Every now and then you come across a car that really stands out from the crowd, Luke’s 77 LX Hatch not only stands out from the crowd, if you’re not careful it will jump on your head. With paint that look so deep you could fall into it and an engine bay that you could shave in. This little LX Hatch back Torana has been built to be different and to turn heads.
Originally Luke was looking for a 56 Morris when he came across the Hatch by accident 6 years ago as a stock rolling shell. Over the next four years it has gone through an ever contiuning massive transformation. The further you look over WLD77X you really get the feeling that Luke is totally passionate about his car. Just from the small touches the car has like custom billet alloy trimings from the way it is maintained and basically the way he stands near it like a rotweiller guarding their dinner.
Starting from the front, when you open the bonnet of WLD77X the first thing you will notice is an ocean of chrome, stainless and billet alloy covering a very stout 330 cubic inch stroker. Luke decided to go with a 330ci because from experience they are a “happy engine” not streched like the 355 and 383 strokers. The smaller cubed 330 has a distinctive sound and are very happy to rev all day long. Consisting of a combination of chev pistons, hemi rods, Dave Bennet Hiport alloy heads, torque power manifold and an 825 Barry Grany gold claw carby this smaller cubed 330 makes a ship load of reliable power. “It can sound much like a rotary at idle because of a combination of the huge overlap and the cubes”
Backing up this tough little combo is a full manual reverse pattern BMS valve body Turbo 350 with a Dominator 4800rpm stally built to handle what ever the 330 can throw at it. Getting all that power to the black top is a purpose built 4 link rear end with Strange coil overs a minispooled 9” 4.1 gears and 31 spline Moser billet axles.
“Originally it was on the road for about 18 months. I went to a car show with a couple of tubbed Toranas and after following them to and from the show I decided I needed tubs. So on Sunday arvo I got home from the show and by Sunday night I had taken to the car with a grinder”.
“I havn’t thrown it down the quarter with the current combo but it should be good for mid to high 10’s, the old combo a 308 with head work went 11.7″
Why Pink ? “… well to be different and brown is far to messy and i was sick of reds and blues….”
” The 330 cube turned out makes around 350 at the treads it still has a bit more left in it with a good tune, untuned it turned 337 at the bags at Powercruise 2008″
What’s Next? “Well cars are never totally finished but the next things on the to do list are a cage, nitrous, two tone paint and would like to get it on the 1/4 for a run”.
Awards and Trophys Best engine bay a few times, Runner up best competition, Best detail and Presidents choice at Singletone Car Show 2008
Quick Specs
Luke (
WLD77X)
1976 LX Hatch Back Torana
Colour : PINK !!!!
Occupation : Cheeky Bastard
Age : Really Old haha
ENGINE
Make : 304 stroked to 330
Carbie : 825 cfm Barry Grant Gold Claw
Heads : Alloy Dave Bennet Hiports
Ignition : MSD 6al
Exhaust : Twin 3” (lopsided thank Phil) with 4 mufflers
Cooling : Alloy radiator, electric water pump, thermo
Power : 350 at the treads with more to come with a good tune
Performance : Really fast cause it is PINK
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox : Turbo 350
Converter : 4,800rpm Stally
Diff : 9″ 4.1 Minispool 31 Spline Moser Billet Axles
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
Shocks & Springs : 90/10’s up front with standard 6cyl springs, Strange coil over in the rear
INTERIOR
Seats : Retrimmed Grey and Pink
Instruments : Standard and Autometer
Dash : Torana painted pink.
RUBBER & RIMS
Tyres : Rear - 15 * 8” Front - 15 * 4.5”
Wheels : Centreline Convo ET
THANKS