Julia Crane’s ProCharged LS-powered VE SS

Heavy diesel mechanic and the secretary for the Burnout Association of Darwin, Julia Crane is also a Commodore fanatic. She owns a whopping eight of ’em from the 90s and 2000s, including a dedicated VE ute for burnouts, and this ProCharged LS-powered VE SS, which she uses as an event car and weekend cruiser.

First published in the April 2025 issue of Street Machine

What drew you to the mechanic trade?

I started playing with motorbikes in my teens, and then I moved onto 4WDs. I took on the heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeship through the army once I finished school. After work, I dabbled with the performance side of things on my silver VE SS. Now I want to move into more performance-based mechanics as a hobby.

What drew you to VE Commodores?

Around seven years ago, I was looking for my first V8, and the VE was in my price range. I love the pumped-out guards; they’re a solid-looking Commodore. This VE was my entry into the performance world; it’s been my backyard build.

That’s a stout-looking motor.

It’s a 6.0-litre L98 block with ported LS3 heads, Holley Hi-Ram manifold, 1000cc injectors, a lumpy cam and a big F-1R ProCharger off the side, running 12-14psi and fed by E85. The side-mount supercharger is unique, with the second-hand kit being relatively cheap, and it suited the VE SS. I spent hours setting up the drive tune out on the road with my laptop, and I didn’t stop until it was a really great car to cruise.

How did it go on the rollers?

The first time on the dyno was scary, as I’d just built the engine, so a lot runs through your mind. But when the 770hp figure came up, I realised that I had built all of this from a bone-stock LS. I’m pretty proud of myself; if I can do it, anyone can. You don’t need a trade background – I do a lot of internet researching.

Any other mods?

MCA coil-overs front and rear, and an upgraded clutch. The TR6060 gearbox and the LSD diff are factory-spec, though it’ll soon get a new centre with more responsive 3.7 gears. Recently, I’ve added big Harrop brakes, and swapped to generic 20-inch five-spoke rims, as there were brake clearance issues with the wheels I was running.

You took the car to Gazzanats last year; how did that go?

I came fourth place in both the roll racing and go-to-whoa. I also cruised the track, did some drifting, and competed in the powerskids. People don’t expect much from my car until they hear and see what it does! I don’t do burnout events in this one, though.

Tell us about your dedicated burnout ute.

FKNMINT is my blue VE ute running an LS1 with a high-rise manifold and twin E85 carbies, making around 400hp, although the engine blew up at Gazzanats ’24. Over the past three years or so, I’ve been entering comps run by The Burnout Association of Darwin and events like Gazzanats. Soon I will turn my VN Commodore sedan into another burnout car, but I have a newborn baby, so I’m not sure when I’ll get the chance. For now, I’ll fix my ute and keep doing events in the silver SS.