VH Commodore Specifications

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VH Commodore

VB VC VH VK Commodore Repair Manual

Date of Introduction

October 5^th 1981

Discontinued February 1984. Produced for about 28 months

Model Line-Up

Commodore SL sedan (8VK69)

Commodore SL station wagon (8VK35)

Commodore SL/X sedan (8VL69)

Commodore SL/X station wagon (8VL35)

Commodore SS sedan (8VK69) (XV2)

Commodore SL/E sedan (8VX69)

HDT Commodore SS (8VK69) (XV2)

Option Packages:

4 Cylinder: L18

Fleet Pack: A9K

Executive Pack: A8Q

National Police Pack: BT1

Special Vehicle Police Pack 4.2L: B01

Special Vehicle Police Pack 5.0L: BY2

Commodore SL/E Shadow tone Sedan: V6Q

1981 Vacationer: XW4

1982 Vacationer: XY8

1983 Vacationer: A8A

Commodore SS: XV2

HDT SS Group A: XV2

Only 332 SS Group A Commodores built

Prices at Time of Introduction

$8 366 (Commodore SL four-cylinder sedan)

$8 851 (Commodore SL 4 cylinder wagon)

$9 066 (Commodore SL six-cylinder sedan)

$9 601 (Commodore SL 6 Cylinder Wagon)

$11 038 (Commodore SL/X Sedan)

$14 861 (Commodore SL/X Wagon)

$14 861 (Commodore SL/E six-cylinder sedan).

$9 765 (Commodore Vacationer Sedan)

$11 033 (Commodore Vacationer Wagon

$13 385 (Commodore SS Sedan)

$15 580 (HDT Commodore SS Group 1)

Total Number Built

141 018, including 500 HDT Commodores

Identification Information

Similar body to VB and VC but with lower front-end body work and a horizontally slatted grille; Holden badge mounted centre of grille and centre of boot; the word ‘Commodore’ written on rubber bumper insert on side of car forward of front wheel arch.

Engines

1.9 Inline 4

Option Number: L18

Engine Prefix: VN

Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type

Capacity: 1.892 litres (115 cubic inches)

Number of cylinders: Four

Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline

Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder

Fuel system: GM Strasbourg Varajet II, twin barrel downdraft carburettor

Bore and stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm (3.50 x 3.00 inches)

Power output: 54kW (72bhp) at 4400 rpm

Torque: 380Nm (102lbs/ft) at 2800 rpm

Compression ratio: 8.7:1

2.85 Inline 6

Option Number: LD1

Engine Prefix: VD

Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type

Capacity: 2.838 litres (173 cubic inches)

Number of cylinders: Six

Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline

Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder

Fuel system: GM Strasbourg Varajet II, twin barrel downdraft carburettor

Bore and stroke: 88.9 x 76.2mm (3.50 x 3.00 inches)

Power output: 73kW (98bhp) at 4400rpm

Torque: 187Nm (138lbs/ft) at 2800rpm

Compression ratio: 9:1

3.3 Inline 6

Option Number: L14

Engine Prefix: VL

Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type

Capacity: 3.298 litres (201 cubic inches)

Number of cylinders: Six

Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, inline

Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder

Fuel system: GM Strasbourg Varajet II, twin barrel downdraft carburettor

Bore and stroke: 92.1 x 82.5mm (3.63 x 3.25 inches)

Power output: 83kW (111bhp) at 4000rpm

Torque: 231Nm (170 lbs/ft) at 2400rpm

Compression ratio: 8.8:1

4.2 V8

Option Number: L36

Engine Prefix: VR

Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type

Capacity: 4.142 litres (253 cubic inches)

Number of cylinders: Eight

Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, with cylinders arranged in a vee

Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder

Fuel system: Rochester Quadrajet four barrel downdraft carburettor, M4MC

Bore and stroke: 92.1 x 77.8mm (3.63 x 3.06 inches)

Power output: 100kW (134bhp) at 4200rpm (single exhaust); 115kW (154bhp) at 4400rpm

Torque: 269Nm (198lbs/ft) at 2000rpm (single exhaust); 289Nm (213lbs/ft) at 3200rpm (dual exhaust)

Compression ratio: 9:1

5.0 V8

Option Number: L31

Engine Prefix: VT

Type: Conventional, watercooled, four-stroke, reciprocating piston type

Capacity: 5.044 litres (308 cubic inches)

Number of cylinders: Eight

Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal, with cylinders arranged in a vee

Head design: Pushrod and rocker actuated overhead valves with two valves per cylinder

Fuel system: Rochester Quadrajet 4 BBL downdraft carburettor, M4MC

Bore and stroke: 101.5 x 77.8mm (4.00 x 3.06 inches)

Power output: 126kW (169bhp) at 4200rpm (dual exhaust)

Torque: 352Nm (266lbs/ft) at 2600rpm (dual exhaust)

Compression ratio: 9.2:1

Transmissions

Manual

Type: MC6 four-speed manual

Application: Six-cylinder

Option Number: MC6

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 3.50:1

2^nd: 2.02:1

3^rd: 1.41:1

4^th: 1.00:1

Reverse: 3.57:1

Type: MC6 four-speed manual

Option Code: MC6

Application: 1.9 L4

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 3.75:1

2^nd: 2.16:1

3^rd: 1.38:1

4^th: 1.00:1

Reverse: 3.82:1

Type: Four-speed manual

Option Code: M20

Application: V8

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 3.05:1

2^nd: 2.19:1

3^rd: 1.15:1

4^th: 1.00:1

Reverse: 3.05:1

Type: Five-speed manual Borg Warner 007

Option Code: M76

Application: 1.9 i4

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 3.65:1

2^nd: 2.14:1

3^rd: 1.37:1

4^th: 1.00:1

5^th: 0.86:1

Reverse: 3.66:1

Type: Five-speed manual

Application: 2.85 i6

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 3.65:1

2^nd: 2.14:1

3^rd: 1.37:1

4^th: 1.00:1

5^th: 0.86:1

Reverse: 3.66:1

Automatic

Type: Three-speed Trimatic auto for

Application: 1.9 i4 and 2.85 i6

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 2.31:1

2^nd: 1.46:1

3^rd: 1.00:1

Reverse: 1.85:1

Type: Three-speed Trimatic auto

Application: 3.3 i6, 4.2 V8, 5.0 V8

Location: Floor Shift

1^st: 2.48:1

2^nd: 1.48:1

3^rd: 1.00:1

Reverse: 2.08

Rear Axle Ratios

GM-H Large Salisbury

Option Number: G70

Ratio: 2.60:1

GM-H Small Salisbury

Option Number: GU7

Ratio: 2.78:1

GM-H Small or Large Salisbury

Option Number: GU4

Ratio: 3.08:1

GM-H Small or Large Salisbury

Option Number: GV4

Ratio: 3.36:1

GM-H Small or Large Salisbury

Option Number: GV7

Ratio: 3.55:1

GM-H Small Salisbury (4 Cylinder)

Option Number: GU8

Ratio: 3.90:1

LSD optional

Option Number: G80

Application

1.9 i4 High Compression

Four-speed manual: 3.90:1

Five-speed manual: 3.90:1

Three-speed Trimatic: 3.90:1

2.85 i6 High Compression

Four-speed manual: 3.36:1, 3.55:1 LSD

Three-speed trimatic: 3.08:1, 3.36:1LSD

3.3 i6 High Compression

Four-speed manual: 3.08:1, 3.36:1 LSD

Three-speed Trimatic: 3.08:1, 3.36:1 LSD

3.3 i6 Low Compression

Four-speed manual: 3.08:1, 3.36:1

4.2 V8 High Compression

Four-speed manual: 3.08:1

Three-speed Trimatic: 2.78:1, 3.08:1

5.0 V8 High Compression

Three-speed Trimatic: 2.60:1, 3.08:1

Clutch

Single dry plate, Belleville diaphragm

Chassis

Unitary Construction (Monocoque)

Suspension

Front:MacPherson strut with specialty rated coil springs, wet sleeve dampers and stabiliser bar.

Rear (with axle type):Salisbury type differential. Rigid axle. 5 links including Panhard rod, progressive rate coil springs and dampers. Rear stabiliser bar on six-cylinder.

Steering

Rack and pinion, power assisted on SL/E

Brakes

Front:268mm disc

Rear:228mm drum (SL/E and SS: 274mm discs)

Electrical

12 volt negative ground. SL and SL/X 60 min/amp (40 amp/hr), SL/E 80min.215 amp (53 amp/hr)

I4: Conventional Bosch coil ignition. I6 and V8 electronic (high energy ignition), Bosch high energy coil.

Exhaust

I4 and i6: single exhaust. Two mufflers. V8 single with cross over, two mufflers. Optional on V8: dual exhaust with three mufflers.

Wheels

Four-cylinder: 13 x 5.00JJ ventilated pressed steel

Six-cylinder: 14 x 6.00JJ ventilated pressed steel

SL/E: 15 x 6.00JJ cast alloy

Tyres

Four-cylinder: BR78S13 6 P/R

Six-cylinder: CR78s14 4 P/R

SL/E: P205/60H15 6P/R steel belted radials

Exterior Dimensions (Sedan)

Total length: 4706mm (185.28 inches)

Total width: 1722mm (67.80 inches)

Total height at kerb weight: 1363mm (53.66 inches)

Wheelbase: 2668mm (105.00 inches)

Front track: 1451mm (57.13 inches) SL, SL/X; 1449mm (57.05 inches) SL/E

Rear track: 1416mm (55.75 inches) SL, SL/X; 1422mm (55.98 inches) SL/E

Kerb weight: 1152kg (2540lb) four-cylinder SL; 1196kg (2637lb) four-cylinder SL/X; 1228kg (2707lb) six-cylinder SL; 1272kg (2804lb) six-cylinder SL/X; 1326kg (2923lb) six-cylinder SL/E.

Turning circle kerb to kerb: 10.2 meters (33ft) SL, SL/X; 10.8 meters (35ft) SL/E

Fuel Tank capacity: 63 litres (13.85 gallons)

Boot capacity: 382 litres

VB VC VH VK Commodore Repair Manual