Shed: 1981 WB Statesman Caprice

This is my baby, a 1981 Series I WB Staesman Caprice.



I have restored her to her former glory, although the interior is original. She's running Koni shocks, lowered Lovel springs, a 308 +30 thou Red Block with Brock "B" Cast heads (black VK) with Street Terra rockers, large Chev valves and a custom intake manifold supping a pure LPG diet. Power and Economy.



I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

Shed: Perth Cruises

Shed: Manifold Completed

Oooo oooo! She's looking good, I can't wait to fire her up!!!



I had the missus crank the engine for her first breath of life, she fired and idled pretty rough, but she ran!
A quick tweak of the idle mixture didn't help smoothness, but a crack down of the base plate with an Allen wrench revealled an air leak. All of a sudden she was idling like I have never seen a V8 idle! Smooooooth!



Time for a test run, I took it easy initially not knowing what air/fuel distribution would be like at high revs. After 10 minutes of gentle driving it was time to give her shit! Out to around 5000rpm in first and hit 2nd "chirp" go the back wheels and I'm pulled back in my seat! Oh My God! Out to 5000rpm in 2nd, select 3rd and "Chirp" go the back tyres again! OMG, this is a 4000lb Stato! Alright!


After a few days of fiddling with ignition timming and cruize/power mixtures, she is running just sweet! Would you beleive a 50c peice balanced on the...

Shed: Manifold Fabrication

Ok, the design is final, it fits under the bonnet and the math's all work! This is going to be an awesome performer, I just need to build it!



Easier said than done, quite a few challenges faced me over the solid 4 weeks it took to fabricate...

Shed: Manifold Design Process

This is how it all started, after reading "Scientific Design of Exhaust & Intake Systems" by Philip H.Smith, I wanted a tuned length, RAM-Resonant manifold for my LPG 308!
Alas, none are available, so I was faced with a mission, design and build one! What followed was termed insanity by my wife and friends, but their nay-saying only drove me harder to build this thing!



I tuned this thing to capitalise on the resonant pulse crated in the runner when the intake valve closes. I have tuned the length of runners for maximum gains between 2000 and 4000rpm, for daily street use. intake Valve to plenum is 19" in length! I picked up 32% torque at 2000rpm, that translates to brocken auto, diff and axles if your not carefull!

Shed: Manifold Mockup

Using the Redline quad-Webber downdraft base, cardboard, rubber tube, aluminum tape and a wire frame to simulate the bonnet line, a mock-up of the final design looks awesome!

Everyone that saw this mock-up thought I was insane. I think they were right...

Shed: Gapping Plugs

A short tutorial showing how to gap plugs correctly. This tutorial shows how to regap for wider than stock plug gaps.


In the examples shown, the NGK BP6FS is regapped from 0.9mm to approx 1.3mm or 50 thou, to suit Bosch High Energy Ignition with LPG.
These plugs can also be regapped to 1.5mm or 60 thou to suit stock leaded fuel Blue 6's and 8's.


NOTE: If you simply regap these plugs by widening the gap only, the earth electrode will not remain parallel with the centre electrode.

Shed: WB Prototypes

GMH WB prototypes that never made it into production. The Commodore killed them off!

Shed: LPG Equipment

Shed: Die Cast model V8

This is a die cast model Chev Small Block V8. Winding the flywheel turns the pulleys too!

These models are available in Perth for $80 each and are available in various models. Refer the manufacturers web site for more info.

http://www.libertyclassics.com/Pages/enginesmain.asp

Shed: Micron-X Filter

You can buy factory direct from Jupiter Steel Fabrications in Myaree WA.

The inventor has fitted tons of these to taxis and beleive it or not oil tested by Mobil that had been in a taxi for 12 months (with Micron filter replaced every 10,000km) returned "good as new, fit for service". They therefore state you need never change your oil.

I am more cautious than that, oil is cheep, so I run 10,000 service intervals now, changing oil, filter and Micron filter at once.

Shed: Photochops

This gallery contains computer edited "photo-chopped" images of my vehicle and others.

Shed: Mates Hot Rods

Shed: Chrysler 300C

This is my Chrysler 300C.

Engine is Hemi 5.7 litre, 250KW, 525Nm of torque. The Multi Displacement System drops 4 cylinders at cruise, returning 12.4 litres per 100km. Mercedes 5 speed semi-automatic transmission, Mercedes S-Series chassis, ABS, Traction control, Stability control, 18" Alloys with 225/60/18 tyres.

7 speaker Boston Acoustic 6 CD system, memory seats/mirrors, heater seats all round, dual rear DVD players. Rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, 128 function information centre (includes 0-100km/h timer!).