1970s GM HOLDEN 308 V8 Engine Build and Dyno Testing | Iconic Engine Builds

We're at PowerHouse Engines to see just how we much can squeeze out of this little General Motors Holden V8 with only stock cylinder head porting using a less is more formula and the extensive engine building knowledge of PowerHouse Engines. Be it Muscle Car or Classic, Ford, Holden, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Road or Track, PowerHouse Engines have you covered and we want you the viewer to join us for the ride and see them all!
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At Master of Machines, we love cars, in fact, we love anything with wheels or an engine, from American Muscle Cars to Australian Muscle Cars, Race Cars and Classic Cars of all kinds and even Barn Finds. If it's fast, powerful, restored or hidden away in hibernation then we'll cover it, and in most cases, we'll even drive them!

[@watsisbuttndo829]

Was a time when you could find a holden red sitting in the grass down a mates back yard and drag it home for a hunge. Those days are sadly no longer.

[@andrewforbes146]

thats the reason i collected them over the passed 5 years lol and now im collecting the 304s now lol only got 3 so far lol

[@markdakin1294]

I've somehow managed to amass about 8 of the old aussie V8s, mostly 308s but have a few 304s too. Don't plan on getting rid of them in a hurry either.

[@laidtorest387]

Why would you need 8? Is 1 or 2 not enough? People like you that horde things like this for no real reason are the exact cause of the insane prices for genuine people who are after one for a resto project.

[@bernardmcmahon2383]

Started my apprenticeship at the police here in Canberra when the VK com was out,308 -304 rebuilds were an everyday experience,loved it,wish I was there now,the world has changed for the worse since this little bay left us! Another great one Glenn,wishing you all the best mate

[@navaho5430]

Ha did my apprenticeship worked on the XC351 cop cars (and all commonwealth cars) at Kingston depot in 1976 yep times have changed a bit cheers.

[@StarlightWorkshop0z]

I have a stock wb stato 308. I also have a hq era 253. What heads would be the best on the wb 308?

[@aussietaipan8700]

I like watching Nicks Garage on YT for the engine builds and dyno runs. Great to see some Aussie content and would love to see more.. Thanks Glen for presenting this.

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

We have plenty more on the way! 👍

[@lancecooper4646]

Hopefully more people will be sticking with Holden V8's in their Holdens & keeping their heritage rather then just chucking in an LS

[@lancecooper4646]

@Timothy IorlanoTurbo Barra's are good too 👍

[@stivi739]

Yes exactly.a chev in a vauxhaul is not on

[@conservativesniperhunter7439]

Man I miss my 4 speed 84 VK Ex Chaser , that reliable little engine never let me down . That thing was bloody quick.

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

I worked on a few in the day in my shop and loved them!

[@ismith1598]

..still have a VK 4 speed chaser/interceptor.. in yellow of course! It is rather different, now set up as a circuit race car . It now makes just a tad more hp than the way it came from the factory, about 50% more :)

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Good sensible build. A great Aussie donk that can punch well above it's weight. 💪 I didn't grow up in the red camp but there's no denying the 308 makes a unique sweet sound. Thanks Glenn that was cool 👍

[@666theninja]

Great Engine the 308 V8 and Three Cheers to Holden Engine Engineer Fred James who Invented the 308 V8. Wow Awesome Gains of HP with there Tinkering on this 308 V8.

[@davidb0126a]

Great to see you back! Very interesting story on the engine build. Lots of horses from a fairly mild engine. Looking good! 👍

[@GODEES77]

Great insight Glenn

[@johnmathisen1167]

I think standard carb is a 780 quadajet

[@chrisweeda8633]

Great work Glenn, always love your enthusiasm keep it coming.

[@blokeinacloak748]

I'm doing a similar HQ 308 build atm but with crane H226-314-2S-8, bigger 1.94" inlet, 1.60" exhaust valves, ports cleaned up and shaped, same edelbrock torker and flatops. Chambers have been deshrouded around the valves. Compression 10.5:1. I'm looking for 300hp at the wheels. I reckon I'll get it.

[@stevesalkas9128]

What happen 367hp.

[@jmc0070]

Great videos as always thankyou Glenn

[@KN-gr4df]

Good intel there guys! Powerhouse do a great job, john knows his shit!

[@melbourne_streetcars1322]

Hi Glenn love the videos keep up the good work hope your safe

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Thanks Anthony, we're going well and hope you are too! Thanks so much for your support.

