Roadkill's 1958 Cadillac - PROJECT THREAD

[FUBAR]

This is all getting very interesting

[Andy]

Quoting: Roadkill

Pinged an email off regarding brakes . . . question is do I want to fork out another $1000 just to say I've got rear discs !!???

What wheels are you going to be running?

[Roadkill]

I'm not sure yet.  Probably plain black or red steelies.  I'm not a fan of alloys on old cars ....

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

I'm not a fan of alloys on old cars ....

Unless they are 'classic'-looking alloys.

[Roadkill]

Sorry, in a bid to provide as much info about the build I completely forgot to add that when transferring money to the states, I opted for a company called Currencies Direct.

http://www.currenciesdirect.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.currenciesdirect.com/

I set up an account using their iPayFX system.

The plus sides are there's NO charges and you can set up everything yourself by putting in the details . . .

For example :  My bank were offering a rate of $1.550 / £1 (when the actual rate was $1.635 / £1) PLUS a fee of £9.50.

Currencies Direct offered $1.622 / £1 and NO further fees . . . . because I opted to pay C.D via a debit card (as they're a U.K-based company) I didn't get charged by the Bank, either.

As a plus the receiver (Marty) only got charged $20 receiving fee from his bank when normally it's $30 (although this could be coincidental).

My only issue, now, is finding other companies who'll let me do a direct transfer to their banks (and who I feel comfortable paying in this manner).

I'm not recommending this because : blah, blah, blah, disclaimer, disclaimer disclaimer etc . . . . BUT it worked for me and is how I'll be paying Marty (at least) in the future.

Plus I stopped the bank from getting a chunk of my money !!  F**kers !!!  

[Roadkill]

Update on the engine :

The block-machining work is done.  Still waiting on the rotating assembly to come back then it'll start going together very quickly !

[Cunning Plan]

I like pictures

Is it unreasonable for you to ask them for pictures?

[Roadkill]

I have asked him for pictures and he'll be taking some . . . . I think HE thinks that nothing has happened yet that warrants taking any pictures . . . .

I'd be happy just seeing a bare block !!!

I might email him . . . .

[Roadkill]

Update from Marty . . . In his own words :

Quoting: Marty

the rotating assembly is BACK. Plans are to get the rotating assy in the engine this weekend and perhaps a completed short block. Will take some pics as I go.

I asked for a pic of the Block, too.

Simple things . . .

[Roadkill]

Marty sent me some proper engine-porn pics last night.

Will post them when I get to my PC.  

[F Body]

Quoting: Roadkill

Marty sent me some proper engine-porn pics last night.

[Roadkill]

Ha !

Turns out that the first pic he sent wasn't my block !  

I've forgiven him, though as he sent me these (which is 100% my engine) :

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/Engine2_zps52019d9f.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">
http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/Engine3_zps0b17c1d2.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">
http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/Engine5_zps7112bb91.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">
http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/Engine4_zpsbdb2e1e8.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">
http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/Engine6_zpsc901b516.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

The ally heads got me particularly excited . . .

Also, worth noting that I've requested the motor NOT be painted (I'll do this myself).

[F Body]

Quoting: Roadkill

engine-porn pic

Unless I missed it earlier in the thread

What sort of BHP and torque figures are you expecting

[Cunning Plan]

Nice!

Is the block being painted any colour?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Is the block being painted any colour?

Quoting: Roadkill

Also, worth noting that I've requested the motor NOT be painted (I'll do this myself).

"Cadillac Blue" is quite pale . . . I've not decided on a colour, yet, but yes - it will be painted for sure.

Quoting: F Body

What sort of BHP and torque figures are you expecting

This engine is shockingly similar to the one they use on PBTV (in fact the heads are those exact ones used) . . . . That made 600/600.

Obviously I've not gone for electric water pump and and few other bits so I'll loose there.  The biggest limiting factor is the silly intake I'm putting on it.
The carbs can supply the fuel and air, but the design (although cool as F***) will limit it.
When chatting with Marty, I made it clear that the intake wasn't the be-all and end-all.  The motor is designed to have a single-plane manifold and a massive 4bbl bolted on if I ever wanted to gain the maximum potential.

In a nutshell . . . Dunno . . . with a Single Plane & 4bbl, probably in the region of 550/550 . . .
With may intake (???) . . . I'd be happy with 400Bhp and 450 ft.lb

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Roadkill

"Cadillac Blue" is quite pale . . . I've not decided on a colour, yet, but yes - it will be painted for sure.

[ianjpage]

ooo very nice looking!!

[Roadkill]

Some more pics.

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/DEANENGINEshortblock_zpsfeec0e98.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/Roadkill-Auto/media/Project%20-%20CADILLAC/DEANENGINElongblock_zps4ee92ddc.jpg.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

Engine will be finished this week !

Transmission hasn't been started yet . . . we had it sorted but Marty's suggested using a Switch-Pitch 400 and I must admit it sounds like a good idea . . . we're in discussions at the mo . . .

[ianjpage]

looking good,  whats the difference in the trans then??

[Roadkill]

This guy on the HAMB sums it up nicely :

A switch pitch 400 is simply a TH400 with a few special parts in it. Primarily it is a torque converter that has vanes that can be set in one of two positions via a solenoid and hydraulics which changes the stall speed. They were initially installed in a lot of big GM cars from 65 through 67 I believe. In the high stall mode, it let the engine idle without "creep" at a stop light, and the low stall mode provided less slippage at highway speeds. In a hot rod with a nasty cammed engine, it gives you the best of both worlds, the ability to have a high stall for launching hard, and low stall for cruising. There are a lot of different ways to control the converter, brake switches, manifold vacuum, manually flipping a switch, etc.

From what I know they were BOP(+C) only - not Chevy - and had a limited run.

As the guy mentioned there's various ways of controlling them and that's what we're discussing at the moment . . .

EDIT - they seem very desirable among the BOP+C fraternity and I think it'd be a nice "touch".  TH400's are pretty common here in the U.K (not as common as TH350's, though) but by going S-P it'd be adding something a little different . . .

There doesn't, as yet, appear to be any downsides except cost (but that really isn't a lot) plus the added work of a controller.

Should help the MPG as a major plus side, too.

[Incursus]

Quoting: Roadkill

BOP(+C)

?  

[Roadkill]

Bolt patterns.  Generally referred to as Chevy and BOP.  Chevy is different to BOP (ie. different bell-housings).

BOP is Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac . . . . and also Cadillac later hence it should be BOPC but it is still always referred to as BOP.

[FUBAR]

That does sound like a nice addition, kinda gives you 2 cars in one

[Titsy]

Interesting. Sounds like an early take in the locking converter. I presume you can, or it wouldn't be desirable to get a lock-up converter? Assuming you can run one with the TH400, or would the engine be to lumpy to lock the converter in part throttle conditions?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Titsy

or would the engine be to lumpy to lock the converter in part throttle conditions?

I think that'd be the case . . . that said I'm not even sure if locking converters are available . . . I think they came later.