STEVE BARNS' TWIN TURBO V8 NOSTALGIA FX
We are always on the lookout for cool and quirky cars when we are out and about and we happened to come across this tough-sounding FX Holden as it rolled into the staging lanes at a Sydney Dragway Full Throttle Friday meet in November. Upon closer inspection we couldn't help but notice two sizable turbos visible from under the hood-line, so after watching it crawl off the line before coming to life and sling shotting down the strip for a low 10, we headed into the pits to take a closer look at this old beast.
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Once we spotted the FX in the pits, we caught up with owner/driver Steve Barns to find out what was under the hood. Long gone is the original 65hp straight six and in its place, a boosted 378ci Motown Chev filled with quality internals such as forged Probe blower pistons and Scat rods, swinging from a Eagle crank. While that setup alone is pretty tough, things get even better when you check out the rest of the setup.
Steve has bolted up two China-spec turbos similar in size to GT35Rs, blowing a meagre 13psi into the Chev and regulated by a pair of 60mm wastegates of the same origin. Even though Steve is still sorting out the tune, it managed to pump out an impressive 800rwhp on Avgas.
"They're nothing special but they get the job done," Steve said. "I could have gone with a brand name setup but for the price you can't beat 'em."
Once the turbos have done their thing, boost is then pushed through the large vertically-mounted intercooler and into a highly-modified Barry Grant carbie,
before being expelled from the twin side-pipes straight off the turbos
Inside the cabin is all race, with loads of switch gear, Kirkey race seat, ICE ignition boosters, a bevy of Autometer gauges and a Hurst shifter for the Powerglide box.
Keeping true to the nostalgia theme, the rear end is still uses leaf springs to hold up the nine inch diff with 35 spline billet axles and beefy Mosier alloy center.
Since installing the new setup (the car was previously running a nitrous SBC) the big FX has managed to put down a best of 9.03@150mph off the foot brake at just its second meet. This time secures Steve's car as the fastest stock-bodied FX in the country and also one of the quickest genuine nostalgia cars in the land. This time is made even more impressive when you take into consideration the cars weight. Tipping the scales at a mammoth 2990lbs, she's definitely no light-weight!
"She goes pretty good for an old girl considering that, apart from the new engine and gearbox, nothing has changed on this car since 1976," Steve informs.
Currently competing in the Outlaw Hot Rod class at various nostalgia meets, Steve has already seen great results, walking away with the class win at the recent Nostalgia Drags held at Sydney in late November.
"It was great to walk away with a win at our first big event with the turbo setup. We also qualified first in the class as well with the new PB of 9.03 which we were really happy with."
"My goal is to run an eight second pass in the car before making the switch over to E85 fuel and drag radials. I will then race it in the APSA's 'Outlaw Radial' class."
"I'm confident the car should be good for a mid eight once fully sorted which should see it mix in well with the cars currently racing in that class."
Well one thing's for certain, it will definitely be the most unique car in the class that's for sure!
