Damien Smith’s VB Commodore SL/E '308 Pack' in the build

Stripped to its bones to begin with, Damien’s 1979 VB SL/E is undergoing a meticulous resto. Here’s his story on the build so far.

First published in the October 2025 issue of Street Machine

“Pictured in a very stripped state is my 1979 VB SL/E 308 Pack. What’s a 308 Pack, you ask?

“It’s a factory go-fast option 5.0L V8, coupled to a 3.08-ratio 10-bolt LSD via the venerable Aussie four-speed M21.

“Some sources have this listed as a ‘309 Pack’, which is incorrect. Anyway, it’s a January 1979, Dandenong-built machine in that lovely Sandalwood metallic paint with matching Buckskin velour and vinyl interior trim.

“This one has had a tough life, with rust in the sills, spare wheel area, lower rear quarters and some of the doors. Luckily, there’s only minor rust around the front and rear windscreens.

“The original 308 had copped a fiddle in its past, with 40thou-over pistons, a new camshaft, and for some silly reason, a pollution head on one side and a non-pollution on the other!

“I replaced the heads and inlet manifold about 16 years ago. They’ve been treated to L34-size valves and a tidy-up of the ports.

“However, the engine block was found to be cracked at one of the head bolts, so it’ll now be used for a coffee table.

“Most if not all of the rust has been removed; there’s some more panel beating ahead before it gets a coat of epoxy primer and so on. In the meantime, I’ve been looking for a decent virgin-bore 308 block.

“The donk will have a Comp Cams 276 bumpstick and run a standard VB four-barrel manifold and Rochester Quadrajet carb.

“The interior will be as close to the original look as I can get it. Only the steering wheel will be different – I’m using a Holden sports wheel that’s been customised.

“I’m looking at a Blaupunkt CD player, with better speakers in the rear and one in the dash centre.