler Corporation had already been campaigning reasonably successfully throughout the decade but knew it was going to need something that…

After a difficult 2021–22 season, when most of the teams and drivers faced ongoing Covid restrictions, teams were ready to showcase their cars to the packed Pukekohe Park Raceway crowds and demonstrate why this class — celebrating its 20th anniversary this year — is one of the standout hits of New Zealand motorsport. Founding members Steve Hildred and Tony Boyden were there racing amongst newcomers such as James Broadbridge and Rhys Gould. For a category that was started at a racetrack after a “few too many” — Steve’s words — and was told it would last only a few years, CMC has proved everyone wrong. This is highlighted by the down-to-earth nature of the category; members’ willingness to help each other out when drivers and teams face mechanical issues exemplifies…

1979 FORD F100 @SEVEN82MOTORS Man this F100 is an undercover beast! Packing a custom chassis from Down Town Kustoms the handling and stance were sorted thanks to the latest AccuAir air suspension set-up. An FG Ford Falcon was robbed of many parts including the Miami 5.0-litre supercharged motor and the ZF 6-speed transmission before Wilwood brakes were bolted inside some custom 20-inch wheels. Finishing o. the build was the interior using Lokar and Dakota Digital components. 1950 CHEVROLET DELUXE @SNEDENWERKS This build is certainly hiding some magic. Starting o. with a worked LSA power plant the build was focused around putting that power to the ground. The custom chassis incorporating a 6-point roll cage was fabricated, then outfitted with the best components from Wilwood, Quick Performance and more. To get…

Glen Eggleton is no stranger to building insane cars, and you may recall his blown ’71 Chevelle from NZV8 Issue 189, which was a prime example of his skills. But what’s patiently waiting in storage is his ’64 Chev Impala, which is just waiting for a new shed to be built so he can move it home and finish off what he started. It’s clear that it’s shaping up to be something pretty serious, and we are eagerly anticipating its completion. Before putting it into storage, the car’s interior was completely gutted and every screw, badge, moulding, seats, glass —the works — was replaced for new. The car’s exterior body panels were in reasonable nick, with only minor body repairs done, and it was then stripped back to bare metal,…

Owning a ’56 Chev in their younger years, which was sold on many moons ago, Steve and Jane Van Oosterhout had always wanted to relive the good memories it held with it, picking up another one late last year. It was in average condition for a classic car, but required some work to bring it up to today’s standards of comfort and safety. Touching base with local Tauranga business CGP Panelworks saw the car undergo a full panel and paint. The Autochecker was responsible for a full rebuild of the engine, working alongside Marsh Motorsport resulting in a well built 355ci Chev. The Autochecker was also responsible for all the fabrication and assembly, which was not complete without new trim and upholstery, so Pete Tyrrel stepped in to play his…

Ford once again sounds a wake-up call for sports car lovers around the world with the introduction of the all-new Ford Mustang. The seventh generation is the most exhilarating and visceral yet, from its fighter jet-inspired digital cockpit, to its new, advanced, turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines, to its edgier yet timeless exterior design. “Investing in another generation of Mustang is a big statement at a time when many of our competitors are exiting the business of internal combustion vehicles,” said Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company. “Ford, however, is turbocharging its ICE growth plan, adding connected technology, opinionated derivatives, and hybrid options to our most profitable and popular cars — all in the Ford Blue family — on top of investing $50 billion in electric vehicles through 2026.”…

Car shows are a great opportunity to get to hang out with like-minded people who share your interests, speak the same language, and appreciate the work and effort that goes into the projects on display — in short, shows inspire us. The trouble is, if you want to get a wide cross section of ideas, tips, tricks, and performance secrets, going to a variety of shows can take up a fair bit of time, and that’s time that might be needed in the garage turning spanners, not travelling to different car shows every second weekend. The concept behind Autorama 2023 is to provide a large do-it-all-in-one-weekend solution that blends the best of the special interest vehicle community together, both car owners and industry specialists. A new event put together by…

Bathurst is as Australian as it gets and the event bid farewell to its most successful brand in Holden. Although an Australian brand, in recent years New Zealanders have added to its incredibly successful history not only at the Mountain, but also in the Repco Supercars Championship. Since the first Bathurst endurance event for touring cars in 1963, Holden has provided many memories and opportunities from the EH S4 right up to the ZB Commodore. Although the Commodore’s latest iteration proved unpopular in the marketplace for a number of reasons, whether because it was fully imported, or front-wheel-drive, or lacking a V8 in its range, it still remained a favourite for the race right until the end. To be replaced by the Chevrolet Camaro in next year’s new Gen3 era…

