Vortech, blow-through carby Holden V8 HZ Kingswood coming to Drag Challenge

We see plenty of innovative and out-there ways of taking on the five torturous days of Drag Challenge, and Daniel Mills has opted for a left-of-field way by re-powering his HZ Kingswood with a Vortech, blow-through carby setup on a Holden V8!

Daniel’s HZ was originally his grandfather’s car from new, passed down to him and still rocking all the original patina it has earned along the way. Daniel has been slowly rebuilding the original 253-powered Kingswood for 13 years, now a cool old-school V8 combo.

So, gone is the 253, but still replaced with Aussie V8 power. The 304 is originally an injected motor, but now using a C&S Specialties Blow-Thru carby, taking boost from the Vortech V-2 ‘charger.

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Daniel is good mates with Jason Waye, founder of Tuff Mounts and Muscle Garage. Jason had been in Daniel’s ear about getting the HZ done and on Drag Challenge this year, so Daniel called his bluff: “He said if he was to enter, I had to finish the car for him, so here we are!” says Jason. “We’ve just finished doing the rear end with the nine-inch, the diff we sourced locally from CDS Engineering,” says Jason.

“It has a Turbo 350 box in it, and I believe when they get it running, they’re aiming for around 350-400hp,” he continues. “It [the engine] only has some top end work like the camshaft, so it’s still a stock bottom end.”

The HZ is using a 255 rear tyre, and because it’s Daniel’s first time at Drag Challenge, he’ll be taking a more relaxed approach in our HP Tuners / VCM Performance DYO class. “He’s not even sure if he’ll make it through the week, that stock engine is a big unknown!” laughs Jason. “But we’ll see, it should be good fun, it’s a week I always look forward to.”

Jason has been supporting the event for almost a decade, once again sponsoring the Tuff Mounts 235 Blown class. One would think that’d mean he’d be entering a car in that class, but Jason’s true plans for the week are still under wraps for now.

“We’ve got a new build coming along, but if that doesn’t materialise in time, I’m fortunate to have a couple of other cars to choose from, so it’s a wait and see for now,” he says. “But one way or another, I’ll be there and racing.”

Best of all, Tuff Mounts are now offering 10% off to all Drag Challenge entrants and fans for a limited time, so just use the code ENTRANT at checkout to score a sweet discount. Get on it here.