The conversations almost always take off with, “… are you going to really do her up?”. However, very quickly, there are two camps, that become clear. There is the, “… are you going to keep it original?” and “Hey are you going to put a V8 in it?” If I had $10 for every time I was asked if I was going to put a V8 in it, I’d have enough money to put a V8 in it. There are a couple of friends who really are as car mad as I am. However, one of them is power mad and has spent a lot of money ‘working’ a RB30 engine in his VL. Every couple of weeks he’ll text me with … there’s a 350 going in ‘Gumtree’ want me to find out more … or he’ll call and ask if I’ve found a V8 yet.
A couple of weeks ago it was the … “ hey, I respect the ‘originality’ thing but … (there’s always a but, isn’t there) think of the story you could tell … the coulda, woulda, shoulda, story. “ … maybe it woulda been a prototype. It coulda been the prototype, before the HK. It shoulda been the prototype.
I have had a few weeks to think about it and I think this one will be back to original. Well, maybe technically correct is a better description. I know how difficult ‘original’ can and will be, so I’m not in any dream world thinking that it will be an easy task. I have allowed myself a little latitude. My ‘Lioness’ should be technically correct, with period modifications … she has a 186, ‘tho I have since found out that she originally was fitted with a 161. A 186 was available in 1966 so … and is technically correct, so it stays. It has an original ‘Holden X2’ manifold with the twin Strombergs … so they will stay. If it’s going to look like an X2, the engine will need to be rebuilt and painted the proper X2 colour. Yup, the X2 ‘Bright Red’ not the usual ‘Holden Red’. Oh, it will need the ‘gold’ air cleaner housing and oil filler cap. Now, do we see, the technically correct but not completely original. Anything that is on her now that coulda been fitted in 1966 will stay.
Anyway, while thinking about this, I have begun to empty the ute and collating all the bits that have turned up with her. I don’t do this often enough and for years have cursed and yelled when I cannot find something, but this time I have started separating items and put them into labelled plastic boxes for easier retrieval later. There is simply no use asking my beloved where I have put the spring clips that hold the window winders, in a couple of years time, when I have not even made a note of where I might have put them. She would not even know what one looks like. I have even pulled the engine out, so I can see what condition it’s in.
Why “The Battle Begins …”. It started with a battle on the inside, to keep her original … or to modify her … and it progressed to a battle with ‘consensus’ … the friends who think she should be modified and those that don’t. Now it’s time for the physical battle with my HR and get her back to her supermodel self.
… and for those who may be Star Trek fans
… the adventure continues ...
