Item: 2004 Holden VZ Crewman
Rating: 2.5

Capable ‘Cross Trac’ four-wheel drive system
Comfortable front seats
Powerful 5.7-litre LS1 and 6.0-litre L76 V8 engines

Firm ride when unladen
V6 Alloytec engines lack refinement
Upright rear seats and limited rear legroom
Clunky automatic transmission on downshifts
Weight blunts dynamics and fuel economy
January ’06 to May ’07 Alloytec V6 petrol engines susceptible to stretched timing chains

Overview

Released in August 2004, the Holden VZ Crewman was a dual cab utility. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the VZ Crewman was initially available with newly-introduced 3.6-litre V6 and 5.7-litre V8 petrol engines. As per the table below, the VZ Crewman range initially consisted of rear-wheel drive standard, S and SS variants, with four-wheel drive Cross 6 and Cross 8 variants following in March 2005.

Engines: Alloytec V6, LS1 V8 and L76 V8

Of the engines,

The newly-introduced 3.6-litre ‘Alloytec’ LE0 V6 petrol engine had all-aluminium construction, a forged steel crankshaft, forged powdered metal connecting rods, twin knock control sensors, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), sequential electronic fuel injection, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable intake camshaft phasing, a compression ratio of 10.2:1 and coil-on-plug ignition. Impressively, ninety per cent of peak torque was available from 1630-5460 rpm. Due to the introduction of Euro III emissions standards in 2006, this engine was detuned, fitted with new fuel injectors and a new exhaust catalyst;
The 5.7-litre LS1 pushrod V8 engine had all-aluminium construction, flat-topped pistons, two valves per cylinder, twin knock control sensors and a compression ratio of 10.1:1. For the VZ and WL ranges, electronic throttle control was introduced; and,
In 2006, the 5.7-litre LS1 V8 was replaced with the 6.0-litre ‘Gen IV’ L76 V8 engine. The 6.0-litre L76 engine had similar properties to the LS1 but had a bigger bore (101.6 mm compared to 99 mm) and an increased compression ratio (10.4:1). Although the L76 engine was fitted with displacement on demand hardware, this technology was not utilised by Holden until 2009.

Transmissions

Of the rear-wheel drive V6 models, the Crewman was available with four-speed 4L65E automatic and six-speed Aisin D173/AY6 manual transmissions; the Cross 6, however, was solely available with the four-speed 4L60E transmission.

Of the models with V8 engines, the Cross 8 was available with the four-speed 4L65 automatic transmission, while the Crewman SS was further available with the Tremec T56 manual transmission.

Development and dimensions

In addition to the 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 engine, the VZ Crewman introduced improved off-centre steering feel, Bosch 8.0 ABS (for models with V6 engines) and new brake boosters, brake master cylinders and power steering pumps. Visually, the VZ Crewman could be identified by its new grille, bonnet and more compact headlights.

Like the VY Crewman , the VZ Crewman had a part-monocoque and part-chassis frame construction with a ‘torque arm’ system. Similarly, the VZ Crewman was 5305 mm long, 1870 mm wide, 1498 mm tall and had a 3200 mm long wheelbase.

Suspension and load capacity

The Crewman had MacPherson strut front suspension and a live rear axle with four leaf springs, a reinforced prop shaft and rear axle housing, heavy duty wheels and tyres. For the VZ Crewman, a 14 mm sway bar was added to the rear suspension.

Like the One Tonner, the standard Crewman models had maximum front and rear axle loads of 1180 kg and 1800 kg, respectively. For the Crewman SS, however, maximum rear axle load was 1460 kg.

The Crewman S and SS were both fitted with limited slip rear differentials.

Holden VZ Crewman specifications
Variant	Engine	Trans.	Years	Peak power	Peak torque
[Unnamed], S	3.6-litre LE0 petrol V6	4sp auto, 6sp man.	2004-05	175 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2400 rpm
Storm	3.6-litre LE0 petrol V6	4sp auto, 6sp man.	2006-07	172 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2400 rpm
SS	5.7-litre LS1 petrol V8	4sp auto, 6sp man.	2004-05	235 kW at 5600 rpm	460 Nm at 4000 rpm
SS	6.0-litre L76 petrol V8	4sp auto, 6sp man.	2006-07	260 kW at 5600 rpm	510 Nm at 4400 rpm
Cross 6	3.6-litre LE0 petrol V6	4sp auto	2005	175 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2400 rpm
Cross 6	3.6-litre LE0 petrol V6	4sp auto	2006	172 kW at 6000 rpm	320 Nm at 2400 rpm
Cross 8	5.7-litre LS1 petrol V8	4sp auto	2005	235 kW at 5600 rpm	460 Nm at 4000 rpm
Cross 8	6.0-litre L76 petrol V8	4sp auto	2006	260 kW at 5600 rpm	510 Nm at 4400 rpm

Cross Trac: permanent four-wheel drive system

The Cross 6 and Cross 8 variants were fitted with Holden’s ‘Cross Trac’ permanent four-wheel drive system which included a New Venture NV124GM transfer case and three open differentials (front, centre and rear). In normal conditions, the Cross Trac system provided a 38:62 front:rear torque split.

In the event that excessive wheel spin was detected at any wheel, the brakes would be applied to that wheel to redistribute torque to the wheels with more traction – this operation was termed an ‘automatic brake differential’ or ABD by Holden. Developed by Holden for local conditions, the Cross Trac system included calibrations for dirt roads and loose surfaces.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Crewman included dual front airbags and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters; ABS was optional.

The Crewman S was further equipped with ABS, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist; the SS omitted brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, but was equipped with ABS and front seat-mounted side airbags.

Compared to the entry-level Crewman, the Cross 6 added ABS, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution and traction control; the Cross 8 omitted brake assist, but was further equipped with front side airbags.

Brakes

The rear-wheel drive VZ Crewman models had 296 mm by 28 mm vented front brake discs with twin-piston calipers and 286 mm by 16 mm solid rear discs. The Crewman Cross 6 and Cross 8, however, had 302 mm by 28 mm vented front brake discs.

From 2006, the Crewman SS was fitted with 320 mm by 32 mm vented front brake discs.

Features: Crewman, Crewman S and Crewman SS

Standard features for the entry-level Crewman included 15-inch steel wheels, a six speaker sound system with CD player, a power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, remote central locking, a tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, front power windows and mirrors, trip computer, alarm and immobiliser.

The Crewman S was further equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, rear power windows, a power antenna and leather-wrapped steering wheel; the Cross 6 was similarly equipped but featured 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Crewman SS was distinguished by its 17-inch alloy wheels, six-stack CD player and front fog lights; beyond this, the Cross 8 added climate control air conditioning and automatic headlights.

2005 Crewman Storm

Released in April 2005, the Storm variant was based on the S but added 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a six-stack CD player, anthracite seat trim with leather bolsters and front fog lights.

2005 Crewman SSZ

In September 2005, a Z edition of the SS was released. Compared to the regular SS, the ‘SSZ’ added leather seats with SSZ logo, upgraded front brakes, a colour-coded SSZ instrument cluster, black centre-mounted oil and volt meters and a colour-coded hard tonneau cover.

2006 Crewman SS Thunder

In March 2006, a Thunder edition of the SS was released. Compared to the regular SS, the Thunder added 17-inch alloy wheels, anthracite leather seats with Thunder badging and a hard tonneau cover.

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