Holden straight-six motor
Holden straight-six motor
Main page

Holden straight-six motor

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
What are your thoughts?
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Holden straight-six motor

The Holden straight-six motor is a series of straight-six engines that were produced by General Motors Holden at their Port Melbourne plant between 1948 and 1986. The initial Grey motor was so dubbed because of the colour of the cylinder block, later motors came in the form of a Red, Blue, Black, and the four-cylinder Starfire engine. These engines were fitted to all Australian designed Holdens of the same years, and the four-cylinder Starfire notably also found its way into the Toyota Corona (XT130). The Grey motor is a different engine from the others, while the Red, Blue, Black, and even the Starfire are all inter-related with many common parts and castings.

The Grey motor, built between 1948 and 1963, (the last on 2 August 1963) earned its name as the engine block was painted grey. This overhead valve engine was first fitted to the Holden 48-215 (and variants) and mated to a three-speed column change gearbox. A three-speed GM Roto-Hydramatic 240 automatic transmission was an option fitted in the latter EK and EJ series. The engine was based on the pre-World War II Buick Straight-6 engine design,[citation needed] and saw only minor changes throughout its 15-year life.

It displaced 132 cubic inches (2,160 cc) in its original form as used by the 48-215 (1948). It developed 60 brake horsepower (45 kW). This engine remained in production for eight years - until the release of the FE series in 1956. At that point, power was increased to 72hp (53kW) by an increase in the compression ratio to 6.8:1. Holden replaced the FC in 1960 with the FB series, and its engine was bored out to 138 cubic inches (2,260 cc). The compression ratio was increased to 7.8:1. It developed 76 brake horsepower (57 kW) at 4200 rpm and 120lb.ft (162N.m) at 1400rpm, providing superior performance to the competing four-cylinder Austin, Morris, Vauxhall and Ford of Britain vehicles. The grey motor was a low stress design for high reliability and featured a low compression ratio. Due to sheer ubiquity, they were popular for racing, and were fitted to many open-wheelers, as well as racing Holdens. With the engines' low-end torque, they also found their way into boats and machinery such as forklift trucks.

This engine ran a seven-port non-crossflow cast-iron cylinder head. There were three Siamese (shared) inlet ports for cylinders 1–2, 3–4 and 5–6, two individual exhaust ports for cylinders 1 and 6, and two siamese exhaust ports for cylinders 2–3 and 4–5 in a layout on one side of the head casting. The inlets were fed by a single-barrel Stromberg carburettor in common and fitted with a traditional Kettering ignition by coil and distributor. The electric system was six volts in the 48-215 and FJ. The earliest grey motors (approximately 100,000) were fitted with Delco-Remy accessories, although Lucas and Bosch equivalents throughout the motor's lifetime replaced these.

The very first production grey motor (1948) was number 1001, and they continued in a single sequence until July 1956, when the prefix "L" was introduced. The change affected all engines numbered L283373 and above, signifying the 12-volt negative-earth engines as fitted to the all new FE model.[citation needed] The prefix "U" was introduced for motors with the original electricals as fitted to the FJ utility and panel van models, which ended in February and May 1957 respectively. The change was effective from engine U283384. The prefix "B" was introduced and the number sequence reset with the introduction of the 138 cubic inches (2.3 L) displacement engine, and ultimately this was replaced by a "J" prefix for motors fitted to EJ vehicles in 1962.

Superseding the Grey motor, the Red motor was manufactured between 1963 and 1980. This was a completely new engine and in no way a further development of the grey motor. It featured a seven-bearing crankshaft, full flow oil filter and hydraulic valve lifters. Denoted by the cylinder block painted red, the engine made its debut in the Holden EH in capacities of 149 cubic inches (2,447 cc) and 179 cubic inches (2,930 cc) (or HP) producing 100 and 115 brake horsepower (75 and 86 kW) respectively. This was a power increase of 33 per cent and 53 per cent over the grey motor.

Initially the engine capacity was not cast on the blocks. The EH model with the 149 CID block was blank and the 179 CID was designated with the letters “HP” (to denote the high-performance engine). The 179 capacity marking cast in raised numbers, located on the side of the block behind the generator/alternator, began in December 1964 in readiness for the January 1965 start of production for the HD model due for release in February 1965. This 179 block casting also included the last of the EH commercial models that were ending production in June 1965.

All red engines manufactured prior to January 1968 had forged steel crankshafts.(with the exception of some HR model field test vehicles). With the opening of Holden’s Nodular Iron Foundry (the only one in Australia) on 10 February 1967 by Prime Minister, Harold Holt production of cast nodular iron crankshafts, along with other products, could begin.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.