Roadkill's 1958 Cadillac

[Roadkill]

Further to the old girl's off-on-off-on issues see - http://www.mkb.cc/forum/index.php?action=vthread&forum=1&topic=8934\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.mkb.cc/forum/index.php?action=vthread&forum=1&topic=8934 - I now feel compelled to take her to get an MoT . . . . . .



She must have done less than 100 miles last year due to her problems so I'm hoping they're kind to her (and me) !

I'm popping out later to get some oil and some flush and have a new filter due for delivery shortly so the plan is to do an oil change very soon . . . .



Even IF she passes she'll again be very limited to what she does . . . there's an issue somewhere but no one knows what.



My main reason for trying to get her MoT'ed is so she can make it to the All-Clubs next month.

[Motorama]

Quoting: Roadkill

I'm popping out later to get some oil and some flush and have a new filter

and maybe some STP engine treatment or similar

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Motorama

and maybe some STP engine treatment or similar

The place I go sell a Lucas Oil stabiliser . . . basically makes the oil sticky . . . I figure if oil pressure is low that'll at least help the oil stay where it's supposed to . . . . .

[Motorama]

Going back to your noisy generator, have you put some oil down the to little spouts to keep it running freely?

And regards the engine knocking, have you played about with the timing at all?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Motorama

have you put some oil down the to little spouts to keep it running freely?

Yup - It doesn't do much.

Quoting: Motorama

And regards the engine knocking, have you played about with the timing at all?

Not for a while, no.

My timing light's fooked and I don't know anyone with one . . . worth looking into.

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

My timing light's fooked and I don't know anyone with one

dam dam dam - i got one but it in swindon  ( and i was there yesterday!)

[Roadkill]

Quoting: ianjpage

i got one but it in swindon

Can you pick it up next time you're there, please, ta ?

[ianjpage]

yup will be next .. wednesday i think

[Roadkill]

I've re-insured her.

(Adrian Flux, fully Comp, 1,500 M p/a £6000 value - £92)

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

I've re-insured her.

[Roadkill]

Note.

A 472ci Big Block Cadillac, stroked to 500ci and over-bored 60 thou is a 514ci displacement.

Bored out 30 thou is 507ci displacement.

[Motorama]

When's the MOT booked for? Will try and get over there myself one day next week to get the 59 Coupe MOT'd

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Motorama

When's the MOT booked for? Will try and get over there myself one day next week to get the 59 Coupe MOT'd

MOT was today!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: ianjpage

MOT was today!

Indeed.

She failed on a ball joint but it'll be sorted and passed on monday.

[Roadkill]

I've been pondering over the 'Old Girl' all morning . . . . .

I'm seriously thinking of taking her in a completely different direction with regards to her restoration . . . . .



Hmm.

[ianjpage]

[Motorama]

Mechanically or cosmetically?

I've always thought your plans from a mechanical point of view were a bit radical for a big bodied Caddy but at the same time it's your motor and being different is kinda cool too.

What are you thinking?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Motorama

Mechanically or cosmetically?

Mechanically.

Quoting: Motorama

I've always thought your plans from a mechanical point of view were a bit radical for a big bodied Caddy

They're getting more radical.

I've been pricing up my "ideal" set up on the '58 . . . I'd use a later 390ci, keep the bottom end almost as stock, add an isky cam, rebuild and mildly port the top end and add the tri-carb manifold I have.  To this i'd add old-skool 'Y' manifolds and seat SIX '97 2bbl carbs on top.

Add a little lightly polished cast ally and call it done in the engine bay.

Suspension would be all replaced with air-ride.

However as cool as all that is it's gonna cost a F*ck load as 390ci's are rare over here and I'd be fast out of budget finding one in the state and having it built-up (I have enquired).

So I've started thinking about big blocks - not for the speed, not for the power and not for the torque . . . . just because it'd be f*cking cool !

Now it'd, of course, have to be a Cadillac block so a 472ci or a 500ci . . . . No.  It'd have to be a 500ci or there's just no point.

The alternative set up would be . . . . a 500ci BB Caddy (early / high Comp/ratio) pretty-much stock bottom end but significantly worked on top end (cam, ally heads, rockers etc . . . )  Also I'd opt for a Boogie man manifold.
These manifolds have a bolt-on top or "lid" and there's a nice dual quad lid available . . . alternatively - due to it's simple shape I could model a custom lid and still go with a multi-carb set up later on . . . .

Anyway. I hate chrome in an engine bay (been there, done that) so whatever route I took the absolutely highest attention would be paid to making it custom, yet look almost stock.

Customising Cadillac motors is expensive and the parts are more limited . . . . that said whatever happens it's keeping a Cadillac heartbeat and it's staying carb'ed.

From my reading the modifications required for a large-bodied Caddy to except a BB Cad are minimal and as I intend to keep the 'Old Girl' permanently if I don't like it I can change her back.

[Roadkill]

Sidenote :

She now has an MoT.

[Motorama]

You do see a lot of 50's Caddys in the USA with 472/500s so i assume the mods cant be too many. I would guess you would want to use the TH400 trans too as i'm not sure the BB's bolt straight onto the Hydromatic or be strong enough. You would have to figure in exhaust and prop mods to, and shifter mods

If it were mine i would go the 365/390 route as you will end up with less headaches and things to alter. You already have a core motor in the car, and a rebuild kit is only $1000.

[Roadkill]

I hear you . . . . .

But.   I've came to a realisation recently that, although I'm not old, I don't have - and will not ever have - all of the required time to do ALL of the projects I'd ever wanted to do.

So I kinda stuck two planned projects together . . . . I'd expect most projects of this nature to take around 4 years and, assuming I get the Camaro done next year that'll take me up to my 35th birthday !

As I say, not old, old . . but I will be looking back wishing I'd done it differently if I'm not careful !!!

[Motorama]

You must like working on your motors more than driving them.

I'm the opposite! I hate working on them.

I'd much rather be out cruising around. i'm not even that fussed about the show scene, except maybe Sweden because it involve using your car. I mainly go to the shows to catch up with friends, i rarely have a look round.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Motorama

You must like working on your motors more than driving them.

No, that's why I always try to have a Yank that's mobile . . . . . .

After getting the bike the Eldo is fast becoming redundant but I didn't want to get rid of her because it'd leave me with no useable Yanks . . .

However, after the oil change and flush over the weekend the '58 seems fine and now she's MoT'ed I can "fall back" on her for local meets and the odd show.

Hence the Eldo will either be sold now-ish or moth-balled until winter (when the bike will be garaged).

[Motorama]

Quoting: Roadkill

However, after the oil change and flush over the weekend the '58 seems fine

That is bizarre after last years problems Maybe the oil pick up was blocked or something.

It's great that you can use her again.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Motorama

Maybe the oil pick up was blocked or something.

It's the only thing I can think of.

The oil looked dirty but certainly not filthy - in fact I was surprised how good it looked (it was probably about 3-4 years old !)