[@melbourne_streetcars1322]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines no problem Glenn I’ve been watching you for a long time and always your videos are great to watch

[@raystevens687]

Thanks for the info on the 308 please keep up the good work

[@nooffence7670]

Very underrated V8 the Holden is I built one for a commodore .I was surprisfed how well it went .stock heads ,manifold 1/78 extractors 3inch single exhaust no fan . Aussie 4speed rebuilt carb SCREAMED

[@markyocum8249]

Little beast sounded NASTY with the smaller carb! 🙌

[@twistedthrottle8513]

Did a yearly red cast iron headYT 308 some years back blue printed it ,cc the heads ,biggest grind crow solid cam lifter spring combo available, more head porting and combustion chamber polished massaged, decked block squared it all up , made 320rwhp in a LJ xu1 replica with a modified trimatic and cut down VL turbo diff

[@markperkins8858]

Far out that's awesome 357hp with stock hq heads I never thought this engine would produce that much power with stock heads and not a 355ci stroker that's pretty impressive if you ask me go the Holden 5.0

[@MrJim308]

heads are fitted with larger valves

[@doriankeating1963]

Congratulations on passing the 20thou subs Glenn! Maybe this great show is starting to gain some well deserved traction! The best and complete run down on a 308 I’ve ever watched , well done again on a very informative and entertaining review of an Aussie icon that should of been marketed better around the world, just like the unbelievable ford Barra engine that is gaining much recognition and demand worldwide sadly after production has ceased, maybe in someone’s wisdom an engine plant could be built to produce these fine examples of engines again and keep our production prowess alive and in demand for many years to come. Cheers and keep up the good work.

[@shawnwalsh5430]

Awesome work!

[@johndavis7944]

A very simple and reliable built engine the 308. They seem so Old School compared to what's available now. It would be nice to hear this in the mock 05 at redline on Conrod Straight with an incar video and audio. Thanks Glen. 👍

[@T1000AX]

sound reminds me of my brothers 308 monaro. it was always at 6500rpm and never blew up. though when it came time for rebuild the piston rings fell out in multiple pieces lol

[@Liveleadplayer70]

love this build.loved it..i had a 308 flat top pistons edelbrock torker manifold holly 600 vac secondarys in an LX 4 door..it sounded freakishly strong and must've had a lightened flywheel as it revved at the drop of a hat..the body was rusted so i never got it on the road proper though..missus said sell in 2004 so it went for a song :/ ..subbed n look forward to more aussie motor content ,hopefully

[@jimkillen1065]

Nice work . I seen folks read plugs like that including the timing on the strap . I learned a lesson on how much hp a flex fan can draw at say 6500 I had no idea and i spun my 302 in my 68 camaro to 7500 . A learning experince

[@gozanova]

Very nice

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Enjoyed!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

Love it 👍

[@bapcorp8303]

Looking slim Glen, hope you're ok. Great video, I have two Holden V8's time for a rebuild

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Thanks mate, going well thanks and keeping fit. 😁

[@SuperTambo69]

good honest engine and result

[@ryanmorgan6971]

Good stuff Glenn ruff price on that sort of combo

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Hi Ryan, give John a call at www.powerhouseengines.com.au 👍

[@Andrew-Lizza777]

Aussie muscle 💪

[@LeonardCrassman]

That'd be one fun anchor!

[@marcushaynes843]

Now, that's Aussie power. Great job.

[@gixgix457]

Nice

[@306champion]

Some will think me silly but I wonder what that donk would produce with the original Quadrajet carby on it. I got 28mpg out of dads HQ Statesman. A mate had a 308 turned L34 with the Quad, same sort of mileage with blistering power. Others talked him into a big Holley, the result was the same power and double the fuel.

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

The Quady is a good thing and could at least match or even slightly outperform the 650, being a larger carb! They’re just not as user friendly to tune with.

[@gazza116]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines worked on quadrajets for years,people dont understand them,simple as. change needles and jets on the primarys ,change air flap tension spring adjustment etc.

[@cumminsindustrialdiesel7068]

Good video👍

[@mcbama6848]

Nice motor 👍👍🇦🇺

[@garrypayne9892]

Be interesting to see alternator hooked up properly with & without elec water pump to see if gains made by running elec pump are offset by HP drawn by alt to power it.

[@71DJL]

agreed. I didn't quite see the point of disconnecting the water pump as it will need to be driven by the engine one way or another. There will be a lot of people that will jump to the conclusion that the electric pump has saved 6-7hp. But in the real world, that pump will be powered by the alternator rather than an external power source, which of course is driven by the engine. The more electrical load on the alternator, the more power it consumes from the engine. Same goes for electric fans

[@rahowherox1177]

@@71DJL allows pump to continue working when engine has stopped (therefore continues to cool) and only draws power when needed... freeing up power when not needed... can be easily adjusted for temp and so on... arguably less reliable though.

[@rahowherox1177]

Imo.

[@71DJL]

@@rahowherox1177 yeah I know how they work, but my point is, when the engine is running the electric pump will also be running drawing power from the alternator, which comes from the engine. But by powering the pump externally (as they did in this test), the power the electric pump would normally draw from the engine isn't reflected in the dyno reading.

