What Does A Stock Holden 304/5L Run In The 1/4 Mile

I decided that I wanted to embarrass myself by taking the VS to the track with a completely standard Holden 304. Just to see what it would run over the 1/4 mile.

[@danielborrowdale3903]

These cars were fast when they raced against geminis that did 19 sec quarter miles😂 back in the day.

[@joelewis670]

🤣 Love it. Keep 'em coming, mate. Giving me heaps of motivation to keep going on my pos 304 project 💪

[@rumpoleonthehilloldchap6528]

love ya vids joe. awesome.

[@lukefeekings4404]

Joe Great effort regardless of outcome mate the are no power house so don’t worry about it’s performance at this early stage with some modes and some tuning it will start to be on point mate as always thank you for sharing and uploading keep the videos coming mate Great effort you might not realise bud but your efforts in building your own motors and cars and then lining it up on the 1/4 mile is commendable so well done regardless of the outcome don’t be too hard on your self or the build cheers mate.

[@Joedennett69]

Thanks for the words mate. It's still fun no matter how slow it is.

[@RestoHubAU]

Good effort Joe. You knew before you took it to the track it wouldn't be a record breaker, as long as you had some fun and have a plan on what to fix to make it a little faster. 👌 Nice track there btw!

[@holdenholden8945]

Biggest killer is ya got no shroud around ya fan mate. Makes huge difference with cooling

[@NickTaylorRickPowers]

Spot on, the fan needs to draw air through the radiator to work Without a shroud you are blowing air around

[@Joedennett69]

Water temp was not the issue. Was the intake manifold soaking up so much heat.

[@itseithergonnaworkoritaint7852]

​@@Joedennett69 Throw a couple bags of ice on the intake when you make your run.🤔😎👍

[@Joedennett69]

@itseithergonnaworkoritaint7852 i thought about it , but it wasn't happy so i didnt worry.

[@brentonk461ismylostaccount]

Stock VR VS club sport would go 14.50's 14.40 something like that on high 30's day Stock 165 kw 185 kw 5.0L isn't Gunna be quick, but there's the potential too go 10's in the quarter with some work.

[@sfcustomcycles]

You’ve got an awesome race facility over there mate top track! Keep up the good work 🤙🏼

[@Joedennett69]

Yes, it's not bad. Bit of a drive, but it's a good track.

[@69gpavv]

Good on ya mate iva got an old vp ss. Love what your doing.

[@scottallpress3818]

Regardless of you being disappointed with the times was a cool test vid . Keep the humor up

[@stuyvesant78]

Completely stock with factory 3.08 diff gears best you can hope for is mid to low 15 second pass 14's is too optimistic

[@MrCav74]

Most of them back in the day when they were new ran low 15s.

[@DennisMook-ky6lx]

I got a vs ss im putting together its a stock 304 but ive seen these get 14 seconds even a little lower stock its not a big motor but i tell ya watching this made my night mate good on ya

[@MitchTube]

It’s all about context. When they were new we thought they went like a shower of shite! It’s just now 30 years later that a Mazda 3 will give you a hard time

[@marksworkshop54]

Nothing wrong with the time for a stock car that is 25 years old now . The valve springs would be mushy being that old . A complete fresh engine will run high 14s . 4.11 gears get them to low 14s . A factory 5.0 ltr with a crane 288 Solid cam , Harrop Hi rise manifold with a carb and roller rockers with a 4000 stall will run in the 12s with the best ive seen was a 12.4? There a good motor but just need add ons to make the most of the head flow . Well done .

[@borismcfinnigan3430]

You arent getting a 288 to work properly with factory comp, not to the point of going 12s in anything late as a VR/VS anyway

[@marksworkshop54]

@@borismcfinnigan3430 I know your not getting the most out of the 288 with the factory comp . 12.4? is the best 2 friends have gone with factory Vn 5ltr motors with a 288 and Harrop manifold and Rollers . They also went 10.7? on the same motor with a heap of Nos but it did go bang . Ive gone 12.26 @ 109 in a street Vc commodore with a 308 with dish pistons with no port work with just a L34 intake valve with a custom Solid Comp cam and Torquer Manifold .

[@borismcfinnigan3430]

@@marksworkshop54 I don't believe for a second that you got low 12s on unported heads, a cam and a torker LOL, it is actually physically impossible. My stock stroke 308 went 12.2@111 with a torker, it had beautifully ported B casts, a 242/248@.050" hydraulic, 10.7:1 ststic, with a 4k stall and 4.11s on a 26" tyre. What you described would be lucky, LUCKY, to go mid 13s. Sorry but even with a 1.94 intake, early unported heads will only flow in the 150s on the inlet port, not enough to get a 3000lb car down in 12.2 at 109.

