Slowbrick https://ozvolvo.org/discussion/comment/173266#Comment_173266
The main problem with these motors are that it's a pain to get them compliant with carbs. On a semi related story, I was thinking about one of those for the HQ but after talking to the local engineer he said that I would need to fit EFI to have a chance of getting it complied simply. If I fitted carbs it would have to get smogged with the only non smog option being to run straight gas on carbs but then it would need to get checked out for the gas and gas is hard to find these days. Long story short was that running a VN motor in an old car is a paperwork nightmare unless you run the EFI.
That 308 should last as a cruiser but is on its last rebuild at 60 over. I think if he were to do another V8 then an LS would make more sense as the Holden motors are very pricey when it comes to aftermarket parts when compared to the Chev stuff. This is what pushed me to find a 350 for the HQ instead of a 308 that being said, it's was the best condition motor I could find for the money I wanted to spend and all the 308s up here were basically rusted out boat anchors from living in ski boats all their lives!
You are obviously don't have much experience building 308/4 motors then. As it's easy to work around the emissions issues by way of using vl heads for instance.
Second, the engine numbers don't get picked up unless you're an armchair expert and you can get carbied intakes for the far superior VN heads. Or of course going to any EFI which is pretty superior to a qaudy. But I only build motors in my weekends with my machinist. What do I know?
Down in Melbourne like I said, always virgin bore 304s, for a lot less than checks, 350 chev parts are similar cost to the Holden motor but don't sound as good and head options on a budget can result in having a 180hp 350 cube engine pretty easily vs a 304, where you can't get heads as wrong, but once again arm chair experts know better.
