Roadkill's 1958 Cadillac

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Incursus

Didn't you volunteer it for Jo's wedding as well? This year...

I said it may be available - subject to a "shake-down" and inspection.

That's still the best I can offer - subject to a --

[Andy]

Quoting: F Body

Don't forget that from the 1st October if it's taxed it has to have insurance, unless you SORN it

Was about to post that, but RK has it covered.

Historic vehicle tax should still be allowed now in my opinion, was a brilliant idea!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Roadkill

I'm working out a list of bits that need addressing urgently.  

Fuel pump (new electric),
Carb (cheap new / reman),
Tyres (4 new)
Exhaust (Jetex special ?)

Point 1

Refitted the old Facet pump.  Seems happy.  May make this one the primary pump - maybe.  Will need a suitable regulator for it.

Point 2

Carb.  Dunno.  It's not leaking much at all and she seems to pull O.K once warmed up a bit.  Think the old 4GC can hang on a bit longer.

Point 3

Tyres.  No change.  The tyres that are on her I'd guess were circa 1975 - latest.  So she needs new ones.

Point 4

Exhaust is still holding together (including the patches I've added over the years) so a replacement isn't top of the list at the mo.  She does, however, need one section welded up as the two parts have never actually fitted !!

[ianjpage]

Cool sounds promising to get her going roadworthy then!!!

[art b]

Quoting: Roadkill

Point 1

Refitted the old Facet pump. Seems happy. May make this one the primary pump - maybe. Will need a suitable regulator for it.

Point 2

Carb. Dunno. It's not leaking much at all and she seems to pull O.K once warmed up a bit. Think the old 4GC can hang on a bit longer.

Point 3

Tyres. No change. The tyres that are on her I'd guess were circa 1975 - latest. So she needs new ones.

Point 4

Exhaust is still holding together (including the patches I've added over the years) so a replacement isn't top of the list at the mo. She does, however, need one section welded up as the two parts have never actually fitted !!

that looks like one of ians servicing lists.....

[Jo]

Quoting: Roadkill

Quoting: Incursus
Didn't you volunteer it for Jo's wedding as well? This year...

I said it may be available - subject to a "shake-down" and inspection.

That's still the best I can offer - subject to a --

It's fine, as long as we know by July we can sort something else out if needed.

[Roadkill]

At this point I'd normally say that it'd be fine but my preferred MoT'er has new equipment so I don't know the knock-on effects will be yet.

[Roadkill]

The last tax disc on her ran out late 2010 !

She came out to sit in the sunshine on saturday while I did a few bits in the garage (she'll be out for a week or two).

Was nice driving her - albeit just within the cul-de-sac - and was nice hearing her running - albeit with a new noise.

Inflated the tyres back to 25psi, checked the oil, topped up the brake fluid and water.

Battery was a bit weak but good considering.

Generally all O.K.  Carb's in a bad way, though.

[Roadkill]

MUWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA . . . MUWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA !!!



Ain't no replacement for displacement.  

[Cunning Plan]

Video is required



What are we supposed to use, our 'imagination'?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Video is required

Nothing at all to show at the moment . . . . But it's the first step in a long journey.

And it's the right path.

I've now taken the "official" decision to not rebuld the 365ci in the Cadillac and instead go with a later 500ci option and stronger TH400.

To say I'm geared up is an understatement.  After selling the 472ci block I had last Monday, utterly by chance, a 500ci (the biggest) came up on ebay the same day.

Money's a bit short with having to pay for the Wedding (!!!) so I made the decision to sell my ultra rare Edelbrock Tri-Carb manifold to fund the 500ci motor.

The Manifold was going to be the "crowning glory" on the Caddy's original engine but the 500ci gives me so many more options, parts availablity and scope for customising.

The Big Block Caddies can take an easy rebore of +100-120 thou, +140-160 thou with simple additions and even up to +200 thou (not going that far) in full race spec.  Couple that with off-set grinding the crank to increase the stroke and you can easily obtain 550-570ci . . . .

It'll also give me the chance to have a go at designing my own intake manifold, too.  What's the worst that could happen?

In short the Caddy will be a life-long project so I need the scope to keep it interesting !!!

Just need to get the Camaro done and get the bloody Wedding paid for and I'll go on an epic (car related) spending spree !

[Roadkill]

FYI, here's my manifold :



And here's the motor (I'm picking it up on saturday) :

[Cunning Plan]

Ahh that's better, as good as your updates are, they will never beat pictures!

Interesting to read about the 472 and 500 engines though and it is also great you have enthusiasm back for the project in general

[Motorama]

Was the motor out of a FWD or RWD Cadillac? What year is the motor?

[Roadkill]

RWD, Numbers suggest it's a 74-76 (120cc head) low compression motor.

[Roadkill]

She's going in for her MoT tomorrow . . fingers crossed.

I'll insure her from midday.

Bled the brakes and checked the horn & lights earlier.

Good to go (with a jump-start).

[Roadkill]

She's insured.

She failed (finally) her MoT on the front lower ball joints.

She's also delevoped a serious knocking noise - which obviously concerned me but we've traced that back to one of the silencers (with previous damage) knocking against the floor pan.



Don't know why it's started doing it - there's no sign of any of the hangers failing . . but at least it isn't serious.

In preperation for the new Ball Joints I spent a fair chunk of saturday scraping around 4.5kg of caked-on mud and grease off of the the Caddy's front suspension.  Shocking how much was on there but good as it revealed nothing of concern - in fact in places the smooth black factory paint can still be seen on the chassis rails.



The carb really needs some attention will try to have a look at that this evening . . .

Cheers to Ian for assistance on Saturday.

[Roadkill]

I gave the carb a quick tweek last night and she seems to be running alot better.  The knocking from the exhaust has almost cured itself so I'm guessing it was just knocking at a certain resonance - by tweeking the carb she's running a bit smoother thus preventing the knocking.

I don't care - job saved !

I also drained a little fluid out of the gearbox as I'd over filled it previously and she wasn't changing gear where she should've . . . seems much better this morning but she really needs a run.

I ran her down to Andy Oils to have her Lower B/J's replaced and new rear-section park brake cables fitted.

I did consider doing the work myself but time is short at the moment and Andy's a good chap.  Plus his giant four-post lift will make short work of doing the cables . . . he said the B/J's will have to be done on the floor as the Caddy is too big for his two-post lifts.

[Incursus]

[Jo]

[ianjpage]

cool sounds like going well to being back on the road (legally) soon

[Roadkill]

Hopefully picking her up today . . . .

[Roadkill]

Sorted !

New B/J's, new park brake cables fitted and adjusted.  They also stripped the drums off and gave them a clean before adjusting them enough to pass the MoT.

£180, cash, Happy bunny.

She stops a lot better, now - doesn't snatch anymore, although she pulls slightly to the right when braking hard.

Steering is better with the new joints - nothing earth shattering, but better.

She rarely starts on all 8 cylinders at the mo (although they do kick in once you've gunned her a few times) so I need to pull the plugs and investigate . . . . I suspect her timing's a little off, too.

Minor things.

I've even been eyeing up new tyres for her . . . . It'll mean I'll have to get the rims powdercoated, mind you . . . .

Am also considering fitting the new track rod ends and getting her tracked . . . this is a given If I opt for new tyres, I suppose . . .

[Roadkill]

She's now taxed, too.

[Incursus]