My engine of choice is a Holden 5 litre (304) V8 - and I've been lucky enough to buy the exact model I want. I've picked up an engine out of a Holden VT Commodore, complete with a GM Hydra-Matic 4L60-E transmission. The engine has been removed from a 10 year old car that has travelled around 100,000 km. The car was smashed in the rear end and written off.
This is the very last of the Australian made Holden V8 engines and features sequential multipoint fuel injection and electronic ignition. Most street-rodders shy away from electronically managed engines, but I've had some experience with them and it no blacker an art than vacuum operated carburettors. This engine gives great power and torque for it's size and is relatively fuel efficient, wins hands down over a carby engine in my opinion.
The four speed electronically controlled Hydra-Matic 4L60-E transmission features overdrive and a electronic locking torque converter, and computes it's shift pattern via the powertrain control module with reference to many parameters calculated by engine load, vehicle speed and so-on. I'm not such a fan of old fashioned "slush-box" automatic transmissions, but these modern electronically controlled models are very nice to drive with predictable shifting and efficient operation using the locking torque converter.
Now I've had the ECU PROM reflashed to disable the standard security (as it is no longer in it's host car), I'm looking forward to giving the engine its first test firing, once I get a fuel pump that is. I bought the engine online and I've seen a video of it running and revving in it's original car, but it will be great to hear it purr in the flesh.
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