Big is always better ???? 55 Cadillac

I don't mind a vehicle with a sensible, mild original patina in fact believe or not in some cases I actually prefer it over a totally mint fresh paint job (states the bloke who turns 2 - 3 of these out per year) - But I absolutely hate a false or applied patina - there is nothing that looks worse in my book but each to their own and all that

Engine !!!!!!
The original plan was to get the caddy motor up and running nice and slap a turbo on it
Job done

But when I got it running there was to many unknowns
I had no idea how long it's been stood for it had a tiny water leak from the water pump a couple of bits missing
So it was at that point I thought I'd rebuild the stock motor first then turbo it
But as I've mentioned before parts for these cars are expensive
So after weighing up the pros and cons and more importantly the costs I made the decision to sell the caddy motor and go with the more conventional Chevy motor


So out with the old and in with the (less) old
I managed to locate a 454 big block Chevy




And of course it wouldn't be complete without some help from a turbo or two?


This build is just about to get expensive!!

Absolutely nothing wrong with a 454



I had decades of fun with them in one of these



For me it's one of the best all round V8's ever built - from the choice of tuning parts to that lovely growly roar when opened up to the lumpy tickover noise that lets you know it means business

Please continue. I, for one, love this sort of build.

P.

these are so cool, I know they are a bit big for it, but a pro-touring one would be amazing on Mobsteel wheels with that 454 it'll have all the power you could ever need, only downside is you'll need your own petrol station

A previous work colleague used to race the lower class stock cars ( pinto engine)
And we used to go watch the odd race and the noise from the V8s when they came out to race was fantastic the whole stadium would shake

It looks like you built the stock car around that engine

As it happens I've been thinking about this over the last week or two
My original idea was to remove the trans brake assembly and leave it at that

The stock RV propshaft is a monster and as it came with the end it would be nice to use it but it's not a sliding joint like it would be as a single solid prop
So I would either have to make the other end of the prop with a slider or go with a two part prop (can't do that as I don't have anywhere to mount a centre bearing)

But if what your saying is right (which I believe it is) then it's just a matter of finding the parts I need to swop it over
Had a little play today




Safe to say it was due for a new set of handbrake shoes

No reason for this picture apart from the fact I like it


It's the horn push from the steering wheel

I've not managed to "refresh" a Yank V8 yet (apart from race engines but they're in once a year and do curse word all miles). Their reputation for reliability isn't because they're built well, it's more that they just keep running no matter how knackered they are. Most of our customers end up spending thousands having their "good running" V8 engines put right and then are inevitably disappointed when it makes absolutely no difference to how the car performs (stock rebuild obv). About the only critical thing that I'd do as a matter of course is weld the oil pickup pipe on when you take the sump off to fit the oil drain unions.