Hot Rods LIVE WIRE gets a transplant: Rebuild thread

So last few years have been crazy finacially and its been over a year and a half since Live Wire has been out of the stable... The Long Beach Motorama 2010 was the last time..
So there it sat in my garage put aside for more important things like food and Mortgauge..

The problem:

As allot of you know I ran the stock Hydromatick behind the Caddy motor and sure some people could get it to work and will it ever shift right? sure, maybe... But for me it just wasn't doing it for me.. I just want to bang through some gears.. not have to bull shit the gas pedel to get into 2nd.. It was a big mistake to use that tranny... But it was there and I figured it would be ok.. boy was I wrong.. I learned the hard way...

All I wanted to do is this
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But I didn't!!! and my dream was to put a La Salle in it but it seemed like just a dream.. I didn't know much about them I know they were pretty expensive but how cool would that be to have a La Salle it just sounds cool...

I thought about just putting in a Ford Toploader and that was the route I was gonna go...
and I got the "Hey Just put a 700r4 or a T-5" yes they work like champs but its not what that car is... its not right.

I talked to Bleed one day and he said "Dude don't worry I got what you need..A few LaSalles that will work out.. I just want to see it on the road" That got me pumped...

Fast forward a few months.. Lucky burton and I were hanging out and he offered me a spot at his shop if I helped hime get the shop organized and worked out... Sweeping floors like an intern never felt so good knowing that I got a good spot and a friend to help with the push!!!

So window shopping one day on craigs list I stumbled upon a bunch of Ford parts for sale and in the ad listed a 331 Cadillac Stick set up out of an ambulance.... So I make the call and I bought it..

It was a really good deal came with The bell housing, new clutch and Pressure plate, throw out baring and of course the side shift LaSalle.. So I send Bob a photo and he points out that thats not the right LaSalle hahahah I can never win!!! that it was a closed drive trans... After some research I understand now.. Bummer.. but the stuff that it came with was well worth what I paid for..





So the hunt for another LaSalle or a Shortend Olds shaft or what ever the next move was... One day Steve (CrossRodder) stopped by my house and we got to talking and he says dude I have a few LaSalles a several side shifts and a couple toploaders.. My heart skipped a beat.. Steve being the great guy he is offered to sell me a top Loader 37 open drive LaSalle even tho they weren't for sale.. He wanted to help a fellow Hot Rodder out and I can't thank him enough!!!!! SO I ended up selling the other trans and picked up the TopLoader from Steve... So now the Journy begins Pulling the body off, New tunnel, Clutch and break set up, New Carpet, Kick Pannel, cross memeber, drive shaft and Paint.. I probally won't get on it till after the round up... But this will be the rebuild thread.. hopefully will end with smokey burnouts.

Thanks to Bob Bleed, Lucky Burton and Steve CrossRodder for helping me get Live Wire back..

the LaSalle with the 51 bell housing







Gonna need a good going through..


Shorter Tailshaft


Old Chrome 34 pedals..


Stay Tuned..
Piero

 

This outta be fun!...

 

Right on!

 

I need a Caddy stick fly wheel if any one has one for sale??

 

Oh hell yeah....

 

Oh yeah, this is gonna be good!

 

"I got the "Hey Just put a 700r4 or a T-5" yes they work like champs but its not what that car is... its not right."

Thats GOLD right there! You have taken the right path

 

Are you gonna rename it FrankenWire? You will have to put a serious bend in the shifter,won't you?

 

About time, hahaha! And you got a top shift. When you know what you really really want, it always sucks to accept a compromise. Livewire is one of my all time favorites. Glad you're finally getting what you want and will get to REALLY enjoy that car!!!

 

Ha maybe.. I want to call it Bad Ass!!! hhaha

Yeah thats actually a Ford shifter that I will make work if I can't find a LaSalle one.. but I should be able to and yes it will have to be reshaped a bit.. and chromed of course

 

Thanks Dude... its really the only thing that was wrong on the car.. It rides really nice and was fast.. just shifted like dukey

 

Awesome!!! Good luck with the flywheel homie. That is why I gave up my pallet of Caddy engine stuff....too hard or expensive to find a flywheel.

 

Even found old chrome for a set of pedals. It's nice to know some things don't change like you being able to turn up nice old chrome.

I can't wait to see the transformation and then MFS 6.5 where you update the last film with some HD driving shots!!

This is going to be rad.

 

MFS 5.5 was on today, and I was wondering what you had been up to involving this gem. Right on, on getting back at it Piero. Hope it all goes smoothly. This will be an interesting thread to watch with my peepers.

 

taking it to the next level. awesome!

 

I have the part# for a U joint that will work. Think its from a jeep it puts the slip in the drive shaft not the yuck.

Let me know if you need the number

 

Yeah I can get one from Wilcap pretty expensive.. (if all else fails) but i'll find one... I got friends in high places..

THe pedals were payment for sweeping floors and making a website for Lucky.. hahaha I got my eyes on some other stuff at his shop I kind of just claim stuff at Luckys hahahaha

I actually hope to do a DVD about my roadster build MFS 6.66 and it will start with Live Wire getting fixed up and doing donuts and then it will go into the roadster build.. will see

 

Interesting... Yes please thanks!!!

 

I have a flywheel......

 

nice. see friends in high places.. hahaha

 

I had a un bent La Salle stick in my 32 for years. Maybe A is diff.?

 

Spicer 8f5 is the number on it

 

its close.. Might have to bend it cause of the channel and dash.. maybe not.. won't know till its all together..

 

I fingered you for more of a Garth Brooks type.

 

Thanks for the info...


I'm concidering doing the Ford open drive coversion with the short shaft...

I have a source for both pieces that I might call this week and look into..
If I can eliminate the tail shaft and extend my drive shaft it might be easier.

 

Doin the right thing ....... I'll be interested in the open drive conversion....keep us posted......

 

So the plan is after the Round up bring the car to Luckys shop Aka the house of hot rod savior!! And pull the body off and figure it all out.. It's gonna be interesting to say the least.. While the body is off I hope to have Donnie come out and fix some paint stuff and hopefully I can get Bleed to remake those headers.. Since they were the staple of the car

 

I'd go with a later Ford 39-48 (i think) truck top loader
They are open drive and put a 55 or later powerglide slip yoke on it.
Lengthening a driveshaft is cheap, you just need the trans to Cadillac adaptor.
I bet you don't have to modify the trans tunnel, everything is so small.