Terrible One
08-03-2005, 03:22 AM
Hey guys, I'm new as you may notice.
Here is my story if you are bored enough to read it:
I recently inherited my grandfathers 1976 Cadillac ElDorado. Well since I have a huge interest in mechanics, engines, and the works, I proceded to tear it down and fix a few things. Firstly, someone had put gaskets on the exhaust manifolds, which had burnt away, leaving a huge gap and a mean exhaust leak. Anyways, once I finally broke loose all but 4 exhaust manifold bolts, it had been a month of workign iwth them. I decided the others were no use and snapped them. Took the heads off and took them to the machine shop to get rethreaded. In the process we discovered a HUGE amount of play in the valves. Someone had installed cheap valve guides which were completly dogged out by then. Anyways, we opted to get teh heads rebuilt. In the meantime, we found some scratching in the cylinder walls. Also included in this find were the leaky rear and front seals, etc.
All in all, it led up to pulling what was left of the engine and doing a complete rebuild. Because we were going to spend so much money on it anyways, I decided to go all in and make it a beast. As of right now, the transmission is being rebuilt and repaired, and then beefed up to handle the new engine numbers. After the heads are rebuilt, on will go either a modified stock intake (almost equal to teh edelbrock) or if it comes down to it, a bulldog intake and holley dominator carb. Because we have to bore it anyways, we are going to bore it out to an enormous size (still not sure how far we are going). Of course then we will find the right pistons, rods, and bearings for the project, etc. Then goes the new cam. Whilst all of this is taking place, the original log manifolds will be sent off to be ceramic coated. Once the engien is back in a custom dual exhaust will be in order.
What I plan to do whilst the engine and transmission are out is repaint the frame, a-arms, etc gloss black, get new front shocks, and replace all of teh worn convuluted wire tubing. Now, of course, I coudl always paint everything the original dark Cadillac blue, but I kind of wanted to make it interesting, something abnormal. I have been thinking of a dark purple.I plan to paint the pan, block, and heads purple, with the intake being painted gloss black, along with chrome valve covers and K&N air cleaner. The tranny will be painted as well. I have also managed to find a 100 amp purple alternator to go along with it. This is all, of course, if I don't just go original. I'm a creative person, what can I say?
I want the engine bay to be it's own creation. I want it to look normal on the outside, but when you open up the hood you can't help but notice how pretty it looks. The looks combined with all of the power she will be putting out will be amazing to me. Hopefully it will all work out.
Any suggestions I am pleased to have. Hopefully we will be done by November or December.
I look forward to talking with everyone and getting help with this project as well as dishing out my own.
Here is my story if you are bored enough to read it:
I recently inherited my grandfathers 1976 Cadillac ElDorado. Well since I have a huge interest in mechanics, engines, and the works, I proceded to tear it down and fix a few things. Firstly, someone had put gaskets on the exhaust manifolds, which had burnt away, leaving a huge gap and a mean exhaust leak. Anyways, once I finally broke loose all but 4 exhaust manifold bolts, it had been a month of workign iwth them. I decided the others were no use and snapped them. Took the heads off and took them to the machine shop to get rethreaded. In the process we discovered a HUGE amount of play in the valves. Someone had installed cheap valve guides which were completly dogged out by then. Anyways, we opted to get teh heads rebuilt. In the meantime, we found some scratching in the cylinder walls. Also included in this find were the leaky rear and front seals, etc.
All in all, it led up to pulling what was left of the engine and doing a complete rebuild. Because we were going to spend so much money on it anyways, I decided to go all in and make it a beast. As of right now, the transmission is being rebuilt and repaired, and then beefed up to handle the new engine numbers. After the heads are rebuilt, on will go either a modified stock intake (almost equal to teh edelbrock) or if it comes down to it, a bulldog intake and holley dominator carb. Because we have to bore it anyways, we are going to bore it out to an enormous size (still not sure how far we are going). Of course then we will find the right pistons, rods, and bearings for the project, etc. Then goes the new cam. Whilst all of this is taking place, the original log manifolds will be sent off to be ceramic coated. Once the engien is back in a custom dual exhaust will be in order.
What I plan to do whilst the engine and transmission are out is repaint the frame, a-arms, etc gloss black, get new front shocks, and replace all of teh worn convuluted wire tubing. Now, of course, I coudl always paint everything the original dark Cadillac blue, but I kind of wanted to make it interesting, something abnormal. I have been thinking of a dark purple.I plan to paint the pan, block, and heads purple, with the intake being painted gloss black, along with chrome valve covers and K&N air cleaner. The tranny will be painted as well. I have also managed to find a 100 amp purple alternator to go along with it. This is all, of course, if I don't just go original. I'm a creative person, what can I say?
I want the engine bay to be it's own creation. I want it to look normal on the outside, but when you open up the hood you can't help but notice how pretty it looks. The looks combined with all of the power she will be putting out will be amazing to me. Hopefully it will all work out.
Any suggestions I am pleased to have. Hopefully we will be done by November or December.
I look forward to talking with everyone and getting help with this project as well as dishing out my own.