Craig's 'PWR 454' custom 1972 Holden HQ ute PROJECT
Dubbed 'PWR-454', Craig's ute has never failed to smash 'em on the dyno, floor 'em at the show 'n' shine, or just plain wow 'em at every event it goes to. There's a hell of a lot involved in the creation of this very special custom ute, so let's get stuck into it!
Phase 1 - Good discoveries, bad discoveries
Craig's first custom build was an XW Fairmont GT replica, which taught the young apprentice chef (yes, you read right, Craig's background is in hot meals, not hot cars) the intricacies of restoration and customisation before he started looking for a new challenge. "Since I had already built a Ford, I wanted to do something different, so a Holden was in order," Craig explained. "Seeing that there were not too many nice utes around at the time, [I decided] that was the way to go."
In 1997, Craig found what he thought was a good base for his Holden project in the form of a '72 model HQ ute with an HZ Kingswood front clip. "It had a 308 V8, TH400 and 10 bolt diff. It was a bit rough around the edges, but sounded fantastic, especially when I revved it up," Craig recalled.
After serving duty as a daily driver for a few months, Craig started tearing down the ute. Selling off the engine, gearbox, diff and a few other bits and pieces covered the original purchase price, which turned out to be necessary, as stripping the body uncovered rust - lots of it.
"Little did I know how rusty the body was under the paint and body filler. But hey, it sounded great, and I was blinded by that. Rookie mistake when I reflect back!"
With the body too far gone to be salvageable, Craig started looking for a replacement, eventually finding an HJ body that fitted the bill. Interestingly, this was a panel van, not a ute, but as Craig explained, the bodies are similar, so it wasn't a difficult task to get a panel shop located near his home in Cairns to cut it down to a ute. The added bonus with the panel van body was the fact that the "tray" was in better condition than a ute.
"I sourced a 350 Chev, 4-speed Muncie and drum brake 9-inch diff," Craig said. "We changed the front end to an HZ Caprice with GTS guards, painted it Aviation Orange and fitted a black velour interior."
By the middle of 1998 - barely a year after the project began - the ute was back on the road. However, this lasted only six months before Craig decided to take the project to the next level, which meant stripping and rebuilding it again.
Phase 2 - Cooking with NOS - Enter the 454
With great understatement, Craig said the next phase "got a bit out of hand". Over a period of approximately four years, starting in 1999, everything - and we mean everything! - was redone to a high standard; about the only element unchanged between stages 1 and 2 was Craig's preferred orange paint scheme.
"Each part I fully detailed and, if it was not painted, I had it chromed or ceramic coated."
Upping the power, the 350 was removed, and after initial plans to fit a 400 Chev were dropped, a 454 Big Block Chev V8 was sourced and fitted. Fully detailed, the Big Block was matched up to an HD 28 full manual reverse shift TH400 tranny and disc brake-equipped 9-inch diff. This was already a pretty potent driveline, but throw in a NOS Big Shot kit and you've got a real weapon. More on that later!
The chassis (by this stage an HZ RTS) was stripped and reinforced to handle the extra power from the 454, then seam welded to prevent corrosion and detailed. The finishing touch was two-pac Craig Silver paint to differentiate the chassis from the rest of the underbody.
While the body was off (and before the 454 was fitted), the firewall was flattened and the fuel filler and tank moved to the rear. Additionally, the handbrake was relocated to between the planned bucket seats, a 6 point moly roll cage added, and the rear of the cabin modified to allow for allow for custom sub-woofer enclosures. Some of the more subtle body changes included VR Commodore external door handles, GTS front guards with shaved drip rails, and a one-piece rear bumper.
After close to two years' work on the chassis and body mods, the focus next turned to the paint and interior. Everything in the cabin was removed or chopped out to create a 'bare canvas' to work with. A new dash was fabricated from scratch, along with custom flat floors and centre console. The entire cabin was then re-trimmed in Dove Grey leather, including the roll cage, while the removable side intrusion bars were HPC coated. With plans to run the ute over the quarter mile, RCI platinum Series 5-point harnesses were added for driver and passenger safety.
Reflecting that this ute is as much about show as it is go, coloured LED internal lights were also fitted, along with punched aluminium floor inserts, AutoMeter gauges, Toyota Celica inner door handles, and a comprehensive sound system with Bluetooth and iPhone connectivity.