[@marksworkshop54]

@@borismcfinnigan3430 Ill keep it short . Ive tried to post 3 times that you claim it cant be done and for some reason those post have been removed . Thats your issue you couldnt do it but i have . You need to do some research on what times people have done on old HQ style heads and even VN heads . Look up Bob Kotnel from street machine stage write who with Neil Boovey ran 11.8? from memeory in a Lx Torana with factory size small intake and exhaust valves with cleaned up bowls without the ports being touched and a Isky solid cam in the mid 90s . There are other post on the old Aussie V8 site aswell and my car is on there aswell . My car weighs 2996lbs on Willowbank scales with me in it . I have 10.9 comp with dish pistons 0 deck height with 100thou milled of the heads . My intake 1.94 L34 size is from a VN head but retains the factory small exhaust valve . 5300 torque convertor . Comp cams 236/242 solid cam on 108 lobe and 4.44 gears . If you think it cant be done it means you have no idea on how to get a old Holden v8 to run . Also look into the old Amcar 253 speedway motors on what they did to get the power they did out of them . im not here to Pollute Joes post but just give some advice .

[@borismcfinnigan3430]

@@marksworkshop54 Bob Kotmel is a mate of mine LOL I am well aware of what can be done, but thanks.

[@ashleyv7475]

The stock cam in them 5l is pretty much done making power before 5000 rpm, got a carbed one in my hq, mild cam and better valve springs made a huge difference, still pulls strong to 6000rpm

[@borismcfinnigan3430]

They are done at about 4k

[@dangravenall-jv5eo]

sounds lovely i own 2007 ss and 2007 turbo barra the v8 has longer legs when you try 170 plus

[@triggeredleftyvegan6004]

Good to see the 5 litre again mate

[@leewright7623]

4.9 …😅 homologation motor remember? Had to come under 5.0 mid eighties…

[@THEROADSMITH]

@@leewright7623 4987 not 4.9

[@dazaspc]

The old VS will lift up its skirt and go with a single mod. Just put a 3.5 diff ratio in it. It will drop a second and still behave. City mileage wont change and you will loose very little on the open road at legal speeds. I did it to mine back in the day and was happy with the result. It also towed my van a lot better after this mod. Any other mods really wont have the same affect unless you spend thousands.

[@ToranaA9X308]

As holden Holden stated you need a fan shroud around that fan. Sitting waiting with the engine running on a hot day the air just circulates around doing nothing. So many arm chair experts here shit canning the old 5 litre. I’ve had MULTIPLE 308s 304s and none have ever let me down. A9Xs sandmans caprices had them all. May I remind everyone that they are the most successful V8 in Australian Motorsport by FAR and the results in the 70s 80s and 90s speak for themselves in the hands of brock grice bob Morris and many others. Look at Larry Perkins coming from last to first in his Castrol commodore at Bathurst if you want to see supremacy. Ive got an original VK Calais 308 with 286 cam big valve heads L34 rods roller rockets 4 barrel and when I fire that up today to head to Phillip Island historic races where all the classics that raced at Bathurst will be it’ll be like a time capsule back to the 80s glory days. Never late in a 308 👍

[@DennisMook-ky6lx]

Yeah on a hot day sitting they get hot my ss is a beautiful car basically never been thrashed but in the heat sitting in the lights at traffic they get hot i got a viscous fan and the best radiator money can by .

[@SuperTambo69]

put in decent valve springs, port match the intake, get it tuned, get trans shift kit, get a CAI.

[@index6738]

Need more spark advance. Factory setting was very conservative.

[@batmanlives6456]

Do you have a calendar?

[@Antonchigurh69344]

I ran a 14.6 Stock 5L in a vs commo Ute Manual , full exhaust , diff gears That was 20 years ago Now have a 500rwkw Barra and runs 10s lol

[@vincekara9446]

The good ol days !!! Seeing these cars around were awesome. ... and the price of fuel where you wont complain

[@Antonchigurh69344]

@@vincekara9446 I still have it too , in the garage collecting dust I’ve had numerous Silvia’s , skylines etc sold them all I’ll never sell my Barra though , too much fun

[@vincekara9446]

@@Antonchigurh69344 I know the feeling mate. I have a BFXR6T and will never sell that! I'm saving up for an FG F6. Had one 3 years ago and now regret it; plus they've gone up!

