Bendigo’s Paul Rockes is a life-long car nut. We featured his awesome blown V8-powered MkII Cortina back in 2014 and since then he’s also built a cool Appendix J-style FX Holden and has just about finished one hell of an EK van project.

Like the Cortina, the EK build looks mild on the outside, concealing the fact that there is a whole lot of extra horsepower under the bonnet thanks to a BA Falcon Barra six and BTR-four speed.

Paul stiffened up the old girl with a Castlemaine Rod Shop chassis kit and fitted a Curley’s Rods & Customs independent front end at the pointy end to get the suspension, steering and brakes up to scratch. Out the back is a Borg Warner diff, complete with a Truetrac LSD.

Brakes are VR/VS Commodore discs on the front and EL Falcon on the rear. Paul opted for a Wilwood master cylinder, with twin boosters and a 12V vacuum pump and tank to ensure there is plenty of vacuum available for the brakes, regardless of what the turbo is doing.

Getting the big six into the EK’s engine bay required a 170mm recess to the firewall.

The car was painted in an improvised spray booth in Paul’s shed, with Banff Blue on the body and a white roof.

Inside is a bench seat and factory tiller to keep with the sleeper theme, with only the BA Falcon shifter giving the game away to the sharp-eyed.

The trim in the cabin was done by Ray Shelton, while Dantrim handled the side trim panels and hoodlining in the rear, contrasting nicely with the Jarrah floor.

Paul has plenty of roadtrips planned for the EK, including Red CentreNATS in Alice Springs!

“Huge shout out to Geoff Houlden for doing so much of the fabrication and fitmen,” says Paul. ” Also to Hoota for the panel and paint and Harry for the electrical works.”