Holden Heaven - HQ Holden

Norm Beechy

Counting since August 2004

I have many people to thank for help over the years. I would never be able to thank you all individually but you know who I mean!

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Welcome to the all new Holden Heaven
This site was first established in 1999

HQ Realeased in 1971
The HQ was introduced with all the fan-fare it deserved, it was to turn out to be the most popular Holden ever. There would hardly be a household in Australasia that has not had a HQ parked in the drive at some stage. There were new bits everywhere on this model which was the first complete body change since the HK was released in 1968. The rear leaf springs were replaced with coils which was probably it's only major fault, as anyone would have seen, when you have a load in the HQ the back-end looked like it was dragging on the ground. The reason for this was as the release date approached there had not been enough research spent on this area to avoid sagging. The Holden engineers were very happy with this new car as this time they felt they had achieved almost everything that was set for them back in the late 60's when they were told to develope a new style. Check out the feature on the HQ Decision. Availabe in a huge array of styles, options, engines, transmissions, wheels, interior and even the Monaro was now available in 4 and 2 door. The Top end of the range was the stretched Statesman De Ville which was 26cm longer than the HQ sedan thanks to the lengthened boot. The Sandman was released late in 1974 but was not sold in many numbers as Holden waited for the new HJ before marketing this model. The HQ became the biggest selling Holden model ever and has not been beaten to this day. With the advent of HQ racing it is still a popular choice of car for racing or customizing into a Street Machine with almost every GM engine dropped into the massive engine bay. Another popular motor are diesels which the Nissan LD28 would be the most used transplant option.

Specifications

Year of Introduction:
15th July 1971

Price:
$2730 Belmont 6 cylinder
$4660 Statesman De Ville

Engine:
2.84 litre (173ci) 6 cylinder
3.3 litre (202ci) 6 cylinder
4.2 litre V8 (253)
5.0 litre V8 (308)
5.74 litre V8 (350 Chevrolet)

ENGINES SPECIFICATIONS
3300 LC (Low compression)
Capacity 202 ci (3312.8 cc)
OHV six cylinder inline, front engined, rear wheel drive
Single throat Bendix Stromberg BXV-2 downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke 92.08 mm x 82.55 mm
Power output (DIN):96.2 kW at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):231 Nm at 2000 rpm
Compression ratio:7.8:1

3300 HC (High compression)
Capacity 202 ci (3312.8 cc)
OHV six cylinder inline, front engined, rear wheel drive
Single throat Bendix Stromberg BXV-2 downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke 92.08 mm x 82.55 mm
Power output (DIN):135 bhp (100.7 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):190 lb/ft (231 Nm) at 2000 rpm
Compression ratio:9.4:1

4.2 litre LC (Low compression)
Capacity 253 ci (4146 cc)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single two barrel Bendix Stromberg WW downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke:92.08 mm x 77.77 mm
Power output (DIN):174 bhp (130 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN):247 lb/ft (325 Nm) at 2400 rpm
Compression ratio:8.0:1

4.2 litre HC (High compression)
Capacity 253 ci (4146 cc)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single two barrel Bendix Stromberg WW downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke 92.08 mm x 77.77 mm
Power output (DIN) 185 bhp (138 kW) at 4400 rpm
Torque (DIN) 262 lb/ft (353.7 Nm) at 2400 rpm
Compression ratio 9.0:1

5.0 litre
Capacity 308 ci (5047 cc)
OHV V8, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Single four barrel Rochester 4MV Quadrajet downdraught carburettor
Bore and stroke 101.66 mm x 77.77 mm
Power output (DIN) 240 bhp (179.0 kW) at 4800 rpm
Torque (DIN) 315 bhp (434 Nm) at 3000 rpm
Compression ratio 9.0:1

Transmissions:
3 speed manual
4 speed manual
3 speed Trimatic
3 speed Turbohydro 400 (350 V8 only)

Performance: 0 - 100 km/h
13.1 secs (202)
9.3 seconds (350 auto)

Standing 400 metres
19.6 seconds (202)
15.3 seconds (350 auto)

Top speed
142 km/h 202 auto (88 mph)
150 km/h 202 manual (94 mph)
Production:
485,650

Models available:
Belmont sedan
Belmont wagon
Belmont Panel van
Belmont utility
Kingswood sedan
Kingswood wagon
Kingswood utility
Premier sedan
Premier wagon
SS sedan
Sandman panel van
Sandman utility
1 Tonner cab/chassis truck
Statesman sedan
Statesman De Ville
Monaro coupe
Monaro GTS coupe
Monaro GTS 350 coupe
Monaro LS coupe
Monaro GTS sedan

