Holden Commodore with a 1JZ-GTE

Wayde’s Holden Commodore (VR) has come a way since he purchased it five years ago. It came with a 3.8 L V6 and four-speed automatic transmission. Wayde swapped the powertrain and much more creating a Ute capable of cruising the streets and drifting at the track.

In the engine bay Wayde installed a turbocharged 1JZ-GTE VVTi inline-six capable of 425 kW (570 hp) and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels on 25 psi of boost. The motor features Camtech 264/272 camshafts, Titanium valve springs and retainers, Goleby’s Parts cam gear, Hypertune intake manifold, PRP VR38 ignition coil kit. A 6Boost exhaust manifold routes exhaust to a Garrett G30-900 turbocharger and out a custom 3.5-inch exhaust.

The motor runs on E85 fuel which is held in a 57-liter fuel cell. A Raceworks 525 lph lift pump fills a Raceworks 2-liter surge tank with two Walbro 460 lph pumps. Raceworks’ AN-8 lines send the fuel to a Turbosmart FPR1200 pressure regulator and Bosch 1650 cc injectors. Everything is controlled by a Haltech Elite 2000 ECU and flex fuel sensor using a custom wiring harness by SM Automotive Solutions.

Behind the motor is a Mantic twin-plate clutch and T56 six-speed manual transmission. A GJ Drivelines 3-inch 1-piece driveshaft transfers the power to a Nissan R200 (S13) rear end with a Nismo 2-way limited-slip differential, 4.375 ratio, and GTR axles and hubs.

Wayde built the Ute’s front suspension with BC coilovers and a SCF Stage 2 angle kit. In back is a reinforced Nissan S13 subframe with Airlift Performance airbags. The brakes were upgraded to Wilwood four-piston brakes in front and Nissan R33 GTST brakes in back.

On the inside Wayde installed a Bride Lowmax seats with Zoo Performance 6-point harnesses. Between those is a GKTech hydraulic e-brake on a custom transmission tunnel. A Haltech IQ3 digital dash sits in a Mako Motorsport dash insert behind a DnD performance deep dish steering wheel.