Holdens a little info

[Danny Barrett]

Just as a matter of interest, today I was told about the "official" reason
for the head cracking in the VL. Something in the radiator supposedly works
loose, and restricts the coolant flow. Supposedly, if you get a radiator
specialist to open up the radiator and take the bit out, they have no more
overheating/cracking problems. Trouble is, I can't remember all the details
about it, so my description is pretty sketchy.

The RB-30ET with 670 HP actually had the GTR head put onto it, so that's
part of the equation. Anyway, gotta go...

Danny Barrett.

>The head cracking problem is very common in VL Commodes, but is a direct
>consequence of the cooling system design (low radiator header tank relative
>to the head), which was in turn dictated by the bonnet/front-end design.
>R31 Skylines - which use an identical drive train, but a more "practical"
>radiator design - did not suffer anywhere near the same amount of cracking
>problems (but did suffer some problems mainly on poorly maintained
>vehicles).
>
>BTW, maybe you should blame Australians for the head cracking problem......
>:-).    After all these heads were/are cast right here in Oz:  at Nissan's
>casting plant just outside of Dandenong, Vic.
>
>>them. Even still, I've heard of a RB-30ET getting 470 HP, and another (with
>>a little bit of nitrous) getting 670 HP. Not bad from a 3L engine...
>
>....yes, and just think what we could have had in a Commodore if Nissan had
>kept the engine contract with GMH.......an optional RB26DETT (GTR engine)
>powered Commode........Hmmmm.......even might have considered buying one
>myself.
>
>
>
>Steve Lamb
>Department of Defence, DSTO
>Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory
>506 Lorimer Street
>Fishermans Bend  VIC 3207 Australia
>
>Tel: +61 3 9626 7525
>Fax: +61 3 9626 7089
>
>IZCC #180
>
>
>
>