Tune-up specifications
202 HQ
Low compression (lc)
High compression (hc) Firing order........................ 153624
Spark plug gap mm............ .889
Spark plug gap inches........ .035
Breaker gap mm................ .482 - .635
Breaker gap inches............ .019 - .025
Cam angle .......................... 30 - 35
Ignition timing BTDC........ 4-6 degrees
Fuel Pump pressure kPa.... 21 - 31 (3-4.5 psi)
Comp @ crank speed kPa. 930 (150 psi) hot
Radiator cap pressure....... 89kPa (13psi)
Radiator cap pressure....... 103kPa (15psi)(air cond)
Cetrifugal advance.
Engine idle speed............... 500 rpm (550-600 186s)
Starts deg. rpm .................. 0 @ 600
Full deg. rpm...................... 33 @ 4600
Vacuam advance starts...... 127-178mm (5-7")
Max. vacuam advance deg @ mm (inches)
11-15 @ 223-264mm (11-15 @ 8.8-10.4")
Torque settings.
Cylinder head Nm (lbs)...... 40 (30)(first)
Cylinder head Nm (lbs)...... 102 (75)(final)
Con rods Nm (lbs)............... 27 - 35 (20 - 26)
Main bearings Nm (lbs)...... 95 (70)
Flywheel Nm (lbs)............... 61 - 74 (45 - 55)

HQ Additional information:
Engine Identification : 173L.C, QE; 173H.C, QD; (1)
Sparkplugs : 173, AC 44T; 202, AC 45T
Gap (mm) : 0.85 - 0.95
Distributor : Bosch and Lucas
Gap (mm) : Bosch, 0.40 - 0.50; Lucas, 0.45 - 0.60
Dwell : 30 - 35
Timing Setting : 5 @ 480 - 520 rpm
Carburetor : Bendix - Stromberg
Mixture Screw : 1 turn approx
Idle : 500 rpm drive (10)
(1) 202 low compression, QM; 202 high compression, QL
(10) If equipped, airconditioning turned on, hot idle compensator closed

Wheel alignment details
Caster deg...........1-2 neg.
Camber deg..........0-1 pos.
Toe-in...................0--3.17mm

253-308 HQ
Low compression (lc)
High compression (hc)

Firing order........................    12784563
Spark plug gap mm............   .889
Spark plug gap inches........   .035
Breaker gap mm................     .304 - .406
Breaker gap inches............    .012 - .016
Cam angle ..........................   30 - 34
Ignition timing BTDC........       6 degrees
Comp @ crank speed kPa.     1034 (150 psi) hot
Cetrifugal advance.
Engine idle speed...............   500 rpm
Starts deg. rpm ..................    0-2 @ 500
Full deg. rpm.......................    28-32 @ 4400
Full deg. rpm (308)..............    22-26 @ 4400
Vacuam advance starts......    127-177mm (5-7")
Max. vacuam advance deg @ mm (inches)
11 @ 228.6mm (11 @ 9-11")
Torque settings.
Cylinder head Nm (lbs)......     88-95 (65-70)
Con rods Nm (lbs)...............    40-47 (30-35)
Main bearings Nm (lbs)......     81-95 (60-70)
Flywheel Nm (lbs)...............    74-88 (55-65)

Pics

The Kingswwod dash layout as seen by thousands of people who have driven these models over the years and still drive them.

This Kingswood is in good hands with the wide-eyed Brock at the wheel and co-driver Fred Gocentas looking rather bemused with the way Peter was taking this water crossing! This was taken during the International Don Capasco Rally in March of 1974. Something that must be mentioned, in an interview with brock many years later he recalled, ''I really enjoyed the Don Capasco, though. I drove really hard and we won quite a few stages. I was rapt when one of the reports came out saying, '...and Brock set the forests alight in the Kingswood''. ''I remember asking Fred if I was going fast enough and he said I was doing alright. But I started going faster and faster and Fred just sat there as cool as could be. Years later, he told someone it had been the fastest he'd ever been in a rally car. I just thought, Thank God for that, because I thought it was awfully fast!"

In the Dulux Rally which ran between Brisbane and Melbourne in 1974.

Above and below is a New Zealand only HQ called the Commonwealth Games Car. These were all 253 V8s with the badge and were made for the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch.