Holden Commodore VH Technical Specifications

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Holden Commodore VH Sedan
Holden Color Codes A - L
Holden Color Codes A - L
Holden Color Codes M -Z
Holden Color Codes M -Z
  • Years of Manufacture: 1981 - 1984
  • Number Built: 141,018 (including HDT)
  • Price at Introduction:
    • Commodore SL Sedan 4L: $8366
    • Commodore SL Wagon 6L: $9066
    • Commodore SL/E Sedan 6L: $14,861
  • Models:
    • Commodore SL Sedan
    • Commodore SL Station Wagon
    • Commodore SL/X Sedan
    • Commodore SL/X Station Wagon
    • Commodore SL/E Sedan
  • Date(s) of Introduction:
    • All models excluding SS: 5th October, 1981
    • SS Commodore: March, 1982
  • To Identify:
    • Mild facelift of VB/VC design
    • Lower Australian designed front-end body work
    • Horizontally slatted grille
    • Holden emblem located centre of grille and centre of boot lid
    • The word "Commodore" moulded into rubber bumper insert on each side forward of front wheel
  • Body:
    • Unitary construction (Monocoque)
  • Exterior Dimensions:
    • Total Length: 4706mm
    • Total Width: 1722mm
    • Total Height at kerb weight: 1363mm
    • Wheelbase: 2668mm
    • Front Track: 1451mm (SL/E: 1449mm)
    • Rear Track: 1416mm (SL/E: 1422mm)
  • Kerb Weight:
    • Commodore SL 4L: 1152kg
    • Commodore SL/X 4L: 1196kg
    • Commodore SL 6L: 1228kg
    • Commodore SL/X 6L: 1272kg
    • Commodore SL/E 6L: 1326kg
  • Turning Circle:
    • 10.2 metres (SL/E 10.87 metres)
  • Fuel Tank Capacity:
    • 63 liters
  • Instruments:
    • Commodore SL and SL/X:
      • Speedometer with integrated odometer
      • Petrol gauge
      • Fuel economy gauge
      • Central vertical warning light cluster incorporating:
        • high beam
        • oil pressure
        • battery
        • brake
        • park brake
        • optional trailer light
      • Clock
      • Indicators
      • AM Radio
    • Commodore SL/X and SL/E (as above, with additional):
      • Voltmeter
      • Oil pressure gauge
      • Push button radio stereo cassette player with Dolby and auto-reverse
  • 1.9 liter Starfire 4 cylinder:
    • Capacity: 1.892 liter
    • Type: Conventional, watercooled four stroke, reciprocating piston type with 4 cylinders
    • Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
    • Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv with two valves per cylinder
    • Fuel System: GM Strasbourg Varajet twin barrel downdraft type carburetor
    • Bore and Stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm
    • Power: 54kw at 4400rpm
    • Torque: 138Nm at 2800rpm
    • Compression Ratio: 8.7:1
  • 2.85 liter 6 cylinder:
    • Capacity: 2.838 liter
    • Type: Conventional, watercooled four stroke, reciprocating piston type with 6 cylinders
    • Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
    • Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv with two valves per cylinder
    • Fuel System: GM Strasbourg twin-barrel downdraft type carburetor
    • Bore and Stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm
    • Power: 73kw at 4400rpm
    • Torque: 187Nm at 2800rpm
    • Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
  • 3.3 liter 6 cylinder:
    • Capacity: 3.298 liter
    • Type: Conventional, watercooled four stroke, reciprocating piston type with 6 cylinders
    • Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline
    • Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
    • Fuel System: GM Strasbourg twin-barrel downdraft type carburetor
    • Bore and Stroke: 92.08x 82.6mm
    • Power: 83kw at 4000rpm
    • Torque: 231Nm at 2400rpm
    • Compression Ratio: 8.8:1
  • 4.2 liter V8 Engine:
    • Capacity: 4.142 liter
    • Type: Conventional, watercooled four stroke, reciprocating piston type with 8 cylinders
    • Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, Vee configuration
    • Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv with two valves per cylinder
    • Fuel System: Rochester Quadrajet 4 barrel downdraft type carburetor
    • Bore and Stroke: 92.1 x 77.8mm
    • Power: 100kw at 4200rpm (115kw at 4400rpm when dual exhaust fitted)
    • Torque: 269Nm at 2000rpm (289Nm at 3200 when dual exhaust fitted)
    • Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
  • 5.0 liter V8 Engine:
    • Capacity: 5.044 liter
    • Type: Conventional, watercooled four stroke, reciprocating piston type with 8 cylinders
    • Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, Vee configuration
    • Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv with two valves per cylinder
    • Fuel System: Rochester Quadrajet 4 barrel downdraft type carburetor
    • Bore and Stroke: 101.6 x 77.7mm
    • Power: 126kw at 4200rpm (dual exhaust)
    • Torque: 361Nm at 2800rpm (dual exhaust)
    • Compression Ratio: 9.2:1
  • Ignition and Electrical:
    • 12 volt negative ground
    • SL and SL/X: 60 min/160 amp (40 amp/hr)
    • SL/E: 80 min/215 amp (53 amp/hr)
    • Alternator fitted with integral voltage regulator
    • Commodore L4: Conventional, Bosch coil
    • Commodore L6 and V8: High energy breakerless ignition, Bosch high energy coil
  • Exhaust:
    • L4 and L6: Single, two mufflers
    • V8: Single with crossover pipe and two mufflers, optional dual pipes with three mufflers
  • 4 speed MC6 1.9 L4 Manual Transmission:
    • 1st: 3.75:1
    • 2nd: 2.16:1
    • 3rd: 1.38:1
    • 4th: 1.00:1
    • Reverse: 3.82:1
  • 5 speed M76 1.9 L4 and 2.85 L6 Manual Transmission:
    • 1st: 3.65:1
    • 2nd: 2.14:1
    • 3rd: 1.37:1
    • 4th: 1.00:1
    • 5th: 0.86:1
    • Reverse: 3.66:1
  • 3 speed TriMatic for L4 (for those who dared) and 2.85 L6:
    • 1st: 2.31:1
    • 2nd: 1.46:1
    • 3rd: 1.00:1
    • Reverse: 1.85:1
  • 4 speed MC6 3.3 L6 Manual Transmission:
    • 1st: 3.50:1
    • 2nd: 2.02:1
    • 3rd: 1.41:1
    • 4th: 1.00:1
    • Reverse: 3.57:1
  • 3 speed TriMatic 3.3 L6, 4.2 and 5.0 V8:
    • 1st: 2.48:1
    • 2nd: 1.48:1
    • 3rd: 1.00:1
    • Reverse: 2.08:1
  • 4 speed M20 V8 Manual Transmission:
    • 1st: 3.05:1
    • 2nd: 2.19:1
    • 3rd: 1.15:1
    • 4th: 1.00:1
    • Reverse: 3.05:1
  • Clutch:
    • Single dry plate beleville diaphram spring actuation type
    • Mechanical cable operation, connected directly to pull fork throw out lever
  • Rear Axle Ratio:
    • 1.90 L4 4 speed manual: 3.90:1
    • 1.90 L4 5 speed manual: 3.90:1
    • 1.90 L4 3 speed trimatic: 3.90:1
    • 2.85 L6 4 speed manual: 3.36:1 (3.55:1 LSD)
    • 2.85 L6 3 speed trimatic: 3.08:1 (3.36:1 LSD)
    • 3.30 L6 LC° and HC° 4 speed manual: 3.08:1 (3.36:1 LSD)
    • 3.30 L6 HC° trimatic 2.78:1 (3.08:1 LSD)
    • 4.2 V8 4 speed manual: 3.08:1
    • 4.2 V8 3 speed trimatic: 2.78:1 (3.08:1 LSD)
    • 5.0 V8 4 speed manual: 3.36:1
    • 5.0 V8 3 speed trimatic: 2.60:1 (3.08:1 LSD)
    • HC° and LC° denote High and Low Compression engines
  • Top Speed in Gears:
    • Commodore SL 253 4.2 V8 4 speed manual:
      • 1st: 62 km/h
      • 2nd: 86 km/h
      • 3rd: 124 km/h
      • 4th: 178 km/h
      • 0-100 km/h: 10.7 seconds
      • Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres): 17.4 seconds
    • Commodore SS 4.2 V8 4 speed manual:
      • 1st: 80 km/h
      • 2nd: 108 km/h
      • 3rd: 180 km/h
      • 4th: 200 km/h
      • 0-100 km/h: 8.4 seconds
      • Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres): 16.6 seconds
    • Commodore SL/E 5.0 V8 TriMatic:
      • 1st: 92 km/h
      • 2nd: 154 km/h
      • 3rd: 200 km/h
      • 0-100 km/h: 9.5 seconds
      • Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres): 17.2 seconds
  • Suspension:
    • Front: Independent MacPherson, specially rated coil springs, wet sleeve shocks and stabiliser bar
    • Rear: Salisbury type rear axle, rigid axle, 5 links and a panhard rod, progressive rate coil springs and telescopic shocks. Rear stabiliser bar fitted to wagons
  • Steering:
    • Coaxial rack and pinion, direct linkage (rear of front wheels), ratio 19.9:1
    • Power hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering standard on SL/E and all V8 models, optional on SL and SL/X L6
  • Brakes:
    • Front: 268mm vented disc with single piston, sliding head and lightweight caliper
    • Rear:
      • SL and SL/X: 228mm self-adjusting leading trailing shoe drum
      • SL/E and SS: 274mm solid disc, fitted with light weight caliper
  • Wheels:
    • Commodore SL and SL/X L4: 5.0JJ x 13 ventilated pressed steel wheels
    • Commodore SL and SL/X L6: 6.00JJ x 14 ventilated pressed steel wheels
    • Commodore SL/E: Styled cast alloy 6.00JJ x 15
    • Commodore SS: Honeycomb patterned styled cast alloy 6.00JJ x 15
  • Tyres:
    • Commodore L4: BR78S13 6 P/R steel belted radials
    • Commodore L6: CR78S14 4P/R steel belted radials
    • Commodore SL/E: P205/60H15 6P/R steel belted radials
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