[@ashleyDRT]

@@71DJL Incorrect. If your alternator starts drawing 7hp.... Well.... It's on fire! Your wiring.... Also on fire! Don't forget there's a big black box in the middle. Secondly you don't need a 7hp pump bolted on the front of your engine. That's just a consequence of not been able to regulate it's speed.

[@michaelchippindall4811]

HDT were getting around 380 plus out of the A9X back in 1978/79 with twin downdraft webbers 🤷‍♂️

[@beagle7622]

I love the video on Jack Perkins website showing the transparent rocker covers that Larry use on the 1995 304 engine . Would lovei to seen it on the dyno.

[@aussiesupersnake6642]

Now build a 351 clevo,with the same mods and see what it makes

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

A Clevo would fair quite well, particularly in the cylinder head area.

[@TasTuned]

wow that alternator actually moves around a lot

[@adampatterson707]

Love watching and hearing the passion you guys down under have for the hot rod hobby. What would she have pulled with a duel plane intake manifold???

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Most likely a little less peak power but a with a fatter torque curve with a dual plane.

[@adampatterson707]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines Thanks for the response. That's what I figured but I know very little about Holden V8 engines. The power y'all get from some of the Holden six cylinder engines is very impressive also. Thank you for the time and work you put in.

[@345scout]

Grate work mate, cant wait to see what is next.. Mopar maybe???

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

You could be right! Plenty of Mopar build features in the works. :-)

[@jethrox827]

Hey mate is that really you? You're looking lean as mate, good work!!!

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Thanks mate! 😊👍

[@NevilleFuckenBartos]

Timing adjust? Spark gap adjust? Idle mixture adjust? Id love to see if theres an extra 5 hp to squeeze out

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Hey mate always watching haven't commented in a while, another awesome video and production, hope your doing ok mate, cheers KC Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🤝🇦🇺🇦🇺😎🙂👍

[@jimclarke1108]

I'm building a VT 304 for my HZ premier. Roller cam and all😎

[@dohcsmr1175]

Excuse my ignorance with Australian GM motors, what is the bore and stroke of the Aussie 308? Is it the same as the 305 American version? Enjoy these builds from our Australian Brethren!

[@user-du8cs8sn2v]

4" bore. 3.062" stroke

[@brendonhirst9953]

Really interested in how you set up the 950 carburetor to perform so well. What jets, power valves etc did you use. I have the same carb on my 406 sbc and I'm having trouble with the tuning

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

The combination varies for each engine.

[@danieloneill4356]

The engine would be great with a Q-jet carby.

[@CamLamo8448]

Holden 308 and 304 engines are the tits lots of unstroked and stroked running 11s and multiple engine combos

[@kingjeremysircornwell7847]

Is the nitro in the air? Sweet belt drive. Does that fix? Prime tires 55s and 17 inch steel wheels. power steering sickness.

[@dallasstepto8409]

Why is the gilmer drive belt moving about on the water pump pulley?? Is this car located in nsw ?? I'm sure I seen it at the Berry show this year

[@hurstuneautomotivedynotuni5383]

Who sells the rocker conversion kit? Is it a powerhouse kit?? Cheers

[@user-du8cs8sn2v]

Nice engine, but those Torker intakes suck. I'm sure if would have made better numbers with a good dual plane.

[@mattt83]

Where do you find the LS rocker conversions?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

PowerHouse Engines does them in house on their builds, not as a kit for retail sale as such.

[@brentmeredith5295]

Where do you get the ls rocker conversion kit from

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

It's all custom, done in house during the build.

[@drtb69]

Is this 308 Holden GM engine the same the small block chevrolet v8's we have in the US ?

[@lowfatedes]

No, a new design (at the time) incorporating ideas from a number of manufacturers. The bolt patterns fitted GM gearboxes.

[@grantreid8583]

Those gilmer drive belts suck more horsepower than a v belt. Why not try some ida webbers or dcoes on a banana manifold. They used webbers back in the day on the racetrack. better throttle response with the webbers.

[@jessewait2931]

Whats the bore and stroke of thses engines

[@lowfatedes]

4.000" (101.6mm) x 3.062" (77.8mm), respectively

[@ibboblueibbetson4702]

Hi iam a local looking to do up a 308 got a bare block whats the budget for a bluild like this

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Hi, pricing can vary but usually sits around the $20k region. You can contact the team at PowerHouse via their Facebook page. or powerhouseengines.com.au facebook.com/powerhouse.engines

[@marklowe7431]

Crane H-286 by any chance?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

No it’s a custom grind but I know the 286 well and have tuned many 308s over the years with that cam. It was a popular grind.

