What to do with my HT GTS?

why dont your put a 186's back in it and restore it as close to original as you can

9 out of 10 munros have what you have said, the last 3 car shows ive gone to seem to have only 1 or 2 186s, including mine, and i recon there becoming a rare breed, if its factory 186s i would go the 186s, mines fairly warm and gives a 308 a scare.
Ive got a fakey muffler which was factory adeliade built.
So it sound good to boot.
but thats my 2 cents worth/

Be different, restoring is boring, everyone does the same run of the mill crap these days, all looking for that matching screw set that wasnt even as good from factory.
put a big block in it, you will never look back and you will have something different, tuff and you will hose all these dudes with their boring, everyday, everywhere, same/ same over restored, boring, lifeless monaro that really isnt worth what they think it is anyways.
anyone can restore a car, but it takes ball to cut one, so be different,and before all the purists jump up and down saying you have to massacre a good car to do it, my best mate has a BBC in his HK, and its awesome and well engineered and looks factory and can be done without butchering the car.
go fatty, forget the rest

If you have plenty of money to throw away go balistic like mr wrecker suggests.
Although there is nothing boring about doing a high quality restoration on any car. Getting any old car back to original specs takes a degree of skill and dedication.
Regarless of what you may think original restos are generally a better long term financial proposition anyway. Especially if it all matches the id plate.
But if you have the dosh to spend and want a street machine go for it. I did years ago and my old HT Monaro was a great looking car when it was finished.The next owner got it in Street machine at the summer nats.
Its your money do what you want Pablo your the one who has to live with the end result.
Cheers
Duck

Mate it's your car. Since your asking for ideas of what to do with it i'll put my AUD$0.02 in.

-Keep it as a 186, keep it original, it's easy to make a car fast, thats not the reason i buy an old Holden, rather because of the heritage and old classic style that it possess.

Not sure about wrecker, more modified Monaros at the Ballarat than restored, but anyway you do not want a 186S so don't do it.

I would go 304 EFI out of VN/P these days, much beter than 350, more reliable, more power and better fuel economy. They are really easy to install, can easily connect to power rack and some sort of air con.

Could even try a Gen III from VT to VE, buy a wreck and away you go.

Big block will only fit if you go rack as number 8 port is about 10mm off the steering box on the conversions i have seen.

And import a Camaro.

Shane.

I am doing a 186s verdoro green GTS at the moment, why not stay original? i might be able to help out with a complete drive line inc 186s, opel box and orig diff if your interested in going the original way?
aat@netconnect dot com dot au

It all comes down to personal taste mate, I have owned 2 original monaros and a modifed monaro and both forms of cars are enjoyable to own and build in their own right. If the factory running gear is gone, well you will never really have a matching numbers car which could be a blessing in disguise, it allows you to build a car the way you want and not have people tell you that your actions are a crime against humanity. Either way its your choice and enjoy the car.

Gday mate,
I have a hk which doesnt have any of the running gear etc, since it will never be truly origonal ill be doing what i like, no decisions on engine yet but it will be an 8 and it wont be origonal white as even though id use it for wedding etc i just dont want to own another kelvinaor. if you dont cut the roof off and convert it or tub it to the point of no return what is the difference? Anyone that is not happy with your car can go buy there own and sleep well at night knowing they "saved" one from your evil cluches!!! Whats your fav engine? Whats your fav colour? do it!

It comes down to one question- do you want to keep it or sell it.? If you want to keep it do what you want and be happy yours is the way you set out to make it.
If you want to sell it then back to original is the only way to recoup most of your expenses.
Just for the record i know many people that have restored their cars. None have made any real profit and that is on parts/costs alone not to mention the blood sweat and tears. Labour = cost.
Gone are the days of finding a good classic for a grand, giving it a service, clean and buff and putting it in the paper the next week for 10k.

Im at a loss myself with what people are calling an original vehicle!
Myself i view a true original to be an unmolested example, if its been built up out of period pieces ie motor/ trans/ diff/ new trim/ ectra well at the end of the day its just not original...
What one has to remember is we build and own cars to enjoy them at the end of the day, its a case of each to there own..
A nice car will always be a nice car, and i myself will always appreciate the time and effort that has gone into its buildup..

Darren.

is unmolested.

There a fine line as soon as you change oil...spark plugs....tyres...rubbers... ect....
However what if you get new old parts to replace the 40 year old ones gone bad with out changing the factory settings????

I would say changing a factory 186s to a 253 would come under non original.....but say respraying to factory colour would still be classed as original.
Theres alot of problems out there with trophy hunters and trailor people.

a bloke drives his fx 120 kays unmolested to a car show.....a bloke drives his fx in his trailor unmolesters to the same show......the trailor one wins becouse the driven one has stone chips on the front of the bonnet....how ever the trailor one has been resprayed 4 years ago......who should have won the trophy???

Who wants the gay thing???

do what you want with it, end of the day is your car and its a dirty old HT and we are talking about one of the most modified cars in existance(after the 32 ford and 57 chev and HQ in aust)so if i was you, go buy yourself a BBC and put it in the car, dont worry bout all the above dribble, go out and have fun with your car, and "hose"(you like that huh blizzy) all the purists in our ever increasing over-enthusiastic over restored world of "no more fun" with cars..
then again, you could always join the monaro club(of vic as well)?? haha
hiphip hooraaaaaa for fattys in HKTG's!!

son....dad can i take your car for drive
m/wrecker...no son its got a 454 in it and i use that to (hose) ricers.
son....well dad can i come with you next time i go out.
m/wrecker...no sone as i play with my ol fella when i beat them.
son ...dad your gay

Son: Dad, can i ride in the Monaro ?
Dad: Ask ya Mother.
Son: Mum, Can i ride in the Monaro ?
Mum: No, this is my time... you go ride up front with Dad in the tow car ya little sod !

hell yer mate , go the big block , a mate of mine has a stroked 454 in genuine [ was ] hq monaro coupe. pulls 10sec 1/4 mile times . ive been building / racing cars for 25 years & this thing opened my eyes . i reckon put a big block in / then when youve had enough of the speed thrill [ not that u will ever have enough ] u can do your 6 cyl resto .
wont need to cut your car up to do any of them .

pablo
why are you even asking the question?
its your car isnt it?
you must have had some idea when you bought it what you were going to do with it.
so dont worry about what other people think and build yourself YOUR own version of a classic car