"A Pioneer media station with 6.5 inch splits was added, and two 12 inch Rockford subs fitted behind the seats. They give you a great massage," Craig laughed.
Following four solid years and a lot of dollars, the ute, now dubbed 'PWR 454', made its debut at 2004's Queensland Hot Rod and Street Machine Spectacular, where it placed in the Top 10 and won Top Ute. This proved to be the first in a string of trophies this ute has won, including Summernats, Powercruise and MotorEx.
On the dyno, PWR-454 has been equally successful, winning a bunch of shoot outs, recording a best normally-aspirated result of 430 RWHP, and 760 RWHP on NOS.
Stage 3 - Bigger, better, bolder. . . . tastier!
Taking the old adage of "there's no substitute for cubic inches", Craig's next modification was a 566ci Dart 'Big M' Big Block V8, with the nitrous system upgraded with a Pro Shot Fogger. A Pro-Systems SV-1 carby was also fitted, along with a string of high performance parts, including a Scat crank, H-beam rods and extensively ported Magnum heads, exiting through custom 2.25 inch extractors and a 3.5 inch Gonzo exhaust.
In this latest guise, PWR-454 produces 800 naturally-aspirated horses at the engine (on pump fuel), with the NOS grunt upping that to a whopping 881 RWHP. In this guise, Craig has propelled the ute to a best result of 9.97 ET @ 144mph (on NOS) on the Willowbank dragstrip - pretty impressive for a streeter that's still running luxuries like power windows, sound system and full leather trim.
Externally, some of the most recent updates include a set of Bon Speed 18-inch billet alloys, while airbrushed flame detailing on the bodysides and tailgate, as well as flame detailing on the door cards add a little extra flavour to this custom.
The hits kept on coming for this latest version, including Best Street Tough and outstanding engineering in Street Tough at Summernats 25 and 26. Returning to the Queensland Hot Rod and Street Machine Spectacular this year, Craig added to his already bulging trophy cabinet with a second in Top Ute Elite.
As much as Craig's enjoyed what he's created with PWR-454, it wasn't all sweetness and light. More than a few hurdles were encountered along the way, most notably with panel beaters. Finding a reliable panel shop that could do the work to his standards was a source of ongoing frustration.
"One went under in a flood, one went bankrupt and others just tried to rip me off," Craig said of the string of bad luck and bad operators that hampered his efforts.
The silver lining out of this is that he did find some bloody good operators to work with for future projects, like JT Automotive, PK Auto Electrical, Fat Pipes, Aussie Desert Cooler, Kip Art and Keith 4 Wheels. Craig also extended thanks to Mick Franks, Lynton, Jack Brothers and Tony Horsman for their assistance with PWR-454. The high-standard of Craig's ute meant he's been moving in the elite car stratosphere of Adam LeBrese and others, who have also provided valuable assistance and ideas throughout PWR-454's journey.
PWR-454 - 1972 Holden HQ styleside ute
Modifications
Engine: Fully detailed 566cid Dart Big M Big Block Chev (800 HP NA on pump fuel)
Scat 4340 forged crank and h-beam rods, extensively ported AFR 345 Magnum alloy heads, Pro Shot Fogger NOS with digital progressive controller, custom grind Comp Cams solid roller cam (740 lift), Comp Cams belt drive, Trend 7/16 .135 inch wall pushrods, Yella Terra 1.7 shaft-mount roller rockers, custom Ross 11.5:1 forged dome top pistons, Brodix HV 2001 single plane intake manifold, Pro Systems 1260cfm XC SV-1 carburettor, MSD pro billet with digital 7 ignition, Custom 2.25 inch 4-into-1 extractors, 3.5 inch custom Gonzo exhaust
Transmission and rear end: 4000 high stall converter, TCI TH 400 full manual reverse shift with trans brake, 3.5 inch 1350 series tailshaft, chromoly sheet metal 35 spline 9 inch diff, 3.5:1 Detroit Locker centre
Brakes: Twin-spot slotted and cross-drilled front disc brakes, slotted and cross drilled rear disc brakes, WB booster and master cylinder
Other: Torsion bar and Caltracs, aluminium drop tank, aluminium surge tank, Aeromotive A1000 fuel pump with bypass regulator and Holley EFI lift pump, Aeromotive SS fuel pump for NOS, 18 inch Bon Speed billet aluminium wheels
Body Mods: HZ Caprice front end, GTS fluted guards with shaved drip rails, WB rear end, one-piece rear bumper bar, VR Commodore door handles, 6-point moly roll cage with removable side intrusion bars, HZ RTS reinforced chassis - seam welded and smoothed, smoothed firewall and inner guards, rear of cabin extended behind seats for sub-woofer enclosures
Interior: Full custom grey leather trim, hand-stitched leather roll cage padding, punched aluminium floor inserts, centre-mount handbrake, RCI 5 point Platinum Series cam lock 3 inch harnesses, Pioneer media centre head deck with Bluetooth and iPhone connectivity, Rockford and Pioneer amps, two 12 inch Rockford subs, JL Audio 6.5 inch front splits, Autometer gauges, Celica inner door handles, power windows, power steering, keyless entry and engine immobilizer
Performance
Best dyno - 881 RWHP (NOS)
615 RWHP (NA)
Best quarter mile - 9.97 ET @ 144 MPH (NOS)
10.78 ET @ 126 MPH (NA)
Trophies
2004
Queensland Hot Rod & Street Machine Custom Auto Spectacular - Top Ute/ Pick up & Top Ten.