[@Simo-bx2qm]

It’s a stock 5 litre dude that’s still decent just needs one of those harrop chargers on it it will boogie then

[@DontForgetOldKolobok]

The Holden 5.0L is well known to be a turd in stock form. It's just the sound and the fact they do good burnouts. This car, stock, won't get ANYWHERE NEAR a 14 sec pass. Bolt on a supercharger, get some better tires and maybe it'll dip into the high 13's

[@ryanelliott1650]

Yeah you should try letting your foot off around 4k so it can grab second Also don't give it a full boot of the line start by giving it like 1cm on the gas and only give full boot at about 3k You will take off faster if can get it right

[@kierenalvarez]

Smoke free venue while ripping burnouts.... What an amoeba to come up with that toss.

[@chrisyes1629]

Goodaye Mate. You could fit a high stall torque converter. Which should get you half a second. Light weight racing wheels may get you another half a second. Leave the spare at home with the jack. A better exhaust system like is a duel system with extractors will help. Ceramic coat the extractors. And light weight racing seats! All this should get you just under 14 seconds. The locked diff may have been good for half a second maybe a little more. I'd say that engine is not so fresh anymore and has lost a few ponies. Still it's about you'd expect from a stock Commodore. It's a great project. Have fun. Cheers.

[@chrisyes1629]

Oh Yeah. And? As I remember my VS 5L had 168 kw. I had it tuned to a HSV VS tuning of 185 kw. I think the last factory tuned 5L was at 195 kw in the VT before holden went to the 5.7L. I never got to take my car to the track to test it's quarter mile because it was stolen. So if you tune it and put a sports exhaust on it I'll be watching to see how it does. Cheers.

[@Hapkido82AUS]

Had a VN 5lt, extra 2 deg base timing, shitty 2.5 cat back, custom (90mm PVC) CAI to stock airbox, shift kit, factory LSD, 215 15s- Did a 14.6@150kph. 15.3 is very good for stock

[@Joedennett69]

Yer. It just could have done better if it didn't valve float. Before the gear shifts. Time for new springs.

[@dangravenall-jv5eo]

Im confused with steering on left side

[@Joedennett69]

Mirrored camera.

[@shaunessex3095]

Tired trans or torque converter

[@MaTtRoSiTy]

This car is a cruiser where you sit back in comfort on the highway and enjoy the V8 soundtrack and speed doesn't really matter so long as it can pass with ease imo

[@Joedennett69]

I can't at the moment. The valve floating is horrible. Even trying to overtake someone.

[@xr8rick]

Low 15’s is respectable for a stock car. A mild cam, a tune from someone who actually knows what they’re doing and maybe a set of 3.5:1 diff gears and that should see you well into the 14’s and with good driveability. Oh, and fix the roof liner 😆

[@tonyh4233]

I may be wrong but nope im not. The valve float you think you have is the factort tune applying electronic torque limit on each of your gear changes. Tune the engine and sane time tune out torque limit. Also your not 500whp so forget the burnout as your creating heat soak, further a fan shroud is a must on that car. Tune will net you enough to see you in the 14s which for a nearly 5 litre 304ci is pretty damn respectable. Dont sell it!!!

[@davidleggett137]

Stock 5.0, slushy transmission, 15.3 is respectable

[@triggeredleftyvegan6004]

I was thinking 15.6 stock so I think it’s respectable aswell.

[@jason2533]

15.3 is pretty respectable for a stock 304. Remember these cars are approaching 30 years old and that was considered pretty quick back then.

[@greasemonkeychris4128]

She may be a bit slow, but fuck it sounds good.

[@cvytnioy56dvfuj4g7]

Haven't watched it yet but guessing low 16 maybe a 15

[@5lcalais1]

