EH Holden tow car

[colnce]

I recently noticed posts by two members with EH tow cars,Humpty2,Scruffy64 plus there must be others. I have an EH Premier 179/hydramatic trans, drum brakes that i intend to tow my 68 Viscount with. The van is to be fitted with electric brakes.
I am interested in what power train/drive line setup other people are running in their cars and any modifications to enhance the going and stopping ability, barring V8's disc brakes etc as the car is basically original, the way i like them.

Colin

colnce

[sutcac]

Hi colnce. I towed several vintage vans with our 179 manual Premier sedan,
I had the engine rebuilt to 186 cubic inches ,small towing camshaft. Cylinder head machined with hardened valve seats to run unleaded fuel (98 octane) 10:1 compression. Rebuilt carby and electronic distributor.
Some may advise a twin carb set up with extractors for some extra grunt.
Also fitted a brake booster and had the rear springs reset with helper springs added.
Outboard towing mirrors on a pretty primitive aluminium bracket. But it worked!









Cheers ,Sutcac.

Also had an EH ute with similar running gear but added an extra fuel tank to give 80 liters capacity

........and even then one can get caught short!!!

[strugglebrook]

Good morning Colin,
We too have an EH tow car, bog stock, I only changed the diff ratio to 3.36 as all the hydros came out with 3.55. EHs are reasonably light so if you have one of the lighter vans or a teardrop they tow ok. Our setup is on the last South West Rocks Run.

Cheers JD.

[colnce]

Sutcac, I was at a car show couple of years ago and was asked where my caravan was, i said what van, they said the one painted the same colours as the car. I think i've found the answer. Our cars are so alike.

Thanks for reply from you and strugglebrook. It's already opening up a can of worms.

colnce

[aquamum]

Hi colnce

I have an EJ ute with mainly EH running gear, a 179 that might be bored out a bit, mild cam, single stock carbie, EJ 3 speed box, hopefully a Corona 4 speed before Christmas, stock brakes & now a 3.36 diff.
She's a great old car.

[colnce]

Thanks aquamum, My main concern is the Hydramatic transmission, lot of people say they are a "slug". Works fine normal driving.

colnce

[humpty2]

I have been towing my sunliner since 2006 with my EH station wagon....179 unmodified...with the 'highlydramatic' transmission.
I have no complaints about the performance of the engine or the transmission and repeat .....unmodified.
I have only once had the transmission serviced and don't run an oil cooler....but I have one here ready to fit.
This is coming from a Ford lover

[strugglebrook]

Towed the Woodybago teardrop all the way down to Bega from Muswellbrook and back on the Reddo Tour a couple of years back and recently to the South West Rocks gathering sitting between 80 and 100 ks with the Supalite Cadet on the back, about 1000 ks. Old girl stock, no trans cooler, just spring helpers on the back and 3.36 diff. I did do the transmision up when I got it as it had not been out of the car since new. Hydros were put behind V8s in the USA. Rolls Royse and others bought the patent. The biggest problem nowadays is parts for them, that is why people usually change restos over to the plentiful trimatic.

[relmhayd]

Hi colnce, couldn't help but comment on your EH Holden tow car. I have a project sitting in my shed same colour and seeing yours is a good incentive to get started. I know this is about VVans but certainly a nice outfit.
Regards
Bob

[urkel1965]

Hi colnce
I tow my van with an EJ hydramatic, and haven't had any problems. As long as you're not in a hurry.
Cheers
Steve

[shesgotthelook]

We tow our GlobeTrotter with the EJ. 149 Red motor, 3 speed trimatic auto, X2 headers.

Tend to sit on 90.