It was a bit of a bummer when AutoFest 21 was postponed due to government laws limiting attendance at events during Covid. It had looked as if it was going to be a fantastic weekend, with two days of on-track cruising, camping, burnouts, auto booths, and an indoor show and shine, as well as several high-end V8s, low riders, and show cars among the entries, but it is what it is, and nobody could change it. The creators of Downtime Entertainment, Alan and Pare Togia, who are responsible for organising AutoFest, may have viewed this setback as a blessing in disguise as it gave them an extra year to prepare for AutoFest 22. Instead of just waiting for the year to roll around, the Togias decided to radically transform AutoFest…

You’ll recall last month, I began spouting the virtues of a good mechanical breakdown insurance policy, and that the first lesson is to be awake to what the policy you’re looking at covers. There are some comprehensive MBI policies that cover pretty well everything on a vehicle (with the obvious exception of ‘service parts’ such as tyres, brake pads, and brake rotors). Conversely, many — in fact, probably most — policies exclude damn near everything that’s most likely to go wrong, such as air suspension systems, electric seat motors, window motors, and stereo equipment, so pretty much all you’re left with is a bare-bones policy that covers you if the engine or gearbox quits. The first thing that crapped out on my Mercedes was the air suspension system. No cover.…

If drag racing in the ’80s was your type of weekend sport, spectator or racer, you might recall the birth of the pro-street look. The look goes back to the ’70s but we really started to see a culture change during the peak of the ’80s. If you’re not familiar with the term ‘pro-street’, it’s a style usually built to imitate a pro stock class race car but street legal. Other than the rear suspension and wheel wells, cars of this type often remain unmodified from the firewall back, keeping stock floor pans and a full interior with windshield wipers, carpet, and working lights. A pro-street car would typically be more at home on the street than the drag strip. It was a desirable look that has seen many imitations,…

IT’S HARD TO DENY THE COLOUR WORKS PERFECTLY If you’re a regular reader of NZV8, there’s a high chance you’re familiar with the name John Poulton. You’re likely less familiar with his ever-so-patient and long-suffering wife, Lyn. If you know the saying “Behind every great man is a great woman”, then you’d be familiar with the situation here. John often comes up with hare-brained schemes about buying, building, or selling cars. While Lyn is often seen rolling her eyes, the reality is that she’s also extremely supportive of his passion — a passion that is shared by the extended family. Being well aware of this, when John saw a ’34 Ford Tudor come up for grabs, he bought it before asking for permission. The difference this time is that it…

A huge sigh of relief could be heard throughout New Zealand when the government announced a lifting of all Covid restrictions, especially in the seaside community of Kaikoura. Not only has the town been going through some tough times since the November 2016 earthquakes, but the Covid pandemic has been really instrumental in holding the town back as it relies heavily on tourism to keep its wheels spinning. With the traffic light system gone, the organisers of this year’s Kaikoura Hop were able to move ahead with nothing getting in the way of everyone having a fun-filled weekend. Wednesday, 14 September saw a large number of weekend pass holders arrive into town ready for the weekend’s festivities. Things got under way on Thursday morning with a convoy of 105 leaving…

Simon Upham’s plans to convert his Holden EH wagon into an LS-powered track day car were rather straightforward. His biggest concern at the time was what engine to put in it — buy an LS1, or pull the LQ9 from his dedicated tow car? Well, that was the plan till he jokingly asked good mate Zak, “When are you coming to work on it?” not realising he would answer that he could dedicate two days a week to work on it. With the car not seeing much action on it of late due to Covid, and Simon knowing the skill set of Zak — who is a keen fabricator at Edgarfab — Simon was excited to have a helping hand and to see the wagon make some progress. Maybe Zak…

CLASSIC AIR This all-steel air cleaner was inspired by the ’51–’56 Oldsmobile and Cadillac air cleaner, uses a commercially available 14-inch x 4-inch replacement element, and is cut away in the back to accommodate a GM HEI distributor. Carb necks measuring 5 ⅛ inches in circumference are supported (most Holley, Quadrajet, Demon, and Edelbrock carbs). It is 18 ¼ inches in width, 17-19/32 inches in depth, and 4-5/8 inches in height from front to rear, and from the top of the carburettor to the top of the air cleaner assembly. You can’t go wrong with this classic take on a throwback style. The Cadillac Retro-styled air cleaners are $259.90 each. Contact www.kruzinkustoms.com BANG SHIFT ATTACK 4 GATE SHIFTER The Attack 4 Speed shifter is designed to work with most GM,…