[@robertwatson818]

Is this basic block unique to Australia or is it an imported US block?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

This block was unique to Australia, cylinder heads too.

[@marcmo7138]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines As an American GM man I noticed a lot of the unique differences in the Holden block as compared to what I'm used to.

[@JosephCowen-ru7up]

​@@marcmo7138it has a lot of Oldsmobile rocket in it , but chev bore spacing , chev bellhousing in later EFI motors , more Oldsmobile bellhousing eailer in 253 , 308 ci motors

[@carsonj1]

Why no head porting?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

With the owners original HP target of 320hp it wasn't required.

[@Paul-45-70]

Why not run the good ole Quaddy?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

The Holley is more practical and tuneable for the dyno. Nothing wrong with a well set up Quadrajet though.

[@K-Effect]

Is the 1970 Holden 308 related to the 1970 Chevy 307 at all?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

It’s completely unique. 👍

[@boss351gt6]

Too many Chinese stroker kit V8s around these days. Making the most of a stock 308 is much cooler.

[@davidewhite69]

hopefully the owner will get rid of that hideous bonnet scoop on the replica

[@londonman8688]

surpised the owner stuck with a less efficient carbie

[@stevesalkas9128]

How long to build me a 355 450hp ....

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

See our BIG BLOCK MOPAR BUILD AND DYNO HERE - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4jMmXmIrbGlsLs

[@Simo-bx2qm]

Not bad my little 253 makes that at the tyres

[@Ozsmallbore]

😂🤣

[@62cripple]

Good luck getting oil pressure on these motors....💪🤣🍺🇳🇿

[@waddney4121]

that's a pretty stout daily driver

[@lowfatedes]

Why put a HQ 308 in a Commodore? What's the point of keeping it original, when it's going to be out of place anyway..?

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

Externally the engines look the same right through to that era.

[@aumetalmental8403]

When you gave engine specs, you completely overlooked the most important specs..."Bore/Stroke??? Only mentioned .020 overbored. 🤔🤨

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

It’s running stock 308 stroke but that’s a good point for those around the world that don’t know this particular engine type. Great feedback. 👍

[@aumetalmental8403]

@@GlennEverittMasterofMachines sorry, I'm from the states, I should have mentioned that. I'm familiar with the American version which is the 307 ci. It has a 3.25 stroke and 3.875 bore. Was an awesome running and very dependable small block. Couldn't kill it no matter how hard you tried 🤣

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

@@aumetalmental8403 , all good, and I'm glad you mentioned it. I think you'll enjoy some of the engines we have coming through the build process, as they're mostly American derived. :-)

[@stevenhobbs709]

Std is 4” bore 3.063” stroke

[@crunchytheclown9694]

Too much didnt make sense, each to their own, enjoy your efforts

[@vnv8dude]

Made perfect sense to me lol

[@crunchytheclown9694]

@@vnv8dude lots off bling, if it doesnt go chrome it

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

This feature was more about showing that there is an engine combo for everyone at PowerHouse. There are some big bangers coming up though and I think you’ll like them. 😊💪🏻

[@tonyedwards3539]

Ok I will probably get hated on but I never liked the Holden engine so much . I think Holden should have just stuck to the SBC. Like all good designs the SBC was a very simple engine . Just off the top of my head the water pump system was alot better on a SBC . No crappy aluminium timing cover. Extra head bolts holding the heads down . Available with 4 bolt mains in later versions.. I think the 253 and 308 had some design features from other GM engines mainly Pontiac and Olds. I will say my uncle had a 253 in his panel Van when we were in the back with the tailgate open it made a great noise.

[@garrylallan]

A key motivation for building the 308/253 was Aus content rules at the time.. also some fitment advantages for RHD... the Aus market was projected to require a V8 in 64/65 so with ingenuity this was the result

[@trentcrompton9527]

350 on a engine dyno is roughly 250 at the rear wheels 😂🤣😂

[@trentcrompton9527]

@Timothy Iorlano they are talking HP. You take roughly 100 hp off the engine dyno number for rear wheel hp. Would you be happy with 250rwhp out of a built V8 😂

[@travislivengood2744]

@@trentcrompton9527 guess that depends on what your goal is. Not everyone wants an LS. Some people are more than happy having an oddball engine that makes decent power.

[@stevesalkas9128]

I thought 450hp is 300 at wheels

[@stevedriver1476]

The 308 was a good motor but that 253 was only a v8 by sound.. hopeless,, i just wish holden had its own 350 and not used the low performance 350 from america that was not a performance version. My factory 81837 327Hk series 1 i had for 23years was all of 250hp noise where the corvette 327 had up to 360+ hp. Aussie cars were poor copies / versions of American cars.

[@Mr-Yan.]

American dynos are very, very happy

[@jeffschwartz5199]

GM is not my brand