Brisbane Holden Vs Ford Show - Top Ten, State Champion Show Ute Series, State Champion Holden Ute, State Champion Holden Big Block Dyno.
Brisbane Shannons Insurance Muscle Car Shootout - Top Show Ute, Top Ute, Top Show Car.
Gold Coast Cruisetime - Top Ute/ Pick Up Show, Top Driveline/ Transmission.
Gold Coast Street Torque - Top Commercial, Top Undercarriage, Top Interior.
Brisbane Logan Kings Street Machine, Hot Rod & Bike Show - Best Street Machine.
Ipswich Classic Car Club - Top Ute.
Sydney MotorEx - 3rd place Ute/Pick Up.
2005
AME Brisbane - Top Ten, State Champion Tough Streeter, Top Super Street , Top Super Street Engine Bay, Top Super Street Undercarriage, Top Super Street Exterior, Top Super Street Ute ,Top Naturally Aspirated Dyno over 400ci.
AME Finals Melbourne - Top Ten, Australian No1 Tough Streeter Champion, State Champion tough Streeter, Top Super Street , Super Street Engine Bay, Top Super Street Ute.
Brisbane Built-it Performance V8 Car Club's Show 'n' Shine - People's Choice, Toughest Car
Mt Gravatt Show Ute Muster - Best Show Ute.
Queensland Ute Muster - Series Finalist.
Brisbane Powercruise 1 Day Powerplay - Top Judged Show Car, Best Individual Display
X-Torque Auto Showdown - 1st 8 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Dyno, 1st 8 Cylinder Assisted Dyno , 2nd Open Dyno, Best Old School 67-76, Best Australian Car, Best Ute, Best Holden.
2006
Queensland Hot Rod & Street Machine Custom Auto Spectacular - Top Ten, Top Ute/ Pick up, Best Undercarriage.
Brisbane Logan Kings Street Machine, Hot Rod & Bike Show - Best Street Machine.
Sydney Motor Ex - Top Ute/ Pick Up.
Gold Coast Hyperzone - Elite Street Tough V8 Award.
Ipswich Classic Car Club - Car of the Show, Top Ute.
Elite Pro Street Burnouts - Top 8 Burnout .
2012
Summernats 25 - Best Street Tuff, engineering excellence Street Tough, top naturally aspirated Horsepower Heroes.
2013
Summernats 26 - Best Street Tuff, engineering excellence Street Tuff, outstanding engineering Horsepower Heroes.
Powercruise Powerplay - Top Show car, Top HP Assisted V8 Dyno, 2nd NA V8 Dyno , 3rd Highest HP Dyno.
Queensland Hot Rod and Street Machine Spectacular - 2nd Top Ute/Pick up.
FOR SALE - (NOTE: details and sale status correct at time of posting)
As he's keen to take on another project, specifically a 1970 Chevelle, Craig's decided to put PWR-454 on the market. Asking price is $69,000, which when you check out the spec sheet, is a hell of a lot of car for the money! As the trophy list confirms, PWR-454 is a guaranteed show winner, too, so this ute is sure to keep adding some bling to the pool room of a future owner.
For further details, call Craig on 0430 645 531.
