What caddy mill, in a 55 chev gasser, and why ??

Thanks Devilleish, that is the info I was after...

 

Research the cost of caddy rebuilds and speed parts before diving in. You could do a pair of hot 454s for the price of one hot caddy.

If you ask me, the gasser look has got to be backed up. And by that I mean a rip snorting beast and not a ring/bearing rebuild with a mild performance cam and "decent" power. I'd much rather see a bellybutton motor that makes all the wonderful high compression/solid lifter clicks and clacks than something unusual which makes normal street car power.

good luck with the project

 

Do NOT!!!! put a small block in it just to be cheap .....belly button stuff if your goin to be a trad boy one !!!!!!!!!! just my 2 cents

 

Try this site:

http://www.cad500parts.com/

 

500 cad or 327...your car;your choice!!!!

 

Why not real power like olds mabey back it up with a hydro

Or take a 283 and make a 352 punch it out to a 4" bore and get a 3 1/2 stroker crank, as for the stroker crank get a 350 crank and turn the journals undersized

352's were common in the early to mid 60's

 

A friend of mine raced at the Salem Missouri Dragstrip had multiple tri five chevys with 383, 413 and 426 wedge chrysler motors in them. He said they were cheap horsepower, you could practically get a whole car for free! I say put whatever makes you happy in it!

 

Traditional engine for a 55 Chevy gasser? Here's one from 63/64
Larry T

 

I agree, I'd hate to see a mainly stock Cadillac in a Gasser. The friend I got my 365 from was looking at a blower for his 390 and promptly scrapped the idea.

 

I thought this was pretty mean, but there is a point in it. "Gasser" refers to a class of strip only cars, unless you wanna go WAY-back early. After the innovation and safety concearns everything flipped around a bit.

Most people that call there cars an "Old School Gasser" these days are running a straight axle out of another vehicle or an aftermarket job. Not all old gassers had a straight axle. Not all old gassers ran quicker than a 15 in the quarter.

My worthless take is that you should soup up the stock motor, and drive train, then paint what ever the hell you want on the side, because my friend you have created a "gasser".

 

I saw a Caddy 500 with trans sell at an auction the other day for like $30. Deal was anything out of the box truck body, per item. So that's what the guy bought.

 

Define Gasser for us as you understand it? If you want a streetable gasser, maybe a pre-1962 build date? IIRC, that's when NHRA changed the rules for Gassers and they became pure race cars (trailer queens). Up until then they needed interiors (at least two front passengers), lights, wipers, etc.

So if the build is streetable Gasser, it could be any Caddy from 1961 back with any parts. They did get done and they do make real street cars that haul. But, it could have been an Olds, or a Pontiac too. 348/409 are good choices. 348's out of trucks were a common bolt in.

So if it'll be a automatic car (Caddy cranks are not turned for pilot bearings), a Caddy would be fine. Dress it up, add 2 fours and fly. It won't break the rear end and it will pull like a freight train

 

Look for the 71 eldorado motor ,375 hp I forget if it is a 472 or 500 That is the most factory Horsepower motor caddy produced ............

 

Eldorados got the 500-cubic inch motor.

 

I have a 70 ElDorado with a rebuilt 500. which was the last year for the high compression motors. 10 1/2 to 1. bought the whole car $400. I agree with carcrazy 71-74 500 runs right on cheap gas and the ElDo's have the right oil pan for most conversions

 

Go with a 365 or 390 Cadillac. Very correct for a late 50's/early 60's build and it would be so cool! Speed equipment is available too. A 472 or 500 may make more power for sure, but just doesn't seem anywhere near as period correct IMO
-Dean

 

I'd go the 500 caddy , tons of torque which makes street play fun.
Ad the Performer intake , dyno tests show 25hp gain , and a simple cam with it can be 50hp and over 500 ftlbs of torque . How money to get a SBC to make that kind of torque ? You can run 3.08 gears , crusie down hwy and still shred tires at light .
Anythin not a SBC in a 55 will make people scratch their heads

 

472 caddy with 4 speed going in my 57.

 

I Reeaalllly messed up then.





Oh Well, I usually screw things up anyway. Just razzin' Ya 49ratfink

 

If you decide to go 472 or 500, then the Cad Company is the way to go. After '68 they used a BOP belhousing. Before '72 or 73 they have the 10.5 compression, then drop to like 8.5:1. 472 might rev a little quicker than the 500, but they dont go over 5000-5500 without some valvetrain.

I had a 10.5:1 472 in a 3100lb OT daily driver and it was ridiculous. You can easily juggle stock parts and go from like 7:1 up to over 12.5:1.

take a stock 472 add a blower and get 600hp.

I sold my ot car but kept the 8 quart pan, and special hv oil pump that fits non caddy chassis if ya wanna haggle a bit.

 

That is so funny...

 

According to Don Montgomery in his gasser book, the rules for Gas class cars were changed in 1959 because the cars were getting to be purpose built racecars and NHRA wanted the class to be for dual purpose machines. So I guess you'd need to shoot for 59-62 build.
Larry T

 

I think a early cad mill would be cool. Or you could go with a early olds say a 371 or 394 they were seen at the strip alot. I say Olds cause I am partial to them
Just my .02

 

go traditional, 49-54 caddy(because you have better transmission options) 331 with 390 internals, stude adjustable rockers, topped off with a mechanical injection! then a olds or caddy or lesalle 3 speed manual trans behind that.

mega SHWINGGGGGG

 

OH DAMN drool..........

 

^^^^
I believe the anti SBC crowd has now gone nuts.........we're discussing a 1955 Chevrolet here......


I think high winding SBC just might actually be traditional in this situation, but maybe not.......

 

Yeah, CGKidD - you messed up so bad you'll have to drive cross country twice as penance

 

Yeah, that's when there were tons of used 55 laying around for reasonable $$ and junk yard motors made cheap Gas Cars for weekend playthings. Truck axles, a welder and a cutting torch and you were running. A used Olds wagon could donate most of the running gear. Caddy and Olds powered 55's were given serious respect on the street. Not only do they go at the light, with the lazy gears they get away with, they will run away from most SBCs on the top end

 

At least yours is interesting!

 

Put the 327 in it. Mate it to a 4 gear and have fun.