Population was around 12 million when the V8's were released and you are right Australia was an awesome country back then,everything from TV's,radios,food mixers and cars was stamped made in OZ.

Never late in a 308

I owned one of these in the 1970s, and it was good when new. It was WAAAAY better after I finished with it. I stripped it myself and had it fully balanced, lightened the flywheel, dramatically better ported heads with bigger valves, and a better carby and mild sports camshaft, plus good extractors and sports system.
When I was done with it, it revved happily over 6500 rpm and was smooth as silk, and even more economical IF driven quietly. I loved that car (and engine.)

Rare historical and mechanical analysis done in a professional manner. Thank you for this excellent video.

Fantastic 👍👍 my 253 was biult in 1970 and still going strong.
The best sounding v8 by far .

Forgot to mention, if you have anything that is seized, fill it with Kero - it will get in where nothing else will!  Salvaged a Fiat RB 411 tractor that had sat flooded and was seized - took a while and some patience but got it going and sold it as a working tractor 👍😊

That was awesome… I really enjoyed that. I’m currently restoring a 1976 LX Torana and rebuilding a HT Aussie pattern period correct engine out of a SS torana. Thank you for your breakdown and knowledge 😎🤘🏼

For a young fella, you did this well. Thanks YouTube if you're watching for a decent suggestion for once. I have a factory VL V8 Berlina, Non standard all Holden V8 355 (was a 308 not a 304) in it & more & I love it! 20 plus years I've had it. Cheers, subbed.

Great video, defiantly an important piece of Australia's history

Love that you mentioned they ran until 1999, most would think they stopped after the Series 1 VT.

Although the LS platform was newer and vastly superior, the ole Iron Lion was no slouch at all .. the final 220i factory stroker made same power as the early Gen 3 LS along with more torque down low and undisputably a THOUSAND times better note .. and that was with a baby roller cam, comp ratio in the low low 8s, banana manifold, fairly average cast iron heads and a distributor among other things..

In my shed, I have an XU1 202, 253, 308 (from my Torana A9X) and a ford 289. All are in good condition and are turned over and lubricated every month.

Farm yard challenge ..  clean it up bang it back together with a fresh gasket set and send it..😂😂😂

Great vid for every lover of Holden V8s. A couple of things I could add would be Holden did run factory 4-bolts blocks again in 1990 for the VN SS Group A and leftover blocks went into VP HSV cars like VP GTS, VP Senator 5000i etc. Also, Holden V8 heads went from Siamese exhaust port layout to symmetrical for the VN EFI 304, which meant different camshafts and exhaust manifolds/headers from the red motors.

XR Falcon had the 289, XT had a 302

As a child in the 80's my father  cousins Called the 253 a 6 cylinder V8 😂😂😂😂😂🎉❤❤❤

I loved the sound that the 253 with dual exhausts made in my ‘73 Monaro LS.  It was helped along with a manifold from a 308 so that the 465 Holley fit. A mild cam and cleaned up heads and she went pretty well.

Really interesting thanks - I often wondered why GM made Holden V8s but the RHD thing makes sense.

i love all the aussie sayings you use n the the aussie slangs

As far as I'm aware, all HQ blocks were the Trimatic bellhousing bolt pattern.

Port offset makes heaps of difference.
When Holden went from Siamese port to equal port the power gains were massive.
All ports were equal which gives better balance and smoother power. Plus port and combustion design was massively changed for better flow thus more power.