Supercharged HSV? - Part 3

[mjrandom]

This car is giving me a greater appreciation of the passion, commitment and dedication of HSV than I thought possible. Something I have taken from granted with the two E series I have owned. Even though it was many years ago I can remember ringing HSV on the day after I picked up my new VN Clubbie. A Saturday. Neither the dealer or I could work out something that shouldn't have been happening. The call was answered by the "Boss" who went into the workshop and talked us through the fix. I thought then what a great company and I hoped to be the same sort of boss one day, happy to talk to anyone and help them out. I guess I expected with time, volume and demand the personal touch would go but that is certainly not the case. I really appreciate the effort and being able to see the transformation from Holden to HSV. And whenever the GTS goes to a new owner I will hand over a portfolio of build photos that I hope means as much to them as it does to me now.

For what it is worth the VN was a lot of fun, basic and simple, the E series have been good but not outstanding. The R8 SV I had the pleasure of enjoying was a huge step forward and I think the GTS is going to blow our minds. If you have $250 - 300k to blow on an E63 or CLS63 or M6 maybe it is a bit ho hum but that is a fantasy I won't ever fulfil. Right now though I am counting down the days...

The tips are standard as Bouka has said. My only options are the SV bits and automatic transmission.

[bozodos]

mj are you mates with the boss there or something? enjoying the pics, cool to see the car start to transform! Does the engine get run in etc at Holden, or is all of that done at HSV?

[mjrandom]

Boz I was lucky enough to contact someone who works down there, friend of a friend of a friend. I have never met him but I will have to make the effort to visit one of these days and buy him a beer or rum or several. I am not sure if there will be pics available from other builds and since I have the chance to get a couple of pics I couldn't be selfish and keep them to myself. I am interested in the work that HSV does and I reckon there are plenty of others who think the same way.

All I know about the engine is that until the final tune is done by HSV the engine is limited to a fast idle. No running in as far as I know but happy for someone who knows for sure to chime in. Realistically these days QA and QC mean tolerances are well controlled and engines are in a far better state than years ago.

[bouka]

The gts's are limited to 1500 rpm as the coolers are not installed (you can see in one of the photos posted that the plumbing in not connected). Once it is all hooked up, the cads are road tested in and around hsv for alignment, suspension etc. Then shipped to dealer.

It's great to see you have this opportunity mj, and the beer, rum will be well deserved as your contact at hsv does a brilliant job.

It would be great to catch up if/when you come down to see him. I will shout you a bevvie or two.

[Vulture]

I started second guessing myself about getting the Heron paintwork. I was thinking either Regal Peacock or Prussian Steel...

As you know, I went through the same thing with my colour choice of red. Only other colours I liked besides the white are the ones you mentioned, but now that I have seen the media GTS in red I'm more confident in that but I think, for red especially, the larger spoiler will work well. Red is a loon colour as opposed to white and is more 'look-at-me', so the larger spoiler is the right choice for that. Regal Peacock is very, very dark in the flesh - almost black and can only see the nice green in direct sun. Beautiful colour, might get a Senator in that in a few years time. That front bar in white looks fantastic though! The blackouts definitely work best in white IMO rather than any other colour.

I know there are quite a few who think it is a bad thing to put the SV spoiler and wheels on a GTS but I like the understated look, happy to be confused for an R8 SV.

I think it will look perfect. Auto, white, subtle spoiler. Could just as easily gone that way myself as could most forum members I am sure. I think I still prefer your SV wheels but thankfully the GTS wheels don't give the three spoke look that we were worried about. Depends how your brain sees the wheel I suppose. When I look at the GTS wheel my brain is seeing six separate spokes rather than a three spoke look. Bit of a relief to me!

Andrew is also a credit to the hsv brand and a very passionate motor enthusiast.

I met him many years ago at a motor show and it was obvious that he was a true enthusiast, as opposed to a lot of people who are involved with cars because it just happens to be what they do.

[NickS]

Despite my earlier comments about choosing the R8 over the GTS the more I see and read the more I want one of these beasties ... after 8 new HSV's over the past 12 years I feel like I need to own one of these if the future of the Commodore goes as many are predicting. Our E3 is only 18 months old so I'm not doing anything in a hurry ... but it's starting to look like the only thing that could replace it is one of these!

I'll see what the next year or 2 brings ... those with one on order, please feel free to post as many pictures as you can (when they arrive) and give us complete & honest feedback on what you think of the car!

Loving the pics mid-build, that's awesome, keep 'em coming!

[Vulture]

Despite my earlier comments about choosing the R8 over the GTS!

Go on Nick, you know you want to!

[mjrandom]

OK I was wrong a bit more done today. Expected to be finished next week and then final inspection and data dots before release. My dealer today told me that release is expected to be Sept 16.









A funny comment out of HSV today "You are building a SLEEPER!".

Needless to say I am very very happy. I think my GTS looks superb and many thanks to the care of the guys at HSV. I have to add a very special thanks to Andrew for the photographs and updates. More than I could possibly have hoped for.

Now for Simon's red devil pics...

[Vulture]

It's looking sensational! How good is it to get these pics of your build?
She looks to be a mighty imposing car with road presence.
Really like those SV wheels.

[offshore]

Looks awesome. Those brakes are good bigger then the GT2 Porsche brakes by the look of it.

[Vulture]

Micheal, your PM inbox is full. I'm not surprised with all these exciting pics!

[GTS LSA]

just keep an eye out for a blue auto in about 6 weeks... thats the important one


Seriously though, sensatonal photos and updates...

[Angeldust]

question,

we know that all HSV's come off the holden production line with the correct engines already fitted before they got to HSV for the
final bits to be added. ie my VZ came off the production line at holden with a ls2 (you can always identify it as a clubbie as its the
only vz model to come from holden with an ls2 and this is stamped on the holden build plate),

Do/did the FPV V8 models come off the Ford production line with the correct motor installed? Or are they simply 6cyl base models
that then go to FPV to get their engines removed and the SC5.0 installed? Kinda seems/feels aftermarket if they do as FPV were
not really as much a part of Ford as HSV is a part of holden?

?

[macca_779]

Ford fits the FPV engines on the line mate. Difference is back when FPV were still around they hand built the engines prior to sending them across the road for ford to fit them. Then the cars came back for everything else.

[Angeldust]

Cool, thanks for clearing that up. And no i haven't been spreading the misinformation i posted above,

was just thinking about it that all.. i guess if i didnt know, neither would have joe average, possibly why
the FPV brand is not really in the same league as HSV for popularity.