Pumped Up
I have to admit, when I was driving up to Morayfield on the north side of Brisbane to meet Gavin Bedford's VT R8 Club Sport, I was thinking I was just going to shoot another LS1 Commodore, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Gav's R8 is definately something special, as you are about to find out.
This wasn't Gav's first attempt. He had a VT SS which met with a cruel death and the running gear made it into this car. The Silver on the bottom is Holden issue, and the top is an Orgasmic Rush Purple, with Triumph green pinstriping. The body kit is genuine HSV, front and rear bars and side skirts. There is a new completely custom bonnet on it's way. The front chrome grille and chrome window moulds are from a Senator, the rear boot garnish is from a Monaro, as well as the head and tail lights. The chrome boot strip is from a VX Calais and the chrome mirrors are from a BMW M3, and a WH Statesman provided the chrome door handles and te sunroof is genuine factory.
Sometimes when guys build show cars, the engine gets left behind in favour of all the 'bling', but not in this car. This beast is as tough as it is beautiful. Let's get down to what is hidden under that custom purple bonnet. The engine is an LS1, 346 cubic inch. Boosting comes from a PWR M112 Supercharger, pumping the air through a PWR water to air intercooler. 10 psi pulley set. The heads have had some port work, and are sporting PSI valve springs with titanium retainers and stainless steel valves: 2.02 intake and 1.6 exhaust. They are opened by a 224/230 114 LSA Comp Cam and Yella Terra 1.7:1 roller rockers. The heads are bolted on with ARPs and there is a double row timing chain.
The R8 has a 2 bar mafless tune, Walbro intake fuel pump, Turbo LS1's Mini pro fuel system including : custom aluminium 2 litre surge tank, Bosch 044 700hp fuel pump, Boost referenced high energy fuel pressure regulator. There is a Powertorque OTRCAI, K & N Air Filter, PWR polished radiator reservoir, 42lb green top injectors, braided hose throughout engine bay, Earls fittings, TBA rocker covers and a partridge in a freakin pear tree - Damn that was a mouthful..............
The exhaust gases get out through a set of DeFillipo 1 3/4" 4 into 1 headers, into a dual 3" stainless steel X-Force system. So far this little combination has been good enough for 519 BHP (387.4 kw) and 1042 Nm @ 134km/h. As I said, this thing is definately no show pony. The box is a T56 6 speed manual, with a twin plate heavy duty Textralia Z grip clutch. The diff is a stock VT housing, Kaaz centre with 3.9:1 gears.
The suspension is HSV Premium shocks front and rear, with Pedders Sports Ryder Springs up front and SSSL King Springs on the rear with poly air bags. Pedders Strut Brace. The brakes are HSV Premium 330mm ventilated disks on the front with 4 spot calipers, and 315mm ventilated disks with 2 spot calipers on the back. Those big ass wheels are Dolce DC-6 20 x 8.5 inch, with Austyre 225/35/20 with 20mm white walls.
The comfort of the R8 has not been comprimised either. The front seats are Coulson buckets, with a VT R8 rear bench, all re-trimmed in custom Honeycomb leather, which is continued into the boot. The Honeycomb leather also graces the HSV steering wheel. The carpet is charcoal. There are silver dash dials and white faced gauges. The sound system starts with a Clarion double DIN DVD player, two Eclipse 7 inch headrest monitors, with a single Option Audio 7 inch boot monitor. The power comes from 3 Precision Power amps, through Eclipse 6 inch rears, 2 x 12 inch Eclipse subs in custom fibreglass enclosure and full Stinger cabling.
When you have put so much work into a car, you can bet there is a full list of people to thank, so here it is:- Andrew (Allan Blair Automotive), Powertorque Engines, Jason (Pro Paintz), Gadenne Motor Trimming, Maroochy Car Sound, Doo Customz, PWR Performance, Pedders Maroochydore, Phat Wheels, Enzed Maroochydore, Image Red and White Walls, Throttle Bodies Australia and Madills Noosa. What a mouthful. There is not much I can say about this car that it doesn't say itself in the pictures. It is truly the total package. Great look, great paint, great wheels, great interior and stereo, and a bunch of gonads under the bonnet - What more could you want? One this is for sure, this thing really is PUMPED..........................
