LION'S PRIDE

THE BEST OPTIONS FOR BUILDING A STOUT STREET HOLDEN V8 IN 2025

- STORY IAIN KELLY PHOTOS JOSEPH HUI

HOLDEN'S venerable Iron Lion V8 has seen a resurgence in popularity since the iconic brand was shuttered in 2020. GM-H fans can now pick up all manner of go-fast equipment for their Holden V8, including aftermarket blocks that swing up to 500ci, a range of early- and VN-pattern alloy cylinder heads, bolt-on blower kits, and more.

So, it was the perfect time to sit down with Damian Baker from BG Engines to get the good oil on building stout Holden V8s today, from mild to wild. Damo has been putting Holden V8s together for a few decades now, and with a complete machine shop in-house, he's incredibly well-placed to discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of the platform.

We focused on aspirated, street-based, pump-fuel combos, at three different levels of intensity.

ENTRY LEVEL 450HP-550HP

RIGHT off the bat, a 500hp Holden V8 won't be keeping a stock stroke. While that sounds spendy, Damo reckons we're in a golden era for cost-effective capacity increases for Holden mills, and it's the easiest way to juice up your street-driven Iron Lion.

"There are heaps of options for cranks, rods and pistons out there," he says. "Whether it's 5.0-litre or 355 cubes, there are great options, but 355s are probably the hottest combination to do at the moment. We've used Scat, COME, Harrop, and now Precision has the SRP gear that's great too."

Damo's recommendation for a street-spec, 500hp Holden V8 on pump gas consists of a 355ci stroker, worked VN-VS EFI heads, a single-plane manifold, and a hydraulic-roller cam. The combo can easily be set up for either EFI or carb and a variety of ignition, fuel and exhaust systems to suit the car it's going into, all without breaking the bank.

"You could upgrade it to 550-570hp with more work and a 2.20in valve setup," Damo adds. "There's no custom parts in this one, so I feel it's the best, most affordable way to build a 500hp street Holden V8."