Unfortunately 15.3s is all they'll do stock and the 4l60 is slow af lol My vn Calais I had in 2012 ran a best of 15.1 with exhaust, cold air intake, locked 3.08 diff ,it had a healthy stock th700 with massive trans cooler. Vns about 100kg lighter too though. Advice put ya fan shroud back on and fit a decent trans cooler with a fan ,that'll fix ya heat soak, 5Ls run hot so need all the cooling aids u can give em 👍 Even try find the plastic ducting the front end had from factory, radiators don't work 100% without the ducting. That weird over rev is pretty normal, even the th700s did it ,u can't hurt the engine it's not valve floating, they'll rev to over 7000 before u get near it lol I use to bounce mine off limiter and never bothered it. I've messed with many 5Ls since 2000 ,even had a 333 vb sle with yt heads n 650 double pumper ,thing was wild 👌 Reason they went to smaller oil filter is the 5L doesn't spew all the oil into the heads like the ol 308s use too, they don't require as much volume as the 308s ,blue 308s are the worst for it too, I used the small filter n never had an issue. Actually found your channel looking for 5L content as I'm looking to put one in my current vn exec ,best sounding v8 on earth imo, not chasing big hp maybe 300/350hp ,over seeing ls1s in them lol Had a turbo Buick in it but didn't like it and had to sell it anyway to rebuild my fgs barra that blew up on me 🤦‍♂️ After having 500hp 775nms in my fg I've found big hp is over rated tbh, everytime I try to race it I break something 🙄 6 weeks ago I tore the subframe and lhs cv shaft a new one lol so yeah it's honestly pointless now being it's the daily, might sell it n buy a stock xr6t ute and do up the vn again lol Thinking stock bottom end, ported heads, harrop high rise ,4 barrel tb , paceys, twin 2.5" exhaust, haltech 750 ,t400 and maybe a truetrack n 345s/3.7s , I do have some 411s here ,might be too short though 🤔 Appolgies for the long comment, 1 last thing look at a better manifold and tb setup, headers, a small cam like a crane 280 and get it tuned, should see around 270 280whp and you'll be good for high 12s 👌

[@Joedennett69]

It's my daily driven car. So im never going to go too crazy with it. The plan was a 276 cam a bit of head work and call it at that.

[@mental-qd5lh]

17sec

[@brentonk461ismylostaccount]

Stock 165kw or 185k motor should goto 5500rom without valve float

[@MrToranaGuy]

Possibly 25 year old valve springs says that float will come on a little earlier......

[@knackerbags5994]

Doing a rough calculation on weight of you and car and 90mph That engine is making around 190 horsepower or 140kw at the engine

[@michaelmarchei8539]

As long as she chirps into 2nd bruh

[@mrwolsy3696]

Throttle body and cam, extractors, single system.

[@ShaunDavis-jl6fr]

If it's all stock low 15's not too bad for hot day. Basic mods and cooler weather should go 14"s. Bit of coin with right parts high 13's.

[@dangravenall-jv5eo]

the turbo will shit over the v8 400m then the v8 pulls hard in 5th and6th

[@frasermate4729]

Now cam it and build box see what it does

[@slimshady2777]

Mid 15 is decent for a 165kw motor.. and in an auto .. heathy motor..

[@channelone2398]

Reaction time doe nothing to the time lol u mean 60ft I hope

[@PM_Anthony_Albanese]

What an old slogger of a thing. My Kia Ceratos goes quicker than that and it's a 4cyl.

[@paulkarwacki7119]

That thing only weighs 1500kg 😂, a stock 175kw au Fairmont (porting, head shave) did 15.0 & 98 mph on a warm day @ 1600kg!! 308, 304's are for dillusional drug addicts, absolute pits in the V8 food chain. 👎

[@hmslc8289]

There's always some moron trying to make this into a Holden vs Ford thing. I'm personally more of a Ford fan but why can't we just keep this positive? They're all old slow shitboxes anyway, your 15.0 is nothing to brag about. We should be sharing our love for these great old cars, not tearing each other down.

[@paulkarwacki7119]

@@hmslc8289The iron lion was well behind the ball even in roller VT format. A tuned AU3 xr8 does 14.0 @ 102 mph at 1,660kg. Just don't want people wasting their money on worthless 304's.

[@hmslc8289]

@@paulkarwacki7119 14 second 1/4 mile is nothing to brag about, not to mention that now you're comparing a modified car to a stock one. These cars are all slow, unless you start doing serious work to them, and that's ok. A modern turbo 4 banger will absolutely dust your AU in a straight line. Holden and Ford fans should be friends, not enemies

[@davidnguyen9409]

​@@paulkarwacki7119yeah but your AU sounds and looks like dog shit. Even if the 304 is a boat anchor, at least it sounds glorious. I wouldn't buy one for the speed, I'd buy one for the sound alone.

[@ToranaA9X308]

The Windsor’s were a boat anchor gutless pos. The EL GT proved that beyond a doubt. Even glen seton said it was gutless.