“I purchased my 1996 VS Commodore in 2016 with the LS1 installed, standard wheels and the bodywork sorted. Then I had to get it engineered for all the mods, including the driveline, suspension, wheels, and interior mods like the sheet-metal firewall behind the rear seat.

First published in the May 2023 issue of Street Machine

The LS1 got a top-end rebuild, with the biggest Kelford cam you can run without a piston change, Higgins heads, Pacemaker extractors and a full three-inch system.

My daughter Evelyn (then aged eight) helped fit the nitrous Sniper kit. The gearbox is a rebuilt 4L60E, fully manualised with billet internals and topped with a B&M shifter.

I also fitted Auto Meter gauges and a full stereo installation with complete boxed boot and speakers, sub capacitor lighting and built-in Holden logo. The fuel system is on display in the boot.

The interior was fully retrimmed in red leather, with double-stitched, diamond-pattern Coulson seating up front, and a re-designed rear.

It’s running full braided lines for everything in the engine bay, fuel system and brake lines, and it sits on Pedders suspension.

Front brakes are from a VT SS with vented and slotted rotors, and out back are standard discs with slotted rotors on a rebuilt diff that’s non-IRS. It makes 410hp at the tyres naturally aspirated, and 550hp on a 125-shot of giggle gas.

I can’t wait to get the chance to run the quarter-mile! It’s picked up Best Engine Bay, Best Interior, Best 90s-Up, and most recently Top Custom Modified at local shows around the Albury area.” Photos: Luke Hunter