Cadillac

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:40 pm

Good and bad rear end news. The good news is that it definitely is a 3.21 gear ratio as opposed to the 2.94 as comes standard. The bad news is that it's no heavier duty than what I have, so I'll still have to be pretty careful if and when I race it. I'm thinking it's not going to see the track until somewhere around October, so I can enjoy cruising it all year. If I break this mid-summer, I'll be Cadillac-less for the remainder.

Should be in by the end of next week, or for sure on that Saturday.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Mon May 01, 2006 7:19 am

Well, the 3.21 gear is solidly in place and working well. The performance is definitely better, but the traction is worse (not necessarily a bad problem to have).

I've got about 40 miles on it so far and all is good. Car got washed, oil got changed, front end lubed, air pressures up, and we're ready for cruising!

-BP

MostMint · Post by **MostMint** » Mon May 01, 2006 12:34 pm

Did you do anything to correct the speedo?

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Mon May 01, 2006 5:24 pm

It's not off by much. Bob was following me on Sunday morning, and at 60mph I'm doing about 65 on the speedo, so not that big of a change. I don't think I'll do anything at this point that won't screw it up in the other direction.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:25 am

Starting to think about camshafts...

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:03 pm

I ordered my cam and related goodies yesterday.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:21 pm

The cam and related goodies have arrived. I began to tear it apart yesterday and got as far as pulling the intake off, draining the coolant, removing the valve covers, and getting one header loose. Hopefully I can have the heads off before next weekend so I can get them to the shop for some modification.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:23 pm

Well, it's officially as apart as it's going to be. There's some clean up, a few items to gather,
and parts will start going back together.

-BP

markss327 · Post by **markss327** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:24 am

Looks perty clean to me.
Gona put some chrome valve covers on it?

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:39 pm

Yeah, the chrome valve covers I got are necessary to clear the new longer ratio rockers. More pics to come this week as I begine reassembly.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:53 pm

The cam is in, degreed (for what that's worth), the heads and valve train are in, and hopefully this week the rest will be together. Planning to start it next weekend hopefully.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:47 pm

The front of the motor is together, the intake and valve covers are on. The headers need to be attached, the accessories are not on, the radiator needs to go in and the electric fan(s) attached, and I need to put the the new gauges in.
Some things that took extra time were making a tool to drive the harmonic balancer hub on. I had to grind each bolt for the valve covers since the washers were too big for the new chromies. I've had the oil pump off three times since I learned I needed to prime it before starting. I had to make an oil pump shaft drive tool to check my priming (which did work). I had to screw around at the parts store to get the right grommets and PCV valve for the new valve covers.

SO far it's been fun, but things take time... closing in on the finish, some pictures to come.

-BP

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:37 pm

IT RUNS!

I was thrashing all day today and around 5:30 called 32v as I could see the end was near and was looking for a helping hand when I restarted the car.

So we got it fired, adjusted the timing while running as the headers began to glow red. I've also got the oil pressure and temp gauges hooked up. This is the first time I've seen any vital signs of my engine before. It appears to have a 195 thermostat and seems to run between 38-40psi worth of oil pressure at 2000rpms and about 20psi at idle. So where do I find a cooler thermostat? This may be a challange. Somewhere mostmint gave me a thermostat from a small block chevy. I've been told they're the same, but have not tested the theory. All in due time...

This week I'll change the oil, mount the gauges (they're laying on the floor), and take it for a spin or two. I hope the carburetor is close, but I believe I'll have to richen it up before it's over with.

-PC

Basement Paul · Post by **Basement Paul** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:40 pm

Here's a couple motor shots. I drove it tonight. I definitely lost a little bottom end, but the pull on the high end is way better. I took it to 5400, and it was pulling strong, and once I get the carb fattened up and the timing rechecked, I may go to 5600 or more if it will help. So far, no problems except maybe a battery that needs to be charged from sitting too long.

And a picture of my assistant, laying down on the job...

-BP

wxo · Post by **wxo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:20 am

Good pictures, BP. I didn't realize how wide that engine is. No wonder you don't see Caddy motors swapped into other bodies.
I believe your Grandfather is lookin' at his old Caddy and smilin' with pride.

TireSmoke.org

Cadillac

Wide glide